Day off work??!! What better way to spend a stunningly beautiful day than spending a stunningly beautiful day on the slopes, taking full advantage of the validity offer vouchers ('Golden' red tickets). Sooo, decisions decisions, where to go??!! So many places and options to choose from, hmmm good reviews, highly recommended by others, ideal place to ski for beginners to intermediates, gentle to steep slopes, open space, wider pistes, good powder. Ah, Le Tour - Domaine de Balme.
The main ski area consists of 19 pistes in total - 1 black, 7 reds and 11 blues.
Taking a 'short' 40 minute bus journey from Les Houches and we're off.
Starting at Le Tour - 1462m enjoying a short trip up to Charamillon - 1850m via the gondola lift and already in view the Chamonix valley springs to life. Reaching a further 2195m by taking the chairlift to the top of Les Autannes and admiring the splendid panoramic view over the entire Chamonix valley below.
Route - Liaison Balme - Very easy flat and gentle long stretch of a blue run perfect for taking in all the beauty that surrounds you.
Route - Les Esserts - Lovely blue run through the trees passing by the Vallorcine lift station to the chairlift which then takes you up to the very top at Tete de Balme - 2250m.
Route - Béchat - Well what can I say??!! Blue??!! Red??!! Red??!! Blue??!! You decide. For a supposed blue run this is a very steep long ongoing run.
Lunch on the mountains... L'Alpage de Balme, a wonderful little mountain restaurant at the base of the L'Aiguilette drag lift. Easy to miss if you don't know of its whereabouts. Seeing as it was a mighty fine day with the sun in full power mode, sitting inside was definately no option of mine as there was a sunny terrace outside for admiring the surroundings.
