After last season’s green fields l’Alpe d’Huez obviously wants to show that they are capable of opening the ski area despite any snow difficulties. They’ve taken a leaf out of Autran’s book, the tiny Vercors station that opened their small ski area at the end of November last year. They benefited from a great deal of publicity in the French press.
L’Alpe d’Huez is going a whole month better. Along with its neighbour, les Deux Alpes, the resort will be open for the autumn half term holidays between the 26 October and 2nd of November and possibly, as is traditional, for the weekends afterwards. The advertising in the Grenoble area has been extensive and there is no doubt that even if this is not that profitable it is boost for the station.
L’Alpe d’Huez on the 10th December 2001
To ensure this goes off without a hitch they’ve been developing the Sarenne glacier. This will also serve during the winter if there is a lack of snow at lower altitudes. There is a new Herpie lift that gives access to a new blue - the Herpie and a red, the Hermine. The exit from the Tunnel has also been remodelled and is no longer the frightening (for some) drop off onto a mogul field. They’ve also managed to add a red down from the summit at the top of the Glacier chair. This was always a challenge for intermediates who somehow thought they’d do a little Sarenne to end their week.
New Lifts and Pistes on the Sarenne Glacier
To finish it all off a snow park is planned near the top of the glacier.
Obviously the Pic Blanc cable car is going to be even more overloaded with all this activity so there are already plans to extend the Marmottes with a Funitel up to the glacier.