The Pic du Midi de Bigorre (2877m), part of the French Tourmalet ski area has decided to open its doors for the week starting on the 6th May.

With just Val d'Isere, Tignes, Val Thorens, Chamonix and la Grave still open French alpine ski resorts are clearing up and taking stock after a prodigiously snowy winter.

Despite problems with road access and closed lifts due to the avalanche risk Pyrenean ski resorts have something to smile about at the end of the 2012/2013 season.

There may be over a meter of snow on the slopes of many Pyrenean ski resorts but only Cauterets, Piau-Engaly and les Angles are still open and then only to this week-end (14/15th April).

{image:0}An enormous car-park at the entrance of the ski resort of Valmeinier will have to be demolished without ever seeing a single car.

Numerous buildings constructed since the spring of 2004 and some ski lifts may have to be rebuilt in the Maurienne valley’s ski areas due to defective concrete.