Ski Tour: Andorra to France

One of the tough aspects of a racing trip is that it's hard to get out and do all that you would like.  At our location in Andorra, we are surrounded by mountains on every side.  I'm glad I don't tour here on a regular basis because I would get lost for sure!  The Pyrenees are steep and jagged.  They make for great ski terrain.  They are amazing in an of themselves, but I have to say that the snow quality does not compare to the Wasatch (at least in a normal year).  For example, today we had some weather and about 6 to 8 inches of "snow" fell.  At times, it was a freezing rain.  At other times, it was a dense, wet snow, which made for tough DH conditions.  If it freezes tonight, and it will, tomorrow's conditions will be crust at best, or breakable crust at worst.

Anyway, yesterday, Cary, Wick, and I got out for a tour.  We started out close to our hotel and headed up an unplowed road through the Pyreneean countryside.

  

From Andorra Day 2

The country architecture is kind of cool.

From Andorra Day 2

We didn't know exactly where we were headed. But we could see some nice ski terrain up higher, and that became our destination. As Derek likes to say: "All good tours start low and end high." Before long, we were on good snow and in more interesting terrain.

From Andorra Day 2

One of the prevailing questions today was, "What would RandoSteve do?" We concluded that had he been present, he would have opted looker's right. We opted left.

From Andorra Day 2

As you can see, the terrain was beautiful. The snow, on the other hand, was shiny. Not soft.

From Andorra Day 2

We toured through open bowls.

From Andorra Day 2

Here is Wick looking off a cliff and at some steeper lines and into France.

From Andorra Day 2

And descending into France. We had lunch at a lake. And then skied out.

From Andorra Day 2

A booter up.

From Andorra Day 2

Wick at the top.

From Andorra Day 2

Cary skiing out.

From Andorra Day 2

Here is the valley we toured up and exited. We are staying below the ski runs looker's left.

From Andorra Day 2