 Poster: A snowHead
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skichampcouk, thanks very much. I can't remember whether I have a topo map of that area in the apartment, but if not I'll acquire one. I love buying maps. 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| pam w wrote: |
| marksavoie, lovely photos. Nothing quite that majestic near St Wolfgang, I think, though I had several happy holidays in St Gilgen (a less well known spot on the same lake) in the past. I'm heading to the Alps on Saturday - can you suggest a good spot in the Vanoise for a day trip and a (moderately gentle) walk, from the Albertville direction? |
A couple of thoughts:
(As per the OP) Champagny-le-Haut (from Albertville - Moutiers - Bozel - Champagny - continue to park at Laissonay - end of the road. There's a lovely waterfall above (La cascade de Pys) follow signs towards the Col du Palet. The refuge the OP mentioned is the Refuge de la Gliere (won't be open until c. mid-June). You can continue towards the Col du Palet with views of the North Face of the Grande Casse and the glacier de Epena. As mentioned earlier plenty of marmottes!
Drive to Pralognan and continue to the parking at the hamlet of Prioux (parking & cafe/refuge). From here follow the directions for the Refuge Roc de la Peche ( a "Courchevel" refuge with sauna & jacuzzi!). Continue depending on inclination to the farm at Ritort. You can buy Beaufort d'Alpage here - made on the spot. Again loads of marmottes after the Roc de la Peche.
Worth visiting the new Vanoise visitor centre in Pralo' itself with a permanent exhibition.
More energetic (c. 500m of ascent) from Pralo' follow signs to Les Fontanettes (car park) and then follow the path, initially alongside the winter ski pistes to the Refuge des Barmettes and then on into the National Park itself to the Lac des Vaches. I've often got to see Lammergaiers / Bearded Vultures (Gypaete Barbu) here.
PS I'm honoured to be the first British "Ambassadeur du Parc" [sic Vanoise National Park].
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Some more ideas:
Drive to Meribel-Mottaret and park at the far end of the "resort". Walk past Lac Tueda and continue follow signs for the Refuge du Saut and you will be in the Vallon du Fruit.
Drive to Rosuel past Peisey-Nancroix. Park here (visit the Vanoise Park centre) and take the path for the Lac de la Plagne / Col du Palet. Good views of Mont Pourri and possibility of seeing the vultures as there's a nest in this area.
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OK reded78, I'll ask the question why "English owned"? Are a kettle and teapot essential or do you have some pathological hatred of Scots and even then how can you tell the owners are English?
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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marksavoie, These are walks I would also recommend. The last time I was at Lac de la Plagne I saw a heard of Chamois.
As a clear expert on the Vanoise can I ask a but of advice? We are in the area late June and planning on doing a few summits starting with the Bellecote (IIRC PD) from the Laisonnay hut. I think this hut opens early June for the GR5 and 55 traffic, but what other huts are likely to be open this early in the season? Is there a good web site where I can see what other huts will be open?
Last year we were thwarted by lots of powder snow I just hope the snow has melted a bit more this season
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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marksavoie, thanks. Some nice options there. 
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Some of the views when you walk from Laisonnay on the 'Marmotte' walk
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skichampcouk, is that the ass you see outside the Lac de la Plagne hut?
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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johnE, If you're referring to the guy in the blue teeshirt I can't remember standing outside there for very long.
We just came across the donkey on the path one summer, it is the only time I have seen one up there and I have no idea where it came from or went to.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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skichampcouk, lovely photos to whet my appetite for a trip to the Vanoise!
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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You know it makes sense.
