La Tania Snow Reports 2002/3
Snow report archive for this season
Previous season snow reports are here
21
Apr
The final day of the season for La Tania (another week
for Courchevel and some Meribel lifts) and time for the final report
of the season (apart from some updates on the glacier situation
over in Tignes). Overall the best season snow wise for 4 years -
big depths high up and some decent dumps at the beginning of January,
February and towards the end of March kept us going (with a few
lighter falls in between). Great to see routes to Brides and Bozel
open as well as the long La Tania drag opening once again (we heard
it never would 'cos of the increased speed & capacity of the
gondola). The snow cannons created a base on the Folyeres resort
run that lasted right until the end of the season in La Tania, with
the Troika beginners lift closing on the final day - well done to
the piste basher lads! Business wise the Three Valleys overall saw
less visitors (so more room for us!) but La Tania is still growing
and becoming more popular. The final day in La Tania saw circuits
of Gazex until the lifts closed - well done to those involved, see
you all next season... Full
2002/3 Season Review
19
Apr
Last big blast - Val Thorens for a final trip out in to
the Three Valleys. A bit messy lower down but superb skiing higher
up. Great fun in the parks above Mottaret and lunch at The Frog
and RoastBeef in VT. Catch the photos of Fiat Phil, Gazza, Mel,
Toffa, Essex Billy and guide Johnny here
13
Apr
The fresh snowfall over the last few days should make for some great
Easter skiing. Although the new snow didn't last long at the lower
levels there's excellent cover higher up and most runs ands lifts
throughout the Three valleys are still open including the blue run
down in to La Tania. The Three Valleys is open right through until
the end of April (La Tania lifts until the 21st April, the main
Courchevel and Meribel lifts until 27th April and Val Thorens until
4th May). Standby for the end of season La Tania Charity Day BBQ
on 16th April, should be a big one!
09
Apr
The April (Snow) showers continue with snow now falling down to
resort level and set to continue overnight with temperatures falling
below freezing. There's nearly a foot of fresh at the summits and
some great, great skiing and boarding conditions throughout the
Three Valleys. Nathan and the boys from the Ski Lodge tackled the
infamous "Plumbers Crack" ABOVE the Col de Loze summit
this morning (an hours hike up to where they hold the Courchevel
FreeRide competition). They described it as "bottomless"
- though it's a bit steep and avalanche prone to stop and check
snow depths...
Only a handful of closed runs on the lower slopes but the resort run to La Tania is still open and there's masses of great skiing and boarding to be done - The Three Valleys is open right through until the end of April (La Tania lifts until the 21st April, the main Courchevel and Meribel lifts until 27th April and Val Thorens until 4th May). Standby for the end of season La Tania Charity Day BBQ on 16th April, should be a big one!
03
Apr
Weather cleared up a bit today, but still cold and unsettled. Around
6 inches of fresh cover above La Tania has improved the pistes considerably
and there's some great skiing and boarding up there.
In the whole Courchevel Valley there's only a handful of closed runs (the 2 blacks down to Le Praz & the red which links from the La Tania side, Mur over the top of the Altiport that no one bothers about much 'cos of the uphill bit, the Epaule run under the Saulire gondola, the bowl side of Chanrossa, the far side of the Lac Bleu, a few beginners runs down in 1550 and 1650 including the Boulevard, and the red down to La Tania (the blue is fine).
Still masses of great skiing and boarding to be done - The Three Valleys is open right through until the end of April (La Tania lifts until the 21st April, the main Courchevel and Meribel lifts until 27th April and Val Thorens until 4th May). Standby for the end of season La Tania Charity Day BBQ on 16th April, should be a big one!
02
Apr
New snow at last! Large flakes now falling down at resort level.
The rain turned to snow overnight and we have a good covering of
wet snow in resort with at least 6 inches of lighter stuff higher
up. Poor visibility at all levels and high winds mean it's not very
pleasant up there, but when the weather clears....
In the whole Courchevel Valley there's only a handful of closed runs (the 2 blacks down to Le Praz, Mur over the top of the Altiport that no one bothers about much 'cos of the uphill bit, the run under the cable car, far side of the Lac Bleu, a few beginners runs down in 1550 and 1650 including the Boulevard and the red down to La Tania - the blue is fine). In addition the bowl side of Chanrossa is closed today - should re-open when the weather clears. Still plenty of great skiing and boarding to be done - The Three Valleys is open right through 'til the end of April!
24
Mar
Update
28/3 - Possibility of some new snow this weekend!
And yet more of the same, spring snow and sun. Hard in the morning,
slush in late afternoon and so, so sweet in the middle. In the whole
of the Courchevel Valley there's only a handful of closed runs (the
2 blacks down to Le Praz, Mur over the top of the Altiport that
no one bothers about much 'cos of the uphill bit, the run under
the cable car, a few beginners runs down in 1550 and 1650 and the
red down to La Tania - the blue is fine) and still plenty of great
skiing and boarding to be done. The touring reports to follow...
