Panic Over Snow Conditions
The last snowfall on the 2nd January seems like a distant memory with the sun and unseasonable temperatures reigning supreme at the moment. However, we should not be deterred from heading to the slopes since it is still possible to ski in a large number of resorts, some of them evidently have only a very limited number of pistes skiable but others boast 80% of runs open.
The recent series of world cup cancellations and the relocation of the Kandahar from Les Houches (Chamonix Valley) to Val d'Isere has created panic among the skiing public. The tourist offices concerned have been bombarded with enquiries from worried skiers convinced there was no chance of skiing in their preferred resorts. Things have perhaps been blown out of proportion. The fact that conditions on certain pistes are not good enough to host international downhill races, during which racers reach speeds in excess of 100km/h, does not mean they are not perfectly adequate for recreational skiers.
In Chamonix where the majority of runs are located between 1800m and 3800m of altitude, 90% of the ski area is open and better still 30-40cm of snowfall is expected tomorrow (Thursday) at 1800m. In Les Houches, home of the Verte world cup piste, 17 of the 27 runs are open, including the 2 home runs. In Les Contamines where the world cup freestyle event that was due to be held on 13th/14th January was cancelled, snow is also on the agenda. The geographical location of the resort, between the Beaufortain Massif and Mont Blanc ensures it benefits from regular snowfalls, furthermore, the pistes do not suffer from the appearance of rocks and stones, as the terrain is largely alpine pastures. These two factors translate to 80% of the area being open at the time of writing.
If you are planning on skiing in the Savoie or Tarentaise regions, you shouldn't be unduly worried either. The fact that Val d'Isere has been chosen to host the Chamonix stage of the world cup series this weekend (20th/21st), is testimony to the superb snow conditions in the area. The American ski team, led by Bode Miller, is currently training in Les Arcs. Even in La Rosiere, a renowned suntrap, amateurs will find enough snow to enjoy themselves.
In the Southern Alps, the high-altitude resorts of Les Deux Alpes and Alpe d'Huez have been working hard to maintain the condition of the runs and are both virtually 100% open.
Meteo France has forecast precipitation over the Alps for the end of the week, so let's all keep our fingers crossed that the temperature drops and that we will see some of those still very welcome snowflakes.
