Skiing in Les Angles in The Pyrenees

20th January 2017 | Posted by: Rich Evans

WE'RE ON A ROAD TRIP IN THE PYRENNES AND ARE MOVING ON TO LES ANGLES…(read the about the whole trip here)

PART 3 - LES ANGLES

We are on the move again as we drive to Les Angles – it’s an easy drive of around 20 minutes from Font Romeu and we’re surprised at how large the town looks as we approach it. It seems to have a more Alpine feel to it as the runs come down to the resort through the trees.

We meet Antonia from the Tourist Office and head up the mountain to ski. The weather is back to its weird 2017 showing and it feels like spring! But the pistes are empty, so empty it feels like a private ski resort. The views here are stunning and you feel higher than in Font Romeu which you can see from the top along with Spain and Andorra.

The vertical is more and the pistes are in great condition with the recent fresh snow on the base of artificial snow they have been producing – nearly all of the runs are within the trees which bodes well should there be bad weather and apparently makes for some fabulous off piste – when the conditions are good which sadly they aren't right now.

Late afternoon we go dog sledding – I am always dubious about this and not 100% sure the dogs are happy but once more I am swayed that they are and that they do love running – here there is a mix of dogs, they are not all the expected huskies and include a labrador and collie! In the capable hands of Guillame we head out into the forest and he explains how the dogs work together, some you can see take a rest and don't work that hard, they place the stronger ones at the back where it is heavier and they command the dogs with very soft words from the back. To make them turn at the right time he calmly calls out “a droit” or “a gauche” and he is always giving them some form of encouragement and they respond immediately.

We see some deer in the forest – it’s a protected area and hunting here isn’t allowed – they aren’t daft! Through the forest, alongside the lake it’s a beautiful journey and back at the centre we get to pet the dogs who are all friendly and do seem very happy.

Dinner is at the hotel Le LLaret and we have just one day left in the Pyrenees – the forecast is at last for a lot of snow but with it stormy winds and so we’re not sure we’ll be skiing tomorrow.

It’s gone from French Riviera spring weather to Siberian winter overnight and there are hardly any lifts open – skiing is off the agenda, We’re neither brave nor stupid enough to head up so instead set off to see more of the incredible history of the area.

We visit a walled mediaeval city Mont-Louis which is a UNESCO heritage site and then the thermal baths at St Thomas. Back in resort later we venture out into the wind and discover a very cute little bar - Le Comptoir Montagne which doubles as a shop and we warm up with a vin chaud.