Val Thorens Snow Report: 11th December 2011

Whilst the upper pistes are undeniably a bit hard in places, there's plenty of good skiing all over the area and fine weather today added to the feel-good factor of the first weekend. Further snowfalls are forecast for next week, enabling Santa to get about on his sleigh at christmas. Very important.

Three valley links are open and venturing over to Les Menuires this morning we found good conditions on piste throughout. The runs around the Grand Lac restaurant were all nicely groomed and fairly empty . Coming back down to Mottaret from Cote Brune we did find the popular runs nearer the village increasingly busy as people inevitably take it easy on the first day. Not all chairlifts are operating just yet, so powder hounds are also making tracks in their favourite spots to get about between pistes. Gradual opening of the whole area is expected shortly, in readiness for the festive season.

The big news on the hill this season is the partial replacement of the Saulire lift from the Chaudanne in the centre of Meribel up to the top of the Saulire. Having been split in two sections for this season, the second section is ready to go any day now and the station itself looks very impressive and a bit futuristic. When it's fully completed for next season, as one single journey ,it will shorten the ascent considerably. Extra beer time for the lads at the top? Can't wait!