WE HEAD FOR SOME GLACIER SKIING

23rd June 2017 | James Cove, Les2Alpes

Last modified on September 12th, 2021

We’ve just arrived in Les2Alpes as its summer skiing season gets underway. But it’s not all about snowsports. Far from it.

For me no summer is complete without a spot of glacier skiing.

Les2Alpes is one of the best places to come.

As I arrived in town on Friday evening it didn’t look like I’d shortly be skiing, but there is a glacier over and way above that ridgeline.

Summer in Les2Alpes. Image © PlanetSKI

And there was some snow on the distant mountain tops.

Summer in Les2Alpes. Image © PlanetSKI

They key question from my hotel was a liquid one – water or beer?

The beer won.

Sorry about the legs

Yours truly. Image © PlanetSKI

I’m not actually skiing until Sunday as this weekend in the resort is a new Outdoor Festival celebrating summer in the mountains.

I’m here to take a look at the host of other activities on offer at altitude.

There’s downhill mountain biking, paragliding, trail running, climbing, golf, skiing on wheels plus a whole bunch of competitions and contests.

There’s music and there was going to be a attempt to break the world slack line record.

Sadly the organisers couldn’t get the right insurance for the event and it had to be cancelled.

For those after chills rather than thrills there is yoga, gentle hiking or just getting away from the current heatwave that is battering much of Europe.

And my No1 feeling at the moment?

After the heatwave in the UK this past week and temperatures of 35ºC degrees at Geneva airport and 30ºC down in the alpine valleys it is wonderfully cool up here at 2,000m.

But what about the skiing?

Well, here is the glacier in its current condtion:

The glacier at Les2Alpes. Image © PlanetSKI

It has been open for the past week to ski clubs and professional racers and I’m told it is in the good condition – despite the recent hot weather.

Here is one my pictures from a couple of years ago:

Glacier skiing. Image © PlanetSKI

The summer ski area is located on the 120 hectare glacier with skiing from 3,200m up to 3,600.

There’s 1 red run, 9 blue runs and 1 green piste.

It also has a one of the best summer snowparks in the Alps with a superpipe and an air bag.

There’s a host of rails, tables and freestyle modules.

It is served by two different T-bar lifts for a shorter waiting time.

New for summer 2017 is a luge and toboggan track.

New for this summer at Les2Alpes. Image © PlanetSKI

I’ll be updating this blog on a daily basis over the next few days but here’s some of my past blogs from Les2Alpes to give you an idea.

READ MORE:

PlanetSKI is back in the Alps

Chilling in the Alps

“Summer is a very important time for us and though overall numbers have declined in recent years we are determined to offer our guests the best experiences. This is a new event and has got off to an excellent start and we are already planning for next year and beyond,” said the head of the tourist office, Giles van Heule, to me.

Giles van Heule. Image © PlanetSKI

So if you want to see what summer in the mountains is all about then check out PlanetSKI over the next few days.

I’m not entirely sure what I’ll be up to as I intend to play it all by ear, but paragliding is near the top of my list.

And white water rafting gets the pulse going, but there may not be the time:

White water rafting. Image © PlanetSKI

And that’s me on a bike last time I was here – feeling more like a medieval knight about to go jousting.

And then there is a beach too – and one with quite a view:

Les2Alpes has been at the forefront of the new drive to increase summer tourism and is one of the best all season resorts.

It has a series of events over the coming months:

June 22 to 25: Les 2 Alpes Outdoor Festival

June 30 June to July 2nd: 18th MOUNTAIN OF HELL: A downhill mountain biking competition open to the general public

July 8 and 9: LES 2 ALPES VERTICAL TRAIL- 7th year: A weekend of challenges with two trail running competitions: “Verticale du Diable” and “Les 6h du Diable”

July 14 July -5th La Fête du Bois in Venosc village: It is all about wood in the street of Venosc that day

July 15 and 16: 2nd Muzelle Festival: A weekend dedicated to snowboarding and skiing on the glacier, with entertainment on the slopes and in the resort

July 27 July – August 2nd: Marché Artisanal in Venosc Village: Local craftmen exhibit their work in Venosc : jewels, decorative objects, clothes, pots, etc

August 3 – 19th Le marché des potiers in Venosc village: Around 20 potters show their work in the street of the village

August 6: HAY FESTIVAL – 24th year: Traditional festival themed around the daily life and costumes of yesteryear

August 7 to 1: 1,2,3 TRIBU – 7th year: Families tackle multiple challenges in a number of events over the course of a week

August 10: 4th Journée des Arts Forains in Venosc Village: Street festival with magicians, puppet shows, juggling shows, etc

August 19 and 20: 10th GRANFONDO: A weekend of cycling.

See here for further details of what is happening over the summer in Les2Alpes:

READ MORE: