A Magic Day to Sixt-fer-de-Cheval

1/ Looking down into the Sixt village

The blue skies and picture perfect scenery really says everything - doesn't it? There is a big high pressure sitting over us at the moment and the nights are freezing but every day for the last 4 days has been "bluebird". No new snow in the forecast, but hey...you can't have everything?

2/ The hidden valley to Lac de Gur

Today we did the ski run from Flaine to Sixt-fer-de Cheval. 14 km long, it was spectacular. It's an easy blue run called the Cascades from the top of Flaine (2480m) to Sixt (about 800m). From Sixt you then pick up a free bus that takes you back to the other linked resorts, Samoen or Morillon. We were joined on our excursion by the Teste family sans Louie (their oldest boy) but with their friends, Pierre-Lui and Katrine and their 8 year old daughter who is a great friend of Camille.

About half way along there is a traditional Gite (Guesthouse) situated on a small alpine lake (Lac de Gers). If you wish, you can make a booking there for lunch and enjoy traditional Haute Savoie cuisine on the way down the run. As the Gite is slightly off the piste, there is a telephone nailed to a sign and you just call them to pick you up. They arrive with a ski-do and ropes to tow you up to the restaurant. You can also stay there the night!

The village of Sixt also has one or two ski lifts, so we think we might try a few runs there. One or 2 lifts? It will remind us of skiing in NZ!!

3/ On the way down through the forest

We joined the Teste Family for lunch after we returned to the very top of Les Carroz - a place called the Tete des Saix. Graeme and I actually joined in the conversation and uttered a few french sentences that were understood! There might be hope for us yet?

But the "Logique francais" of the day belonged to Hubert. He is keen to get some randonee (ski touring) equipment and was seeking Graeme's advice. Hubert is not a small man, immensely strong and he skis very fast and hard. Graeme tried to politely suggest that he would need to look at a "robust" set up. "Hmmm ...he said scratching his chin" "So it's like buying a mountain bike?" "How so?" Graeme asked. "Well, I was thinking about buying an ultralight bike - say 1okg but it will cost me a lot more. So I figure I should buy the 15kg model and lose 5kg in weight. Then, I win both ways: - the bike is cheaper and I'm 5 kg lighter!!....but it might be a little more difficult n'est-ce pas?"

4/ Picnic at Tete des Saix with the Teste Family.

Look carefully, Graeme captured a mandarin in midflight!!