A collection of tales of life in Serre Chevalier and past in April 2025
Learn the April 2025 ski weblog from Serre Chevalier as we ski the pistes, skate the cross-country, ski off-piste and ski-tour away from the resort and ski slack-country in resort
April fifteenth
Since my final submit the climate has not been as unhealthy as anticipated in that we have been capable of get out in extended dry spells and have even had some glimpses of sunshine, although not sufficient to tempt us to go as much as Monetier to ski.
So we have been operating up within the forest behind us, even taking one of many Jacks with us because it’s rather a lot cooler than just lately, and there are a good few streams up there.
Unsure if I’ve talked about it earlier than however one of many outdated homes up there has numerous golf greens, which is all a bit weird.
Yesterday was my third consecutive run up there, together with the OH and Ullr, usually if he shoots off after a beastie he ultimately comes again, and we are able to see that by way of his GPS tracker and utilizing a canine whistle he comes again pretty shortly, however yesterday we may see him coming again as per regular after which simply as we may bodily see him this deer broke cowl above us and that was him off once more, this occurred as soon as extra and we may see within the forest there was a while of feeding station with some outdated hay, however he is by no means had the scent there earlier than and acted like that?
From April fifteenth as much as June fifteenth all canines are required to be on a leash, to guard younger wildlife, although there isn’t a point out of cats, who like to terrorise our birdies!
So will likely be attention-grabbing to see what everybody does within the fields beneath us within the valley the place everybody lets their canines off. I think the perfect plan of action is preserve them on the lead till you are effectively away from the place the Police Municipal may probably be out on their one outing once they really feel they must go and do a management to tick a field on a kind and so forth even then we’ll solely get a warning, hopefully, however will likely be sods regulation to come across them:?
As for the inbound snow forecast, trying on the webcams there may be circa 5cm on the BBQ platform atop Cucumelle and the colder snap with extra snow is over the following 48hrs and might see a recent dusting up at Bachas and appears just like the climate has cleared just a little, so may very well be tempted, however suppose I will wait it out.
Actually, the forecast is considerably unsettled and hopefully, we’ll get some respectable touring circumstances as soon as issues calm down.
And also needs to add, that greatest to nonetheless ski early as what recent snow is up there’ll in a short time get heavy as temps rise.
April thirteenth
Final day of the season right here in our sector of Serre Chevalier; Monetier has an extra week, however alas, the climate is grim for right this moment and nigh on all subsequent week, although there may be some clutching of straws in that we might effectively see snow at altitude mid-week, after which on into subsequent week may very well be Janvril, however that is means too far off to make sure.
So, I feel we’re positively passing on going up the hill this morning for a final ski right here utilizing the lifts, and we loved a go to to the Chaz yesterday in significantly better climate than anticipated with associates, after which later took my daughter to Turin after a stopover for pizza in Claviere.
So will most likely take Multley and one of many Jacks for a run up behind us, as it is so steep on the up and down we’re nigh on strolling anyway, and dank climate would not matter.
The previous week the climate was superb, although it did take its toll on the pistes and the Luc was trying very shabby certainly and Le Bez was closed.
Nevertheless the ski-touring was excellent, and early begins had been required.
Had one nice tour up within the Gardiole sector with my daughter and OH together with Ullr and it was so good that I went again up there once more with @KenX the following day and even earlier, however minus Ullr as he was knackered after chasing so many marmots the day earlier than and confirmed no willingness to need to come out.
I wished to discover additional off the again of the Gardiole than normal, and we couldn’t fairly consider what we ended up doing, figuring out we must pores and skin again up once more, however the descent we achieved for a comparatively small climb again up was incredible with tremendous untracked Spring snow, and as soon as again I spent fairly some time taking a look at 3D mapping and so forth to suss a fair higher descent, however not too certain after we’ll get to try this?
While we had been doing that, OH and daughter had been snowboarding off the again doing a few descents/ascents and so forth
So some nice footage of Mutley giving chase at varied occasions and daughter snowboarding the spring snow rather well with the pistes of Serre Che within the background, however there once more snow like that makes everybody really feel like a Goddess 🙂
Ought to add that within the video you’ll be able to hear me speaking to the OH who is sort of far off, and that is as a result of we’re utilizing the Cardo Packtalk which is nice after we’re touring with the canine/daughter and so forth and in off-piste terrain as I’ll ski forward and take a look at a line after which say observe me or not and so forth.
