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Val Thorens Snow Report: 24th December 2010

featured in Snow report Author Tony Lake, Updated

Happy Christmas! Good news..it's snowing and has been all day. It is also getting much colder. It was +2c in St Martin this morning but the temperature has dropped steadily during the day. It is now -7c on the balcony at 6pm and expected to be in the minus teens by tomorrow, and it is still snowing.

Visibility has been very poor all day and we did not venture out very far. The new snow is welcome and timely. Yesterday we skied in the Reberty area and were due to go up to La Masse, but warm temperatures and soft snow did not make for great skiing so we had a long lunch instead. Some of the snow cover was very thin in and around the “Sunny Express” area and occasional brown and stony patches were showing through. Some more snow is due overnight albeit not a lot but the drop in temperature will really freshen up the pistes.

In Wednesday’s snow report we mentioned how quiet it feels, and today we discovered that skier/boarder traffic on the lifts is down by nearly a third on this time last year. Difficulties in air and road transport throughout Europe count for some of this and the “R” word may be part responsible as well. That said the villages are due to fill up on Boxing Day and for the next two weeks. Meanwhile we’ve just had the St Martin Christmas Eve firework display and torchlight descent by ski instructors. The fireworks were fabulous and there will be more displays over the Christmas period leading up to New Year. Details of these events are normally available in the “weekly flyer” published by the tourist office and available in shops and public venues.

Tomorrow we hope to have a traditional Christmas Day lunch with all the trimmings at the Rond Point restaurant in Meribel. With Christmas crackers as well it should be a good atmosphere and we’ve booked ahead to make sure of our place. The service in this restaurant is excellent and it is a popular place for Brits. The children are really looking forward to a festive lunch and telling their friends what Father Christmas brought them.

Looking ahead we expect the sun to come out later tomorrow and for Boxing Day. A north wind is due and it will feel much colder so keep the children covered up and warm, and take lots of hot chocolate breaks during the day. Prices in restaurants seem pretty much the same as last year but we’ll watch out for these and report during the season. Eating in mountain restaurants is normally more expensive than in the villages, and it often worth looking at places a few metres off the main street where food is good and prices cheaper, e.g. “La Paillote” in Val Thorens.

Have a wonderful Christmas. If you are here already then today’s snow will be the ideal present. If you’re about to arrive then conditions will have improved enormously.
Bon ski…


Merinet.com



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Stats

Avalanche Risk
  • Level 3

Snow Report
  • 2

  • Total Pistes: 72

  • Alt. Resort: 2300

  • Alt. Summit: 3200

  • Alt. Last Snow: 2300

  • High Temp.: -6

  • Alt. High Temp.: 3200