Snow, snow & more snow in La Plagne!

It looks like it’s here folks, our first real and proper dump of the season, we’ve had some fluttering’s and snow showers, a few centimetres here and then in the past few weeks but we haven’t had a read dump like this since early November.

Now the forecast is showing snow every day this week with 9 cm falling today 12cm on Friday and 6 and 7 cm’s falling over the weekend but the real star of the show is going to be Thursday when a massive 25cm is forecast to fall at 2200m and even 15cm down at 1250m. Thursday is the day people, cancel work, cancel school, hire a babysitter and head to the hills, I’m calling it an official snow day!!!

This new snow is obviously going to do epic and awesome things for our mountain, especially since the temperature is due to drop sharply again at the end of the week ensuring freezing levels all the way down to the lower resort villages. We are going to see more runs opening daily and new areas of the mountain becoming accessible every day, all those natural un-pisted black runs La Plagne has opened this year are going to get some much needed new snow and maybe we can even look forward to them opening the Arpette Fun Slope! That is going to be a big day!

Anyway, instead of looking forward to future events lets enjoy what we’re dealing with right now, this week is not only going to bring us fresh mounds of fluffy white stuff but it also finally sees an end to the Christmas, new year and school holiday crowds. The mountain is well and truly empty, it’s an empty chairlift, private gondola kind of week especially since this snow is going to keep any fair weather skiers sleeping late and taking multiple hot chocolate breaks. For any die hard skiers this week the mountain belongs to you, make the most of it!

First, a quick note on safety, sorry, but it’s got to be said. After weeks and weeks of blue sky days and perfect visibility the mountain’s going to be a very different place this week. Get those low light lenses in (orange or ideally yellow) wear something bright (no white or snow camo prints please). Ski with a buddy at all times and if you get caught out in a white out and you’ve no idea which way’s up remember to check the piste poles. The piste marker poles that line the runs are colour coded to the runs, blue poles on blue runs etc but also the poles on the right side of every run have orange shiny tops to them whilst the left ones don’t, so if you find yourself lost and the shiny orange pole is on your left it means you’ve wandered off piste (or you’re facing up hill) re-orientate yourself and carry on down.

Also by the end of today, all the dirty off piste areas that have been expanses of mud and grass for the past few weeks are going to be looking fluffy and white and beautiful. Don’t be fooled! I know we’re all craving some off piste action and it looks like we might finally be heading into pow town but do try and resist the urge to jump straight off piste until the new snow is a little deeper. All those rocks that were there yesterday are still there today just hidden under an inch of snow, they’ll still do your equipment (and your knees) some damage.

But enough of all that sensible chat. It’s freaking snowing out there, the mountain is empty, the pistes are fluffy get out there asap!!

Have an awesome week, (be safe) and have fun!