he pine trees are laden with
a hefty layer of snow. which
causes the branches to sag. Thanks to the coating. there is muffled hush in the crystalline air as the chair lift rises into the mountains above Les Gets (pronounced [xiv-.16.") in the Port du Soleil region that straddles the French/Swiss border.
The early winter‘s snowfall has been the best that the resort‘s seen in perhaps a decade. In the village. which is only about 1200 metres above sea level. the white stuff is about three feet thick — in places. drifting higher above the icy pavements.
Les Gets. one of those quintessential Alpine hamlets with timber beam architecture. sits in a valley between two distinct ski areas. To the northwest. the wide. expansive runs of Mont Chery beckon strongly on sunny days.
Its primary slopes offer unparalleled views across Les Gets towards the craggy massif of Mont Blane. Here. too. are ramps and jumps that have been set up
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Beyond the ski
The flight routes between Scotland and Geneva are now open, making this is the perfect time to get that Alpine high, as Barry Shelby discovers in Les Gets.
specifically for snow boarders.
Southeast of Les Gets is Les Chavannes and a much more extensive network of lifts and runs. The pistes of Chavannes link with neighbouring Morzine. which in turn connects to Avoriaz. from where one can venture into Switzerland and potentially ski as far as Champery. another classic Alpine village.
The pistes around Les Gets are predominantly red and blue. suited to the intermediate-level skier. Black runs may be more limited but are surely challenging. with steep drops and moguls the size of Ford Kias.
Inconsistency in snowfall is the usual gripe with this area. Aficionados moan that it‘s simply not high enough in the mountains. Perhaps.
But considering that you can travel (after a two-hour flight from Scotland) by road from the airport in Geneva to Les Gets in about one hour. the trade-off in elevation seems reasonable.
Then there‘s that other intangible: piste-side accommodation. Ski in.
ski out is a luxury in many places but with Les Gets it's commonplace. If you stay at the Hotel (‘hristiania. for example. you
IF MY TIRED LIMBS COULD TAKE ME ANY DISTANCE, I WOULD BE IN A WATERY VERSION OF THELMA AND LOUISE
can literally ski away in the morning and shush back home in the evening. Owned by Scot John King (who also runs the I’etthshire- based tour operator. Ski Activity. and a host of nearby chalets). the Christiania has a but for you to store your equipment in. as well as
a boot room with a heated rack so your tired and sore dogs slip into
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toasty warm shoes after a day on the slopes.
As for the apres-ski activities. l.es Gets tends towards the tame. but there‘s a decent nightclub (Igloo) and a clutch of bars. such as I.e Bmmerang.
Owned by an expatriate Aussie named Jean-Michel. it usually fills up with a lively snowboarding crowd (and mountain bikers in summer months).
For a more full-on experience. I’MI' (named apparently after the tote or pari—mutuel in I‘rance). with its 200/ Space Odyssey-slyle furniture. has DJs most nights and mini pole-dancing floor for anyone who fancies getting their kit off. Best of the bunch might be the unpretentious Bush Bar. a darker and more compact pub with Leffc on tap.
But one of the clear advantages of calling it a reasonably early night comes the next day. When the sun‘s shining on Les (iets and the mists lift. one wants to be out on the slopes and rather than nursing a heavy hang over.
18?.lan I CI) 19036 THE LIST 85