SkiBike Tour 2010-11 - Le Crozet
Posted: Sunday, 26 December 2010 by Mark Kinnon in Labels: 2010-11 Tour, D.I.Y., France, SkiBike
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Today was bright, but quite cold and windy. Le Crozet base station is an easy 30 minute drive from the centre of Geneva and is located in the little known Jura mountain range. Lower than the neighbouring Alps to the South, they are a popular location for cross-country skiing, snow-shoeing and some downhill skiing.
The helpful ticket office staff explained that there was limited skiing above and warned us not to go right over the mountain to Lelex, as we would not be able to return. There was almost no queuing and the skibike presented no issues.
Irritatingly, the only chairlift to the main runs closed just after our arrival, due to the high winds, limiting skiing to just a short nursery run served by a single poma lift.
This short run only allowed a few turns before re-joining a lengthy queue, most other skiers were good natured and jovial considering the circumstances.
I met another skibiker who was riding a snowscoot, this is a hybrid of skibike and snowboard, which you ride standing up with your feet in loop bindings, we shook hands.
Although disappointing to be denied access to most of the mountain and the descent over to Lelex, it was a ideal warm up and equipment test.
The view to the South was astonishing, Lac Leman (Lake Geneva) was a sheet of blue steel and the entire Alpine range was visible, especially the Mont Blanc some 70 miles away. There was a pleasant unpretentious village skiing ambiance about the place and the very short journey times to consider. A UK visitor could fly in to Geneva, have a day on the slopes and be home for a late super that evening.
The helpful ticket office staff explained that there was limited skiing above and warned us not to go right over the mountain to Lelex, as we would not be able to return. There was almost no queuing and the skibike presented no issues.
Irritatingly, the only chairlift to the main runs closed just after our arrival, due to the high winds, limiting skiing to just a short nursery run served by a single poma lift.
This short run only allowed a few turns before re-joining a lengthy queue, most other skiers were good natured and jovial considering the circumstances.
I met another skibiker who was riding a snowscoot, this is a hybrid of skibike and snowboard, which you ride standing up with your feet in loop bindings, we shook hands.
Although disappointing to be denied access to most of the mountain and the descent over to Lelex, it was a ideal warm up and equipment test.
The view to the South was astonishing, Lac Leman (Lake Geneva) was a sheet of blue steel and the entire Alpine range was visible, especially the Mont Blanc some 70 miles away. There was a pleasant unpretentious village skiing ambiance about the place and the very short journey times to consider. A UK visitor could fly in to Geneva, have a day on the slopes and be home for a late super that evening.
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| Le Crozet - nursery slope with an amazing view of the Alps |