À la conquête du col de l'Izoard en SNOOC

 To do so, we headed for the Col de l'Izoard, on a perfect morning of fresh snow, under an azure-blue sky. And it was without ever having done it before that we set off to conquer this mythical pass, which culminates at 2360m!

Our guide Tristan is already waiting for us with the rest of the group. We soon realize that he's a golden character, beyond his sunny yellow outfit, always ready to share his good humor and passion for the mountains. He explains the Snooc concept and the morning's project. On the agenda: a two-hour climb towards the Col de l'Izoard, sometimes following the groomed trail, sometimes following wilder paths through the forest. After the two-hour climb, it's time to think about the descent, and only then will Tristan reveal the secret of turning a pair of skis into a sledge.

But first things first. Before putting the Snoocs into climb mode, the early morning chill prompts a warm-up session at the foot of the piste. Tristan leads his little troupe with an enthusiasm that rubs off, and here we are, bouncing up and down on our knees to wake up our bodies in good spirits. When it's time to put on the skis, the good news is that we're sticking with our hiking boots, high-mounted if possible, to keep our ankles warm. A strap in front and a strap behind, we tighten everything up and off we go!

When we leave the piste to cut the bends and make our tracks in the deep powder, we're alone under the trees. In a relaxed, pressure-free atmosphere, we cover the kilometers to the Izoard pass, each at our own pace. Here and there, Tristan stops to tell us about the wildlife and the mountains. With the sun beaming down on the trail, it seems the perfect time to catch our breath and drink a glass of water, watching nature change under the warm rays. When we start climbing again, Tristan tells us about his career. A young local and cross-country ski instructor, he has now set up his own business to share his passion for Snooc, born a few years ago between two laughs during an outing with friends.

Two hours of climbing later, in this calm and idyllic landscape, we stop a bend below Refuge Napoléon. We put down our bags and Tristan has prepared some tea, which we all share before talking transformation. Yes, the time has come to understand how to turn skis into a toboggan!

We take a good look, and then the clock ticks down to 10 minutes to prepare the gliding gear! You've got to see it to believe it, and we assure you Tristan does a much better job of explaining this fun transition!

La neige s’est transformée avec la chaleur et devient plus lourde et humide, le crissement de la neige froide a laissé place à un doux frottement lorsque nous dévalons les pentes. Au début, la pente douce nous laisse le temps de trouver nos marques. L’équilibre n’est pas instantanément naturel. Installés sur une seule planche, à jongler avec les pieds et les mains pour tourner et freiner, il faut prendre le coup de main. Nous prenons vite de l’aisance, les épingles commencent à s’enchaîner et un vrai sentiment de glisse nous laisse euphoriques.