That terrace getting cleared again – a good sign of SNOW

Bouc Blanc terrace beng cleared again in preperation of snowfall tonight. GFS Models looking consistent for a fair amount of snow but some forecasts not as confident with only snow showers predicted.

Currently clear skies at 5pm but clouds building in the distance, trust us Powder Rules will apply tomorrow once again…..

For Example
@weathertoski:
Further light snow has reached the NW foothills of the Alps this afternoon but don’t expect much in the more internal valleys…

Fresh Snow at the Bouc Blanc this morning

Good work by the Bouc Blanc staff in leaving their terrace set up last night – guaranteeing some snow as the days are getting longer and Summer approaches…

A nice little covering of snow at first light should freshen up the pistes before more snow coming in over Christmas Eve and looking more & more like a decent amount on Christmas Day – A White Christmas indeed looks on the cards after the much hyped snow last week failed to reach us.

Bye Bye Cretes, Col de la Loze, Praz Juget & a bit of Bouc Blanc

Latest on the new lifts (and removal of the old ones)…

 
With the new Bouc Blanc chair opening in December this year and construction of the new Foret chair up from Le Praz now under way (but not expected until December 2014 as far as we know), the removal of the old Cretes and Col de la Lze chairs has begun along with the Praz Juget drag.

 
The Bouc Blanc drag has also been shortened – more info on these and the other developments at
www.latania.co.uk/photos/2013Summer/lifts/pistemapnewlifts.html

 
Panorama showing the location of the new Bouc Blanc Chair top station (opening Dec 2013) and the new Foret Chair top station coming up from Le Praz.

 
Removal of the old slow Cretes chair.

 

Removal of the old very slow 2-man Col de la Loze chair (the same route down Bouc Blanc and up Dou Des Lanches chair is much quicker even for a relatively slow skier).

 

Roof going on the lifties hut on the new Bouc Blanc top station.

 

Location of the top of the new Foret chair from Le Praz – just up from the La Tania Gondola station.

 

Removal of the bridge for the Bouc Blanc drag (this now ends here and will be renamed Stade as it gives access to the La Tania Stade race area (and Jockeys down to Le Praz on bad weather days)) – Praz Juget drag above the bridge has also been removed.

 

Trench dug all the way under the new Bouc Blanc Chair for the power and comms cables.

 

Bottom station of the new Bouc Blanc 6 seater hi-speed detachable chair above La Tania. The start of the Bouc Blanc drag (now Stade) visible to the left of the picture.

 

Location of the new Foret Chair Top station coming up from Le Praz. La Tania Gondola to the left edge of the photo and the Bouc Blanc Restaurant in the background.

 
 
Thanks to Nick Ski and Auntie Mary for the pics.

La Tania local competitors at the Bouc Blanc restaurant

Pictured just after the race, well done to everyone that took part or helped to organise this punishing run ! Thank to Joey from Nickski for the picture. Hairy Phil www.snowretreat.co.uk

The finish line at the Bouc Blanc restaurant above La Tania

7km race but a climb and a half….

Winners names up soon…

Snowing hard in La Tania. Bouc Blanc snow clearers hard at work again

Spare a thought for the hardest working snow clearers in the Alps – The Bouc Blanc terrace boys hard at it again fits thing this morning! Mind you, they did have a year off last season…

So it is really stormy here in LT!

Bouc Blanc Race cancelled due to weather…

What’s On This Summer…

What’s On This Summer…. More here
La Tania Tourist Office Summer Brochure is on-line here

Jun 15 – Tignes Summer Skiing area opens for Summer
Jun 28 – Ski Lodge Opening Night for Summer with the Alpine Fish n Chip Special!
Jun 30 – ESF Meribel Valley Golf Trophy, Meribel Gold Course

