The Winter Season Starts Here!

After the autumn half term opening of l’Alpe d’Huez a number of stations are taking advantage of the excellent new snow conditions to open for the Winter season.  In total 3 stations, just maybe 4 with Chamonix, may open for the long French holiday weekend on the 8th of November.

Tignes has skiing down to resort level on the Double M piste giving 1300 meters of vertical, a bit less than the 2000 meters we managed at les Deux Alpes last weekend but excellent for the start of the winter season..  Val Thorens, situated at 2100 meters is scheduled to open on the 8th of November with 40cm at resort level.

In the Southern Alps Montgenèvre has already opened a small part of its domain, although it was described as ‘busy’ last weekend.  The 25km of pistes are open over the long French holiday weekend with 60cm of snow at resort level.

At the start of the week Chamonix had around 40 cm of snow at 2000 m and 70 cm to 100 cm at 2500 m.  You can ski to around 1800 meters at the moment.  The glaciers of the Mont Blanc range are still in a bad way after the long heatwave and the snow has not repaired all the damage.

It is still too early to talk about downhill skiing at Argentiere.  If the conditions are good enough the Lognan, Bochard and Marmottons will open for the 8th of November, this will be confirmed on Friday.  The opening of Grands Montets is scheduled for the 20th of December 2003.
- Office de Haute Montagne, Chamonix
Tél. +33 (0)450532208
e-mail : ohm-info@chamonix.com

Posted by davidof on Thursday, 06 November, 2003 at 03:46 PM

After being spoilt in les Deux Alpes last weekend it is back to the reality of early November.  In Val Thorens the Peclet and Grand Fond funitels were open along with the Cascade, Portette and Plateau lifts.  The snow level is higher further south in the Isére and Hautes Alpes regions with no snow at les Ménuires on the road to resort. The wind had done its worst with the snow.  Off piste there were stones and rocks everywhere.  This is probably why, further north, the opening of Chamonix/Argentiere has been pushed back to, probably, 22 November.  All this was compensated by good on piste skiing and lack of crowds.

Over at Montgenèvre there was between 30-50cm of fresh snow on Saturday night with excellent skiing on Sunday although, as at les Deux Alpes, there were a number of annoying lift breakdowns.  Hell is being trapped on a ski lift with 50cm of fresh powder just below you!

Posted by davidof on  Sunday, 09 November, 2003  at 10:29 PM

The excellent conditions in the Hautes Alpes also meant that Arvieux en Queyras was able to open its cross-country skiing tracks a month ahead of schedule.  There is already 80cm of snow at 1200 meters.

Posted by davidof on  Sunday, 09 November, 2003  at 10:35 PM

Avoriaz should be open this coming Friday 14th November weekends only with very good conditions for the time of year, check with the tourist board for details.

Posted by  on  Tuesday, 11 November, 2003  at 08:19 PM

l’Alpe d’Huez has also announced that it will open on the 15th of November and the following weekend.  The large cable car (DMC) should be running with skiing to resort but the Pic Blanc and glacier will remain closed.

The Saises has opened its cross country skiing.

Argentiere will remain closed until the 22nd of November at the earliest.  All the other resorts mentioned above will be open.  However a period of setted and warm weather has not been particuarly good to the snow cover with around 20cm at the bottom of the pistes at Tignes and Val Thorens.

Posted by davidof on  Saturday, 15 November, 2003  at 01:06 AM

d’la_fraiche has posted some pictures from Montgenèvre from the 10th November on his site:

PB106973_500.jpg

Unfortunately the site is not yet up and running but we’ve included a link just in case.

Posted by davidof on  Tuesday, 18 November, 2003  at 09:05 PM
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