25-Apr-2012
Posted by : Vixie
The season is nearly over. This means it’s time to pack, clean and move. We’re not moving far, just across the valley to Les Deux Alpes, but I’m mentally preparing myself to pack all that we own into boxes and bags and clean both the new and old apartments.
The yogic path encourages us to pay attention (4th Niyama: swadhyaya – self-study) and to look after ourselves and our environment (2nd Yama: ahimsa – non-violence). With this in mind – and at the request of a dear friend and US-based yogini – I’ve prepared a post on homemade cleaning products, that have a minimal impact on the environment.
11-Jan-2011
Posted by : Vixie
Long have the lives of humans been at the mercy of Mother Nature. And here, in our extreme climate on the top of our mountain, we’re more exposed than most to her whims.
This week has been a perfect example of what forecasters are predicting for the entire season: changeable. So rather than provide you with graphic detail of how the pistes this week morphed from unforgiving ice to thick slush to fresh powder, with skies providing rain, sleet, snow and sunshine, I thought I’d show you the photos from each day this week.
Wednesday 05.01.11: the clouds start to roll in but no hint of rain or snow just yet…
10-Jan-2011
Posted by : Vixie
… to share two photos I took today, within two hours of each other.
The first, the snowstorm that continued until just after lunchtime today. I took this photo riding the Bucket Lift at 13:50:
And the view of the nursery slopes under the DMC at 15:32:
Everything changes, nothing stays the same; this truth is more apparent in the mountains.
More words and photos tomorrow…
27-Dec-2010
Posted by : Vixie
Days off are precious, especially at the start of the season when work feels so much harder because we’ve had a long break. My tendency to take on a new role each season doesn’t help, as I’m getting to grips with a new routine as well as learning a new job (and keeping up with Destination Oisans!). It’s a tiring process but as the year comes to an end my new routine is starting to bed-in and, after a Christmas spent in the office, I made sure that today I hit the snow.
Despite the unabashed commercialism of the central resort, Alpe d’Huez is surrounded by places of remote and timeless calm. Year-round, these are spots of great natural beauty, but I don’t aways notice the visual aesthetic when I return because I’m marvelling at the serenity that fills me as I move away from resort-life and into nature. I feel the weight of modern life slip from my soul; my heart soars, my essence glows, my soul breathes. It’s only when I return to these special spots that I realise how much I’ve been missing, how little space I leave for this kind of wonder in my life.
24-Dec-2010
Posted by : Vixie
Our early gift from Mother Nature was yesterday’s sleety drizzle turning to snow. We woke to a dusting that has continued throughout the day, whitening the town and hiding the mountains.
My walk to work this morning was more like a trip through Narnia. Yesterday’s icy roads were grippy and white with snow, the bare branches of the trees sheathed in thick icing. The wind gusted up from the valley revealing monochrome glimpses of the distant peaks. Unsurprisingly it was a quiet day. Families chose to stay at home or go sledging, while today’s pre-Christmas arrivals were delayed by bad weather and snowy roads.
11-Dec-2010
Posted by : Vixie
I’ve hurt my shoulder. Nothing too exciting, no great accident or major fall, just tension. Funny how only I could end three months of ‘holiday’ with a tension injury… All the muscles of my right should are now fused into a solid mass making it very painful to type, which is why I’ve not been writing much. It’s been hard to keep quiet for the past week but my enforced rest-phase had to go on hold when I got home from work today and found the following question in my inbox:
What are 11 things your life doesn’t need in 2011? How will you go about eliminating them? How will getting rid of these 11 things change your life?
01-Dec-2010
Posted by : Vixie
… or… Don’t let the heavy stuff freeze…
I’ve just cleared a whole heap of snow from my car. The snow storm that’s had me tucked away indoors for the past 24 hours deposited snow in Alpe d’Huez that swallowed my hand and forearm whole; a more scientifically-accurate depth of 43cm. (Thanks Mum for my new tape measure, must remember to keep it in my pocket…)
Of the many winter sports available in the Oisans region, none of the tourist bumpf includes snow clearing on it’s list of snowy sports. But it’s physically challenging, works up a sweat and is great for the soul. What better way to measure your achievement than taking a soft snowy lump (see photo above) and extracting the ice-encrusted car within?
19-Nov-2010
Posted by : Vixie
My 12-year old self
I don’t know if this is the right place to post this message. It’s not about my usual topics: skiing, weather, hiking, snow. In fact, this post is like nothing you’ll find on Destination Oisans. So maybe it’s not your thing, but I ask you to persevere for a few lines because it’s important that you read this…
05-Sep-2010
Posted by : Vixie
The summer is over and Destination Oisans is closing down for the autumn inter-season. I’m off travelling for a couple of months and will be back in late October. See you then!
29-Aug-2010
Posted by : Vixie
Category : Alpe d'Huez, Hiking, Les 2 Alpes, Other Villages, Uncategorised
Tags: Alpe d'Huez, Besse, Briançon, Clavans, Girose Glacier, La Grave, La Meije, Les 2 Alpes, Mizoen, Muzelle, Pic Blanc, Plateau d'Emparis, Plateau de Paris, Venosc
The tourist season may officially be over but for hikers, this is when the real fun begins. It’s simply too hot to do much hiking here in the summer months, especially in July and early August when temperatures regularly top 30ºC. But as September approaches the cooler weather makes hiking far more pleasant. An added bonus is the quieter paths and roads as the majority of holidaymakers return home.
Yesterday we set-off for the Plateau d’Emparis, which is sometimes referred to as the Plateau de Paris on maps and signposts. It’s huge, shallow basin at around 2300m brings you face to face with La Meije and the Girose Glacier of La Grave, and gives stunning views of the local peaks of the Muzelle and Venosc, which tower above Les 2 Alpes, and Pic Blanc, the highest peak of Alpe d’Huez.
