Alpe d'Huez Snow Report: 13th January 2016
Fresh snow fall – nearly 2 metres on the upper slopes now!
It really has been a season of 2 very different halves so far this year in Alpe d’Huez. Up until New Years Day it was high pressure all the way, with temperatures up around 10 and 12degC in resort with wall to wall sunshine, and very little in the way of snowfall.. However since January 2nd it's been snow all the way and lower temperatures, with nearly 1.5metres of snow falling on the upper slopes in the past 12 days.
It really has turned the resort into the winter playground that we know it to be. With low pressure continuing to dominate the Southern Alpine region for the next few days, snow is again in the forecast for tomorrow and Friday. However temperatures are very low, -4degC in resort and -13degC up on the Pic Blanc, and with continuing gusty winds the wind chill factor is very low, somewhere around -20degC – so make sure you wrap up well and stay warm.
With the latest snow fall there are now a fantastic 71 pistes open in the Grande Domaine ski area being served by 54 lifts – so there really is a huge a amount on offer now – what a difference fresh snow fall makes to the number of lifts open, only a few days ago it was around 25/30 pistes open. Of these pistes, 28 are green, 25 blue, 15 red and 3 black – and with a significantly improved base more runs are being opened all the time.
Snow cover now stands at impressive 90cm (1850 metres) on the lower slopes in resort and a whooping 190cm on the upper slopes (3330 metres) 23 of these lifts and 29 pistes are in Alpe d’Huez itself.
The forecast appears to show a bit of a relaxation in the isobars, so hopefully the winds should drop and decrease the wind chill factor. These breezy conditions have continued to cause intermittent disruption to some of the higher lifts (pic Blanc and Marmotte3) however this disruption really is only in and out.
With the new snow fall the Avalanche risk currently stands at between 3 (considerable) and 4 (high) so again be careful – check information boards, etc – and if in doubt ask the mountain rescue guys up on the mountain.
Snow has been falling down to a level of 500 metres, which is well below Bourg d’Oisans.
The Sarenne black run is in fantastic condition given the fresh snow fall. And this fresh snow fall is allowing the opening of some of the lower slopes, for the first time this year I am able to ski home now, using the Village run down to Huez, so that makes me a happy bunny!!!!. The village run really opens up the lower sections in resort and you can easily get back up into town by using the televillage cable car.
Access around town by car is a bit tricky while the snow clearers get all the roads cleared, but you can get around town with a bit of care and attention. The main road up the hill is fine.
