Skiing.  Les Arcs, France. March/April 2019

We spent 5 weeks in France, 4 of them at the campsite in Bourg-St Maurice from where we took the funniculaire up to Les Arcs which has a huge ski area.  From Arc 1600, where the funniculaire stops, we usually catch the Mont Blanc ski lift.  Near the top of the lift is a camera where you can use your lift pass to get a photo with Mont Blanc in the background - see title photo.

The funniculaire arriving at Les Arcs with Bourg-St-Maurice in the valley below.

 The funniculaire arriving at Les Arcs with Bourg-St-Maurice in the valley below.

On our way down, just behind the 'driver'.

On our way down, just behind the 'driver'.

We mainly we had good weather and skied most days. We usually skied from around 9.30 to 2pm with a break for a glass of hot wine at some point. Once back at the campsite we often walked to the supermarket to do some shopping and were then often able to sit outside until the sun went down. One day we had snow overnight but it only lasted for a few days in the valley and resulted in great snow for skiing. For a couple of days after the snow we didn't ski as visibility was so poor but we did enjoy walking along the river and through the woods next to the campsite.

 Snow at the campsite.   

A walk through the woods next to the campsite.

The Isere valley.

A couple of days later the snow in the valley started to thaw. 

As we went after the February half-term and before easter we found that the ski slopes were often fairly quiet - great as I hate being amongst lots of other people going down the runs.

On 3 occassions we came across images in the snow created by people walking (or aliens!). They were at least 50m in diameter.

On our way back to the funniculaire at Arc 1600 we often passed the water slide and inflatable matress. Most of the people who attempted the water slide did extremely well and made it across but a few did fall in.

When it snowed we bought some fat balls and put them up near our van. Within a few hours there were blue tits and great tits feeding and over the next few weeks we saw robins, sparrows, chaffinches, marsh tits, blackbirds and a nuthatch. I took these photos from inside the van.

Apart for a couple of (expensive) lunches at Arc 2000 we took sandwiches for our lunch.  Once back at the campsite Kevin often changed into shorts and we were able to sit outside until the sun went down.  In April we started to see flowers appearing.      

Last updated: December 2020