Alps 2017: Doing it in Style

Nothing like a nice relaxed trip to the alps. After many years if slumming it around the campsites of Europe, this year time to do it in style!

We set off driving south through the typical traffic jams of southern England, we arrived in Dover just in time for Tamsin to be attacked by a seagull waiting for the ferry. We set off for our B&B in Calais, waking up refreshed for trucking through the pouring rain of northern France.

Motoring on through the rain Photo: Nicola Crangle

Fortunately, as we climbed the pass out of Italy into Montgenevre, the sun came out and there it stayed for the rest of the glorious week. This is exactly why I love the French Alps! As we truned into the village of Les Alberts, we got our first views of our accomdation for the week. I could not have been more impressed, we were staying in a Palace!

Our Palace for the week Photo: Steve Martin

Somehow I managed to blag the Master bedroom, with a bathroom that was bigger than my lounge at home. And a view from the roll top bath that took in the CLaree valley I knew we were in for a top week.

Levels were not particularly high, but most of the classics were still going. On the first day we even caught up with some familiar ICCC faces on the first day of summer tour. We paddled all the usual runs from the sunshine run to the lower Guisane (no black eyes this year). I made everyone go to the Briancon gorge after the one night it rained, unfortunaltey there wasn’t really enough water but it was very scenic anyway!

Briancon gorge Low but awesome Photo: Steve Gibson

Towards the end of the week we went over to the Guil valley to paddle all the best sections. I wussed out of Chateaux Q again. Gotta leave something for next time. I took one cheeky swim on the Staricase rapid, but otherwise a good run.

Romanche (I think), Photo: Steve Gibson

On the last day, we headed over to the Romanche, I’ve never actually got all the way to the bottom of this section. I was pretty pleased with myself getting all the way to the end, with only one roll on the crux rapid. We stopped on an high Alpine meadow on the way back over before a final blast down the lower Guisane.

High Alpine Lunch, photo: Steve Martin 

Great relaxed week paddling some classics thanks Steve and Tamsin for organising!