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Val Thorens Snow Report: 23rd December 2013

All the lifts are now running and high season is here

featured in Snow report Author Caroline Sayer, Val Thorens Reporter Updated

The last remaining lifts opened this weekend and almost the entire ski area is now open. As you will see from the figures on the right, a few slopes are still closed because of limited snow cover. These are mainly the little-used runs, such as steep blacks Tetras or Bosses and the lower runs below the resort, such as Villages. Suddenly high season is here – all the lifts are running, the resort is humming and the slopes are busy.

After a long dry December, snow finally fell at the end of last week. Not a great deal arrived – only a few centimetres – but this was enough to refresh the pistes and keep them soft and lovely. We tend to pay too much attention to the snow depth statistic and forget that what’s important is the quality of the snow. Though there isn’t a vast amount of snow so far, the quality of the pistes is good and we’ve been enjoying great skiing conditions in sunshine so far this season. True, there are a few stones on the pistes and off-piste skiing is pretty much off-limits, but we’re generally doing very well here in the 3 Valleys.

Le Mont Vallon opened up on Saturday and we couldn’t resist making the most of its untouched red runs. The Vallon is one of my favourite parts of the ski area: not only is it the highest skiing point in the Méribel Valley but it also offers some of the most spectacular views in the entire 3 Valleys. When you exit the Vallon gondola, do take a moment to walk to the viewing platform on your left to admire the panorama. Below you is the Gebroulaz glacier, a classic off-piste route and until recently, the only privately-owned glacier in Europe. (It has now been bought by the commune.) Opposite are the peaks of the Vanoise National Park and its famous dome glacier. Thanks to the view-point diagrams here, you can identify all the peaks, both French and Italian, spread out before you.

For many intermediate skiers, le Mont Vallon is the goal of a holiday in Méribel. There are just two runs from the top of the Mont Vallon, both excellent, long reds. There is no way down for beginners, other than back down in the lift.

Campagnol is generally the quieter of the two runs and slightly shorter. It was widened a few years ago and is now a wonderful run to swoop down, once you have negotiated a rather narrow path at the top.

On the other, shadier side of the mountain is the famous Combe Vallon, the longest run in the Méribel valley. This red is steep and if you can do the whole thing without stopping, you know you’re seriously fit. To reward yourself at the bottom, do stop at the very comfortable restaurant by the lift station, le Plan des Mains. This offers very good food, nice loos, a place for children to rest and relax and even a little exhibition centre and shop.

The Vallon is also a mecca for off-piste skiers. Alas, there is not yet enough snow here to make skiing off-piste sensible – there are many boulders still uncovered and more just below the surface to trip the unwary or rip their ski bases.

Note that the Ours piste, the most direct route from le Mont Vallon to Méribel-Mottaret, is still closed. If you do ski this area at the end of the day, make sure you leave enough time to catch the last Plan des Mains lift instead, else you face a long walk….

Saturday was the shortest day of the year and the sun very kindly came out to shine on us all day long. What better place to spend midwinter’s day than high in the Alps in perfect sunshine?

The slopes will inevitably be busy over the next couple of weeks, with New Year’s week being the most popular of the season. To reduce the risk of collisions or accidents, please do remember the ten rules of the piste. We’ll be bringing your tips on how to avoid any queues and where to find the quietest slopes in the next few reports.

The next snow report will be written by our resident ski racer/reporter, Cara Brown. I will be back next weekend with more video and written report. Until then, I wish you a Snowy Christmas! 

 

Stats

Snow Report
  • Alt. Resort: 1850m

  • Alt. Summit: 2738m

  • Alt. High Temp.: 1850m