Skinning up the Grand Paradis run in April is strange as the snow covered trail runs through meadows with spring flowers. Here wild crocuses have a cloudy Dents du Midi as backdrop.

More info about our apartment in Chapery here

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Winter 09/10 in Champery started with a very jolly and social New Year as Pooler, Wolfords, Fenwicks and many locals all descended on the village. Dinners and parties in each others' chalets plus some fine meals out made up for the rather average ski conditions.

In January old Cambridge chums Steve and Robin arrive for the weekend. In Robin's case for only a day before he is summoned home to look after his weeks old son.

They are followed by London friend Nick and his film crew, some of whom have never skiied before. They gamely tackle the slopes, in some pretty snowy weather, and become very attached to Le Toupin, a great, and accessible lunch spot.

February starts very cold proving great opportunities for Ice climbing and some very fine, clear days for ski touring. More visits follow including Rob and the Farrers lawyers and Denslows before disaster strikes and Vicky breaks her leg in the Grand Paradis car park while sister Caroline and Louise are visiting.

Out of hospital on Easter Friday, Vicky is feted and wheeled around the village in a wheelchair. Friends the Jones from Barbados arrive and provide more company as well as Tommy from London. Clearly very painful and a great bore but at V has great company to recuperate with.

As the ski season closes, Mandy visits from London and enjoys a bit of Spring sunshine and then the Jones's are back again, stuck in Geneva because of Icelandic volcanoes. Now May and we look forward to sunshine and flowery meadows.

A short movie to show the boys (Tommy and Nico) larking about on their snowboards together with JP joining us in some Spring powder and another chance to ski on cold green water!