Alpe d'Huez Snow Report: 24th December 2010

As I didn't fancy boarding in the rain, (and because I had been putting it off for too long) I thought today was the right time to head to the very top of Alpe d'Huez, the glacier. I was correct in the sense that it was snowing up there, and loads of it. However my big mistake was in thinking that it would be quiet or indeed thinking that I would be able to see anything – both incorrect.

I headed up the two Marmottes lifts first of all, neither of which seemed particularly busy. And then got in the queue for the Marmottes III lift. It was obvious at this point that the visibility was going to be poor if I went any higher, and the drop in temperature also meant that it was going to be snowing up there. This didn't put me off as I reminded myself that the snow on the glacier always makes the trip up worthwhile. At the top of Marmottes III I looked out at…well, nothing really because I was in the clouds and planned my route.

The Sarenne was still closed due to a shortage of snow at the bottom – it finishes at an altitude of 1510m, not that low, but there are no snow cannons on any of the 16km of piste. I followed the blue Cristalliere piste to the Herpie chairlift. The snow was fantastic but it had been mogulled quite badly, and with the reduced visibility it was slow boarding. Cristallier is a brilliant run to do as it's a blue piste and therefore not very steep, so if you don't feel confident about tackling some of the blacks up on the glacier, but was to experience the good snow, there is no shame in heading up on Marmottes III, doing a few runs and then going down in the cable car.

I however am foolishly confident and decided it was time to take the glacier chairlift up and then teach the Tunnel run a thing or two about conquering mountains.

The Tunnel is so called because after making your way down a steep black piste, you have to go through a long tunnel to get to the other side of the peak, where the run begins. The Tunnel is widely regarded as the second hardest Piste in France (after “The Wall” in Avoriaz) and this is not only due to the steepness of the slope, but if you don't pick your route carefully it is common to come face to face with 6ft moguls made of solid ice. Another thing that is great about The Tunnel is the theatre of getting to the start of the piste, after passing the warning signs telling you about the gradient of the run you make your way down the dimly lit tunnel, which for extra effect has a memorial to a pisteur who died whilst on The Tunnel. At the end, you are spat out onto a ledge no more then 4ft across, which looks down onto the carnage below of people cagily making their way down the run. By this point there is no turning back and you have to first leap from the ledge and into the moguls. I must have done the run over 50 times, and it still gives me the creeps having to take the plunge.

Once on the run it really isn't that bad, the moguls can be tough and the run is long, but being so high there is always plenty of powder to soften any landings you might need. It's a lot of fun and you do get a feeling of accomplishment after doing the run, so my advice is that if you are a competent skier or boarder, don't leave the resort without having tried out the Tunnel. You can always side-slip your way down, just like me!

See you on the slopes.

Pete

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