Exceptional Dec Snowfalls for the Northern Alps
Climate change and the recession, these dual perils have let off the S. Alps, leastwise for the time being. However it could have been so wholly different. In the weeks before Christmas hamlets in the Les Deux Alpes locale were isolated when heavy snow came down. Road passes such as the busy Col du Alpe d Huez were cut. There was no electricity or telephone lines, locals were evacuated to make shift accommodation, it looked like a repetition of 1995.
It appears that all publicity is good publicity. Hautacam appeared every evening on the French news. Immediately electricity was restored inquiries commenced to come in, pulled in by the first class conditions.
Alpe d Huez and neigboring Tignes lay claim to nearly 4.5 meters depth on the upper pistes at 2500 m elevation and 2.1 meters at the bottom of the resorts. Presently a record for the Alps. La Mongie alleges there is 4 m at the the highest point of the resort. Alas snow drifts have knocked over a pylon of the chair lift that accesses the sector. They are broken until the middle of January.
Elsewhere in the S. Alps reservations are up 16% in Le Grand-Bornand, Le Grand-Bornand and Bessans. Alpe d Huez has 2% occupancy and sold a record number of lift passes during Sunday. This is timely for luxury ski chalets and big snowboarding companies.
