For the final day of my Maritime Alps trip, I surveyed the large circuit known as the Espace Lumière (which doesn't translate well into English: basically, the Region of Light -- referring to how sunny this area is year round). It includes 180 km/108 miles of trails with elevation from 2,576 meters to 1,608 and an impressive amount and quality of offpiste, divided into two sectors: Val d'Allos/La Foux on the looker's left and Pra Loup (wolf's meadow) on the right.
Lots of pleasant above-treeline terrain:
3,600-vert runs on Pra Loup:
... before ending at the ski village with the Ubaye Valley in the background along with the town of Barcelonnette, which is known for having a very popular Mexican Festival in August. Apparently, quite a few residents left for Mexico in the late 1800s, made small fortunes over there and eventually moved home, bringing back a lot of cultural influences.
Heading back to the Foux/d'Allos sector:
Some nice tree skiing amongst the larch trees:
Stopping for lunch at the self-service Parapente restaurant:
I noticed quite a few stickers from California ski areas (one from Kirkwood in the window). Reportedly, the owner's son had spent time in the Tahoe region and came back inspired:
It goes without saying that even cafeterias have a comparatively high quality of cuisine -- look at the dessert lineup:
You know you're in the south of France when you see a truck like this in a ski-area parking lot -- a company that cares for palm trees:
Heading back into the the cute village:
The requisite old church:
And a visit to the locally famous Sainte Brigitte cheese dairy. You're not supposed to bring unpasteurized cheese into the U.S.; however, I managed to sneak some in, despite the pungent aroma:
On my final evening, I went with local food connoisseur Robin to a traditional French restaurant. I had a vegetarian version of the omnipresent winter dish tartiflette and he opted for a plate of charcuterie.
Lots of pleasant above-treeline terrain:
3,600-vert runs on Pra Loup:
... before ending at the ski village with the Ubaye Valley in the background along with the town of Barcelonnette, which is known for having a very popular Mexican Festival in August. Apparently, quite a few residents left for Mexico in the late 1800s, made small fortunes over there and eventually moved home, bringing back a lot of cultural influences.
Heading back to the Foux/d'Allos sector:
Some nice tree skiing amongst the larch trees:
Stopping for lunch at the self-service Parapente restaurant:
I noticed quite a few stickers from California ski areas (one from Kirkwood in the window). Reportedly, the owner's son had spent time in the Tahoe region and came back inspired:
It goes without saying that even cafeterias have a comparatively high quality of cuisine -- look at the dessert lineup:
You know you're in the south of France when you see a truck like this in a ski-area parking lot -- a company that cares for palm trees:
Heading back into the the cute village:
The requisite old church:
And a visit to the locally famous Sainte Brigitte cheese dairy. You're not supposed to bring unpasteurized cheese into the U.S.; however, I managed to sneak some in, despite the pungent aroma:
On my final evening, I went with local food connoisseur Robin to a traditional French restaurant. I had a vegetarian version of the omnipresent winter dish tartiflette and he opted for a plate of charcuterie.
