Another month, another first. After the Pic du Midi in May it is now the turn of Porté-Puymorens to open for skiing for the first week-end of June. A publicity stunt maybe but with fresh snow one that will please certain local skiers and a first for Pyrenean skiing.
It has all come about after an April Fool's day joke where the local Independant newspaper claimed that the Fontfrède glacier had reappeared this winter. With epic snow conditions and following the success of the story the director of the resort, Eric Charre, has decided to open the Fontfrède piste for the 1st and 2nd of June.
Charre says "(The slope) is at the highest point of the resort, between 2000 and 2500 meters altitude. All winter storms have dumped huge amounts of snow at that spot, it will take a half day and two piste bashers to get the slope prepared". It has been his dream, perhaps a bit mad, to open the resort in the summer. The aim is to show that the Pyrenees, if it has the snow, is able open runs at the start of the summer, that they can handle extremes of weather and are able to react. A large number of volunteers have agreed to help but it is a step into the unknown.
The blue Fontfrède slope will open with real snow with a single drag lift. Like on an alpine glacier it will open from 8h30 to 13h00. Access via Vignole on the Estanyol road with a giant Paella for lunch after the slopes close.