Headlong now in the direction of the ultimate week(s) of the season.
The final 4 or 5 days have been very heat/sizzling, with temps on the terrace reaching +20’s and the pistes very slushy by 11:00, however with out the hordes they’re fairly enjoyable to ski with out the good bumps of slush, and as I feel I’ve talked about earlier than the youngsters do not actually discover the slush, and one buddy’s 8yr outdated daughter was saying how the circumstances had been nice enjoyable, and much more so when a frog (the amphibian selection) hopped throughout the piste in entrance of her.
OH and daughter went as much as the Chalet Serre Blanc yesterday because it was the final day of the Prorel sector, the whole lot was 50% off there.
Our final week of the lifts right here, and we shut subsequent Sunday after which Monetier stays open for one more week. Apparently, the climate seems like a serious change in the direction of the weekend and into subsequent week.
Nonetheless a variety of Brits round for the Easter holidays and I think they are going to be making up the vast majority of skiers on the hill this week, however we’re speaking only a few.
As ever extra restos had their remaining day open yesterday, that stated, we now have an enormous thrash on the Cabanne tomorrow.
Had a large 9-hour day touring within the Ecrins within the warmth on Saturday, and I used to be toast, extra about that right here.
Yesterday, nonetheless with very drained legs I drove and left the van just under the Chambran valley, up from Pelvoux, after which rode the e-mtb again as didn’t have the leg energy for the street bike 🙂
The plan is to then take my daughter off the again and ski all the best way down with simply over a 2km stroll alongside the valley ground again to the van; I feel I am extra nervous about it than my daughter & OH because it will get fairly gnarly earlier than the ultimate pitch (2nd picture above) and we’ll must take that straightforward in addition to ready for the snow to rework extra, which should not be too troublesome with all of the pictures and vids she likes taking 🙂
And final week additionally had an excellent tour up the Gardiole the place we had 5cm+ of sudden recent snow, extra about that right here
2nd April
The season may be very a lot drawing to an in depth now, and it appears that evidently the one individuals on the slopes mid-week are Brit faculty youngsters in large lengthy snakes (counted 14) following their instructors down the piste 🙂
Sunday was a really social day, piste snowboarding and a espresso cease within the morning after which an excellent BBQ simply above the French Resto on the purpose-built BBQ space, the place you’ll be able to carry your provides alongside and cook dinner FOC on the purpose-built electrical BBQ there.
Then it was again down the hill for a really amusing couple of hours sitting exterior the Grotte watching skiers and boarders coming down the Mickey after which attempting to scoot throughout 10m of water with usually hilarious outcomes, together with a extremely good social gathering vibe, in reality all of us stated it was similar to ye olde pre Covid days when the Grotte was the place to relax in Spring Apres Ski.
Snow nonetheless holding up effectively although very comfortable by Midday, that stated we had a wonderful ski down a nigh on abandoned Vallons circa 13:30 after some glorious slack-country the place the snow had cooked effectively, much better than the day earlier than after we had been up across the Gardiole and despite the fact that the temps had been in double figs the chilliness wind stored the snow onerous.
At this time is a gray dismal day and we would see just a few cms at altitude.
The forecast is trying very heat and sunny, so we’ll take someday at a time.
For a lot of geezonaires that solely ski in resort most are going again finish of this week, nevertheless it seems hopefully like touring needs to be good for an excellent few weeks so long as the nights usually are not too delicate.
La Grave is now open, and that is at all times an choice ought to we get rain within the valley right here, and the Derby is the backend of this week, and at altitude, they need to perhaps see 5- 10 cms recent?
A few pics from yesterday.
Snowboarding the ultimate pitch right down to the Chambran Valley ground, snow was nonetheless onerous as it’s predominately West dealing with, however ought to nonetheless be good subsequent week in a while within the day.
You may really see how the snow-pack is exhibiting indicators of a freeze/soften cycle occurring. Above my mate there may be 450m of good W dealing with snow ready to rework on the proper time and it is excellent terrain.
