After yet another snowfall of 20cm this week Val d’Isere’s clouds have parted and the resort is glistening with bluebird days.
Take a peek at the snow and sun on our webcam.
More Snow and Bluebird Days in Val d’Isere
February 1st, 2012Are-you-safe-off-piste?
January 30th, 2012
Following a spate of avalanches which have killed five people in Val d’Isere, and with plenty more fresh snow forecast over the next few days, many skiers will be asking themselves whether the fun and challenge of skiing off-piste are worth the risk.
Skilled skiers will tell you that off-piste skiing is the only way to go; the slopes are too tidy, and too full of other holidaymakers, to be any fun. But avalanches can strike at any time, and they take their toll of the unwary.
Last week’s avalanche happened on a day when the risk on the international scale was 3 out of 5. That was still within safe limits for experienced guides, and skiers were out when the avalanche hit. Four people were carried 150m, down one slope and half-way up another, by the 50m-wide slide. They were very lucky: one is still in hospital in a coma, but the others escaped with minor injuries. All were experienced skiers and wore avalanche transceivers; they were found quickly as there were several witnesses who rushed to help, and rescue helicopters were called without delay.
How can skiers and boarders best protect themselves from off-piste risks? The first advice is obvious: make sure you wear a transceiver at all times. Buy and wear an ABS backpack, which works like a car airbag to keep you above the snow, and pull the cord to open it as soon as you feel the airblast which runs ahead of an avalanche.
If that fails, or you’re not wearing a pack, use your arms to keep a breathing space around your face, and as soon as the avalanche slows down use them to “swim” to the surface as quickly as possible, before the snow sets around you like concrete. That way you’ll be easier to dig out and you’ll have a 90% chance of survival, as opposed to 34% if you’re buried.
But the most important piece of advice anyone could give you is: always go with an experienced guide who knows the mountains well, and don’t try to over-ride his or her knowledge and instincts. Sometimes there may be no obvious sign that something’s amiss, but the guide’s gut reaction will be not to go to a particular slope. Trust them, go somewhere else, and live to enjoy another season.
First Class Private Luxury Transport
January 28th, 2012
First Class provide luxury transfers in the French Alps.
They are our preferred transfer company and offer transfers between airports, train stations and our chalets in Val d’Isere.
Their fleet of vehicles are spacious, air conditioned, 4×4 long wheel base, Mercedes-Benz Vianos and VW Caravelles with SAT NAV, DVD players and a selection of movies, coolers for refreshments and leather interiors for absolute comfort. The long wheel base allows for a generous luggage capacity.
Operating throughout the French Alps during the winter ski season First Class provide an unrivalled service of professional, experienced, punctual and friendly drivers. The drivers know the roads well and are knowledgeable on the routes in case passengers want a recommendation for a refreshment or lunch stop or scenic route.
To book a transfer with First Class to start off your holiday with Le Chardon in comfort please call us on 0131 209 7969.
Val d’Isere 1992 Winter Olympics Anniversary
January 26th, 2012The Winter Olympics were held in Albertville and Val d’Isere in 1992. Valentines Day this year, 14th February, marks the 20th anniversary of the special winter sports event.
Val d’Isere is going to be particularly festive on this day with the festivities in honour of this occasion to include a public open ski race down the Bellevarde Face piste, the piste which featured the downhill slalom event, parties, DJ’s, spectacular fireworks and a light show.
Val d’Isere Chalet Le Chardon 19th February
January 25th, 2012
Our largest lodge, Chalet Le Chardon, is available to book Sunday 19th February – Sunday 26th February as a shared chalet.
The chalet sleeps 20 guests in 10 ensuite bedrooms and the price is from £1,500 – £1,995 per person.
This is an excellent opportunity to experience Le Chardon – our chefs, the views, the incredible snow and enjoy a special skiing holiday.
Please call Sarah or Penny for details and availability.
Things to do in Val d’Isere – upcoming events
January 23rd, 2012You’ve come to Val d’Isère to ski, obviously, but what is there to do if you fancy a change? The answer is: an amazing amount.
Sadly you’ve missed the Polo Masters tour. Polo on snow gives meaning to the cliché “a whole new ball-game”. But not to worry – there’s plenty more fun coming up. The clubs continue pumping out the dance hits, but for classical music lovers there’s an intimate treat in the form of Classicaval, which has two sessions. Opus 1 runs from January 24th to 26th, and Opus 2 from March 12th to 15th. Concerts take place in the lovely baroque Saint-Bernard de Menthon church. More details can be found at the Tourist Office, or phone +33 479 06 06 60.