Jul 01 – La Tania Lifts open for Summer (La Tania Gondola open every day except Saturday & free)
Jul 06 – 12 Hour fishing competition, Lake Tueda, Meribel
Jul 06 to 07 – Les 3 Vallees Tout Terrain 2013. Mountain Bike Competitions across The Three Valleys
Jul 06 to 07 – Paragliding Competition – Courchevel
Jul 10 – The 18th Drive des Gourmets, Meribel. Golf competitions while enjoying top local food
Jul 13- Fireworks & Music (usually pretty good and well worth seeing) by the lake in Le Praz
Jul 13 to 14 – ESF Teenag’ Games for kids, lots of sports activities, Courchevel 1850
Jul 14 – Fireworks and Party, Bastille Day, French National Day, La Tania
Jul 20 – Zoot Triathlon starting in Bozel
Jul 20 to 21 – La Madelon Fair, Le Praz
Jul 20 to 27 – Kids Week, La Tania
Jul 21 – Dynafit Duathlon starting in Le Praz
Jul 27 to 28 – Local Heritage Meetings
Jul 28 to Aug 03 – Environment Week, La Tania. Hikes, biking, check points, games, films, lectures.
Jul 31 – The La Tania Forest Challenge – Orienteering type contest, all welcome, La Tania

Aug 03 – Fanfoue Fete, Les Allues
Aug 03 to 04 – Courchevel 1650 Fete, Notre Dame des Neiges Fair
Aug 04 – Bouc Blanc Race: Annual 7km running race up to the Bouc Blanc restaurant, La Tania
Aug 04 to Aug 10 – Well-Being Week, La Tania. Massages, spa trips, aqua gym, fitness courses, etc.
Aug 07 – Shop Clearance Sale, Meribel
Aug 11 to 17 – Wood Week, La Tania
Aug 14 to 15 – Summer Ski Jumping World Cup 2011, Le Praz Ski Jump (our race UP the jump too!)
Aug 15 – Fete des Bucherons, The Lumberjack Championships, La Tania
Aug 15 – Shop Clearance Sale, Meribel
Aug 15 – UCI Trials World Cup Mountain Bike event, Meribel
Aug 16 – Final Coupe de France VTT, (down hill and x-country) Meribel
Aug 17 to 18 – Courchevel 1550 Fête .
Aug 18 – Orienteering Race, Courchevel 1650
Aug 23 – Golf Show, Meribel.
Aug 25 – La Frappadingue (Obstacle Race), Courchevel 1850.
Aug 28 – Méribel Air Show, Altiport, Meribel
Aug 30 – Ski Lodge Closing Party for Summer with Live Music and the Alpine Fish n Chips Special! TBC
Aug 30 – Lifts close for Summer

Sep 02 – Tignes Summer Skiing area closes TBC

La Tania – All the Summer 2012 Activities and Events

La Tania lifts open for Summer 2012 from Sunday 1 July to Saturday 30 August 2012
Selected ski lifts are open for walkers and mountain bikers. The lifts have special mountain bike attachments and the ski shops rent out all the equipment you’ll need.

PDF Summer Maps – Hiking Trails | Moutain Bike Trails | La Tania Footpaths | Summer Views of La Tania

For Summer 2012 the La Tania gondola lift is scheduled to open every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday from 1 July to 30 August 2012 (9.30am to 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 4.45pm). FREE again for 2012.

Verdons, Saulire and Pas de Lac (on the Meribel Mottaret side) are open every day except Saturday from 7 Jul to 31 Aug 2012 from 09:30-16:40. Winter season passes are valid in Summer too.

Note that special openings happen on the opening lift weekend due to the 3VTT mountain biking competitions, and all are subject to change due to the weather, maintenance etc.
3VTT Weekend for 2012 is 7 & 8 July.

Check out the La Tania – Summer Life Page for further information and diary of events all Summer long.

In La Tania there’s an outdoor swimming pool, tennis court, volley ball / basketball court, boules pitch, downhill mountain bike race course, table tennis tables and THE most glorious views of the mountains.

