Lac Des Moines and snow on Aubrac.We tested out a winter sports day on the sublime Aubrac plateau. This Grand Site is an ideal playground for winter sports enthusiasts and discovery seekers alike! We opted for one of the classics, a day combining sporting activities, leisure and pleasure … Between cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and snowkiting, we had a great day at Col de Bonnecombe.
Winter landscape, Aubrac.10h30
It snowed last night on theAubrac. It’s an opportunity for our group of friends to discover the landscapes we’ve been told about since our arrival in Lozère… This morning, theAubrac Sud Lozère website shows that all the pistes are open, and their webcam confirms this: the plateau is covered in a thick blanket of white. It’s decided, everyone dons their snow gear, and we’re off in the direction of the Col de Bonnecombe. The thin layer of snow in the valley gradually gives way to a thick layer, and even though the road is clear we’re reassured to be driving equipped vehicles. The sun has already risen over the plateau, reflecting off the white expanses: a radiant day ahead!
“There’s joy in danger and danger in joy”, an American proverb.
Landscapes 4 Seasons (5)© B. Colomb Lozere Sauvage Pour Pact Aubrac © B. Colomb Lozère Sauvage Pour Pact Aubrac
South Lozère aubrac cross-country ski resort at Col de Bonnecombe.Further information:
Where: Col de Bonnecombe (22km from La Canourgue)
Duration: 1 day
Price: variable (7 euros daily rental)
11h00
Arriving at Bonnecombe, we park in the parking lot and head for the chalet, where we’re greeted by Julie. A native of the region and in love with her plateau, she explains not only how the resort works, but also what we can do in the area. In particular, she points us to a buron located near the resort, where we can go for an aligot to regain our strength for lunch. “You don’t know theAubrac until you’ve been there in winter”, she says… and here we are! Following this sound advice, Julie equips us: half of us for cross-country skiing, the other half for snowshoeing. And off we go to hit the slopes! Once done, the group splits in two, and meets up at midday for lunch…
“Energy is eternal joy”, William Blake.
11h30
The cross-country group decides to take the Baronte circuit, named after the woods that border the resort. The snow is fresh and the trails are well groomed: ideal conditions! The wooded landscape is utterly charming and takes on the air of a Canadian forest. The sound of skis gliding along the piste is disturbed only by the wind in the pine foliage, which occasionally blows snow off the branches. The bright sun attenuates the wind that whips our cheeks and makes the immaculate snow cover of the plateau sparkle: our sunglasses are not too much! The 6.9 kilometers or so of the marked route pass in a flash.
“A smile brings joy to the depths of your being, with a gentle voice, take me with you”, Sonia Lahsaini.
Cross-country skiing Bonnecombe Aubrac.11h30
The snowshoeing group chose the Lou Galabert trail, opposite the Baronte trail. We set off for 4 kilometers and 1h30 ofsnow-covered forests and pastures. The highlight of the route: the Saltou waterfall and its basaltic organs. Just imagine, after trudging through the thick layer of snow on snowshoes, arriving in front of a frozen waterfall in the middle of the great white expanse! You’re sure to fall in love…
“A smile that lasts gives more joy than a burst of laughter”, Chinese proverb.
Aubrac landscape in the snowThe Saltou waterfall is formed by a stream that starts at the Col de Bonnecombe and then forms a waterfall tumbling down remarkable basalt organs. The setting is made all the more picturesque by the fact that the waterfall is completely invisible from the surrounding area, and you have to be at its foot to enjoy the spectacle.
Aligot sausage, a speciality of Aubrac.14H00
The group had agreed to meet for lunch at the Relais des Lacs to recharge our batteries. So we all sit down together at the old buron converted into a restaurant. After devouring the famous aligot, we feel our strength returning, and we prefer not to linger too long in the buron, even if thewarm atmosphere would make us want to, as we want to enjoy the slopes before the sun goes down.
“If you love your life, everyone will love you too”, Paul McCartney.
15h30
Back at the resort, we agree on a ” Nordic route ” so that the group doesn’t have to split up. So off we go, all together, on the ” chantecoin” route. Once again, no one is disappointed. Our peace of mind is disturbed by our passage by the snowkite spot. I’ve heard it’s famous here… and the more daring among us say they’ll try it next year!
“What counts in life is not to be perfect, but to be happy”, Daniel Martin.
Snowkite outing at Col de Bonnecombe on the Aubrac plateau.Where else but on Aubrac can you enjoy such beautiful, unspoilt expanses, where on the horizon the sky merges with the earth to such an extent that it seems like an infinite plateau…
Aubrac - Winter - Sunrise - Above Usanges18h30
Back at the chalet, tired from the fresh air but recharged by a day out in the wilderness, everyone returns their gear and we decide to take a short break before setting off again. Then it’s time to hit the road again. The return to La Canourgue takes place under a radiant sunset, which covers the white expanses with gradations of pink to great effect. It’s in this unique atmosphere that we say goodbye to the snow-coveredAubrac plateau … A goodbye, but certainly not a farewell!
“We often look for what life doesn’t explain”, Sonia Lahsaini.
For a day of winter sports on the Aubrac, it’s best to be well equipped! What should you take with you?