Looking ahead to February 14th, Val d’Isère celebrates the 20th Anniversary of the 1992 Winter Olympic Games. The fun will include an open race on the Bellevarde Face, following part of the famous downhill course. That night the joint will be jumping at an Olympic-themed party hosted by a DJ, followed by fireworks and a lightshow in the Olympic colours; a great way to celebrate St Valentine’s Day.
Between January 29th and February 17th head out of the village to watch the BMW X Drive Tour 2012, when selected customers and journalists get to try their skill at driving BMWs up hill and down in heavy snow. There’s much good-natured shouting and banter, skidding, wheel-spinning – it’s all good clean fun! You can get a flavour from videos of previous events at http://www.bmwblog.com/2010/02/05/bmw-x1-live-tour-in-the-snow-joy-is-xdrive/. If you feel inspired you can try it yourself on Val d’Isère’s ice-driving circuit.
For something a little less energetic, take in the lights. Watch skiers fizz down the mountain in a torchlight descent, or “ooh” and “aah” – mulled wine in hand – at the fabulous firework displays, snow spectaculars and fire-juggling shows held throughout the season.
For indoor fun there’s the sport and leisure centre, with a gym, badminton, basketball and squash courts, swimming pool, massage jets, saunas both indoors and out – and a lounge bar and boutique to revive you afterwards. Or you could take classes in patisserie, or a tour (in French) to watch local craftspeople spinning yarn, tanning hides or making jewellery; go to the cinema, with its constantly-changing repertoire of films; or follow the snowshoe trail to visit Baroque buildings in the area with a knowledgeable guide from the Foundation for International Mountain Cultural Action.
As you can see, there’s much more than skiing in Val d’Isère!
Val d’Isere Dining On Your Chalet Staff Night Off
January 19th, 2012
Le Chardon Mountain Lodges’ guests have one evening in our chalets each week when the staff have a much deserved night off from their first class cheffing and hosting.
We thoroughly recommend that guests go out and experience the incredible restaurants and local Alpine cuisine which Val d’Isere has to offer. Val d’Isere has a blossoming reputation for its dining hosting an annual Gastronomy Festival and now has its second Michelin star restaurant.
Fondues are a typical dish. This is a large pot of cheese or a mixture of cheeses, reblochon is popular in Val d’Isere, melted with cornflour, garlic and a large dash of white wine over a hot stove on the table. It is served with crusty chunks of bread, beef and vegetables for dipping with a skewer. Many of the restaurants in Val d’Isere offer this dish particularly Le Lodge and also La Casserole which has two sittings for their famous fondue.
Tartiflette is another local speciality and popular mountain warming lunch choice. Reblochon is also used to create this cheesy layered potato, bacon and onion dish. Reblochon is a local Savoie region cheese which is incredibly rich, gooey with a nutty flavour and is sold in huge rounds at the local market on Mondays. La Perdrix Blanche, La Grande Ours and L’Auberge St Hubert are good choices for this.
Raclette is another French cheese experience where the cheese round is melted on the table and scraped off onto a plate of potatoes, meats, gherkins and salad. L’Arolay at La Fornet and Le Coin Savoyarde specialise in this.
The restaurants in Val d’Isere offer such an eclectic range of dining options from the best pizza at Chez Paolo to truffle pork belly at Michelin starred La Table de L’Ours.
To wash this all down the locals drink a digestif called Genepi which is made from a local plant found at high altitude in the Savoie region. It is a strong liqueur with a rather potent herbal and acquired taste!
We are happy to recommend any restaurants and on off the mountain for lunch and dinner, afternoon tea and coffee.
Bon appetit!
A Whiter than White New Year in Val d’Isere
January 6th, 2012The snowflakes just keep falling in Val d’Isere.
Our December guests had incredible powder snow and sunny days.
Today it is falling thickly again but the blue skies will reappear soon…
Peek at our live webcam: http://www.lechardonvaldisere.com/webcamimages.htm
Happy New Year from Le Chardon
January 1st, 2012Le Chardon Mountain Lodges would like to wish you all a superb 2012.
We look forward to an impressive ski season ahead in Val d’Isere.
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow…at Le Chardon in Val d’Isere
December 21st, 2011It continues to snow spectacularly in Val d’Isere!
Snowflakes the size of twenty pence pieces are falling relentlessly.
Powdered pistes!