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We had our first summer trip to the Alps last year. Having spoken to some seasoned summer travellers we took their advice and headed to Hinterglemm (next door neighbour of Saalbach) in Austria. It was stunningly beautiful, and the area caters magnificently for walkers and cyclists. The tourist information office laid on 5 free guided walks each week while our Hotel (Alpine Palace) also provided 5 free guided walks to suit all abilities, plus a free mountain bike taster. The Hotel provided a free Joker Card which gives unlimited use of the 4 open gondolas in Hinterglemm/Saalbach, buses, public outdoor pool, indoor and outdoor tennis. Had snow a couple of days above about 1500m. Truly a fantastic experience which we will be repeating this September.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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PS we went on a package with Inghams Lakes and Mountains. And we went back to the hotel for a ski holiday in January this year - love it
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Poster: A snowHead
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| johnE wrote: |
marksavoie, These are walks I would also recommend. The last time I was at Lac de la Plagne I saw a heard of Chamois.
As a clear expert on the Vanoise can I ask a but of advice? We are in the area late June and planning on doing a few summits starting with the Bellecote (IIRC PD) from the Laisonnay hut. I think this hut opens early June for the GR5 and 55 traffic, but what other huts are likely to be open this early in the season? Is there a good web site where I can see what other huts will be open?
Last year we were thwarted by lots of powder snow I just hope the snow has melted a bit more this season |
Hi, this is a site with most of the Vanoise refuges http://www.refuges-vanoise.com/portail/ I would always suggest giving them a call to check on exact opening dates. Usually they will open mid to late June depending on the refuge. Hope this helps.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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pam w, Did you manage a trip out in the Vanoise?
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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skichampcouk, no, sadly not. My friend walks her dog for several hours a day and I thought that would mean she was up for some substantial walks. However she clearly ambles through the woods whilst the dog races around and our first local walk - which I thought was a nice easy start and which would normally take me about an hour and twenty minutes without hurrying took well over 2 hours and she was a bit punished by the vertical - which was only about 200m. So I downgraded my expectations! She also felt a bit car sick on any winding roads so, all in all, I stuck to local walks, of which there are plenty.
It was mostly glorious weather, the flowers were terrific, lots of cows with bells, and I enjoyed the trip. But it was not a big success in terms of "raise your heartbeat" walking! We didn't do the Chamonix option either because the weather on the only possible days (the lifts only opened shortly before we left) was too cloudy.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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For a family holiday, the Les Gets / Morzine area is hard to beat. There's cycling, downhill MTBs, luging, walking, tree top adventures, rock climbing and canoeing. Probably more as well. The luge at Morzine is brilliant as they let kids on unaccompanied and you can watch it from numerous bars! Morzine is very easy to get to as well.
Bourg d'Oisan and Annecy also thoroughly road tested with kids aged 18 months to 11. (Same kids in general - just lots of hols over the years!)
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Try Slovenia and the Julian Alps. A fraction of the price of the French or Swiss Alps, loads to do and the Triglav national park is not spoiled or industrialised.
Stansted flights to Ljubljana hire a car and travel to bled, bohinj and socha. Great hotels, superb walking, amazing ww1 and cultural history, good network of mountain huts great lake swimming, watersports and excellent value food.
It is also sunnier and warmer than the northern Alps. Beautiful beech forests and limestone scenery to rival most places in the Alps. Then travel 2 hours to the Slovene or Italian Adriatic coast.
We're currently staying in the lovely resort town of Piran but are also close to the postjama caves and the lipica horse place, if that'd your thing
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Peter S, that does sound lovely. I'd head for Slovenia if I didn't have an apartment in the French Alps - though it was warm enough there, earlier this month, that I'd not have wanted it any hotter.
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The Postojna Caves are the ones with the train I think. Also take a look at the Škocjan Caves which are far less commercialised but are immense - a UNESCO world heritage site.
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Yes commercialised is certainly the right word. They have been open to the public since 1819 and had electric light before London did 
Impressive ride in on the train though.
Skocjan is very impressive however. An enormous underground gorge walk if I remember.
Travelling through the Postjoina region on Tuesday I was impressed by the conseqences of the February ice storm. Most trees snapped off at the top, something that does occassionally happen in the UK but not to this extent:
http://www.businessinsider.com/photos-of-ice-storm-in-slovenia-2014-2
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