Serre Chevalier By Lizzie-B

I just spotted this on the J2Ski forum, it looks Lizzie was probably here last week, so it is worth bearing in mind that it hasn’t snowed properly for a while and after being cold it has been getting warmer all the time. It begins…

“Well that was great – back from Serre Chevalier with friends and was not disappointed,can see why people love it. Snow ok, compacted but would take an edge – well nearly always! 5 days of sunshine getting warmer each day (only one windy day when higher lifts were closed) which was great for eating out and skiing but not so good for snow quality, maybe more of a problem next week if they don’t get a good dump of snow.” – This is a fair point, but as it hasn’t snowed for a while, it does show what a fantastic job they are doing with the snow cannons and moving it around with piste bashers. Lizzie continues…

“Sunshine over Briancon side resulted in some stones coming through about half way but all pistes higher throughout the valley ok. Great skiing over lots of deserted pistes. Red run under the Aiguillette OH said really good also loved Petit Alpe via long button. OH also said didn’t feel that the blacks were true blacks but Luc Alphand very enjoyable to ski. I personally loved the top of the Vallons to Serre Ratier and the whole run to Monetier via the Vallons chair which was great. Loved the Cucumelle great to have such a long run. Took the good advice we were given before going and skied all across the valley – great sense of travel and bus available at the base of all resorts if you didn’t want to ski back or left it too late to do so.”

The Cucumelle (in the photo here) is indeed an impressive mountain to come down, it’s also one of the mountains that is easiest to spot from any angle, it has a distinctive nearly symmetrical shape almost like a classic volcano that a child would draw. She continues…

“I stayed in Chantemerle, went to have a look round Monetier and Villeneuve but on balance preferred Chantemerle it had a mixture of everything (and everything was in the one area) there were 3 lifts up and never a queue to be seen, in fact there was never a queue any where as far as I could see. (Lucky there was only one zone of French children on holiday). We had an apartment 50 m from the lifts.There were a couple of good places to sit, drink and eat and watch people hurtling down the Luc Alphand black run. The station bar was quite cheap too.” How nice is that, for someone not to moan about the annoying house band at The Station! Anyway Lizzie concludes…

“Chantemerle also had the old town bit with restaurants and a band playing at the end of the day which gave a nice atmosphere. There were 2 mini supermarkets with reasonable prices so we didn’t feel that we had to drive to the Geant in Briancon. Would recommend L’Estable restaurant. Ate out on the mountain during the day, favourite place was the small rustic hut above Monetier ‘The Peyra Juana’ with its very friendly nutter of a waiter. Not as busy as other places and full of French families eating inside. A good recommendation – thanks. The only criticism I would have is that there is only the black run and long windy green narrow roads to ski on back to Chantemerle . I would have liked a cruisey blue to do at the end of the day. The green took too long and was busy at the end of the day. Finally a personal tip if you leave it rather late to come down on the last day (when they are waiting to set up the fireworks,) you might get a ride on a skidoo straight down the black run.”

“Brilliant especially when the legs are just about shot!!!!!”

“The fireworks set to the drumming live band were fantastic, as was the torchlight procession down the Luc Alphand. All in all a fantastic holiday – I miss you Serre Chevalier. XX”

Well I thought that was a pretty good write up and Lizzie B you will be welcome back any time.