This week has seen some amazing powder days on the slopes with even some veterans here in the office going as far to say that it's the best spring snow they can recall. These pics from our pals at YSE in Val d'Isere spell it out nice and clear. Stop reading this for a second and just — look — at — them. Sensational conditions.
The reason the slopes have held up so well is the half a metre of fresh pow we’ve enjoyed during the week. Add this to the cold temperatures still being experienced in the mountains and you end up with mouth-watering conditions.
So what does this week hold? Well, the best of both worlds — a great snow base, a bit more powder and plenty of sunshine. That’s right, bluebird days and deep snow, it could quite easily be January.
These are our favourite kind of days to ski and it just so happens some of us will be taking a cheeky office visit out there on Sunday. We just can’t get enough of it. The slopes will be quiet, so no lift queues and no excuses not to clock up those ski miles and earn that trip to the après bar.
If you’re thinking of squeezing a final season trip in — and let’s face it, you deserve it — you need to think high altitude and head off to a glacier resort to find the best snow. The great news is the snow base on the higher slopes has not changed from last week. In fact, it’s improved.
You also get a great opportunity to snag some bargains, as store-holders in resorts try to clear the last of this season’s merchandise. Not to mention the price of the holiday itself!
Here is the breakdown of what fresh snow is predicted and the snow base to expect on those higher slopes:
France
- Alpe d'Huez: 4 metres
- Espace Killy (Val d'Isere, Tignes): 3 metres
- Three Valleys (Val Thorens, Meribel, Courchevel): VT 3 metres Meribel & Courchevel 2 metres
- Paradiski (La Plagne, Les Arcs) 2 metres
- Porte De Soleil (Avoriaz, Morzine, Let Gets): Avoriaz & Morzine 3 metres Les Gets 2 metres
- Les Deux Alpes: 2 metres
- Chamonix: 3 metres
Austria
A futher 10cm or so is expected to fall across most Austrian resorts, whilst again Solden boasts the most at 30cm! Great conditions there.
- Arlberg ski area (Lech, St Anton, Zurs) 2 metres
- Solden 2 metres
- Ischgl 1 metre
- Obergurgl 1 metre
Italy
We’ll see even more fresh pow next week, up to 15cm due expected across Italy.
- Dolomiti ski area (Arabba, Selva) Arabba 2 metres Selva 1 metre
- Milky Way (Sauze, Claviere, Sestriere) 1 metre
- Cervinia 3 metres
- La Thuile 3 metres
- Livigno 2 metres
Switzerland
Switzerland is the place again to head off to next week, with Saas Fee & Zermatt due a fantastic 20cm each. Simply wonderful skiing to be had here, they’re our pick of what’s a great bunch.
- Saas Fee 3 Metres
- Zermatt 2 metres
- Verbier 2 metres
- St Moritz 1 metre
What an unforgettable week this will be on the slopes: superb snow base, temperatures on the up — and sunshine! Every request is ticked.
Make sure you make the most of the wonderful feast put on the table this week by Mother Nature, you might not get a spring this snowy for a long long time.
The Snowman
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Photo Copyright: thanks to YSE for the Val d'Isere photos.