17 Feb 2014; Agy to Les Carroz (circuits)

Walk descriptor	France cross country		Day	00
Date	Mon 17 Feb 2014		Start to end time	05h 38m
Start point	Agy		End point	Les Carroz (circuits)
Miles today	13.59		Cu miles	13.59
Ft today	2,196		Cu ft	2,196
Route miles left	.00		Route ft left
Today’s weather	Brilliant sunny day. No wind, no rain or snowfall, cool – about minus 3C

Today’s location (the red cross in a circle shows where I am at the moment)		GPX based track of today’s walk (click here to access to access downloadable file for the morning’s run and here for the afternoon’s)

Commentary

A fantastic day’s cross country skiing at Agy Nord-Ski centre near Les Carroz in France

First time on skis for 6 years and only the second time in my life that I’ve ever been on cross country skis. So wiping out five times in the day not too bad! Especially as we took in a red run and a black run during the course of the day. I’m hopeless at downhill and so we decided to try something different for a change – and being so close to start of LE2JOG hike next month couldn’t take the risk of having a major downhill accident

But don’t let anyone tell you cross country is easy! Because although the potential for major damage is less than with downhill it’s extremely hard work if you are a talentless amateur like me! We climbed over 2,000 feet during the day as well as skiing 13 miles so to downhill skiers try imagining what it would be like to ski uphill for half a mile of vertical ascent…

Had spectacular views all around the Mont Blanc reghion, and above the Chamonix valley today. Weather couldn’t have been better – after a solid 24 hours of snow which at lower levels had been rain, up at ski-ing altitude (roughly 4,500 ft) the snow was brilliant – deep and powdery. Despite being both UK and French half-terms, the pistes were virtually deserted. Another (welcome) difference from downhill. Had the services of an excellent guide to show us the ropes and try to improve technique.

Staying overnight in chalets at Les Carroz; trying out a route near le Praz de Lys tomorrow.

Today’s photos (click to enlarge)


Looking North towards Morzine area	Just proving that I am still alive..

With Val halfway through the morning	Val and our guide looking over lunch spot. So much nicer than a Tescos meal deal at the office desk

Typical cross country piste. Grooves at the side for classic style, wide area in middle for skating technique. We did classic as it is easier..	Start of the black run we did in the afternoon. Not quite as death defying as it sounds!

Panorama looking South East, towards Mont Blanc massif