A tower on top of a snowy hill with a blue sky in the background

A snowy mountain with a blue sky in the background

A snowy mountain with a red building in the middle

Val Thorens Snow Report: 12th January 2010

featured in Snow report Author Tony Lake, Updated 24 October 2014

It’s been wall to wall sunshine for two days and time to break out the sun cream! It has stayed cold but not the minus double figures we’ve had for over a week now. There have been a lot of people skiing with big smiles and boarders and skiers alike have had some of the best weather so far this season.

The pistes are generally in good condition although there are more icy patches than there were a few days ago, and even the odd stone showing through in the busiest places. On the higher pistes in VT today we found fantastic snow on the red Medaille piste at the top of the Grand Fond funitel lift, and not a soul in sight.

After what seems like a long time we could do with a big dump of new snow to freshen things up, and as if by magic it is due to snow tomorrow (Wednesday) with anything up to 10-15cms in places depending on which forecast you believe. The good weather is also due to return by the end of the week and this should keep everyone happy.

Looking into the Orelle valley from the top of the Grand Fond lift today it looked as though a few skiers have been on the Pierre-Lory off piste route, but whilst there is still some good powder to be found it is not as deep as it was last week, so again more snow would be welcome. Lift queues are non-existent and popular lifts like Boismint and Moutiere involve arriving and getting straight on. The avalanche warning is #3 and yesterday on La Masse we saw one skier set off a small but deep avalanche and he looked pretty anxious… as he should have been judging by where he was.

The skiing on La Masse is good and the black Lac Noir was the best this season, and it stays in good condition for longer as it is on a north facing slope. As you reach the lower part of La Masse there is a good value self-service restaurant “3V” where the staff are always helpful. At this time of year the sun goes in on the terrace at about 2.30pm.

The talk in St Martin is all about the new La Bouite Hotel due to open in 12 months time. The 2* Michelin restaurant will move from St Marcel to the new hotel which will be situated just above the bubble lift in St Martin. There will also be a brasserie restaurant which is a really good idea and with any luck all the new business will persuade the lift company to replace the St Martin 2 with something bigger and faster.

Book your ticket and get packing… you know you want to!

Update *** at 0400 today (Wednesday) it was snowing heavily. It is now 0900 and it's still snowing. Looking good!***

Bon ski…

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