Anyone in the French Alps right now? What's it like?

[Greyrock2828]

I only live an hour away from Morzine etc but debating whether to ski this week or wait for more snow - don't really want har packed snow so just wondered if anyone can give me a heads up.

Have you checked the local webcams?

Yeh i decided to go up anyway (not skiing but just to have a look) it's so sad to be honest. I've lived in Geneva for nearly 6 years and every winter it's warmer, the ski season is shorter, the summers get hotter. There was barely any snow, it's pretty dangerous, icy. Hopefully will snow end of week. Also very busy as some slopes are closed so everyone on holiday piling onto same lifts, massive queues. I'm going to wait until post holidays to ski I think or fresh snow.

I have skied in the southern French alps for the last 3 days… Les Orres, Puy St Vincent and Vars. Ok on piste but some pebbles. Having a great week and intending to ski every day, but it does need more snow. Today the off piste bits just at the side were great. The piste was pretty hard packed.

We’re in Val d’Isere. Had 5 lovely days on decent snow in the sunshine, some of which is artificial. The very cold days are helping keep the snow stable - not too icy. It’s busy but most lifts open (except today - it’s windier) and we’ve been up to the glacier in Tignes on fantastic snow.

Staying high seems to be the only way to go these days - I agree with you about the climate changing. I’ve been coming here since 2002 and there’s been a massive change.

Some snow expected Sunday but sadly that’s when we fly home.

@SirHectorDoolittle lucky you enjoy, I think it makes sense now if you're going on a ski holiday to go somewhere snow sure. I've heard great things about val d'isere- it's just a bit too far for us from Geneva. We are in La Clusaz but it's too icy, hard packed snow, not high enough, going to wait it out for more snow later in the season. The season just seems to get shorter every year, last year we probably only skied jan and Feb.

Yes - v fortunate indeed. The transfer times puts people off, for sure. We travel on Sundays to avoid the worst of Saturday changeover traffic but it still takes ~3 hours from Geneva. Flying back tomorrow!

How was Puy when you were there?
Never skiied it so early in the year but thinking about it for next year

@Needspaceforlego it was great and we all had a fab day. All lifts open, but the mogul black off Rocher Noir was closed as was La Balme blue down to the bottom. That said we parked at 1400 and great (if slightly hard packed) cover all the way down. Some pebbles in the piste - but I’d say out of the 4 or 5 places I skied that was the second best in terms of fun and snow cover. Off Pendine the easy bumps were perfect as were the ones under the Lauze chair. The downside of Puy in December is that it’s north facing and largely in the shade after about 2pm. We were all quite chilly at the end of the day. Go for it (but do look at Les Orres, Vars/Risoul too if you like that region). Flights to Marseilles are often cheaper than Turin/grenoble.

@Needspaceforlego bumps under Pendine!

Thanks will have a discussion with DH tonight 😊