Brian and Jackie Cross: 8 go skiing in Portes du Soleil, France (and Switzerland) for a week

Sunday, 1 February 2026

8 go skiing in Portes du Soleil, France (and Switzerland) for a week

This was our team for the week. LtoR: Rob T, Mike, Pol, Brian, Jackie, Rob S, Dave and Alex

We've just got back from our weeks skiing which felt very 'Old School'. We haven't been on a mountaineering club trip since we retired, so 13 years. (In fact after Brian stopped organising them, they stopped happening so regularly at all!) We did our three ski seasons and had people come and stay with us and had the mountaineering club stay in Simon and Cassie's chalet, but not had the whole experience.

Si and Cassie's fabulous Chalet Alice in Morzine, our home for the week

Brian contacted many friends and looked at many resorts so it was a joy to end up at Si and Cassie's new, chalet, Chalet Alice in Montriond near Morzine with Rob S, club president who lives in Cumbria, Dave and Pol who were in the club when Brian joined and now live in N Yorkshire, Mike who I think has been on every ski touring trip and after my first couple of club trips every one I've been on, and Alex and Rob T. We didn't have the chalet to ourselves, there was a family with 2 very young children in the last room, but we all rubbed along nicely. Catering was provided by Fifi and Andre, a Portuguese couple who usually work on luxury yachts but wanted a change for the winter. I'm not sure they realise how lucky they are. Last time we were in a catered chalet the staff had one day off, now, due to new rules, they have to have 2 days off and because Cassie is a star and wants to catch up with repeat guests they often have the day off in the middle when Cassie came and cooked for us, ably assisted by Judith, Simon's mum who we also know well.

They have a hot tub and here's a photo through the lounge window with Dave, Pol and Alex looking like an angel!

Packing for a week's ski trip seemed remarkably hard, neither of us could remember what we used to wear, but decisions had to be made, we weren't driving after all! Rob S arrived with us by train on the Friday and came by taxi with us and Al and Rob T to the airport where we had to keep an eye out for Uncle Martyn and Annabelle who coincidentally were flying off to Austria for some winter walking. We didn't see them, but did see Alistair, another old club member we hadn't seen for many years.

Lunch on the slopes on day 1. LtoR: Jackie, Rob S, Rob T and Alex

An easy flight and transfer, was slightly spoiled by the length of queues at Geneva airport. We were delighted to arrive at Chalet Alice for cocktails and canapes before the first yummy meal. Up bright and early on Sunday morning to go and collect our lift passes (booking online for more than 4 people saved us about €50 each) and put the strange slippy planks on our feet. There obviously hadn't been that much snow, but the slopes were ok. Monday it snowed which was fab, though obviously does reduce the visibility. Lack of definition makes it hard for everyone, but particularly Alex, who relies more on her vision (which isn't great) than her feet which she can't really feel. Yes, she is a superhero.

On Monday we had fresh snow and were treated to views like this from the ski lifts

Tuesday (the first of Fifi and Andre's days off) we should have been making our own way to the slopes rather than being transferred. We were thrilled when Si and Cassie asked us if they could join us for a ski, we couldn't have been happier. They even turned up in two vehicles so they could take us all to Ardent where B and I usually started from all those years ago. We did a few runs all together before Rob and Alex went to do their own thing with the rest of us following Cassie and Si on the Swiss loop. Fabulous time, high speed, good slopes and conditions and great company.

A pause on the slopes to regroup. LtoR: Alex, Mike, Jackie, Rob T, Dave, Pol and Rob S

The week continued in a similar vein, snow, skiing, laughing, sensible drinking (we are all older now!), and good food. We ate out on Tuesday, except Pol who had picked up the stomach bug the family had generously come with and shared. She, and Rob and Alex had a chilled day in on Wednesday while the rest of us got heavily snowed on.

No disrespect to Rob T, but here he is collecting his skis after a tumble

Friday however was our best day. The slope transfer shouldn't have included St Jean, where Brian and I rented our apartment. We were going to give Andre a little something to take us, but due to van issues Si just appeared and whisked us away. We hoped he would manage to come back and ski with us but sadly that was not to be. It's a small resort, is very quiet, but with the snow that fell all day had some wonderful pistes and great off piste. We all played around a bit before all doing the circuit once. Rob S, Mike, B and I did the circuit again after lunch while the others played more locally. We were all very wet, but very happy by the time Si collected us and returned us to the chalet.

After the snow stopped depositing everywhere with fabulous fresh powder, the sun came out to give fantastic views

And that was that, a sensible 07.45 collection on Saturday, 4 hours before the flight felt a bit early, but long queues at the airport again meant we didn't have much time to hang about. Home, unpack, shop and get on with the washing. What a great week.

These were the most amazing chocolate rum apres-ski drinks we had all week. The Happy Hour bar at the foot of the Ardent lift. Make a note of it - the quantity of rum really hit home, just don't think of driving after just one!

We skied down a quiet slope at the back of Mont Cheri in Les Gets and saw this tiny mouse or vole scurrying across the piste

Another skier arrived so Jackie had to shout to him not to run the mouse over. You can see the mouse airborne here, running to escape. When it encountered the mounds of snow we created with our turns it was a huge effort to climb up them and over. Jackie made sure it made it safely across the slope

A short Youtube of our skiing efforts

Here we are on our day out doing the 30 mile Swiss circuit with Si and Cassie, a route we remember well from our ski season days (they are second and third from the left). This is right on the Swiss border at the top of Super Chatel, about halfway round. Skiing with them is just like old times for us, they are fast, good skiers and a challenge to keep up with, hence the reason Rob T and Alex didn't come with us

Morzine at night. To get to our restaurant we had to walk across that bridge. The light at the top of the slope in the distance is at the top of the Pleny lift, one we used several times. The run down you can see is a mixture of red and black runs, all of them really good

On the bridge. Rob T almost climbing over, then Dave, Mike, Alex and Jackie. The others were ahead chatting

The speed team! Brian, Dave, Mike, Rob S and Jackie

Jackie, Alex and Rob S at the Ardent lift ready for a days skiing

Lunch on the piste. Rob T, Mike, Brian, Jackie and Rob S

Mike making some adjustments to Dave's boots at a lift station

On our way up a lift in the beautiful Lindarets bowl

Off piste in the Lindarets

Hot chocolate stop at a bar in St Jean. LtoR: Alex, Rob S, Jackie, Rob T, Pol and Brian

It was cold outside, but we were wrapped up warm and it made the skiing fantastic

Going up a lift in the snow. I think Dave took this photo, Pol and Rob S are in the lift in front and I think I'm with Mike in the one in front of that

A few shots Dave took from ski lifts (always dangerous to get your phone out when on a lift in case you drop it, a glove or a ski pole!)

I recognise that as the Mossettes (left) and Brochaux (right) lifts in the Lindarets bowl and they took this from the Lechere lift. Been there many times