Cold temperatures maintain conditions on piste

Although it hasn’t actually snowed here in Alpe d’Huez since mid-November the solid base that was formed then combined with cold night-time temperatures which have allowed extensive use of the vast snow cannon system, mean conditions up on the slopes are pretty good.

As most of Europe is covered by a large area of high pressure, which has been the dominant weather pattern for the last couple of weeks, the weather has been very settled here. Barometric pressure currently stands at around 1033mb, and it looks set to stay like this for the next week or so at least. There has hardly been a cloud in the sky for the past couple of weeks, and afternoon temperatures in resort (1850 metres) have been reaching around 11degC.

Temperatures have even been getting up to around +8degC at the top of the PicBlanc (3300 metres) most afternoons. However night-time temperatures have been falling too well below zero, so the snow cannons have been employed to supplement the substantial base that was formed by the November snowfall, which allowed the early weekend opening of resort in November. The current weather patterns are travelling up from North Africa – and as such are dry and warm – unlike the Atlantic weather patterns that generally bring moister air to the region and result in snow fall.

Up at the top of the PicBlanc at 3300 metres snow cover currently stands at around 90cm, meanwhile down at resort level (1850 metres) the slopes that are open currently have around 15-20cm of snow.

There are currently 18 (out of 49) lifts open and these are serving 23 (out of 89) pistes in the Grande Domaine ski area. Of these 7 are green, 5 blue, 6 red and 5 are black. All of the runs currently open are on the Marmottes / PicBlanc side of town and the best of the conditions are to be found between the top of the PicBlanc (3300 metres) and the first station of the DMC (2100 metres). The Sarenne black run is open and is in good condition – the Auris “Scare chair” lift is open, but only serving to bring skiers back up from the bottom of the Sarenne valley.

You can ski the Sarenne from either the Marmottes3 or PicBlanc lift. The Tunnel black run also opened this weekend and as usual is pretty mogully at the top and is marked for “good skiers only” – this advice should be borne in mind, as this run isn’t for the faint hearted at the best of times, least of all with slightly icier snow cannon supplemented conditions. A personal favourite of mine, the blue run Couloir, from the top of the DMC at 2700metres is in cracking condition – South facing in the sunshine and with fantastic views.

There are runs from both the Marmottes and DMC open down to resort level and although narrower than they would normally be, they are in really good condition. Both the snowparks (here in Alpe d’Huez and over in Vaujany) remain closed at the moment.

It’s starting to get a bit busier now, although still very quiet by peak season standards, but lift queues are still non-existent.

Things will start to get busier from this coming weekend (Saturday 17th December) with the breaking up of schools across Europe for the Christmas holidays. This is reflected by the commencement of the free shuttle bus service this weekend and longer opening hours at the ice rink and leisure centre – a sure sign that things are about to get well and truly going here.