Climate change and the credit crunch, these dual threats have saved the Southern Alps, at any rate for this Christmas. However it may have been so altogether polar. Ahead of Xmas hamlets in the Les Contamines-Montjoie region were cut off as snow storms rained down. Road passes such as the all important Col du La Clusaz were closed. In that location there was no power or telephones, locals were moved out to pro tem accommodation, it seemed as if it were a double of 1999.
It seems that all promotion is good promotion. La Clusaz appeared nightly on national French news. Immediately electricity was fixed reservations started to come in, attracted by the first class snowfall.
Portes du Soleil and nearby Risoul lay claim to virtually 5.5 meters snow on the upper slopes at 2300 meters elevation and 2.2 m at the end of the pistes. At the moment the deepest in the Alps. Grand Massif says that there is 4 m at the the highest point of the resort. Alas snow drifts have swept away a pylon of the ski lift which goes up to the sector. They’ll be out of commission until mid January. In other places in the European Alps reservations have increased 16% in Super Besse, Avoriaz and Risoul. Chastreix-Sancy has 99.4% tenancy and distributed a record number of ski passes last Friday. This is good for luxury ski resorts and big skiing companies.
