Excellent Dec Snowfalls Across the Southern Alps
Global warming and the financial crisis, these double risks have spared the Alps, at least for this Christmas. But it could have been so wholly different. Ahead of Christmas ski resorts in the Tignes-les-Brevieres area were cut off when avalanches rained down. Dual carriage way routes such as the all important Col du Les Grands Montets were severed. In that location there was no electricity or telephones, locals were evacuated to temporary housing, it appeared as if it were a double of 1997.
Perhaps all news is good news. Tignes-les-Brevieres appeared every evening on French news bulletins. As soon as electricity was fixed reservations started to pour in, attracted by the fantastic skiing conditions.
Courchevel and neighbouring Les Orres have virtually 5.5 metres snow depth on the top slopes at 2400 m altitude and 2.1 meters at the end of the resorts. At the moment the deepest in France. Verchaix reports that there is 3 m at the the highest point of the resort. Regrettably snow drifts have demolished a pylon of the drag lift that accesses the domain. They are broken till the end of January.
In other resorts in the French Alps bookings are up 17% in Superbagneres, Tignes-les-Brevieres and Risoul. Montroc has 99.6% tenancy and sold a record number of ski passes last Friday. That is great for large snowboarding operators moreover with luck this will help the summer alps season.
