UCPA Chamonix 2013 day 1 – Le Tour

EasyJet flight direct from Edinburgh to Geneva, with a transfer to Chamonix in an hour or so with ChamVan.  Arrived at UCPA to an envelope on the door like at Calluna for late arrivals.  I booked this trip through Action Outdoors.

Two other girls were already in the room, so I got a top bunk, but I have a shelf and light so all is good. Unpacked my stuff into a tall wardrobe (should have taken a padlock…) and put my toiletries into the bathroom, which has two sinks and a shower, toilets across the hall, all clean and tidy. Off to bed.

Day 1: Up at 8am for breakfast, self service in a big dining room downstairs, cereal, yoghurt, fruit, tea/coffee/juice and bread and jam. Next room along was where you made your packed lunch for the day, bread, cheese, cold meat, salad, fruit.

(Have to say, not very well sign posted, I just followed the crowd) Filled out a form at reception to collect ski and bus pass for the week 100€ deposit (don’t remember reading or being told about that). Then it was downstairs for quite a long queue to get my ski equipment. All organised and ready to leave at 10am.

UCPA is very central in Chamonix, so we walked to the bus stop and took the bus to Le Tour, so easy!

It was a cloudy day and the light was flat, good snow coverage with a few icy patches. We (Ann-Sofe a girl from my room who boarded) skied some blue and red runs on the front, then went over to Vallorcine and skied Belle Place (red) for the rest of the day, which was the best run we found. Last run at 4:30 we skied all the way to the bottom station, then jumped straight on the bus back to Chamonix. (Very good bus service in the Chamonix valley).

Good storage rooms for equipment. Way more skiers than boarders (and not very many Brits, haven’t met one yet). Welcome talk at 6pm. Wednesday is our day of no instructor. I looked up my group on the notice board, #6 meeting at 8:30 tomorrow morning. There is entertainment in the bar every night, quiz, karaoke, live music.

Time for a shower (powerful and warm!) then downstairs for dinner in the big dinning room, self service buffet style, loads to choose from and the food was great, starters, mains, cheeses and desserts! Clean up your own plates and wipe down tables after use. We sat in the bar for a bit after dinner, till they started playing a pub quiz, then it was off to bed for me.