Alpe d'Huez Snow Report: 27th February 2011

The blue sky and sunshine which we have been so accustomed to has made way for big fluffy clouds here in Alpe d'Huez. And from those clouds, overnight around 12cms of glorious powder has fallen creating a nice big duvet of snow all over the resort. It started at about 9pm last night and has not stopped coming since then.

Unfortunately the conditions have forced me into the Palais des Sport today instead of going up the mountain, but the snow is due to stop this evening so tomorrow should be fantastic riding, it even looks as if there is enough to do some back country off piste!

Yesterday was a good day on the mountain, the clouds were heavy in the sky, but the visibility was still pretty good and the light was not too flat. I headed up to Smithy's first thing for the big boy breakfast and a cup of tea. And then made my way down to the lobster pot bucket lift that takes you right through the centre of town up to the Grand Rousses ski school meeting point, and the bottom station of the Troncon gondola, or as everyone in town calls it “the DMC”. From here I took the drag-lift to the top of the signal for a quick run down the red Stade slope. They still have the huge kicker here from the freestyle competition which has been running throughout the week, but I chose to give it a miss this time. The runs down the front of the signal can look quite intimidating when you are at the top as from here you are looking down towards the usually very busy DMC below you and the top part is quite steep. The piste however is usually very well groomed and you will almost never find any moguls on it.

After a trip back up the draglift, I headed over the back of signal and down to the Village of Villard Reculas. It's been a while since I tried my favourite run Le Petit Prince as the snow conditions do tend to suffer here before many other places in resort, but as we'd had a bit of fresh snow, it was still in good shape. Lower down the run you get to the Chemin de Patre, which is a narrow track that misses out the very steep, and not-for beginners off piste section.

Finally you have a choice of two blue runs to get to the lift station or into the village Chevreaux and Brebis. The latter can often be quite icy so I headed down Chevreaux which winds it's way around a nice powder field and joins Brebis further down.

The lift station was surprisingly quiet and so I decided on another run down, this time taking Les Vallons instead of the Petit Prince, which was also fantastic.

Back at the top of the signal, to get back to Alpe d'Huez you only really have the choice of Hirondelles or a hike back up to come down the Stade. I'm not really one for hiking when I don't have to so the Hirrondelles it was. If I'm honest, the Hirondelles is not a very nice run, particularly for snowboarders. It sweeps round the side of the signal and back to the DMC which means you have to do the whole piste on one edge of your board, and then at the bottom flattens out making it prime piste for catching an edge and falling. Added to this is the fact it is the only blue from the signal down to the DMC so gets many beginners getting n the way and chopping it up into a mass of moguls. But basically it is a necessary evil, so you will probably have to do it at some point. There is however a very good spot for a picnic halfway down.

After this I did a few runs though the snow park before calling it a day.

The snow is still falling fast and so we have about 30cms over the last 24 hours. I'm hoping it keeps coming till tomorrow morning so I can get a few fresh tracks, there is already talk of first lifts and a packed lunch tomorrow, I've a feeling it is going to be a good day!

See you on the slopes.

Pete

Check out what to do around town once the lifts have closed with our Apres Ski Report - a weekly round up of what's hot and where to party in Alpe d'Huez!