Friday 20th Feb
Late afternoon train from Durham to Kings Cross, thence a short walk to KX Travelodge (room ok). Very nice dinner at Euro Tandoori, 325 Grays Inn Rd (opposite Kings Cross).

Saturday
09:45 Eurostar St Pancras to Moutiers. Journey took about 7 hours, but comfortable train, reasonable buffet. Short transfer by minibus to Chalet Renardeaux in Meribel.

The chalet was very nice – large bedroom and bathroom with full size bath. The bus stop was right outside – 700m to slopes, so each day we took the free bus in preference to walking.

Sunday
Skied west side of Meribel. Soup at restaurant at top of Tougnete1

Monday
Over to Courchevel 1850, then Courchevel 1650. Decided not to eat at mountain restaurants (€18 for pasta, € 21 for pizza) and had a nice lunch at L’Ours Blanc Brasserie, beside piste in Courchevel 1650 itself. Very foggy in afternoon.

Tuesday
Glorious sunshine, with us for the rest of the week. Over to Val Thorens – skied the Col (Glacier de Thorens).

Above the clouds –

The glacier –

About to ski down –

Looking back –

Nice lunch at Le Refuge, (centre of Val Thorens, just up a side-street from the piste-side Chamois d’Or).

Pat’s baked potato –

Colin’s Caesar Salad –

Wednesday
Repeat of Tuesday.

Thursday
Skied the Combe de Vallon – great fun.

View of start of run from top –

View of Mont Blanc from top –

Lunch (sandwich) at foot of Plain des Mains. Then 3 Marches down towards St Martin and back to Tougnete.

View back to Mont du Vallon –

Zoom to show Combe de Vallon run. X marks the start of the run.

Friday
Over Col de La Loze and down to La Tania. Lunch at café there. Did the Folyeres blue twice before lunch, Colin did the Dou-des-Lanches black after lunch, then we skied east Meribel in the afternoon.

Saturday
Eurostar back to St Pancras. Early dinner at Carluccio’s, St Pancras, upper level. (very nice, recommended) then train to Durham. Train delayed by ¾ hour after death on line north of Darlington. Lift home from Julie.