Less than two weeks after the media was reporting 'No Snow in the Alps' some of the continent's biggest areas are preparing to fully open this weekend, with some reporting accumulations as much as 1.6m (5.3 feet) over the past seven days alone.
Paradiski – the large ski domain in the French Alps that incorporates les Arcs/Peisey Vallandry/la Plagne – and its huge cable-car the Vanoise Express will fully open this Saturday the 17th December at 9am. Fully open for the Christmas season, Paradiski can confirm that the entire 425km of pistes will be available to skiers thanks to the recent heavy snow fall resulting in ideal winter snow conditions.
Although it may seem to some that this and other areas are opening because of all the snow – which of course they are – it's also the case that in most cases these areas had not in any case intended to fully open until this weekend, with most opening limited terrain over the past one or two weeks to cater for the limited early December demand.
Les Arcs and La Plagne are among the resorts that claim to have received the most snow in the past seven days with 1.6 and 1,3nm respectively.
The downside of all the snow (yes there had to be one!), is tricky driving conditions to the resorts and a rapidly rising off-piste avalanche danger.
Another big region, the Portes du Soleil, which straddles the French/Swiss border, will also fully open all its connections between the dozen or so villages it covers with 650km of mostly lift-linked piste. They include Avoriaz, Morzine, Les Gets, Chatel and in Switzerland, Champery.
Both regions say the slopes are currently undergoing a final last check before opening.
"With over 70% of Paradiski situated above 2000m, it offers the ideal altitude to make the most of the winter snow conditions [at the moment temperatures are averaging 0 degrees during the day, dropping to minus figures during the night].
At 1200 metres, all activities will be accessible thanks to the recent heavy snowfall," said a statement from the company.
For this winter 2011/2012, Paradiski has invested 21,7 million Euro in the construction of infrastructure, upgrading equipment and expansion of snowmaking.