Spring Celebration

Hi everyone and welcome to a 'Better Late Than Never' blog post edition. After having been back from Méribel for several weeks now, I realised I hadn't posted any bouquetins photos up on the blog page. For those of you new to reading these articles, you may have no idea what I'm talking about. One of my big treats at the end of each ski season, is to grab my big camera and pop round to Champagny and see if I can sniff out any bouquetins (internationally known as Ibex).

It's only a short, but also a very dramatic, drive from Méribel taking around 45 minutes. If you know where you are looking, the ski village of Champagny-en-Vanoise is visible from the Courchevel Valley. It is on the backside of the La Plagne ski area, also part of the Paradiski which includes Les Arcs. Anyway the tiny hamlet called Champagny-le-Haut where I go for the bouquetins, is a little beyond this ski area out of sight from the 3 Valleys.

I made several trips over there in April, and probably saw far fewer than I have over the last several years. Not sure why, so it was even more special when I did bump into some. They were as impressive as ever, and unlike what we have here in the UK.

They are a protected species and particularly thrive in the Vanoise National Park. It's just fabulous catching sight of them in their natural habitat, especially when winter kept making an appearance during spring!?!

As ever, it was a fantastic way to spend my final few days at the end of the ski season. Another one ticked off. I'm back in Leamington Spa again, and have slotted straight back into life here after having been up at altitude most of the winter. I'll return to Méribel later in the summer, not sure exactly when, but it will definitely happen. I hope you all have a wonderful summer wherever you are, and whatever fabulous things you get up to. As ever, don't forget to Live With Passion. Martin.