GOC skiing trip to Samoens, January 2023
On 21st January a party of nine GOC members – Ian, two Davids, Mick, John, Richard, Darius, Chris, Stephen – from all corners of the UK descended on the excellent Hotel Neige-et-Roc in Samoens, a village in the Haute Savoie region of the French Alps, not far from Geneva. We were delighted to be joined the next day by Clive and Ruud from Switzerland. All of us were more or less intent on a week’s skiing on the extensive pistes of the Grand Massif area and also on enjoying the cuisine and other gentler delights of our chosen hotel.
We were not disappointed. After some gloomy reports in the news of bare slopes two weeks earlier, the snow had arrived in plentiful quantities a few days before we did. Snow and weather conditions were pretty much perfect.
A party – or ‘team’ as it became known – of varying numbers went out every day to explore the further reaches of the ski area, such as the runs above Flaine where we enjoyed fabulous mountain-top views in all directions and over to Mont Blanc. Some overcrowding in places, occasional patches of ice and some surprisingly steep sections on blue and red runs kept us from becoming too complacent. Some heavily moguled black runs were on offer for the ultra-brave – step forward Richard, Chris and Mick! And, of course, stops for cappuccino and chocolat chaud called at various points in the day.
For many of us the evening’s après-ski started with a session in the hotel’s well-appointed spa. Drinks in the bar were followed by dinner in the hotel – always of the highest standard and accompanied by owner Olivier’s well-chosen local wines. Tales of the day’s activities soon turned into much conviviality and banter, often including the charming and enthusiastic staff.
It seemed sadly no time at all before the week, with all its adventure and good living, had sped by and we were heading on our separate ways – with the hope though of meeting up again soon, perhaps at the Annual Gathering in Canterbury or, even better, on the slopes next year or before.
Special thanks are due to Ian who brought the group together and to David W who organised the taxi to and from the airport. No simple task in either case – hope we weren’t too much like the proverbial herd of cats…
