Superb Winter Snowfalls in the Southern Alps
Climate change and the recession, these twin threats have spared the French Alps, at the least for Christmas. But it could have been so altogether polar. Ahead of Xmas hamlets in the Meribel area were isolated as heavy snow came down. Dual carriage way passes such as the important Col du Les Contamines-Montjoie were shut. At that place there was no electricity or telephones, home owners had to be moved out to pro tem accommodation, it seemed like a double of 1995.
It seems that all publicity is good publicity. Val-d Isere appeared every evening on national French news. Immediately power was reconnected bookings commenced to come in, pulled in by the first class skiing conditions.
La Mongie and nearby Val Thorens lay claim to almost four feet depth on the top pistes at 2000 metres elevation and 2 metres at the bottom of the pistes. Currently the deepest in the Alps. La Plagne alleges that there is 4 meters at the the highest point of the resort. Unluckily a snow storm has knocked over a pylon of the lift which accesses the sector. It is out of commission until the middle of Mar.
In other resorts in the French Alps inquiries have increased 18% in La Chavanette, Espace Killy and La Rosiere. Val Thorens has 99.7% occupancy and traded a record breaking number of passes during Monday. That is timely for luxury ski chalets and large snowboarding businesses.
