New Year’s Eve: Snowshoeing and a Night in an Igloo Facing the Meije

Meet at 1.30pm at Bar Le Belvédère, in the hamlet of Ventelon (La Grave), where we'll pick you up to head to the starting point, Le Chazelet, about 3 km away by car. On arrival, you'll be offered a drink and the guide will outline the itinerary for the mini-break, as well as safety instructions and the rules for getting on with one another. We'll start with a detailed briefing on the experience, followed by the distribution of equipment: snowshoes, poles and safety kit (avalanche transceiver, probe and shovel).

On arrival at Le Chazelet, you'll receive your individual kit for the night in the igloo (sleeping bag if required, mattress, shared tarpaulin and cooking kit). All shared equipment is carried by the team so that you can make the ascent with a light rucksack, and the guide will explain how to use the equipment and how the camp will be organised before we set off. This is also the moment to bring out your own picnic (not included) for lunch before setting off, since the next meal will be the New Year’s Eve dinner in the late afternoon.

The ascent is at a gentle pace, through forests and open slopes, up to the bivouac site facing the Meije. Once there, everyone takes part in building or setting up their own igloo, under the guide's supervision.

In the late afternoon, we'll prepare the New Year's Eve dinner together in the snow. On the menu:

• A warm, local alcoholic aperitif, 'La Bassine' / organic fruit juice
• This aperitif served with wild salmon, foie gras and tapenade on toast
• Starter: scallop carpaccio with citrus fruits
• Main course: wild prawns flambéed with pastis, mixed vegetables and rice
• Local cheeses
• Bananas and pineapple flambéed with rum
• Organic wine and champagne with the meal (1 bottle for every 4 people)

The evening wraps up with a convivial moment around a hot drink, toasting the new year under the stars before heading into your igloo for the night.