Letter From the Three Valleys
We really do have snow!
9th February 2007
Off piste above Courchevel 1650 - 9th February 2007
Another wonderful day in the mountains perfect pistes and fantastic off piste.
Our guests this week tell tales of friends deciding to forgo their skiing this year due to the media manipulation of the snow conditions in Europe this season thus depriving them of their beloved annual skiing trip.
Even the Ski Club of Great Britain jumped on the band wagon this week with their news letter headline ' What to do when there is no snow in the Alps' telling members to leave their skis at home and hire them through their discount system and wreck the hire companies skis on the 'rocky pistes' (this was hastily retracted). It was also an absolute lie.
Facts this season so far in the 3 Valleys we are probably one good snowfall away from normal:
10th December Courchevel opens with fresh tracks everywhere and skiing down to La Tania and home.
16th December all the 3 Valleys opens and a few days later Folyères (resort home piste) officially opened.
By Christmas and New Year 80% of the 3 Valleys pistes open, however warmer than normal temperatures(but not unique, similar in 92/93 I am told) were thawing the snow lower down and not allowing the snow cannons to be used.
Then fresh snow New Year week. By the 20th pistes getting hard and worn and stony in places, then 50cms snow fall on the 23/24th January.
By the start of this week pistes getting worn and hard especially later in the day but new snow yesterday with more to come.
If a piste becomes rocky it is either closed or the rocks are marked by the pisteurs. At this point in time around 90% of the pistes in the 3 Valleys are open a mere 350 miles or so and of those about 150 miles have snow cannons.Does this sound like no snow in the Alps?
I have skied part of most days this season both on and off piste and have yet to wreck a set of skis although in fairness some people have but it always happens.
Maybe the 3 Valleys is unique with the only snowfalls in the Alps? I always have believed it is the best place in the world to ski with its huge variety of skiing and incredibly modern lift system but even we do not have our own personal weather.
So hey maybe this is all Tour Operator spin!! I personally don't care we only have 1 room on the 7th April left for this season and our guests will have a wonderful holiday on un-crowded slopes.
I feel sorry for those who have cancelled their plans to ski and will miss out on their sport for a season because of the medias influence.
Nick Newell on behalf of Nickski
First down Grand Couloir today - above Courchevel 1850
Courchevel 1850, Saulire today - quiet slopes
More wide open snowy slopes in Courchevel 1650
