Val Thorens Snow Report: 23rd March 2012

The weather this week has been extremely strange and, at times, strangely extreme. There was a resort-wide sense of elation when, at the beginning of this week, the skies opened a little and let loose some snow. And we were hungry for it. Whilst we didn't get the sizable dump that we were expecting, it was reassuring to have some precipitation upon the mountain. The mountain may have been plunged into whiteout for a couple of days but, particularly for those who have been here for some time, there was no excuse not to be out there frolicking in the fresh powder. The sunshine was back on Tuesday and Val Thorens was returned to its former sublime beauty. At the lower levels, where the slush is more prominent, the fresh layer didn’t last all that long and became soggy again. However, a few key slopes were given just the top up they needed to return them to their former glory.

After ascending everybody’s favourite lift, Plein Sud, we made the short way to Funitel de Bouquetin to Col de la Chambre, 2850m. Whilst many use the lift for its access to Meribel and the rest of the Three Valleys ski area, it also provides access to some fun runs in Val Thorens. Our inclination being to stay high, we opted for the latter. The snow up here was blissful, prompting some fond memories of the softer stuff from months ago. We turned right to begin with, taking the short but fun Chardons red run which arrives back near the top of Plein Sud. Always good for an adrenaline rush, you can join the Goitschel black slope for the final bit of the descent. A necessary detour to make for access to La Folie Douce, this is a steep, mogul filled descent with a speedy final stretch. A recommended morning wake-up call.

If you want something a bit less extreme, take Pulviometre, a nice graceful blue run which heads down towards the Peclet area. The run is popular with off-piste enthusiasts as there are some good quality powder banks that line the pistes. To throw in a bit of variation, when you first hop off the Bouquetin, why not make a sharp right and hit the Triton red run which joins Pulviometre after a slightly steeper beginning.

After hints of it on Wednesday, it was on Thursday that the extremity kicked in. You could be forgiven for thinking that snow was falling from the sky since there was so much in the air. In reality, we were hit with the strongest winds that we have had all season. Funnelled through the valley from the higher points of Aiguille de Peclet over into Orelle, the worst we experienced was at the top of Funitel de Grand Fond. Turning right out of the station, we made the usually easy and brief traverse along the Niverolle blue run. We were struck by strong gusts, blowing icy fragments into our faces, whilst the snow beneath our feet had been polished into sheet ice. At one point we even began moving backwards up the slope at the wind’s behest. Once we dropped into the lower and steeper parts of the run, the wind became less severe but the snow was still extremely hard. Should winds of this ilk return, perhaps head to the lower slopes in our valley, namely those at the top of the Boismint chairlift. Of course, the area was not completely bereft of some gusty gusts on Thursday, but the snow was far softer. Interestingly, even though the winds were extremely strong, it remained warm throughout the day.

Friday was generally a return to normality, and we wanted to counteract the calmer conditions with some extreme riding. Much of the popular large off-piste slopes in the area (the La Masse descent for example) have suffered in recent times with the lack of snow and windy weather and are prone to avalanches. However, the descent from the top of Cime Caron through the Vallon du Lou has such geography that its conditions remain favourable. The best way to access the area is via Col de l’Audzin red run, dropping in to the right as it bends into the Combe de Rosael black. With a lot of traversing and many obstacles to navigate on the decent, this is not one for those who are not experienced with off-piste riding. If you are able to muster the courage, it’s a glorious ride with some great views and plenty of opportunities for off-piste freestyle along the way. The hidden secret of the run is that it eventually arrives at a lake where some daredevil skiers can often be seen practicing their water skiing flair where the ice has melted. Warning: do not attempt this without recognising the risks.

As of today, the forecast for the next six days predicts a steady rise in temperature with mostly sunshine but the possibility of some small showers. The wind seems to have returned from whence it came as wind speeds are looking to reach a maximum of only 10km/h on Wednesday.