Maison Jaune Blog

The ski season is well and truly over…  We are now back from our two week honeymoon (sailing around the Greek islands – bliss!).. and the season for concentrating on our on-going marketing efforts has begun… Oh, and all the updates/renovations/improvements we’ve been planning over the winter season for the chalet too….

Google has now launched its Caffeine update… which has large implications for web search… and consequently, video is featured much more prominently.  So… to celebrate that, we’ve produced a new short video showing the chalet and the views from the chalet…   It’s kinda cool, chilled, and relaxed…  just like us!!    Basically we want to be found at the top of the video section whenever someone googles, “chalet chamonix”!

You can view our Chamonix chalet video here.

With 10-15 centimetres of fresh snow arriving overnight and this morning at chalet level, the Winter weather is back and the skiing continues here in Chamonix…

The snow is quite heavy as you’d expect with the spring conditions, but it means the pistes of Les Houches receive a well-deserved top-up!  Apparently there is still over 170 cm of snow at 2000m, and over three metres at the top of Grands Montets!!

There is lovely weather forecast for the next couple of days, so the conditions are perfect for some late-season skiing here in Chamonix.

March is here…   This means we can look forward to warm days, lots of sun, and BONUS, there is still plenty of snow and skiing left!!!

Unfortunately, I am still recuperating – though I sneaked a cheeky ski in for the first time since December when I went for a ski last week…   .

I managed just a single blue run – and it took me three days to recover!!  Not good.

Anyway, it gave me the chance to play with some video footage… and put this short video together…  enjoy…

It shows the Kandahar ski run – the Chamonix world championship run!

The footage was filmed by Helen and Tim in early February this year of chalet guests, Ian and David, skiing the Kandahar.    The music is “The Road” by the Levellers.

ps. SPOT THE HELEN COMPETITION….
Can you find her in the video?   She appears twice!  albeit, briefly…

Firstly – apologies for the lack of blog posts, this month has been a mad, mad rush.   In the weeks coming up to our first guests arriving, we’ve re-painted the lounge ceiling, built a pine headboard for the yellow room which is now looking rather spectacular with its new superking size bed and lush red curtains, re-designed the guest computer room… and then the season began!!

Whilst above 2000 metres, there has been an abundance of snow – the abnormally warm temperatures meant that this season was late to produce a decent base of snow below 2000 metres.  They had the snow cannons working for three days solid to help solidify the base once the snow did arrive!…  just in time to open the resort on the 19th December. 

Then, after Christmas, the temperatures rose again.  Whilst anything over 2200 metres was rejoicing in vast snow falls – the Col du Montet has been closed for 3 straight days! - we have been stuck with rain!!   Not pleasant, and not normal for this time of year! 

We woke up this morning though to the welcome sight of snow – with some of the largest snowflakes I’ve ever seen!!  The forecast is set to remain cold with snow showers down to 700 metres for the next week, so hopefully the snow that is forecast in the next few days, can repair some of the damage all this rain has done recently…

Right now, we are busy prepping for a seven-course gourmet New Year’s Dinner which includes pan-fried foie gras, and roast venison!  Yummy!

Have a Happy New Year!

It started snowing at chalet level last night at about 3am…

So, this morning, we woke up to find a good 10-15 cms of snow…
The forecast is for more snow in the coming days!!

Could Les Houches open early?  We hope so.
Last year it opened on the 6th December.

Snow has arrived at the level of the chalet in Chamonix

Wow. 

Thanks to our previous guests voting for us and writing about us - we have been shortlisted as one of the six finalists in the Times Chalet Chef competition…. 

The competition looks seriously tough – chalet companies employing seasoned chefs who’ve worked for Michelin-starred restaurants, and Masterchef finalists… and us.   

Judging the competition is Michelin-starred chef, Tom Aikens, John Benbow who is the owner of the “Food at 52″ cookery school, as well as food and drink editor Nick Wyke, online travel editor Steve Keenan,and skiing editor Mark Frary.

Daunted?  You betcha.
Excited? Absolutely.
Ready?  Not quite…  but we’re working hard on it.

We’ll keep you posted.

You can find details on the Times chalet chef competition here.

Wish us luck!

ps.  the snow is coming!! the snow is coming!!

Fresh snow on the 'pentes' from mid-station level approx 2100 metres!

It has been really warm these last few days here in Chamonix valley…  Fantastically sunny.  Cloudless skies…

Luckily, the temperature has been dipping at night…  This morning at 7:30 it was -9 degrees when I went to fetch bread…

21st March - looking up the piste

Despite quite a melt, there is still LOADS of snow here…  The bonus part is that there is snow forecast next week from Tuesday…  Looks like we’ll be receiving yet another top-up before the end of season.

21st March - from the chalet hot tub deck

We received another 30cm top-up of fresh powder a couple of days ago, and finally the weather has broken, and it is a lovely day today.

Clear skies, a little mist hanging in the Chamonix valley…

It's a beautiful day - the Fiz showing through the clouds

Best of all…  the pistes are empty and the snow is amazing!!

Empty pistes

1m deep snow on our BBQ

Chamonix valley has lots of paths and trails that are very popular with walkers and hikers in the summer.

But when the snow is here, these are completely inaccessible as you normally sink in, up to your waist!!

However, with the benefit of snowshoes, and a guide, you can experience the joys of the French Alps in Winter without having to go near a ski piste. Perfect for those a bit apprehensive about going on a ski holiday, or those fancying a little break from skiing and trying something new.

Helen breaking trail

We joined Chamonix snowshoeing guide, Phil Jarratt, for a day’s snow-shoeing to experience exactly what snowshoeing is like firsthand…

Phil picked us up from the chalet, and drove us to nearby Coupeau to try snowshoeing for a first time. Quickly leaving the road and entering the pine forest, we ascended through the snow-covered pines, and entered a world of tranquility. 

Tête Rousse mountain refuge through the pine trees

As the path zig-zagged up through the forest, Phil was pointing out aspects of the history of one of the little hamlets we passed, identifying various animal tracks in the fresh powder snow.  Apparently fox tracks are easily identifiable from dogs because of the pattern of the claws!!  Allegedly, he is an expert on animal poo too!

Looking down on Les Houches

Though the mist was hanging around, we saw some wonderful views of the Massif du Mont-Blanc – could easily see the Tête Rousse hut on the other side of the valley…  Finally we emerged from the tree line on the Aiguillette des Houches and made our way across to the Chalets des Chailloux – two tiny mazots used in summer time for minding the cows.

Open fields of fresh snow on the Aiguillette

All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable day – fantastic views, excellent guide, good exercise and great fun!

Definitely recommend it!!

Mont-Blanc du Tacul and Glacier des Bossons

We’ve just finished producing a short video showing some of the skiing down the Vallée Blanche with a group of guests that stayed here in January…. Special thanks to Dave, Vanessa, Paul, Mark and Alan.

We skied the Classique route down the glacier with James, our guide – all 22 kms off-piste to arrive back in Chamonix town.

A great day’s skiing had by all!! It might take a few moments to load….

Read about the vallée blanche.