Alpe D'Huez

View from The Hotel Beau Soleil

My first visit to Alpe d'Huez was in 2001 on the Brockhurst School Skiing Trip with my eldest son, Michael who was 7 years old.  The last time I had skied was  the year after leaving school when I was included on my friends school trip to Val Cenis, 13 years ago!  I was eager for my children to learn to ski and this was a perfect opportunity.  To give him an advantage, he had some basic tuition at the Bracknell dry slope,  I thought it would be a good idea if he could learn the basics and be able to put on ski boots and skis, snow plough and stop and have a go on the dreaded button lift.

The trip was to be an amazing experience. We left school at 2am for Gatwick and arrived at our destination in time to be fitted for our boots and skis and have a practice run on the nursery slope. Strong friendships have been made as a result of these ski trips both with other parents and their children and with teachers.

View from the hotel

View from above!

Sarenne

Alpe d'Huez is a large resort and it was a treat to be able to stay in the Hotel Beau Soleil, the last hotel in the village before the start of the pistes and a short distance from the main lifts!  The food was not exactly scrumptious and the accommodation rather basic but it had character.  A good time was had by all and I will cherish the memories of this holiday! My son, along with his peers, learned to ski in a short space of time, a skill learned  for life.  All the children had a ski lesson twice a day with a French ski instructor from ESS.  They were presented with their badges at the end of the week and Michael remembered his instructor when he met him again 9 years later!  The parents had the luxury of an Instructor once a day and we explored the mountain as a group the rest of the time.  We also took the children for a "free ski" session after their lessons, which proved very popular.  During the evenings various activities were organised.  Ice skating,tobogganing, swimming and the last night of the holiday was the talent show.

   

The start ofm Sarenne, longest black run in Europe

On The Piste
The natural bowl shape at the start of the ski area made gentle slopes ideal for beginners.  Further up there is much to explore and many challenging runs to be found.

An ideal, great full day of skiing, which I could recommend, would be to start with a ride up to Signal De L'Homme(2176m), down the Col De Cluy and down to Auris En Oisans(a traditional mountain village at 1600m), back towards DMC, down to Oz en Oisans(another traditional village 1350m) and back up to L'Alpette.  A well earned stop for lunch, then on to Montfais and down to Vaujany(1250), back up to L'Alpette, ski La Fare and home!  It is also an experience to ski under lights on the Signal during the evening ski session.


My favourite has to be Le Tunnel, situated just below the top station, Pic Blanc at 3330m, where Mont Blanc, Mont Cervin and Meije can be seen.  The excitement of making that final decision to enter the tunnel, past the warning sign of what lay ahead,  to the point of no return,  made it an irresistible option, and the fact it had recently been closed due to conditions, it was an opportunity not to be missed.(if this should happen a great alternative is the Clocher de Macle and La Balme)  The blood wagon, strategically placed at the exit of the tunnel, couldn't help make you feel you had made the wrong choice.  The sight that met me at the end of the tunnel was a narrow ledge and then the sheer drop down to the left, moguls all the way, I couldn't wait!  Having conquered the first section, feeling rather pleased with myself, to my delight, over the next ledge there was another part much the same!   Magic!

View from above! Photo taken at the top of Pic Blanc 3330

My son and I  have been to Alpe d'Huez several times and returned with the rest of the family, each time we have had an extremely enjoyable holiday  there and it will always be one of my favourite holiday destinations!

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