Les Deux Alpes Snow Report: 19th December 2014

Some frankly vile conditions yesterday (sleet, thick fog, high winds – what was I doing up there, really) gave way to bright sunshine this morning, and the new snow on the glacier was in great shape. The only fly in the ointment was the fact that wet snow had frozen onto the cables at the two Puy Salie drag lifts, meaning the only access to the top was via the funicular, where predictably long queues soon built up.

Snow conditions continued pretty good down towards mid station until I got to about 2900m, at which point it all turned to iciness – you can tell exactly where yesterday’s rain/snow line was. It’s still skiable though, and this week’s predicted high temperatures should result in a bit of freeze/thaw and softer snow in the afternoons.

I declined to venture further down and investigate the Bellecombe runs since they were clearly going to be icy as well, so I stuck to the glacier and the higher pistes for the day.

Tomorrow would usually see the resort fully open for the holiday period, but the general lack of snow is still holding things up. Vallee Blanche remains closed, as does most of the Bas des Pistes, though the free drag lifts at Petit Viking and Coolidge will be open for beginners to make their first turns on snow.

The black and red runs back to resort won’t open and while the Valentin looks from a distance as though it might be skiable, I really wouldn’t advise trying it – it’s hard and nasty and the pisteurs will probably shout at you.

On the other hand, there are plans to open the Fee, a surprise given how low it goes and the fact that the whole sector got rained on yesterday. I have no idea what conditions down there are like, (since it has been closed up to now and it’s a day’s walk home from the bottom) but I’d be prepared to put money on thin and icy. Still, it must be skiable or they wouldn’t do it, so give it a go. Thuit remains closed, so the return from the bottom is via the Fee chair only.

So in short, our Christmas visitors should be able to get a reasonable amount of decent skiing at higher altitudes, and the mild weather means we will all be able to sit outside in the sun and drink beers, something which always adds value.

Finally (and without wishing to cast a damper on the proceedings) a word about safety. The pistes have been bashed flat and are hard, fast and unforgiving. There’s a lot of rock poking through at the edges as well, and high speed falls aren’t going to be a lot of fun, so mind how fast you’re going and keep an eye out for people who aren’t doing. Ideally we’d like to see you all go home in one piece.