Summer Reset - Part Five

Welcome again to this year's August update in my 'Summer Reset' blog post series. Harriet has arrived, and we've dived straight into our favourite summer activities. In fact, we appear to have a bit of a routine the last few years with our pursuits. But then, don't we as skiers here in Méribel have the same behaviour? For those of us regularly coming to Méribel in the winter, a warm-up ski on the Altiport piste on the first morning is a treat. Or perhaps we pop up the Tougnete ski lift to do the same? Maybe those who know the area aim for a late morning coffee stop at a favourite restaurant? Why on earth would you not? As a ski instructor, I have my favourite routines, as do visitors. And it's no different in the summer.

A classic start to a holiday for Harriet and I is to aim for the Tueda Nature Reserve above Méribel-Mottaret. We'll pop up the 'Gut Buster' for a puff and a workout, and see if we can grab a drink or a lunch on the way back down the mountain. One of our regular haunts is the lovely, authentic Refuge du Plan above the Lac de Tueda.

Again, perhaps relating to your regular habits during the winter, Harriet and I seem to have an uncanny memory of their menu!?! We both love the goats cheese and honey salad, and also the Burger du Plan! Perhaps you can recall the best tartiflette on the mountain in the winter, or burger, or the scrummiest coffee gourmand? It's the same in the summer, we love the Refuge du Plan for their salads, and their big bad-boy burger!?!

By the way, the food and ambiance certainly didn't disappoint, and I can't wait to go through exactly the same routine again next summer (if possible).

On a different subject, Méribel as always is trying hard to promote its profile. And this August the town was a host of part of the 'Haute Route Alps' cycling sportive event. Various roads were closed to help the running of this incredible challenge. As one of Europe's biggest road cycling events, it was interesting to see thousands of elite amateur road cyclists around in town and on the roads. See the 'Haute Route Alps' website for more details.

Now let's move on from road cycling in Méribel to mountain biking again, the last for quite a while.........

The mountain bike trails have continued to stay dry and grippy, an absolute bikers' delight. In fact, I was thinking the other day when we were up there: how could I try to describe the thrill and sensation to non-mountain bikers? Oh, hang on, don't us skiers have the same challenge with describing - to a non-skier - that buzz? It's tough isn't it? Here's my mate Gary, a fellow ski instructor incidentally, revelling in this amazing summer environment a few days ago. We caught up for a squirt around the mountain recently, and had a great 'chewing the fat' session at the same time.

Back to the descriptions; as skiers we love perfectly groomed, dry, grippy snow. At other times, we love skiing in light, deep, fluffy powder snow. How can we relate this to those not active in the sport? Well, it's tricky. And it's also exactly the same for mountain bikers. Who love dry, sweepy terrain, that allows a certain flow with different steepness and challenges all over the mountain. You see, non-mountain bikers won't have a clue about this extreme thrill. It's frustrating that I can't explain this buzz to friends and family who don't mountain bike. Or ski. It's the exactly the same!

Incidentally, Harriet tells me that it is just as difficult to describe the joy of being on horseback - she murmured something about one of her best times this week being the long, exhilarating canter up the trail parallel with L'Ours piste.

You know what? Perhaps I shouldn't stress about it, and just embrace the magnificence of sport and activities within the high mountains.

Sadly the summer ski lifts closed last Friday after the dry hot summer of 2022. From my experience it was absolutely brilliant, and I feel very blessed and grateful to have sampled some of the summer here. Having said that, my road biking lycra and bike have felt a little under-used the last couple of weeks. I have gone out on the skinny tyres a few times recently, but I'll be cramming in a few rides before heading back to the UK.

It has also been great having Harriet out in Méribel this last week. We've enjoyed some hiking and, as mentioned, she enjoyed doing her thing with the equestrian team based part-way down the Trout 'green piste'. (She is here for a while longer, with a few more 'working from home' days this coming week).

I'll be trying to juggle my passions of road biking, hiking and photography before heading back to Leamington Spa. Plus, I hope to catch up with my mate Slippers in Morzine soon. In the meantime...... Live. With. Passion. Martin.