Chamonix Activity Review: 19th June 2013

We've been basking in sun, glorious sun, this week after what seems like the longest winter ever with fresh snow falling right up until the end of May. But now we're all emerging like butterflies from our chrysalis of beanies and long johns to embrace the sunshine in all its glory.

With the Marathon du Mont Blanc looming (29th June) I've seen plenty of sweating sunburnt people charging around in the mountains lately, squeezing in a bit of last minute training before the big day. The general consensus is that it's too flipping hot for that sort of nonsense but it could well be just as hot on the day so we'd best get used to it, just in case.

Despite scorching temperatures that have been well into the thirties there is still plenty of snow on the higher parts of the valley and the waterfalls are in full force with all the meltwater that is gushing into them. I was running up at Le Tour on Sunday and it was a beautiful sight to see wild crocuses poking their faces out in between patches of stubborn snow. A friend of mine was out running from Refuge Moede Anterne above Passy across to Brevent at the weekend, usually quite do-able at this time of year, when he was overtaken by a man on skis. Not bad conditions either apparently, if it were April!

I love this time of year - the days are longer, the lifts and bars are all re-opening, there are loads of events to look forward to, and everyone is smiling because the sun is out! The positivity and happy vibes flying around make the bad news about the Kitsch Inn in Les Houches all the more disturbing; the big bar restaurant with the retro-cosy decor was ravaged by fire this week, the night before the launch party of their new bar upstairs. The upper 3 floors of the wooden chalet-style building have apparently been completely destroyed; the ground floor restaurant will have suffered damage but how much is not yet confirmed. Based at the foot of the Bellevue cable car, the fire has also caused the lift system to be halted while safety inspectors check the cables for any damage. It's a very sad, but hopefully temporary, loss to the Chamonix/Les Houches social scene but who knows - maybe the phoenix will rise from the ashes to return stronger than before, I hope so.

The big event of this week is without a doubt one of the craziest nights of the year, which often spills over into the dawn of the following day. Yes, its Fete de la Musique time again! Live music and DJs from every genre will be playing from midday on Friday with classical concerts at the Church St Michel and local pop/rock groups playing in the main square throughout the afternoon. Then it's take-your-pick of the bars as pretty much everywhere will have either a live band or a DJ playing during the evening.

Probably the two liveliest places to head will be Avenue Michel Croz (by the train station) and Place Edmond Desailloud (Chamonix Sud). Chambre Neuf and Elevation both have live music, An Ordinary Family will be playing from 5pm at Elevation and at 9pm the mighty No Limits will be raising the roof at Chambre Neuf. Over in Cham Sud there will be a BBQ hosted by Monkey Bar and South Bar from 4pm with both bars offering their usual Happy Hour prices, accompagnied by live music earlier on and then DJs playing late into the night at both bars - this corner of town is a real little sun-trap, so fingers crossed that the good weather continues.

Then at some point or another we will all end up down Rue de Moulin come rain or shine (traditionally rain), where all the bars spill out onto the street with everyone dancing until the sun comes up on the longest day of the year (traditionally marked by the biggest sore head of the year).

Possibly not the most effective way to train for a marathon but I guess that's just part of the challenge... and all that dancing has got to be good for the calf muscles, right?

All upcoming events can be found on our What's On calendar.