This week, we're guiding a group of ski touring and powder enthusiasts through the fabulous and little-known mountains of the Embrunais!
This week, we're guiding a group of ski touring and powder enthusiasts through the fabulous and little-known mountains of the Embrunais!
I'm helping out my friend and fellow mountain guide Sylvain Pascalou with the difficult daily task of finding just a little powder to put under our skis.
The group's plan for the week is to get back into shape before their ski touring season. Their stated objective is to optimise the uphill-to-downhill ratio by making good use of the lifts — in the absence of any effective performance-enhancing drugs.
After two weeks of high-pressure weather, powder hunters have deserted the resorts... Local businesses are starting their usual lament and praying for snow. Meanwhile, categorical statements from the ski shops — “There's no powder left anywhere!” — are beginning to sow doubt in the minds of the more sceptical members of the group...
Sylvain and I know perfectly well that these long spells of fine weather without fresh snow can actually be a blessing for powder lovers. With a little imagination — or sometimes none at all! — there's almost always somewhere to leave a few beautiful, fleeting tracks on the mountain.
We're not in Chamonix, for heaven's sake!
Our base camp for the week is in Risoul, and we spend the first three days exploring the area around the resort.
We have the strange impression that we're the only skiers in the entire ski area. In three days, we don't see a single person off-piste. Day after day, we can quietly scout our next runs without worrying about someone else getting there first...
We quickly realise that the snow is consistently excellent, and from the very first turns the group erupts into shouts of joy.
Our days in Risoul fly by to the rhythm of powder runs, skins on, skins off, picnics,
For the last two days, even though there's still plenty left to ski in Risoul without crossing a single one of our own tracks, we decide to explore a couple of other resorts.
First up, Les Orres — or more precisely the Grand Vallon — where we're treated to two magnificent descents and a picnic by the water...
Then Crévoux, a place that never disappoints!
Unforgettable moments around Pi' Haut and along the Ratelle ridge, where nature puts on a magical show of light and clouds...
Before one final top-quality descent to round off the week!
Thank you to the whole group for putting your complete trust in us, for your unwavering good spirits, and for all the laughs!
And thank you to the mountains for providing such a perfect playground!
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