A trip to the alps

Overlooking the peaks above Gran Bornard

Last week was spent in Gran Bornard in the French Alps on a snow shoeing training course.

Great location in a valley with mainly nordic skiing and snow shoeing. Great weather with sunshine each day – absolutely freezing before the sun came over the mountains though.

Course covered snow shoeing technique along with plenty of avalanche awareness – snow pits, terrain to avoid, interpreting avalanche forecasts and if the worst did happen transceiver use and rescues. All really interesting stuff and I learnt a lot to take with me back to the Pyrenees.

Surface hoar - formed in very cold, dry conditions