 |
| Off piste in fresh powder snow |
It’s snowy, now it’s
rainy, it’s freezing, now it’s not, but mainly, not. It’s been a funny old time
since New Year. Since the high pressure of December moved away we’ve had lots
of precipitation from cloudy, windy skies, but with a freezing level that
hopped between about 1000m and 3000m we’ve seen everything. Lots of snow at
high levels, even a covering at our resort at 900m, then days of heavy rain,
even at high altitudes, that has stripped many lower slopes of snow and reduced
higher levels to heavy wet snow that is just miserable to ski on.
 |
| Now we see the snow from our window (last week) |
We went out
yesterday (Sunday) in rain up to about 1800m, so it turned to snow only near
the top of lifts (the highest point in the resort is just under 2300m). Sitting
on an open chairlift in windy driving rain or snow then struggling down through
heavy, wet snow is not fun! We went out with Leanne and Drew and were back down
at back at their place by lunchtime and spent the afternoon chatting and
drinking tea and re-waxing our skis. Drew had done a ski service course during
his time in the air force and had borrowed the kit from Si and Cassie, so we
got our skis back up to scratch – at least we did with ours, theirs had to go
in for a full service as they had scratched their ski bases right through so risked
delamination if not properly re-sealed.
 |
| After several days of heavy rain, now we don't. The view this morning |
But we have had
some lovely days as well, relatively bright, even some sun and, during those
times some lovely new snow, almost powder and we have been out and really
enjoyed it. We just want it to get cold, snow hard to give a good base and then
settle down. Fortunately that’s exactly what the weather forecast is, right
through to as far as they will forecast, next Saturday. Between now and then
the freezing level drops from 1650m this morning, to 1000m tonight and then on
down to sea level by Wednesday and on. Couple that with a forecast of about
1.4m of snow at a high level and about 700mm at our level of 900m between now
and Saturday we could be snow bound! That will do!
 |
| Converseley, Les Crosets of 23rd December |
It will make a big
contrast from today, of heavy sheeting rain, overcast, dark skies and many
parts of the resort closed off due either to high winds (up to 65km/hr at high
levels) or avalanche risk. Lots of wet snow isn’t very stable and will slide
off and fall onto the unwary if you’re not careful. We’ve heard of several
reports of people being killed in the Alps in the last couple of days so, as
well as being miserable it’s also very dangerous out there, hence the reason I’m
sitting in writing this.
 |
| And on 7th January, 2 weeks later |
However……I’m looking
out of the window and the rain has now turned to snow at our level of 900m.
Looks like the forecasters are right, good job we’ve got at least 4 days of
food in!!!!
Some of the food he
mentioned came in the form of a whole pork belly. I think I may have finally
lost the plot, it was about three feet long, had the ribs in and skin on, this
being perhaps the most exciting thing crackling being very hard to come by both
here and in Spain.
 |
| The Great Tits are happy with the conditions through |
Why buy it? Well at 2.95 euro/kg so coming in at just over
14 euro it just seemed too good to miss! So we changed our menu plan for Leanne
and Drew that evening, the boeuf bourguignon was already cooked but ribs to
start. I practiced butchery skills I didn’t know I had, removing ribs for
starter, ribs for a meal for us, a portion of stewing pork, a section of belly
for us, and three belly portions for four people! Fortunately L&D have
space in their freezer, so the three large sections went home with them! Guess
what you are having for one meal Denise? We had a lovely evening with them, it
just passed too quickly.
