Chapter 11

Below La Plagne in the heart of the French Alps lies a pristine small hamlet.

The height of the winter season was yet to pass in the small collection of chalets nestled together and hugged by the fresh, soft snow, lying a couple of feet deep.

Due to the newness of the snow, few tracks or indentations of any kind interrupted the white covering. The beautiful smoothness lay like a white, pristine duvet cover across this natural bowl, halfway down the mountainside.

The hamlet had retained its natural character, a couple of the mountain properties, originally farm out-buildings and summer mountain retreats, had been converted into sought-after mountain restaurants and expensive chalets. However, there were limited new buildings that straddled the snow covered, winding track that led to the centre of La Plagne.

Originally, the women of the Savoyarde region had been given those areas of land that were less productive, but where sheep could graze in the summer months. The men had always farmed the fertile land of the valleys. These lands remained snow free for most of the year.

The women had been the ones sitting on the potential goldmine. The mountainsides had proven themselves snow-sure, and with good gradients and travel links for tourists to come and carry out all manner of winter sports. Not only were skiing and boarding popular favourites, but this area was also a destination for parapenting. Aerial dare-devils would use the rising warm air currents to glide, dangling beneath a large aerial sail and gently manoeuvre themselves down to the valley floor. A sometimes hazardous activity as the air currents would frequently change, especially when close to the higher rock faces of the taller peaks.

The Olympic bobsleigh had also been constructed just below the hamlet and provided a destination for all different types of sleighs to rocket down the course, the ice bends twisting and turning to enable the sleighs to pick up enormous speeds.

There were also the alternative winter sports enthusiasts, who having skiied or boarded for years, trying their luck at cross country skiing, or husky dog sledging or at bombing around the slopes on the mechanical skidoos, used by the pisteurs to secure the safety of the pistes.

Others tended to admire the wildlife and stunning scenery, by using guides to go on snow shoe trails, and the general public could always just buy a pedestrian ticket to take one of the many gondolas up to the mountaintops, to admire the views whilst sipping a vin chaud from a perfectly placed summit restaurant.

Within the hamlet was one beautiful chalet named Chalet Marguerite and it had prime position within the small collection of wooden buildings. From its balconies, its residents could see all the way to the bottom of the valley. More practically, they could also check to see when the only chairlift leading out of the hamlet had opened, as the chairlift was situated opposite.

The chalet had one English family staying there this winter week and they were all accomplished skiers. They also knew the area and the resort well, having been coming to the region for a number of years.

The chalet was run by a South African couple who provided the meals and ensured that their guests were enjoying their holiday.

After a delicious breakfast of cereal, fresh baguette and boiled eggs, the family soon prepared to go out and enjoy the fresh snow. They applied their sunscreen and ensured they had enough warm layers, before donning their ski-boots. Whilst the ski boot warmers had partially worked in drying out the boots, the family were experienced enough to ensure they did not breathe in whilst anywhere near the boot locker area of the chalet.

Heading for the chalet front door, the South African couple had already helped give out all of the lift passes and specific directions to the best slopes in the current conditions. All of the family were excited and their eagerness to hit the slopes was infectious. The South African couple were envious that the family were out for the first lifts and to enjoy the beautiful fresh snow, the first perfectly fresh snow that had fallen in the last week.

As the family were leaving, the chalet hosts asked to be reminded of their names and the parents confirmed theirs, the young men confirmed theirs and Emma, the Portsmouth University student, confirmed hers.