Ski Trip 2009 - Tignes and The Espace Killy

Here are some of our photos from this year's ski trip to Tignes and the Espace Killy. Given that I'd run out of annual leave, we had to wait for April until we could take some time off, which meant warm days, great (but variable) snow, and quiet slopes. All in all a recipe for success!

After a white-knuckle drive to the airport first thing in the morning (we were the last to check-in) we had a smoother, more uneventful flight to Chambery, and transfer up to the mountains. You can see the weather that greeted us above. Thankfully we arrived to plenty of snow, however as it was early afternoon we decided to take it easy and save the boots for the next morning.

The view over the lake to Tignes Le Lac.

'Trolles' - the black run we would later conquer coming back down into Tignes. The photos doesn't really capture the steepness of the slope. At the top of the slope it looks like you're looking nearly vertically to Tignes. A little nerve-racking the first time!

To our surprise we got several snow showers in the first few days. This meant that we were lucky enough to be skiing powder on the piste for a day or two.

The photo above is looking over the beginning of Val D'Isere, after our arduous decent down the Santons run, which, in these conditions, was basically a valley of knee high slushy moguls. Like skiing through a slurpy. Oh, we also had a close shave with a small (and I repeat small, mum) avalanche, which slithered across the piste about five metres behind where I was catching my breath. Needless to say the piste was shortly closed thereafter!

We really enjoyed the chalet we stayed in. Surprisingly everyone was really nice and got along really well. Above is me after big night on the wine....not feeling that great!

Looking up to the Tignes glacier. The highest point in the area, with some great red runs with some of the best snow in the resort.

Piste H - a tribute to Harry (and Henry of course!)

Me at the bottom of the Face, the olympic black run down to Val D'Isere. Bloody tiring in that snow.

Above, the infamous Folle Deuce - dancing on the tabletops was a requisite, doing it naked was optional!

'Elsewhere'.....the view from our chalet in Les Carroz. The view from the hot tub I should say!

My little snow bunny!

There she goes!

Tartiflette -oh yeah...

Outside our room...

The views over to Mont Blanc were spectacular.

Coming down the monumental Cascades run - 14km in total, one of the longest in Europe. It took us over an hour to finish!

Chalet Calluna....ahhhhhh.

The Chalet Calluna...

Aubin and Jackie, our lovely hosts - nothing was too much trouble for them - the food was especially good.