Warm weather but the snow's holding up well
We have had a stunning week of weather and with unseasonably warm temperatures we’ve had some incredibly good spring snow. With each passing day of warm temperatures and good re-freezes at night the transformation of the snow into spring snow has been getting better and better.
On Monday some slopes were ‘just’ supporting but by Tuesday it was game-on as we had an outstanding morning of top quality spring snow on impressive slopes. I skied the lower half of the Face du Charvet twice in perfect spring snow before skiing a stunning run in the Tour du Charvet. We then went over the Col Pers to ski winter snow and exited through the Gorge du Malpasset, and the exit was very interesting and getting trickier.
On Wednesday my colleague Chris and I took our teams down to the neighbouring resort of Ste Foy to ski the south-side of the Foglietta. We had about a one- hour-and-twenty-minute ‘skin’ and from the top we had great views of the Italian-side of Mont Blanc, the Monte Rosa in the distance, and directly across the valley views of the Glacier de la Savinaz, and the north and south Glaciers de la Gurraz.
Normally we ski the north–side of the Foglietta in powder but because of the heat the snow is trying to transform to spring snow but is now at that ‘in-between’ stage where it isn’t soft powder and it doesn’t support either, making for tricky skiing. For less skilled skiers it’s the type of snow that will grab your ski and rip your leg off if you’re not careful and should be avoided. (I call it wish-bone snow!) So, you can see why we chose the sunny-side, which was wonderful with perfect spring snow top-to-bottom without a mark on the mountain.
On Thursday I skied the Face du Charvet from the top, which was fantastic and is always very atmospheric as it’s one of the biggest slopes in the resort, followed by a wonderful run in the Tour du Charvet above the Couloir du Mont Blanc.
The piste skiing has also been first-class this week with perfectly groomed pistes and clear blue skies, and that is a tough combination to beat if you’re a piste skier or snowboarder!
I had another session with the Killer Beez at the Petit Danois bar on Tuesday evening. They are absolutely superb and had the place rocking, and if you’re in town next week and like ‘rock’ don’t miss them. They start at 5:30 and play until 7:30, which turns into 7:45 as the crowd won’t let me stop. Two-for-one pints are before five o’clock and after five they give you a toffee vodka shot with each drink (I don’t drink mine!) And every Friday night Mike and Ritchie play at the Moris Pub starting at 5:30, and they are a lot of fun with Mike on acoustic guitar and lead vocals and Ritchie on sax, trumpet and flute, and he sings some great rap numbers as well. So if you like live music don’t miss the Killer Beez or Mike and Ritchie!
It looks like a mixed bag weather-wise for the weekend with a sunny day on Friday, the possibility of some snow and Saturday, and then a partially sunny day on Sunday. We’ve had some wonderful, and I mean seriously wonderful spring skiing this week but some fresh snow would clean up the tracks quite nicely and give us the opportunity of some more powder skiing, so any fresh snow would be greatly appreciated.
Whatever the weather the sun is seriously strong now and you see some pretty nasty sun-burns around town. Make sure you use high-factor and high quality sun-cream, even on the overcast days as you’ll get burnt just as badly on a cloudy day.
Have a brilliant weekend and stay tuned for another update with photos on Monday!
Follow more from Wayne in his Daily Diary.
NB. Some of the areas Wayne has been skiing this week are off piste and not suitable to all skiers. Wayne has 35 years experience in these mountains. If you're considering going off piste you should always take a guide with you.
Ski & Snowboard Hire located at the bottom of the slopes, you can leave the shop with your skis on. Save time and money by booking online with Intersport. Have your equipment ready to pick up as soon as you arrive and hit the slopes straight away!
Florent and his team offer you a warm welcome to their store Ab Ski, which is located in the heart of Val d'Isere on the Avenue Olympique (in between the two roundabouts on this main road).
Val d’Isère Village ski hire shop is ideally situated in the centre of the village, next to the ski schools and the lift pass office and being directly on the snow front it is ski-in, ski-out!
Want to rent skis or snowboards in Val d'Isere? Just visit the Skiset Pro Shop Killy Hotel Avenue Lodge store!
Ski hire shop located near the tourist office in the centre of the resort. Save time and money by booking online with Intersport. Have your equipment ready to pick up as soon as you arrive and hit the slopes straight away!
No need to carry your ski equipment around with you! Simply pick it up from the ski shop in resort. You can collect your equipment from at least 5pm the day before your 1st skiing day.
Established in 1991, this ski and snowboard school was one of the first British-run ski schools in France. Their team is known for going the extra mile, offering excellent customer service and delivering outstanding lessons and guiding.
This ski school offers group ski lessons for both children and adults, catering to all ability levels. Their group lessons provide a great and affordable way to improve your skiing in a safe, social and supportive environment.
Established in 1991, this ski and snowboard school was one of the first British ski schools in France and is renowned for its fantastic instructors and excellent customer service.
This ski school was set up in Val d'Isère in 2006 and has been hugely successful allowing them to expand into the resorts of Tignes, Les Gets, Morzine and Chamonix.
This ski school connects snow sports enthusiasts of all abilities with expert ski and snowboard instructors across Europe’s top resorts. With thousands of top-rated, verified instructors to choose from, their private lessons offer a flexible and personalised learning experience.
This ski school was set up in Val d'Isère in 2006 and has been hugely successful allowing them to expand into the resorts of Tignes, Les Gets, Morzine and Chamonix.
This company offers reliable private transfers from Geneva Airport to Val d'Isère. Established and efficient - you can rely on them.
A key booking portal for local coach and bus transfers in the French ski resorts. Using this service to coordinate your travel means getting to resort could not be easier.
This company offers private and shared transfers from Geneva Airport to Val d'Isere, nearby areas, and resorts across the Alps. With great value fares on all journeys, it’s an easy way to save money.
Booking with them means your holiday won’t involve the stress of public transport, the cost of private transfers, or the hassle of fitting snow chains on a hire car.
The Loyal Transfers team has been organising airport transfers to ski resorts around France since 2012. Their aim has always been to make independent travel to ski resorts cheaper and easier for everyone.
A fantastic way to see the resort with your friends and family and a great way to entertain any non-skiers in your group.
Try something new this winter with a guided e-bike session on snow (from eight years old). Join a sunrise ride above Val d’Isère or hire an electric bike in the afternoon and head off on your own adventure.
Passenger or driver, it’s up to you to decide!
For backcountry adventures, this independent company operates in and around the following three heliski destinations: Valgrisenche, The Courmayeur Valley and the Col de Petit St Bernard Pass. They have pioneered 32 drop zones within these three broad valley regions giving you a huge choice of terrain, snow conditions and mountain orientation to ensure you have a day best suited to your ability and preferences.
Sledding tours and adventures in the Tarentaise.
Discover the charm of snowshoeing and venture to parts of the mountains even skiers don't go.
Find out what's happening in Val d'Isère and how to make the most of your time here. The latest news, reviews, current events and the trendiest restaurants, as well as interviews with leading locals, insider's guides and things to do, see and experience in the region. Plus, during the winter season, our famous snow reports and dump alerts, all in the same place.
See allLatest News & ReviewsVal d'Isère hosts a wide range of events throughout the year. There are constant ski racing competitions throughout the winter, as well as the much anticipated La Scara youth event each April. In the summer, the resort plays home to some major trail running events such as the High Trail Vanoise in July, with Tour de France stages often passing nearby in July.
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