Ski on Mount Ventoux! (18.02.2011)

If you have enjoyed this short article, you can visit my two first blogs:  http://huberaime.wordpress.com/     and      http://tabbychat.wordpress.com/      If you don’t read French, have a look anyway at some photos among more than 1000. Look also at the Archives, on top of the page. If you recognize yourself on my photos and wish to receive free watermarkless pics, or if you want to do an outing or a hike with us, or merely to share impressions or feelings, don’t hesitate to drop me a line. Please write me there, in English or in French:         huberaime@hotmail.fr

Besides the two skilifts at Chalet Reynard, on Mount Ventoux south slopes, the north side of our mountain owns a modest but complete winter ski resort, Mont-Serein, at an altitude of about 1400 m above sea level, on Beaumont-du-Ventoux territory.

This is not Courchevel, though, but you’ll find here everything you need to enjoy yourself in a simple way with your family. However, the irregular snowfall can be a problem. Inner Provence has often dry winters, snow can be rare and melt when a spell of mild weather occurs.

 

I love Mont-Serein all over the year and Mount Ventoux is a wonderful ‘playground’ in each season.

After two very snowy winters in our mountains, the white stuff is scarce this year. The top of the tabular Angèle mountain just reaches the right height to keep its coat.

To-day, we walk the Fabre trip, about 5 km long. It’s also possible to go skiing on it. The stroll is delightful from spring to winter. Here is the Contrat shelter. A few photos in this article date from a 2008 outing. Place your mouse arrow on a pic to read the date when it was taken, and click to enlarge.

Along the path, very fine views stretch northwards onto the Baronnies massif and the southern Alps. You can see here Lure mountain, with strong zooming on the second photo.

In 1965 was built here an oecumenical chapel. Following financial problems a few years later, the building was sold and shelters now a holiday centre, whose sign you can sight on the left. The new owners have safeguarded the former chapel original outside appearance.

This photo taken by Sylvie was slightly ‘shopped’ to enhance it but no photomontage nor touching up were done. It looks strange. Place your mouse arrow on the pic to understand how it was achieved.        Huberaime