French Ski Resorts: Snowfalls And Avalanches

Heavy snowfalls that took place during the last two weeks all over French ski resorts brought some good and bad news at the same time. Good news is that the majority of ski slopes in France can provide now excellent skiing conditions. Chamonix, L'Alpe-d'Huez, Vaujany and other ski resorts during the first weeks of January reported growth of natural ski layer from 1 metre to 4 metres. Last week’s snowfalls brought another 50 cm of snow to the slopes of Avoriaz and Saint-Gervais-Mont Blanc.

The bad news is the increased avalanche danger. As of today, 26 ski resorts announced the 4th (the highest but one) level of avalanche risk. This means that off-piste skiing which attracts thousands of thrill-seekers to the French Alps every year is out of question at the moment. Among the resorts presenting the avalanche threat are such well known ski resorts as Abondance, Megève, Morzine, and others.

It should be noted that during the current 2009-2010 ski season avalanches already killed several alpine skiers not only in France but in other European countries as well. Recently the avalance that took place on the French-Italian border buried three people. British alpine skier Nigel Jackson was found dead after the long rescue searches on the slopes of Le Tour Col de Balme near Chamonix. The authotities reported that the cause of his death was avalanche. At Swiss ski resorts during December 2009 at least five people were buried by avalanches, three more are still missing.