18
Mar
More of the same - ditto the last report: Apart from a sprinkling
of snow at the weekend - Spring snow, hard pistes first thing, then
great skiing and boarding with heavy slush in late afternoon. Some
classic spring snow conditions when you get the timing right. Still
great skiing high up and it's time to do some of the classic routes
around the Three Valleys - expect a report from the Val Thorens
Glaciers down to Pralongnan and George's birthday at the Refuge
over the back of 1650.
12
Mar
Spring has sprung, a hot, hot weekend of burnt faces, hard pistes
first thing, then great skiing and boarding with heavy slush in
late afternoon. Some classic spring snow conditions, especially
in the sun down to Meribel Village, but still pockets of cold, deep,
soft powder high up (access is getting more difficult through crusty
crud mind!). The La Tania red is closed half way down but there's
a cut through the forest to the blue so nothing really missed. Some
lower runs around the valleys starting to look a bit thin now (like
Jockeys down to Le Praz) but Folyeres still has good cover. Superb
pistes high up - Biollay as good as ever in the morning - and after
that really cold January it's great to be skiing in a jumper again!
Do both - that's my motto, ski on the firm pistes AM and ride the
slush on a board PM - Best of both worlds...
03
Mar
After 24 days of almost unbroken sunshine the snow has returned.
A decent four inches of fresh snow covers the resort and more than
a foot high up has freshened things up considerably. Although sunny
today, the weather is changing and more wet weather is moving across
France (and should fall as snow down to resort level). More snow
is on the way at the weekend too.
26
Feb
No new snow now since Feb 6, so some hard packed and icy areas are
now appearing on lower, sunny and high traffic areas, best to take
it easy on the resort runs at the end of the day. More sun forecasted
this week with perhaps a dusting of new stuff. Perfectly groomed
pistes around mid-morning in the gorgeous sunshine with deep blue
skies are absolutely wonderful though - catch 'em on the turn from
hard to soft and you'll love it - just love it!
19
Feb
More of the same - perfect weather and pistes - having to look (and
hike) for any decent off piste now.
08
Feb
Just about everything open with fantastic skiing conditions. Sunny
weather and cold temperatures keeping it just spot on. Get out here...
03
Feb
An absolutely awesome weekend. Saturday saw blue skies and sunshine
after 5 days of almost continuous snow. Massively cold with minus
25C at the summits but the most fantastic snow conditions. Perfect
pistes and the lightest, coldest, freshest powder you can imagine.
A little more cloud about on Sunday but we skied the 3 Valleys big
time - from 1650 to Le Praz to Val Thorens to St Martin and practically
everywhere in between the conditions were superb. The pistes were
smooth yet soft and grippy and off piste was so easy as the powder
was so light - can't really put it all into words! On Sunday, every
lift and every run in the Meribel Valley was open - including the
Itinerary (a marked but un-pisted and un-patrolled off piste run)
right down to Bride Les Bains at 600m, that's 2400m of vertical
from Mont de Peclet (with 1 lift on the way)! We reckon it's 4 years
since that run has officially been declared open. And one other
thing - it's dumping it down again now...
28
Jan
More snow expected in the next few days to top up the excellent
conditions we have here. Great piste skiing on superbly groomed
runs and powder off-piste. It just gets better and better...
24
Jan
Cloudy weather with a bit of sun poking through and little new snow
today but there's still miles and miles of fresh to track out off
piste yet. Drifts in the trees are thigh high and there's powder
everywhere. The pistes are all in superb condition, when the weather
clears it should be fantastic - there's even some more snow forecast
for next week too. It's just like old times, chains required up
from Le Praz, minus 10 at night, maximum avalanche risk - at this
rate they'll re-open the bottom drag lift and the Morretta Blanche
red run!
22
Jan
Up to 18 inches of fresh light powder high up and 6 inches of snow
down to resort with the forecast for snow down to 400 metres that
trip down to Bozel may even happen again! Snow has been on and off,
heavy and light for the last couple of days - who knows what tonight
and tomorrow will bring...
21
Jan
A good 4 inches of new snow as predicted - more high up
and on the way apparently...
20
Jan
No change..... Still good skiing available but it does need freshening
up now after 2 weeks of almost solid sunshine. Do your snow dance!
Looks like the weather is due to change, it's being forecast that
way.
13
Jan
Clear sky and cold temperatures throughout last week have kept the
snow conditions very good although several icy spots are starting
to get "interesting" especially in heavy traffic areas,
narrow sections and lower down. Higher up there is some perfect
piste skiing and snow remains on those trees but we could do with
another storm please... (or are we getting greedy?)
