WEATHER
After the snow yesterday and another 5 cm overnight we are in for a cloudy day, (indeed the clouds in the Village are currently very low) though there should occasionally be gaps when we can at least glimpse the sun.
There will be a gentle North Westerly breeze of 7 to 12 km/h.
At 10.00 the temperature is
- -2° in the Village.
- -7° on Solaise.
- -9° on Bellvarde.
- -11°on Pisaillas.
Maximum temperature will be -2° at 2000 meters.
ROADS
Today is another serious change-over day following the busy Xmas holidays.
We are expecting 17,000 vehicles to arrive and nearly twice that, 32,000 to travel down the hill.
The traffic coming uphill should be pretty fluid (unless there are accidents) but it could be a slow journey for those returning home, particularly on the road between Moutiers and Albertville.
The worst times are likely to be between 09.00 and 14.00, with another slow time (but not as bad) between 18.00 and 20.00.
IF you have the luxury of choosing your departure time, why not choose the golden ticket of skiing in the morning, or just have a delicious, relaxed brunch, before leaving when the traffic is likely to be tolerable in the afternoon.
SKI REPORT
All of our lifts are open except the Loyes!
At Le Fornet
Everything will open except for the Tunnel piste.
The Signal, Foret and Table d orientation have not been groomed.
On the Pisaillas area
Everything is open, including the Combe du Geant.
On Solaise
Everything is open except for The Piste L.
The 3000, Cugnai and Marmottons are all difficult runs that have not been groomed.
On Bellevarde
All lifts are open except for the Loyes chairlift.
The Santons will remain closed until there is enough snow on this piste.
The Raye is closed for training.
The Epaule du Charvet is a tricky black run that has not been groomed.
The Boarder cross is closed due to poor visability.
Tignes can be accessed via the Tommeuses or Borsat chairlifts.
The avalanche risk today is three out of five.
If considering skiing off piste.
Please read the local news, slowly and carefully.
The avalanche risk for the last two days was also 3 out of 5.
There were MANY avalanches, both small and large.
There were 4 major rescues, 3 of them on Thursday and a TERRIFYING experience yesterday.
Several people were extremely lucky, including 3 professionals
Don’t mess with the mountain…………………
Ski only with people who regularly
- Do beep searches
- Assemble their shovels
- Flick out their probes
- DIG
Why not use this cloudy day to refresh, those skills - or learn them for the first time.
If in doubt - hire an instructor or a mountain guide, or stay on our groomed and well signed posted pistes.
Be careful when skiing down to the bottom of the slopes, particularly on the nursery slopes where beginners, children with sledges, pedestrians are enjoying the area and will all be moving more slowly than you are skiing.
If your legs are getting a bit tired, or you are new to skiing, why not take the lift down, particularly towards the end of the day when the lower pistes can be tricky.
Cross Country skiers can enjoy skiing on the tracks in
- the Manchet Valley
- La Daille
- Lac d ouillette
Our stunning walking paths are all open except the Col de l'Iseran.
LOCAL NEWS
Continuing our traditional Saturday Stats Fix.
This week we will have the opportunity to relax and enjoy the relative calm after the
particularly busy last two weeks.
We are expecting 73,103 overnight stays, or an occupancy rate of 64.6%.
We like precision !
This is nearly 40,000 less than last week, and 8,000 less than the same week last season, though this may have been influenced by New Years Day being on a Sunday last year.
Make the most of this quiet week as it is likely to get busy again next weekend.
Sadly we are continuing with yesterday’s avalanche ‘theme’
There were MANY more avalanches on Friday, when the avalanche risk was once again 3 out of 5.
In the Danaides
A group of skiers, accompanied by a professional skier, had a terrifying experience.
Two were taken several metres by an avalanche.
One was buried but found in less than a minute, and dug out by her companions.
It was probably the longest minute of her life.
Her arm was injured.
The other victim was unharmed.
Both were taken by the ski patrollers to Medival, the local medical centre, for assessment.
We can’t emphasis enough how careful you need to be if you choose to ski outside of our open, secured and well-marked pistes.
Even professional skiers can be caught out.
Bravo to the group for both finding and digging out
their companion so quickly.
This story could have had a much more somber ending…………
All good things have to come to an end !
The village lost a bit of its ‘magic’ yesterday when the Christmas installations were carefully packed away.
The wooden cabins in the main square and the stage in the Avenue Olympique (the main street) disappeared, along with the Wishing Trees.
These were new this year, the brainchild of Val d’Isėre’s Events Team
Their success exceeded all expectations!
More than 1,900 ribbons and wishes were attached. If laid end to end these ribbons would stretch for 870 metres,
or the length of the cable for the 3000 draglift !
After a few days off to celebrate the New Year with their families and friends, the globes speediest skiers are in Kranska Gora in Northwest Slovenia, continuing their quest for World Cup Glory.
Finally Happy Birthday to David Gabin !
We hope you have a lovely day and enjoy your cake.
Restaurant l'Alpin has changed its address and phone number.
This charming and authentic, restaurant is now very close to both the centre and the Old Village.
Please phone +33 7 87 97 22 11 to reserve your table.
Come and spend a pleasant evening at the Restaurant le Névé of the Hotel Mont Blanc,
starting it with a delicious cocktail by the fireplace!
The ‘Evening at 2512 metres’ is taking place again later today
at la Plage de l’Ouillette restaurant on the top of Solaise.
From 19.00, come and enjoy a unique experience.
Please phone to reserve,
Don’t forget to get the Solaise Express bubble lift by 20.00.
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 10.00 to 20.00.
The Tourist Office is open from 08.30 to 20.00.
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 12.00.
