On Piste Experience - Snowshoe and pushchair outing

Presentation

Presentation

I tested it for you: pram and ski outing at l'Arselle with the On Piste app
"Top family outing with pushchair and sun!"

February 2023, Chamrousse 1600 - Arselle plateau, with the family
Sylvain, urban & mountain dad

An idea for a snowshoeing outing & pram

For some time now, I have had an idea in mind: to do one of the snowshoe itineraries in Chamrousse with my pushchair on skis. On this Saturday 18 February 2023, I feel that the conditions are suitable to test this little challenge: no powder but good weather. So that's the day!
Before that, let's talk about how I got here... Since the end of November, my wife and I are the happy parents of a little girl. We live in Grenoble. Like many city dwellers, we opted for a Yoyo pram. This pram is known to be very small and easy to handle. Another reason why we chose this model is that you can buy mini skis that attach to the front wheels as an option. Isn't this the essential accessory of life? And that's how we ended up owning a Yoyo² pushchair with carrycot (and mini skis).
The pushchair is not everything, it is important to be well prepared before going to the mountains with a baby.

Preparing for a baby outing

Going out in the mountains with a baby under three months old is not trivial. It is important to check the weather and snow conditions. This winter being particularly warm, temperatures are expected to be positive at the Arselle plateau. This is where I plan to go because the route I have in mind is rather flat and in the trees. I also know that it hasn't snowed for some time, so the snow will be either packed or icy, due to the shade of the vegetation. For travel with a pushchair, this is perfect!
Once the date has been selected, you need to provide adequate clothing and equipment for the walkers (clothes, bag with water and food, sunglasses, waterproof shoes...) and specific elements for this type of outing:

First of all, as with any mini-expedition for a little baby, you need the right changing bag with everything you need: milk for at least 2 meals (if feeding is not enough or if the baby is not breastfed), nappies, the portable changing kit...
Specific mountain items for the baby: warm clothes, at least one of which should be waterproof, a pair of baby glasses (generally index 4), clothing that covers hands and feet.
Snowshoes or mountaineering crampons for walkers. Rubber chains with small screws, if this is not enough. And it's not the time to fall off... (although it's never the time)
A strap to the pram!!! Totally mandatory, if it goes off (especially with the mini skis) on its own, it sucks big time. For our pram, it is equipped. Of course, a strap is useless if you don't use it. So, make sure you take the reflex.

On Piste and snowshoe routes

Since this winter, it is possible to be guided on snowshoe routes via the On Piste application. Until now, only the ski touring routes were accessible via this app during the winter period. This is new and I want to test it, so it will be a combination test of pushchair and On Piste.
On Piste is a website and a mobile application for outdoor routes. Only the routes validated by the territories are present. Chamrousse is part of the network. The application has a navigation option that helps you not to get lost. If you are a novice, I highly recommend the app.
For the snowshoeing route, I choose the route 1 "Crêtes de l'Arselle" because the difference in altitude is small (and it is possible to avoid the problematic ascent/descent). Knowing that I don't have 4G reception on the plateau, I download the route beforehand. Once there, only the GPS position is useful (and it will work).

Timing and departure

On Piste course in the phone and equipment checked (3 times), direction the Nordic domain of Chamrousse 1600, the Arselle plateau.
The baby outing will start with a refreshment at the restaurant "La Salinière". We arrive at 11.50am, there is room on the terrace, we settle in and take turns ordering. Indeed, during each order, one person is in charge of keeping an eye on the pram and its contents which are sleeping peacefully. The car seems to have a soporific effect on the little one. It's still a real pleasure to be able to enjoy the terrace with the family and the superb view of the Taillefer massif.
After a Viennese coffee, it's time for the adventure!
We start at the snowshoe sign between the Nordic Park and the restaurant.

A nice snowshoe walk

It's time to start on the application. Between the snowshoeing signs and the app, you don't get lost. But you can always take a wrong direction, so I keep an eye on the app and I check that we are on the route 1 "Crêtes de l'Arselle" (otherwise, it's a shot to finish at the Achard lake).
The ride is great! I'm glad I have a mini-volume pushchair otherwise it would be tricky, if not impossible in some places. Having mountaineering crampons is really important. We come across some people who are not equipped and it's a real hassle on the ice. This is particularly true for the access to the mini-summit of this snowshoe hike. Moreover, it is possible to skip the loop going to the summit and go from point 1 to point 2 directly (see On Piste image). I recommend not to go up if you are not equipped (with or without a baby, it is not the problem). From up there, the view is quite nice. There is no panoramic viewpoint because of the trees, so don't risk it.

Back at the plateau, the gradient will be close to zero until the finish. We see the Nordic Park tracks, skiers and even sled dogs. The weather is good and my wife and I are enjoying it. Sometimes there is a slope, I am careful with the pushchair. The little one sleeps and doesn't flinch at any time.
We arrive at the starting point after 6 km of walking. In all, the trip took 2h30.

Conclusion: the little family enjoyed the good weather, even if it's not always easy with the pram, but what's not to like about a pram in a natural environment! I don't regret this little excursion at all. For information, a pram ride to the Achard lake or the Croix is impossible (but you'll need the baby carrier).

To finish this mini-expedition, we allow ourselves one last little pleasure at the restaurant. My beautiful one will breastfeed on the terrace with a nursing veil and as a little 4 o'clock a coffee with marshmallow option and a raspberry meringue pie. She deserves the diversions. The timing was perfect for the baby, and the views were magnificent, especially on the Taillefer. We return to Grenoble with many beautiful memories. I recommend this tour for people looking for fun with limited effort. One of the few compatible excursions with a pushchair and skis.