Favourite Photos From This Summer In Méribel

Hi everyone and welcome to the latest post from your favourite blogging Méribel ski instructor. I left Méribel last week and am adjusting to life without mountains for the moment. Having said that, I thought I'd post several photos, taken last month. They are my favourites from the trip, none of which have been shown before, whether as part of a post or on social media. So I guess this post is a bit niche, but fingers crossed you will like it anyway. If you haven't visited Méribel before, hopefully this will whet your appetite. And for regular visitors you might recognise some views. Right, here goes, strap yourselves in.......

Earlier in the summer I was thinking about using different viewpoints for photographs, and this idea popped into my mind. Most of us skiing in Méribel will have used the Altiport eight seater chairlift at some point, it provides some amazing skiing in this particular sector. Halfway up, the chairlift travels over the top of a water reservoir, which provides water for the snow cannons. This is what it looks like just before sunset in the summer, how pretty is that?

This next photo features the same Altiport chairlift about forty five minutes later, during sunset. The top of the Altiport dominates in the foreground, and to the left you can see the top of the Dent de Burgin chairlift. This chair is a favourite of mine during the winter, it's fast moving and gives you access to some jolly good skiing and numerous piste choices. If you look closely on the far left of the photo, you can just about make out the pylons of top station of the Saulire Express bubble lit by orange sunlight.

After having grabbed these shots I needed to walk back to the car park of the Altiport airport (!) to then drive home. The night sky got darker as I walked down the Altiport green ski piste, which in the summer months doubles up as a golf course. This particular evening the moon came and said hello, just above the same chairlift, the Altiport.....

On a different evening, I returned with my camera kit to the same area again in search of different viewpoints. This time I walked beyond the top of the Rhodos bubble, and up towards the mid station of the Saulire Express. On my way up I could hear voices above me, which was bizarre. I looked up and there were three parapentes floating around. The pilots of these parapentes were chatting away to each other, it was an incredible scene. I'll be honest with you and say this activity wouldn't be for me, but having said that, I can imagine how incredible this would be if you were up there at that time. Just imagine seeing that scenery, whilst floating around. That must be utterly priceless.

Fifteen minutes later I reached the mid-station of the Saulire Express bubble, which is just above the Folie Douce mountain restaurant and party place! In winter, this same view first thing in the morning blows me away, especially after a dusting of fresh snow. I'm sure many of you will recognise the next photo, which of course has snow covering the ground in winter. In summer, about an hour before sunset, the low light is divine looking down the valley. I absolutely love this iconic view from Méribel. Maybe I'll try the same photo one day this coming winter, it's the light that makes this shot so special.

After capturing the above photo, I continued walking a little higher up to the side of the Chalet Détente above the mid-station of Saulire. This small log cabin is available to skiers for shelter or to have a picnic in the sunshine. I believe there's wifi in there as well? Plus there's one of the official webcams on its roof, click here for the link. I stood close to the Chalet when taking this next photo, looking up the piste towards Saulire. And guess what, every fifteen minutes or so, the webcam camera whizzed into action and swivelled around taking images and making funny digital noises.

The next photo was taken up at the Refuge de la Glière, mentioned in the previous blog post, in the Vanoise National Park. I love that there was a hen house in the grounds of the Refuge.....

Back in Méribel, I had massive job to do in clearing out my apartment. We are having some major work so it had to be emptied. And look what I came across during this process, a couple of old season ski passes. Do you remember the days when ski passes included a photo, and they had to be hung around your neck? It seems so old fashioned now doesn't it. And look how young this chap looks.

This next photo I like because it's a viewpoint that very few skiers would have seen. In summer, one of the many mountain bike trails goes along this cliff, to the side of what would be the Choucas blue ski piste near Tougnete. The chairlift in the foreground is the Cherferie, and just below is the top of the Legends chairlift, next to another snow cannon water reservoir. With the Méribel Town in the background.

I couldn't leave this post without any Marmotte photos, just because they are soo adorable. Here we go, aren't they cute?

There we go, I really hope you enjoyed this post. Next time I promise to have more of a ski theme. In fact I will blog about some ski lift upgrades that I saw taking place over the summer. I've loads of photos that, granted, look like building sites. I believe you will be interested in these upgrades. Do come back soon and look out for this news...... Live With Passion. Martin.