Val d'Isere Snow Report: 25th December 2015

We’ve had a few colder nights and that has allowed the snow cannons to be turned back on and the extra snow-making has been a great help.

There is absolutely no doubt that the pistes are in much better condition first thing in the morning when you can benefit from the affects of them being freshly groomed. They become bumpier, firmer and in some places icier as the day goes on, and it’s definitely worth getting up early to get on the first lift of the day. You’ll also avoid the crowds, which are at their worst around 9:30 when most of the ski schools start their lessons. Another quieter time to ski is over the lunch period from around 12:30 until 2:15PM.

The Sache piste into Les Brevieres is still closed and is lethal. I’ve skied it a few times during the past couple of weeks after arriving lower down from off-piste itineraries, but today (Thursday) it had turned nasty and quite dangerous, so I won’t be skiing it again until it snows. And for some good news, the Tignes Funicular has been repaired and is now operating normally, which will help enormously next week with the crowds trying to access the Grande Motte.

Speaking of lethal, the pavements in town are treacherous and need concentration and caution. It doesn’t hurt to wear the ‘crampons’, which are designed for walking shoes, and they are a must for elderly pedestrians. More people hurt themselves walking in the streets than skiing on the mountain so do be aware when you arrive in the resort.

As for the off-piste, it’s not getting any easier but we’re still managing to find good skiing every day. With the colder temperatures over the past few nights the snow is breaking up and improving, and in places we even have a pitches of spring snow, so it is not as bad as you may think.

Weather in the village:

• Saturday – Sunny -5C/+5C Wind from the S at 5km/h
• Sunday- Sunny -4C/+6C Wind from the S at 5km/h
• Monday- Partially sunny -4C/+5C Wind from the SE at 5 km/h
• Tuesday- Rain -4C/+2C Wind from the E

Tuesday’s forecast is promising because any precipitation is good news and if the wind comes from the east we’ll have a chance of a retour de l’est. A retour de l’est can turn a 5 centimetre snowfall into a 50 cm or better snowfall up against the Italian border in the Fornet sector. Fingers crossed on that one!

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