Chamonix Activity Report: 24th June 2012

Phew, what a scorcher! Since the customary downpour that always coincides with the Fête de la Musique, Chamonix has been basking under blue skies and hot sunshine – summer is in full swing!

There has been much lounging around going on – by lakes, at bars, in the mountains... and best of all, the outdoor pool at the sports centre is now open. The “al fresco” area boasts not only a 50m swimming pool but also a splash pool for children, a jacuzzi, sunbathing terraces and a tranquil lake surrounded by lawns and trees. There is also a little buvette (snack shop) where you can buy sandwiches, drinks and ice creams. The entry fee is 6.50€ for adults, 4.80€ for kids and holders of the “carte d'hote” tourist card get a 20% discount (you can get the card through your accommodation provider, so ask your host).

If you enjoy being in and around water then you'll love what I did yesterday – white water rafting! Booked through Evolution 2, we met up with our guides and got kitted out in wetsuits, life jackets and attractive yellow helmets at Les Planards before being taken in a minibus to the launch site near the tennis courts. There were 12 of us so we split into 2 groups of 6, each raft with a guide who showed us what to do before we set off. I've seen rafts bobbing along the river many times and you can always hear them before you see them, I think we could probably be heard in Geneva as we splashed and shrieked our way under the bridges through the centre of town. Chamonix has stunning views at the best of times but it was an eye-opener seeing everything from this new perspective, cruising along the tree lined river with mountains and glaciers soaring above us on either side. Once out of town we passed through Les Bossons and Taconnaz, the water changing colour and temperature along the way because of the feeder streams that come down from the glaciers.

One thing I wasn't expecting was the chance to test the temperature for myself. We guided the rafts into the river bank and all climbed out so that the guides could show us the correct way to jump into the water and be carried along on the current, on our backs and feet first so that we don't bash our heads on any rocks and paddling with our arms to get back to the raft. Despite the strong current it wasn't as scary as I expected; it was every bit as cold as I expected though and did wonders for my lingering hangover! The swimming lesson wasn't compulsory, a few people opted out, but the guides recommended we have a go so that we would know what to do if we fell in accidentally. A few people on the trip were a bit nervous at the start but the guides were so good at putting us all at ease and making sure we were as safe as could be that everyone soon relaxed into it.

We chose to do the Chamonix-Les Houches option, which is a grade 2/3 and therefore mostly quite gentle with a few fast bits to give you a taste for riding the rapids. The trip takes around 1 hour 15 minutes and covers just under 7km; suitable for kids over the age of 10 it is good option for families who are looking for something exciting to do together. Evolution 2 also offer a gentler ride further down the valley at Passy, which kids of 7 and over can take part in, or thrill seekers can cross the border into Italy (transport provided) and ride the grade 4/5 rapids; I'd definitely do it again and am tempted to go for the Italian option next time. The trip we did costs just 35€ per person and there are loads of other activities on offer as well, I'm dying to try out canyoning next so watch this space for more info! All their summer activities can be found here, or use our enquiry form for further details.

The weather forecast for Chamonix looks a bit overcast this afternoon but then good again for the rest of the week and the lifts are all open, so get out there and try out some of the many great things that Chamonix has to offer! Don't forget to keep an eye on our calendar for all upcoming events.