WEATHER
Brilliant to have fresh snow !
12 cm in the village and 25-30 cm on the slopes.
We will have sun for most of the day though there will be some clouds this afternoon.
The westerly wind will hardly be noticed, though it may gust at 40 km/hour high up in the mountains.
The temperature has dropped, reminding us that it is still February.
Great for the snow !
At 10.00 the temperature is
- -3° in the Village.
- -10° on Solaise.
- -15° on Pisaillas
ROADS
No problems are expected on the roads in the village if your car is properly equipped for winter conditions.
SKI REPORT
The ski patrollers were at work, on a PIDA, very early securing the avalanche prone slopes
so we had to show some patience as there was a small delay opening the lifts and pistes.
However, at 10.00, everything is open on Bellevarde and the lower lifts in Le Fornet and Solaise are also already open.
The higher lifts are being opened as quickly as possible but some are trickier than others to clear of the new snow.
Keep an eye on the Piste Notice boards while you are out.
Or keep listening to RadioVal
When we mention the slopes that were “Groomed overnight”
be aware that it may have snowed again onto those slopes after they were groomed.
AT LE FORNET
The cable car and pyramide chairlift are already open.
There is a technical problem with the Laisinant chairlift that they are working hard to fix.
The tunnel piste will remain closed.
The following were not groomed :
- Fôret
- Petit Bois
- Signal
ON PISAILLAS
Aiguille Pers is the only run that was not groomed.
If the Combe du Geant opens it may close early due to the risk of avalanche.
ON SOLAISE
The following lifts are already open :
- The bubble lift up from the nursery slope
- Glacier
- Datcha
- And Madeleine Chairlifts
The Manchet chairlift will open shortly.
It may take a while to clear the snow from around the
Cugnai and Leissiers (which links Solaise and Le Fornet) chairlifts and the 3000 draglift.
If the L opens, it is likely to close very early due to the risk of avalanche.
The following were not groomed :
- Cugnai
- Ecureil
- 3000
- Fourche
- S
- Marmottons
- Rhône alps
ON BELLEVARDE
All lifts are open.
The boarder cross is closed but may open later.
The top of the Santons is very definitely closed,
but you can access the bottom of the Santons from the Epaule du Charvet.
Don't upset the ski patrollers by skiing down a closed run.
Tignes can be accessed via the Tommeuses and Borsat chairlifts.
The avalanche risk today is again 3 out of 5.
IF you fancy skiing off piste
Ski only with people who
- are nifty with a beep
- can flick out their probe
- click together their shovel
- and can DIG !
Why not book to ski with a mountain guide ?
All of our walking paths and cross county tracks are open apart from les Branges and Col de l’Iseran.
LOCAL NEWS
After the snow that fell yesterday and during the night,
the ski patrol started what we call a PIDA (The Avalanche triggering intervention plan) before 7 am.
They were securing the avalanche prone slopes
to prevent natural avalanches from affecting our pistes and village.
NOBODY is ever allowed to walk up, even on touring skis with skins on,
until the PIDA is finished and the lifts have begun to open.
This morning's PIDA involved the whole ski area so we thank you for your understanding, and patience,
as there was a small delay opening some lifts.
As with every Friday, I am excited to share the weekend traffic news !
No surprise that this will be heavy, again, particularly on Saturday, and in both directions.
81,000 are heading towards us and only 4,000 less are going home,
as measured between Albertville and Moutiers.
So not all lucky enough to holiday in Val d'Isère.
Trouble starts this evening, for cars heading home, between 16.00 and 20.00.
At least you will have had a nice ski, on new snow and in the sunshine
before getting in your car.
Tomorrow………
if you are approaching,
the road will be choker block for 13 hours
from 08.00 until 21.00.
For those going home,
it is a bit better, with busy times between
08.00 - 13.00 and 17.00 - 20.00.
It would be cruel to remind you how bad the traffic was last Saturday,
and if you were 'there' I am sure the wound is still sore.
BUT if you have the choice of travel times,
maybe avoid what we have been told are likely to be the busiest times on the road.
Sunday will be MUCH better, though slow between 11.00 - 13.00 and 18.00 - 19.00.
The Val d’Isère lift company (STVI) invited some of its best clients to have first tracks on the pistes this morning.
A select group of 40 or so, chaperoned by ESF instructors
were allowed to cruise down
Bellevarde's pistes before the lifts open to everyone else.
It was a full house yesterday evening, for both performances of the Paname Comedy Club.
A resounding success, so we hope that they will be tempted back next winter.
17.45
Dynastar Trophy:
This race is open to all holidaymakers, and only to holidaymakers
(not pro or semi pro skiers who happen to be here on holiday),
who want to discover the pleasures of competiting
in a parallel slalom on the Savonnette slope.
The are three categories: children, women and men.
The winners of each category will receive a prize from Dynastar.
A pair of skis to be won in the draw for the men's and women's competitions.
It is free to enter but places are limited,
and there are a lot of competitive holidaymakers here at the moment,
so if you want to experience the thrill of racing don’t hang around –
get to the Club de Sports office to register ASAP.
From 19.00
"Evening at 2512 metres"
at la Plage de l’Ouillette Restaurant on the top of Solaise.
You must phone to reserve a table for yourself and your friends.
Don’t forget to get the Solaise Bubble Lift by 20.00.
Going up and down in the bubble lift at night, overlooking the lights of Val d’Isere
is fun in itself, let alone the tasty food, drink, chat and laughter in between.
The Etincelle Restaurant on the nursery slope is open this evening.
Beautiful location, delicious food.
To share with your Family and friends.
The Dish of the Day at the Halles de Val
is ‘Seafood pot au feu’(A very tasty slow cooked seafood stew)
The red shuttle bus (‘le train rouge’) runs between La Daille and Le Fornet, via the roundabout adjacent to the nursery slopes (‘Rond-point des pistes’) every 6 minutes from 07.00 to 20.00 and then every 20 minutes until 02.00.
The blue shuttle bus (‘le train bleu’) travels between the Rond-point des pistes and Legettaz every 15 minutes from 08.30 to 23.20.
The yellow shuttle bus (‘le train jaune’) takes you to the Manchet valley via the main street and the rue de la Balme every 20 minutes from 08.30 to 23.20.
The shuttle bus between Val d’Isère and Tignes does 6 round trips a day.
- Leaving La Daille at 07.55, 08.35 and 10.50 in the morning and 16.25, 17.25 and 18.20 pm in the afternoon.
- Leaving Tignes 1800 at 8.05, 8.45 and 11.00, in the morning and 16.35, 17.35 and 18.30 in the afternoon.
The Swimming Pool and Sports Centre is open from 10.00 to 21.00.
The Ice-skating Rink is open from 14.00 to 18.00.
The Tourist Office is open from 08.30 to 19.30.
The Multimedia Library is open from 14.00 to 18.00.
The Town Hall (La Mairie) is open from 9.00 to 12.00 and from 14.00 to 17.00.
The Association for employees in Val d’Isere (Vie Val d’Is) is open from 09.00 to 12.00 and from 14.00 to 16.00.
The Reservation Centre (in the basement of the Tourist Office) is open from 08.30 to 19.00.
The Post Office is open from 09.00 to 12.30 and from 14.00 to 17.30.