06
Jan
After rain all day Thursday then complete ice on Friday the snow
returned big time. Saturday it snowed all day with poor visibility
and on Sunday things cleared up leaving some simply awesome skiing.
Quiet slopes and deep, deep powder - can't remember it being this
good since the big Winter of 98/99 (and that started poorly too!).
Even the Troika beginners lift re-opened yesterday and once groomed,
there will be some magnificent piste skiing.
The top of the Marmottes 6-man lift where I managed a complete face plant and got buried had about 3 feet of very light powder (trying to get up I lent against my ski pole and it went in to the snow up to my elbow). The Creux chairs and Mt Vallon over in Meribel should open Monday after dealing with the high avalanche risk. Temperatures on the summits were minus 18C yesterday and snow cannons were blowing all day making snow while they can (at least all that rain will have topped up the snow cannon reservoirs!). The routes down Lanches, Gasex and the trees from the Boulevard have still not been completely tracked out by the locals yet so there'll be more great skiing today.
31
Dec
More rain at resort level leaves a strip of piste down through the
resort with grass on either side, but the resort run remains totally
skiable and the run down to Meribel Village is pretty good considering.
It's snowing about 300 metres above resort with the freezing level
coming down during the day. There is still some great skiing and
boarding high up. Still worth getting out there and ripping up the
mountain, have a great New Year, we will....
20
Dec
Great skiing and boarding continues high up and pistes really are
in great condition above around 1800 metres. We've had some rain
at resort level this week (but snow just above us) and the lower
runs have suffered a bit but they're certainly better than this
time last year! Thursday was particularly perfect - sun, blue skies
and fresh snow, could you possibly want anything else for Christmas?
14
Dec
Great skiing and boarding above around 1800m. Really cold, squeaky,
groomed pistes that make skiing so easy! Below this there's some
thinner cover but lots of artificial snow beautifully groomed and
keeping runs looking good. The La Tania Gondola and Lanches have
opened up and the Folyeres run down in to La Tania is now (officially)
open unlike last weekend.
09
Dec
Great skiing and boarding above 1850 on the opening weekend. Basically
Chenus, Biollay and Saulire are open (and everything in between).
The Premier Niege pass allow you to ski down to Mottaret which is
in great condition in lovely sunshine, it does get a bit hard as
you arrive in resort - nothing new there then! Biollay is in excellent
condition (but thin cover in places) and the runs from the top of
Chenus and especially Saulire are as good as ever. The closed Lac
Bleu and Creux runs (with a walk down to 1650) are again superb
but the odd rocks are still poking through in places. Finally, the
(closed) run down to La Tania was absolutely awesome high up above
the Gondola station - see
the pics here. Well worth the run down even if the
bottom section down in to resort is a mixture of artificial man-made
icy crud with the odd rock poking through - this will of course
be sorted out by the army of piste bashers before we open next Saturday.
The mounds from the snow cannons will be flattened out and the resort
runs will definitely open. Sun is shining once again, better get
out there.....
30
Nov
Snow (as forecasted) has returned and the resort is all white once
again. A few inches down at resort level but higher up it looks
like some significant snow depths have accumulated and more snow
is forecast for Sunday & Monday. It's looking good for the opening
of Courchevel 1850 and Meribel next weekend (La Tania lifts open
on 14 December).
29
Nov
The resort is all green once more but snow is forecast for this
weekend. Higher up there looks like some significant snow depths
so things aren't as bad as they look - we'll all be skiing by next
weekend!
22
Nov
Snow has returned once more (please stay this time!). It started
dumping during the night, there's couple of inches already and it
looks set to stay for the day. There's already some great skiing
in Val Thorens, fields of untracked powder and empty slopes.
16
Nov
Snow has returned, the resort is once again all white and it's currently
dumping down. Snow cannons have been in action above 2000m and some
areas look very skiable!
10
Nov
The thin cover in resort has receded with a bit of rain and the
snow level is now just below the top gondola station. Ferg from
Ski Deep
got first tracks of the season (again!) on Saturday when he made
his way up the Saulire bowl above Courchevel 1850. There is about
30cm of fresh snow and he reckons he didn't touch a single rock!
The snow cannons around the Three Valleys are now blasting out over
2000m putting down that so important base.
8
Nov
Snow now down to resort level and below (to about 1100m). Snow flurries
have continued over the last week and the first signs of a base
are starting to form, the piste is certainly frozen in La Tania.
There's 15cm of snow covering the Troika beginners area in the centre
of the resort (measured at pylon 2)! No action from the snow cannons
yet but we expect them to start adding to that base very soon. There's
30cm of cover up at Courchevel 1850 and the runs down to 1550 look
complete.
7
Nov
More
snow - maybe a base starting to form!
18
Oct
First
real fall of the season - catch the pics here.