Maison Jaune Blog

Christmas here in chalet Maison Jaune is always very special….  and this year was no exception…. 
Beautiful sunny day, with just a hint of mist in the valley, and the snow conditions were amazing!  Soft, groomed, empty pistes….  (everyone else must have been inside opening their pressies!)

Helen and I got out to ski in the morning for a few runs… as per usual, calling our families from the Prarion ski lift, before dashing in to finish preparing the meal, and opening the Champagne at about 4 o’clock….

Red: traditional colour of Christmas

To wash down the seven courses, there was Champagne, Pouilly Fumé, and  nice St. Emillion Grand Cru Classé.  The meal included Fois Gras, plus the obligatory roast turkey with bread sauce and all the trimmings, and Christmas pudding, of course….  delicious…. 

All in all, it was a long day, but very rewarding and enjoyable… 

Our Christmas tree had a luxurious red theme this year

Firstly, it has been snowing all day here in Chamonix valley.   Pretty much non stop. 

The few skiers that are out are enjoying off-piste conditions on the local blue run! 

Forget snow melts and Foehn winds.  There is more snow here now than we’ve seen in years!  Amazing. 
The snow plough cleared the chalet driveway this morning at 7:30 – and there is now almost 20 centimetres of fresh snow on it!!

Photo taken 15:20 this afternoon

We were a bit concerned that the local garden centre would sell out of Christmas trees in the next couple of days when most chalet owners get theirs.  So, Helen and I set out down the hill through Les Houches to fetch this year’s Christmas tree.    The roads are amazingly slippy – even with snow tyres. 

In the village, the snow ploughs are busy clearing the roads and pavements.  People are out shovelling their driveways.  It was surprisingly busy.

Having chosen a lovely 2 metre tree, we brought it home.  I love the smell of a fresh Christmas tree – that delicious pine smell lingering…  We got some Holly branches for decorations too. 

Christmas is coming!!

Last Saturday, most of the ski lifts in Chamonix valley and Les Houches closed for the day due to the exceptionally strong Foehn wind.

The Foehn is a wind local to Chamonix valley caused by warm air being pushed up through Italy, over the top of the Mont Blanc massif where it gets pushed down through Chamonix valley.   It can even carry Saharan sand, and leave the normally white glaciers with a distinct red tinge.  Unfortunately, because it is a warm wind, it melts the snow.

It can be a very violent wind. It blew the sledges all over the garden.  It blew some of the decorations off the house.  It blows all the shutters if they are not locked shut.  Annoyingly, it blows the icicle lights up onto the roof where they get stuck (very frustrating!).

and it leaves a big mess.  Everywhere.  On the piste, on the driveway, pieces of twigs and branches everywhere.  It was such a disappointment to have debris all over.  Worse, all the lovely powder melts and transforms into gloopy heavy snow and ice.  It was a bit disappointing to have a strong Foehn before Christmas, especially when we had such an amazing start to the season.

It happens unfortunately, and we can’t do anything about the weather.  Hopefully though, with such a strong Foehn so early in the season, it will mean less debris the next time there is a strong Foehn wind!

Thankfully though, we woke up this morning to find it snowing again…. A good 10-15 centimetres overnight… and it is forecast to snow on and off for the next few days….. which means the pistes will recover their lovely clean Daz white look again.  Excellent news.

Photo from 9:30 this morning...

Chamonix valley looks absolutely wonderful today yet again… 

Just 400 metres down the piste from the chalet, the Prarion lift is due to open tomorrow – which is excellent news. The pistes have already been open now for two weeks!!

Snow-covered trees and the Aiguille Vert behind

Aiguille Vert (taken from the chalet)

Hot tub with the Aiguille du Midi behind it.

Snow-covered trees with the Aigulle du Midi in the background

Picnic benches covered in powder

Yet more snow last night….
… a bit more today…
…. and more expected tomorrow…

Good news!

It is on days such as today, with crystal clear skies, and with the mountains and trees around all coated in fresh white snow, that Chamonix truly impresses upon me just HOW lucky we are to be living here.

Our guests come for a week – maybe two – and are delighted by the scenery.
But even Helen and I, who live here all year, still get our breath taken away by the staggering beauty of the place…

Sunset on the Fiz mountain range

Close up of the Fiz at sunset

The Mont Blanc massif - and Aiguille Vert - going into sunset

These glowing embers of fire and ice that warm the soul and stoke ones heart.

It has been snowing since last night… and keeps on going….

View towards the Chemin des Aillouds

When it snows, you have two choices: shovel or make snow angels

Maison Jaune garden fence at 10:10 am

Maison Jaune garden fence at 13:37pm

Maison Jaune standard 'bench'mark for measuring snow depth.

Our very own winter wonderland