The snow just keeps on falling.......

At last, the snow drought in the Alps is over.  The Christmas season may have been blighted by what was, in places, the warmest December on record with webcam shots of grassy slopes and threadbare pistes. But January started on a different note, with moderate to heavy snowfalls.  So Alun and Caroline quickly organised a wonderful Family Ski holiday for us.

It's not simply a question of cutting back on the apres-ski:  taking children to the slopes involves a lot of clobber, a lot of organisation and - inevitably - more dosh.  But family ski holidays can be the stuff lifetime memories are made of.  We chose a resort with less emphasis on off-slope socialising (read drinking) and more on childcare facilities and suitable slopes.  Children (and Nannas) can only manage a morning on the slopes so it was off to Piou Piou (ski school) for the girls and nursery for the little dude.  It is the best option as adults can get grumpy going down the nusery slopes for the hundredth time.

I want to come too....

James went to Powder Pups whilst Emmie and Chloe were in the Hounds.

Ski school in France is called Piou Piou.  I wondered where this expression came from.  Back in the 19th century, the word "piou piou" was an onomotopia for the sound that chicks make.  Today, it generally refers to a foot soldier.  However, I have heard people asking friends "comment vont vos piou-piou?" - they were asking "how are your children?". So "piou piou" is referring to your chicks in the nest - rather cute!

Our grandchildren started to ski at 3.  Just beware, however, that when you start them on skis this young, they may overtake you by the age of 6!

The ski lessons are given by the ESF instructors in the special ski garden or on the mountain.  Where the lessons takes place, depends upon their age and ability.  Wrap around care before and after lesson times was provided in the form of indoor or outdoor entertainment by Family Skis excellent dedicated childcare team.  They also provided lunch.  The children loved the whole day.

An example of their day:-

9.15 a.m.   Drop off at ski garden, top of bubble.

9.30 a.m.   Ski lesson starts.
                  Younger children will probably spend the majority of the lesson in the ski garden.
                   Time for a morning snack and toilet breaks.
                  As children progress, the instructor takes them up the mountain.
                  (Gemma's heart swelled with pride when she saw Emmie on the chairlift).
                   Chloe also graduated to the chairlifts.  Well done girls.

12 noon      Lessons finish

12.30 - 4.30 p.m.   Lunch followed by indoor and outdoor activities organised by the childcare
                               entertainments team.

4.30 p.m.     Home time and back to our cosy chalet (Snowdrop) for afternoon tea.

Ardent is a very small resort.  Not much to do apart from enjoy the good access to the Portes du Soleil ski area.  Very good ski-ing from here, you can ski in to Switzerland in about 20 mins.  Do not go to Ardent if you want night life.  It only has 2 pubs and they close at 8.30 p.m.  But it is perfect for a young family.

Its a traditional hamlet in the heart of the Portes du Soleil.  The 10 man bubble lift provides direct access to Les Lindarets where the children's ski school began at 9.30 whilst the parents explored the pistes of both France and Switzerland.  A wonderful entry point to the world's largest integrated ski area.  It has nearly 700 kms of runs and I think we covered most of them!!!!

The village of Ardent feels as if it could belong to another age with it's rustic wooden chalets.

If you are skiing into Chatel you have to visit this wonderful little establishment.  La Ferme des Pistes.  I love this place, tucked in at the side of the piste.  Great views on a sunny day but we only stopped for a fortifying hot chocolate (avec rum).  Is 11 am too early for rum on a cold snowy day?
I could have stayed all day in this lovely little hideway complete with open fire place and exposed roof timbers but the others wanted to press on.

Talking of food and drink we had an excellent meal on the mountain at La Cremaillere in the tiny French village of Les Lindarets.  Here you'll find delicious food and wine with friendly service.  Alun had booked ahead and we had a lovely table with views.  Surrounding Les Lindarets are a few tree-lined runs so enchanting you feel as if you are ski-ing through Narnia.

Plenty of sunshine on offer in the Alps today.

In fact it was a perfect day until.......

Poor Phil had an accident and cut his leg with his ski.  Needed 6 stitches.

Top tip:  Ensure your lift pass has Carre Neige.  Not full insurance cover but a top-up cover designed to act in tandem with your state or private health insurance.  The Carre Neige can be bought along with your ski pass in most French resorts costing approximately 2.80 euros a day.  It covers you for transport off the mountain, including helicopter, either on or off-piste, and is instantly recognised by the French rescue services, meaning you don't have to pay up front and claim back later.  It'll also refund your lift pass for days lost to injury.

Unfortunately, that was the end of Phil's ski-ing on this holiday but, of course, the fearless amongst us (Alun and Caroline), without the elderly parents to hold them back, skied (and made it look easy - according to Mike and Gemma, who rode the chairlift to watch) the infamous Swiss Wall, a steep mogul field beneath the Pointe de Vorlaz - once down, a smug sense of satisfaction and very wobbly legs are guaranteed.

The slope is classified in the Swiss/French difficulty rating as orange, which means that it is rated as too difficult to fit in the standard classification of green (very easy), blue (easy), red (intermediate) and black (difficult).  It has a length of 1 kilometre and a vertical drop of 331 metres, starting at 2,151 metres above sea level.  Oh and Alun did it on a snowboard.

After that the Hot Tub, were pleasantly tired skiers can sip champagne whilst gazing at the Alpine night sky.

Do you want to build a Snowman.....

And, of course, at the end of the week the medals.  Well done girls.

A ski-ing holiday is a very special way to bond with the family.  Maybe, it's the cozy evenings and hearty food in the ski chalet or maybe it's the chance to chat about how the day went.  Either way, it's a very special experience.  When you boil it right down, going away on a family trip is all about building some unbelievable memories for the future.  Without the chance to get away together like this then the year just flies by, with everyone focused on their own lives and living in their own separate bubbles.

Taking group selfies on the snow, travelling together in the ski lifts, wonderful mountain lunches, expert first aid from our children and relaxed evenings in the chalet are all things that are likely to linger long in the memory, and leave us longing for our next family adventure.  Thank you for everything.