Val Thorens Snow Report: 24th February 2012

Cairn, the central slope which runs through resort past the Funitel de Peclet, is a nice blue with a shallow gradient. This particular ski area is utilised by the various ski schools for beginners' lessons and for good reason. With the amount of traffic that passes through, the snow here is typically well stomped in and quite slick. As such, it is a good area to practice technique without the worry of any obstacles on the piste (save, of course, from other skiers and boarders). If you want a really quiet area of the slope, stick to the right hand side which has fewer ski lifts thus less traffic. What’s more, Cairn has three free ski lifts, known colloquially as the ‘magic carpets’, meaning that this area can be used as soon as you arrive in resort or if you have yet to purchase a lift pass.

But of course, it is unlikely that all of you have come to Val Thorens to sample its learning area and free lifts. There are three lift passes available to guests of the resort in terms of the areas that are available: the Val Thorens Pass which allows access to all the lifts in our resort and also the neighbouring resort of Orelle, the Belleville Pass which allows you to extend your reach to Les Menuires and St Martin de Belleville with which we share the valley, and finally the Three Valleys Pass which allows free roam across the entirety of the world’s largest ski area.

If it is a local area pass that you have, I cannot recommend the Orelle ski area enough. From the moment you venture over the south-western slopes of Val Thorens either via the Funitel de Grand Fond or Cime Caron cable car, you are immediately struck by its beautiful views. Whilst the resort itself is very low at 900m, its surrounding peaks are incredibly high (including the Three Valleys Summit at the top of the Bouchet chairlift) from which you are privy to magnificent views of the Alps. The area is particularly popular with off-piste enthusiasts and powder hungry riders as it has a few wide, open valleys that feel sufficiently off the beaten track. It is also a good area to go to in overcast weather as the highest peaks often stand proud of the cloud-cover making for a breathtakingly surreal view.

Whilst there are indeed a wide variety of runs in our resort, it is always a pleasure to venture beyond its limits for a long day of riding different pistes until home-time. Coming down the other side of our own valley to Meribel-Mottaret 1750m, take the two-tiered gondola Pas Du Lac to access the nice wide and fast red run Creux. From the bottom, you can take the chairlift Aiguille de Fruit which allows you to make a nice long and varied run all the way to Courcheval Le Praz 1300m. If you’re feeling hungry, take the Foret gondola (incidentally, a very old and rather cute ski-lift) from the top of which you can make your way down to La Tania 1400m for lunch. Whilst there is a nice selection of cafes and restaurants in the area, you will scarcely be able to find a better establishment than The Ski Lodge, a welcoming bar/ restaurant with a large outdoor dining area, and delicious food at a fantastic price. Trust me. For a really exciting end to a day in the Three Valleys, make your way to Pointe de la Masse at 2804m, accessed via the Masse 2 cable car in Les Menuires. From here you can make a lengthy off-piste descent through Vallon du Lou which will take you to the Plan de L’eau chairlift for access to Val Thorens.

With the air temperature we have now and the lack of winds, it’s hard to believe quite how cold it was a couple of weeks back. With a further six days of almost totally clear weather (with a few fleeting clouds here and there) it’s going to be another week of fewer layers and sun-cream. Remember, the snow is likely to be slushy in places so don’t forget to don the waterproofs and stay high for the more reliable conditions. There is always somewhere to keep you happy in Val Thorens!