Val Thorens Snow Report: 30th December 2013

As you would expect, the slopes are busy and it’s now that some local knowledge is useful for avoiding queues and finding quiet slopes. I’ve given my top tips for high season below - please do add your own suggestions of how to beat the queues on our Facebook page.

Yesterday we decided to ski over midday when the slopes were quieter and headed over to the Loze/La Tania areas which are usually fairly empty. We wanted to try out the brand new six-seater Bouc Blanc chairlift above la Tania and were pleased to see that there was no queue here at all. The new chair is fast and comfortable and offers skiers a beautiful new vista over the Rocher de la Loze towards the top of the ascent. Be aware that this chairlift has a locking safety bar which only unlocks at the very last moment just before you get off. Many of the newer 3 Vallees chairlifts are being fitted with this safety device which is no doubt A Good Thing for nervous adults and children, but wildly unnerving if you forget it’s there and try to lift the bar early . Not only do I panic each time that I won’t be able to get off (oh, the humiliation of going down a chairlift by mistake) but there is also the risk that as you struggle with the bar it will suddenly unlock, fly upwards and wallop you in the nose…

Snow conditions today were beautiful on the gentler, groomed runs but bumpy on the steeper and ungroomed ones. Surprisingly, there are still stones showing through on some runs. If Father Christmas brought you brand new skis you might consider keeping them in their box until some more snow has fallen.

As for the off-piste, it’s best avoided at present. The avalanche risk is still considerable (3/5) and there was a fatal avalanche in Courchevel on Friday. In addition, rocks are not sufficiently covered by the relatively low snow cover, as Michael Schumacher discovered to his cost yesterday.

Our best run of the day was undoubtedly the long descent from Loze to Méribel Village on the Pic, Blanchot and Lapin runs. I love this easy descent for its fabulous views and also the promise of excellent hot chocolate and goodies from the wonderful bakery in Meribel Village at the bottom. Highly recommended…..

To finish, here are my top tips for the busy French holiday period.

Ski when others don’t

Try to be on first lift at 9.00 sharp. If you arrive 15 minutes later and you’ll be stuck behind ski schools flooding onto the lifts. If you can get away first, you’ll arrive at all the subsequent lifts before any queues can build up.

Ski over lunchtime. The French are constitutionally-required to eat a two-hour, three-course lunch including wine, coffee and digestifs. This leaves us “anglo-saxons” free to enjoy much quieter slopes between 12.00 and 2.00.

Avoid the Chaudanne in the morning

If you are staying high up the resort, circumvent the queues at the main Chaudanne lift station by starting your day on the Adret or Morel lifts. If you are staying in the lower part of Méribel, why not jump on the free bus to Méribel Village and start and end your day in this quiet area instead?

Ski where others don’t

Avoid the main pistes and obvious routes between valleys. A quick study of the piste map will show you many quiet areas at the edges of the ski area. For example, Courchevel 1650, at the edge of the valley, is invariably quieter than Courchevel 1850. The slower Loze route over to Courchevel is quieter than the main Saulire route. The Raffort and Village runs below Méribel are never busy.

Ski black runs if you can

If you are an expert, capitalise on your skills by skiing black runs. Black runs are not only quieter; they often have better snow as they are less-used. For example, the black run Sanglier often is much easier to ski than the almost identical but more scraped Niverolle. The black run Tetras is rarely skied. The black Bosses must be the most underused run in Méribel.

Hire an instructor or guide

Jump the queues with a clear conscience and improve your skiing at the same time.

Get off-piste

Join the ESF or Bureau des Guides for a day in the backcountry, well away from the crowds.

Get Cross (country)

If you really want to get away from it all, try cross-country skiing or snowshoeing. Both are wonderfully peaceful after the hurly-burly of the downhill pistes.

Two other suggestions

If you want to eat somewhere nice for lunch, book your restaurant in advance.

Remember that collisions become more frequent as the slopes become busier. You will reduce your chance of an injury by following the ten rules of the slopes – it’s amazing how many people don’t know them. If you are skiing with children or beginners, please make sure they know the rules too.