East from La Clusaz, a little bit closer to Mont Blanc, is the village of Les Saisies. We were here a few years ago and thought it worth another look. There is a large motor home parking area that you can ski into. The main part of the village is not far away. Not much après ski here but there are numerous artisan shops selling food, drink and odd souvenirs. Many restaurants, a few bars, some small hotels and a lot of small chalets. Like La Clusaz, this is a very French kind of ski area. Totally different from the clubbing orientated resorts that cater to package holidays.
In the evening was a lovely colourful sunset and then it started snowing. Serious snowing. Snowed all the next day as well. And the next night.
Early in the morning we were woken to the sound of snow ploughs clearing the parking area. Large 4×4 loaders fitted with snow chains and hydraulically controlled snow ploughs. Twelve tonnes of engine and wheels. They clunk and scrape and roar as they push snow around. Ripping up the compacted snow and driving terrifyingly close to the fragile motorhomes. I am lying in bed waiting to feel and hear the sickening crunching, tearing sound as they misjudge Baloo and rip a side panel off. Cautiously I risk a look out of the window. The loader shoots past fast enough to make Baloo shudder and close enough that I can see the driver’s teeth. It appears to be guided by a disaffected teenager complete with hoody. He is chatting away on his mobile phone while waving to his co-worker in the other loader. Clearly he does not notice my aghast expression peering through a crack in the curtains. I close the blinds firmly and retreat under the quilt. Half and hour later it is all over. Dressed and fortified by coffee, I check for damage. There is none. There are tracks right next to Baloo. The snow has been scraped within inches or the tyres and right underneath the tail lift. But not a scratch. I guess the youth is a pretty good driver.
I find skiing in the fresh snow a complete delight. Diane does not. So for the first couple of days I skied on my own. Poking around some of the less visited areas of the mountain where I could make fresh tracks in the powder snow. Later Diane came out and we pottered around under the shadow of Mont Blanc. After a week or so it looked like the weather was turning bad again so we packed up and headed back to the Unicat workshop. We were having a few problems with the generator overheating. Parked up for days at a time in the winter is the one time we really need the generator so since expert help was not far away we decided to head back.
