Claviere - Day 5 - Back in France for the Morning

So my usual morning blog writing now has me sitting in the dinning hall of our hotel with the snow tumbling down outside. The morning brew isn't quite my usual cup but actually I am getting used to it.

Today we were going back into France to make use of the Montgenevre ski pass. We had a bit of negotiating with the ski instructors and ski school to get back out there as it didn't really fit in with their plans, and private lessons, so various plans were formulated and we ended up with a short morning session and a longer afternoon session. This seem to keep everyone happy. 

My group this morning went up the other side of Montgenevre up to a height of 2550m. The visibility still wasn't amazing which was a shame as I imagine the view from up here would have been spectacular, but we were facing a beautifully long blue run all the way down the mountain and back into the centre. The advanced group were also up there with us whilst the beginners took on some of the slopes on the other side.

A couple more chair lifts later, and some more skiing brought us to our early stop. 11 am was a little early for lunch but allowed our instructors to get back to their lunchtime commitments. We had agreed to meet them back in Claviere for 1:30 so this was our next challenge. To get our whole group, of all abilities back to Claviere safely. One of our teachers is qualified to lead us on slopes that we have done so the plan was formylated to do a green all together and then make our way back. I stayed at the back to mop up anyone that needed it and I managed to get some photos and video of the group making their way down a slope. The first time I have managed to multitask whilst skiing. I did get to a point where I thought I was chancing my luck so put the phone away and quickly put my ski glove on without any mishap and off we went down the green and blue slopes back towards Claviere.

The link between Montgenevre and Claviere is a really flat so is a real work out to get back. We had already done this route once so the kids knew what was required, and we got back fairly quickly. Now a stop at the ski lodge for some well earnt food and rest whilst we relaxed and recovered from the morning.

The afternoon skiiing was great but the weather was a whole mixed bag. Blizzard, sun, snow, fog, wind, sleat all in one afternoon. The speed that the weather up here changes is amazing. One minute the sky was blue and sun shining, the next the clouds have rolled in and hail with reduced visibility. Hardly the greatest conditions at times and having had the extra skiing time in the morning getting back to Claviere, meant that the kids were really tired and ready to throw in the towel in the afternoon. A few more tumbles, lots of laughter, got us all back to hotel ready for a well earned rest.

Tiredness and exhaustion has really started to set in now. We covered nearly 60km skiing in the two countries today. All of the kids have been progressing despite being tired and the weather and it has been brilliant being part of the team facilitating this experience for them. There hasn't been any real moans or groans from them and they just keep on going. One of the things that every trip like this does is allow the softening of the barriers that are usually there in classroom. In school the formality hides the human element that exists but out on trips the kids start to realise that whilst we are teachers of academic subjects we are so much more than that.

Our evening saw a quiz delivered by our rep all about Italy, which all of the kids joined in with. My impromptu decider of paper plane making was, in my humble opinion a suitable finale, although my well engineered plane, failed much to the delight of everyone else! I was really impressed with how everyone got involved and took part this evening. 

Bed time followed and the kids were clearly tired and by the time the staff got upstairs it was largely quiet with most of them getting themselves to bed.

We have only 2 more days of skiing left and then back home for Easter. Time seems to be flying by.