alpe de huez
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Your kids will probably like that chair lift more than you think. It's more like a fairground ride the 1st time. Quite good fun, and it gives access to a rather uncrowded area, which has some sheltered skiing, great for white-out or windy days.
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Started by Daz...37 in France 28-Oct-2008 - 46 Replies
Davidmpires
reply to 'alpe de huez' posted Oct-2008
Should be a good place...I'm going there in April
Wanderer
reply to 'alpe de huez' posted Oct-2008
Lovely resort and I would agree completely with RustyInn and Geoff. The Sarenne is a beautiful run and apart from the steep pitch at the top would not rate at more than a red (one or two pitches later on that might test an early intermediate). Because it is on the "other" side of the mountain, there are no lifts or other distractions so it can be really quiet, especially if you can manage to let the other skiers go ahead. If doing it take your time to enjoy the views, the silence and the peace.
The main runs of the DMC lift can be a bit busy though there are lovely gentle green runs that are great for beginners. The queues for the cable car to the top used to be horrendous but I think there is now a gondola or chairlift from the Bergers side that alleviates the problem. In any event, its much more interesting to head to the fringes of the resort as mentioned by Geoff.
Off the slopes, the Petit Creux Restaurant (I think thats its name) was really good when I was there last - its a bit out of the way not too far from the Vallee Blanche Hotel at the bottom of the town. For a late beer, we found the Piano Bar near the ice rink was excellent - very French and quite expensive but much more pleasant that the rowdy saisonaires Irish and English bars :twisted:. It often had fiarly decent live music from about 10.30 for a couple of hours before turning into a disco at about 1am :roll:.
The main runs of the DMC lift can be a bit busy though there are lovely gentle green runs that are great for beginners. The queues for the cable car to the top used to be horrendous but I think there is now a gondola or chairlift from the Bergers side that alleviates the problem. In any event, its much more interesting to head to the fringes of the resort as mentioned by Geoff.
Off the slopes, the Petit Creux Restaurant (I think thats its name) was really good when I was there last - its a bit out of the way not too far from the Vallee Blanche Hotel at the bottom of the town. For a late beer, we found the Piano Bar near the ice rink was excellent - very French and quite expensive but much more pleasant that the rowdy saisonaires Irish and English bars :twisted:. It often had fiarly decent live music from about 10.30 for a couple of hours before turning into a disco at about 1am :roll:.
Mal0r
reply to 'alpe de huez' posted Oct-2008
We'll be making our 3rd trip to Alpe D'Huez in January. We love the resort and it 's ski areas.
Skiing:
2 years ago we got some fantastic ice coverings on some of the south-facing slopes, in particular, the red run Grande Rousses with it's great steep part.
The scare-chair is the one that goes down first then up when you cross the ravine from Alpe D'Huez to Auris en Oisans on the lift called 'Alpauris' - it's wierd leaning forward in a chair going down. Not for the faint-hearted.
Le Tunnel, everyone's favourite goal. there is a video of it on youtube - just do a search for alpe d'huez and le tunnel. You'll see loads of skiers just edging their way down the steep part.
Apres Ski:
If you're staying late in Alpe D'Huez and like Fondue then the Fondue en Follie is excellent, but small. Make sure you book early if you're in a chalet and are going to use it during the chalet staff night off.
Might see you there, we're going week beginning Jan 10th
Skiing:
2 years ago we got some fantastic ice coverings on some of the south-facing slopes, in particular, the red run Grande Rousses with it's great steep part.
The scare-chair is the one that goes down first then up when you cross the ravine from Alpe D'Huez to Auris en Oisans on the lift called 'Alpauris' - it's wierd leaning forward in a chair going down. Not for the faint-hearted.
Le Tunnel, everyone's favourite goal. there is a video of it on youtube - just do a search for alpe d'huez and le tunnel. You'll see loads of skiers just edging their way down the steep part.
Apres Ski:
If you're staying late in Alpe D'Huez and like Fondue then the Fondue en Follie is excellent, but small. Make sure you book early if you're in a chalet and are going to use it during the chalet staff night off.
Might see you there, we're going week beginning Jan 10th
www
Mal0r
Souldrive
reply to 'alpe de huez' posted Oct-2008
I know the nottingham trent university snowsports club are there from the 2 - 10th of Jan, look out for lots of drunks in costume!
I'll be venturing across from serre chevalier to see one of my ntu buddies for the one day we get included with our lift pass, Looking forward to ripping up the big ski area at almost 4000m!! i'm out there 4 - 11 of Jan
I'll be venturing across from serre chevalier to see one of my ntu buddies for the one day we get included with our lift pass, Looking forward to ripping up the big ski area at almost 4000m!! i'm out there 4 - 11 of Jan
Daz...37
reply to 'alpe de huez' posted Oct-2008
thanks everyone,
not sure the kids are going to like the SCARE CHAIR but oh well........
mal0r, flying out of bhx on the 10th.
will keep an eye out.
all the best ,
daz...37
not sure the kids are going to like the SCARE CHAIR but oh well........
mal0r, flying out of bhx on the 10th.
will keep an eye out.
all the best ,
daz...37
Tony_H
reply to 'alpe de huez' posted Oct-2008
WTSS rate the Sarenne as no more than a blue, apart from the steep start, but say its a fabulous long run. I'd love to do that.
Last season in Sauze when you couldnt ski off the mountain, they sent everyone down on the chair lifts, which whilst I wouldnt call it scary, it did freak several people out. It is an odd sensation at first coming down the mountain facing out on a chairlift.
Last season in Sauze when you couldnt ski off the mountain, they sent everyone down on the chair lifts, which whilst I wouldnt call it scary, it did freak several people out. It is an odd sensation at first coming down the mountain facing out on a chairlift.
Bandit
reply to 'alpe de huez' posted Oct-2008
daz...37 wrote:thanks everyone,
not sure the kids are going to like the SCARE CHAIR but oh well........
mal0r, flying out of bhx on the 10th.
will keep an eye out.
all the best ,
daz...37
Your kids will probably like that chair lift more than you think. It's more like a fairground ride the 1st time. Quite good fun, and it gives access to a rather uncrowded area, which has some sheltered skiing, great for white-out or windy days.
Gareth Fair
reply to 'alpe de huez' posted Oct-2008
Really cool resort.
Small enough town centre but great mountain with a huge number of runs. Nothing to hard either as a few of the black runs would be red/blue in other resorts. There is some very nice easy runs down to Oz En Oisans and Vaujany and the tunnel is just fantastic. I agree with the other posters about the Sarenne, its a wide steep run at the start and flat through the trees at the end but is well worth the effort as the views are great.
Have been 3 times and would go back
Enjoy Gar. :D
Small enough town centre but great mountain with a huge number of runs. Nothing to hard either as a few of the black runs would be red/blue in other resorts. There is some very nice easy runs down to Oz En Oisans and Vaujany and the tunnel is just fantastic. I agree with the other posters about the Sarenne, its a wide steep run at the start and flat through the trees at the end but is well worth the effort as the views are great.
Have been 3 times and would go back
Enjoy Gar. :D
When in doubt?....Flat out.
Topic last updated on 09-January-2009 at 15:23