In the surrounding area you’ve got Paragliding (tandem rides or weekly solo courses are available), hiking, Via Ferratta rock climbing, white water rafting, hydro speeding, fishing, horse riding, canyoning, quad biking, paint balling, off road motorcycling, archery, clay pigeon shooting, roller blading and road cycling. There’s golf in Courchevel (9 holes next to the Biollay lift) & Méribel Golf Course (full 18 hole course above the Altiport) and wake boarding & water skiing in Annecy or just hang out and sun bathe in the fresh air of the mountains.

Pub Le Ski Lodge has a Pool table and ice creams plus Happy Hours with cheap drinks and food served all day. Moules & Frites all you can eat on Thursdays and the original Alpine Fish n Chips on Fridays.

The Tourist Office, Supermarket, Tabac, Bakery, La Ferme, Le Farcon and Mountain Bike Hire are all open plus there’s plenty of shops, bars and restaurants open in Courchevel and Méribel too.

Finally, don’t forget summer skiing and snowboarding. Looks like Val Thorens has given up for the moment on Summer skiing but the Tignes glacier will be open and has up to 16 lifts in it’s Summer area (including access), there’s up to 20km of piste and 750m vertical complete with a large fun park now located right up near the top of the Grand Motte. Tignes Summer Ski Area is open from 22 June to 2 September 2012.

If you’re over in Tignes try TCs Bar in Le Lavachet, they’re open all summer too – but beware the ski area opens at 7:15am until 1pm – And no, it’s not like skiing on ice, although hard and pisted first thing, the snow softens very quickly and is often heavy slush by noon. Catching it at the right time can give great conditions and a foot of fresh in the summer isn’t unheard of!

There’s also randomly organised tennis competitions, maybe a dog contest and potato growing challenge (known as EuroSpud), football tournament, fancy dress parties, Summer Ski Jumping and various Fétes & BBQ’s to attend including the big Le Praz and Les Allues Fétes with spectacular fireworks displays. Plus the Wood Cutters day, the shop clearance day in Méribel, the Tour de France is always nearby (or here) and beach soccer championship in Tignes with Cantona etc.

Events through Summer 2012

Every Week in July & August the following activities are organised by The La Tania Tourist Office:

(2011 Days)
Sun: Welcome Drink, Gondola open
Mon: Orienteering, Cinema
Tue: Water Aerobics, Gondola open
Wed: Nordic Walk, Moûtiers Day Trip, BBQ in the Forest
Thu: Aerobics, Cinema, Gondola open (plus Moules & Frites night at The Ski Lodge!)
Fri: Flora & Fauna outing, Kids show (plus the original Alpine Fish n Chips at The Ski Lodge!)

Jun 22 – Tignes Summer Skiing area opens for Summer
Jun 29 – Ski Lodge Opening Night for Summer. 5pm Opening Fish n Chip Special. Live Music BYS Rich.

Jul 01 – La Tania Lifts open for Summer (La Tania Gondola Sun, Tue & Thu closed 12:30-13:30)
Jul 07 to 08 – Les 3 Vallées Tout Terrain. Mountain Bike Competitions across The Three Valleys
Jul 07 – Courchevel lifts open (Verdons, Vizelle, Pas de Lac daily except Sat (open all 3VT Weekend)
Jul 11 to 13 – The 18th Drive des Gourmets, Méribel. Golf competitions while enjoying top local food
Jul 13 – Fireworks (usually pretty good and well worth seeing) by the lake in Le Praz
Jul 14 – Fireworks and Party, Bastille Day, French National Day, La Tania
Jul 14 to 15 – ESF Teenag’ Games for kids, lots of sports activities, Courchevel 1850
Jul 14 to 21 – Kids Week, La Tania
Jul 21 to 22 – La Madelon Fair, Le Praz
Jul 21 to 28 – Environment Week, La Tania. Hikes, bike routes, check points, games, films & lectures.
Jul 24 – The La Tania Forest Challenge – Orienteering type contest, all welcome, La Tania
Jul 28 to Aug 4 – Well-Being Week, La Tania. Massages, spa trips, aqua gym, fitness courses, etc.

