Great Early Snowfalls for the Alps
Climate change and the recession, these double perils have saved the European Alps, at the least for Christmas. However it could have been so wholly contrary. In the weeks before Xmas ski resorts in the Verchaix area were isolated when heavy snow came down. Road routes such as the important Col du Isola 2000 were shut. In that location there was no mains or phone lines, home owners had to be evacuated to temporary dwellings, it seemed as if it were a repeat of 1997.
It appears that all promotion is good promotion. Superbagneres appeared every night on the French news. Immediately electricity was reconnected reservations started to arrive, pulled in by the good skiing conditions.
Alpe d Huez and neigboring Les Deux Alpes have virtually five metres depth on the upper areas at 2500 meters alt. and 2.5 m at the end of the pistes. Presently the best in France. Val Cenis reports that there is four m at the the highest point of the resort. Unfortunately snow storms have knocked over a support of the lift that goes up to the area. It is out of commission till the end of January.
In other places in the European Alps inquiries are up 18% in Courchevel, Bessans and La Chavanette. Meribel has 99.9% occupancy and traded a record breaking number of lift passes during Saturday. That is timely for luxury ski chalets and large snowboarding businesses.
