Poster: A snowHead
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Back from 1 week at AdH- left 27th Jan.
We organised our own trip - Self catered apartment accommodation found via Homelidays: http://www.homelidays.com/
(around 350 euro/6 days)- advantage of not having to use a package tour as we had kids. Transport via TGV from Paris, where we were staying already, to Grenoble ( 3 hours or so), then local bus transfer from Grenoble to AdH (1.5 hours).
Skis hired from Richard III at the DCM- nice married couple, store skis O/N, which was handy because our accommodation was close by.
We bought a family ski pass ( 2 adults 2 children) for 6 days which was the most cost effective if you plan to ski every day.
Ski school for kids at Easy ski- http://www.mgm-international.com/pages/esi_base.html
The classes were very small (oldest son was the only kid in his class for half the week!), instructors were very nice and the kids had no trouble understanding them or enjoying themselves. Man of the house had private lessons with them also, at 45 euro per hour was a good investment, partly as one of his lessons was how to ski on ice...
The snow was pretty crappy- sun affected and hard packed across msot of the resort with sheets of ice in high trafficed or high sun areas. The temperature remained at or below 0 C for most of week, whihc was good for retaining what show there was.
Les Rousses and La Fare were good in the morning, mainly because of man-made snow O/N and Glacier, once we had warmed up. The Sarenne and related runs were closed due to lack of snow, to the regret of many. Charbonniere was a mess of ice, slush and rocks, and Frontfoide ad Col de Cluy over Auris way were icy. (surprising about Frontfoide but there you are.)
The Tunnel was holding up well as was top section of Balcons.
The resort was generally uncrowded, and the only long lift queues all week were Herpie and Marmots III at midday as everyone cleared off the Pic for lunch.
Highlights-
The stunning views and good snow at the Pic Blanc
Swimming in the outdoor heated pool after a days skiing. Great to see the steam rising off the water. Pool is free with 6 day ski pass.
Lunch outdoors in the sun at the restaurant on the Cheveaux run in Villard- great food and ambience.
The lows-
Snow conditions.
Some, but not enough snowmaking in high traffic areas to deal with the ice, especially in the couloir bottle necks. (it was cold enough but we figured that the crowds were down so there was no money in it for the company....)
Summary-
nice resort, helpful staff/etc, good long runs and good variety , high enough to be usually a snow guarantee, but this year, this week, we should have skied in Austria...
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