Aug 02 – Bouc Blanc Race: Annual 7km running race up to the Bouc Blanc restaurant, La Tania
Aug 04 to 05 – Courchevel 1650 Fête
Aug 04 to 05 – Fanfoué Fête, Les Allues
Aug 11 to 18 – Wood Week, La Tania
Aug 14 to 15 – Summer Ski Jumping World Cup 2011, Le Praz Ski Jump (our race UP the jump too!)
Aug 15 – Fête des Bûcherons, The Lumberjack Championships, La Tania
Aug 15 – Shop Clearance Sale, Courchevel 1850.
Aug 18 to 19 August Courchevel 1550 Fête .
Aug 20 – La Haute Route Cycle Race – Geneva to Nice with stage finish in Courchevel.
Aug 24 – Golf Show, Méribel.
Aug 24 to 26 – French MTB Championships, Méribel.
Aug 26 – La Frappadingue (Obstacle Race), Courchevel 1850.
Aug ?? – Ski Lodge Closing Party TBC
Aug 31 – Lifts close for Summer

Sep 02 – Tignes Summer Skiing area closes

Summer on the way. The Ski Lodge Opens Friday Night 29 June for Summer.

La Tania officially opens for Summer 2012 on Saturday 30 June with the Ski Lodge opening Friday Night 29 June and the usual Summer Friday Original Alpine Fish n Chips on special. Chrispy will be running things this Summer with help from the usual suspects…

The Outdoor Swimming Pool, Tennis Court and Ski Lifts are open from 1st July to 30th August – The La Tania Gondola is free once again this year – open Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday (closed for lunch 12:30-1:30pm) – remember Winter 2011/12 season passes are valid on the Courchevel lifts (or 3 Valleys lifts if 3V Season Pass purchased). Looks like Verdons and Saulire plus Pas du Lac on the Méribel Mottaret side will open every day except Saturday (how French!).

Summer Events include:

29 June – Ski Lodge Opening Night for Summer.

1 July – Lifts Open for Summer. La Tania Gondola (free) on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday.

7/8 July – The Mountain Biking 3VTT Weekend including the Saulire to Brides Les Bains descent race!

11-13 July – Drive des Gourmets. Food & Golf Comp, Méribel.

13 July – The Le Praz Sound & Light show with fireworks celebrating Bastille Day in to the 14th…

14 July – French National Day, Fireworks and Party.

14/15 July – ESF Teen Games in 1850.

14-21 July – La Tania Kids Week.

21-28 July – La Tania Environment Week.

24 July – The La Tania Forest Challenge.

21/22 July – Le Fete de la Madelon in Le Praz.

28 Jul to 4 Aug – La Tania Well-Being Week.

31 July – Méribel Air Show.

2 August – The Bouc Blanc Race. 7km from La Tania up to the Bouc Blanc Mountain Restaurant.

4/5 August – 1650 Fête.

4/5 August – Les Allues Fête .

11-18 August – La Tania Wood Week.

14/15 August – The Le Praz Summer World Cup Ski Jumping.

15 August – La Tania Fête des Bucherons – Lumberjack Festival.

15 August – Shop Clearance Sale, Courchevel 1850.

18/19 August Courchevel 1550 Fête .

20 August – La Haute Route Cycle Race – Geneva to Nice with stage finish in Courchevel.

24 August – Golf Show, Méribel.

24-26 August – French MTB Championships, Méribel.

26 August – La Frappadingue (Obstacle Race), Courchevel 1850.

Pub Le Ski Lodge, Le Farcon, The Sherpa Supermarket, Marmottons, The Tabac, Le Bouc Blanc and The Tourist Office & Mountain Bike Hire should all be open in Summer in La Tania. The Tignes Summer Ski Area on the Grande Motte Glacier is scheduled to open from 22nd June until 2nd September 2012.