Val Thorens Snow Report: 4th April 2013
A week of skiing, afros, birthdays and most importantly sun!
Gemma Greenway - Green Mountain Chalets | Val Thorens Reporter | published: 4th April 2013
I have kept the skis and had a fantastic week. It was James’s birthday on Tuesday along with two more of my guests so it was certainly a day of celebrations.
Latest conditions
| Number of pistes open |
76 |
| Date of last snowfall |
23/02/2013 |
| Depth of snow on upper slopes |
330cm |
| Depth of snow on lower slopes |
160cm |
| Highest temperature |
-11 °C |
| cm |
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The morning started with a group ski towards Meribel - temperatures had seriously dropped overnight so we had some very icy runs first thing. We dropped down to Raffort through the trees which is normally a great track but was not the nicest that early in the day. One of my guests narrowly avoided a collision with one of the trees which provided quite a bit of amusement for the rest of us.
From there it was over to Val Thorens for a birthday lunch at Face West with complementary champagne, why thank you! The sun stayed most of the day as ordered with the clouds just coming in as we headed back home. It looked very dramatic clinging onto the top of the mountains. There was a storm forecast overnight which did not arrive but when we woke the following day, it was pretty cloudy so people were not too eager to head out. With all the kids booked into ski school for 9.15am there was no hanging about and everyone was glad they had made it up there early as it was easy to get up above the clouds for some good skiing. The sun did eventually burn the clouds away and it was a great day.
Everything seemed to come together this week with my skiing progress. I think I finally relaxed and stopped worrying about the two planks on my feet. The skiing has been fantastic all week.
The whole week has been leading up to Wednesday which was race day. There is a seasonnaire race several times a season in St Martin. The rules are that you must have a team of four including; at least one girl, one boy, one skier, one snowboarder. Fancy dress is optional for most people but compulsory here at Green Mountain Chalets. I thought the team might be in with a chance to win if I did not participate as I am way too slow. So, we had Team Afro who put in a good performance but unfortunately came in second place to a German team from Val Thorens. Everyone who participated had a great time and gave it their all, with claims of the fastest skiing they have ever done and a whole lot of leg burn.
I have had some guests staying this week who were our first ever guests. It is nice to end with them as our last guests of this season four years later. It is also great seeing the progress in their skiing abilities. They were both beginners when they first came to stay in 2009 and are now flying, especially Jake who used to have a few teary moments when he was first attempting to ski and now I cannot even keep up with him.
There is a very similar forecast for the rest of the week to last - light snow and cloud lower down but the sun can be reached in the higher points of the resort. The snow is still great and as always for this time of year the snow just gets heavy and slushy at the bottom. People seem to either love or hate slushy snow. For those that are not keen it is sometimes worth calling it a day at the lift station and getting the lift down to the bottom to save tired legs and prevent injury.
Only a few days left in resort now for me so this will be my last report for this season. I am going to miss the snow and mountains as I head back to the UK for the summer. Lots of well deserved relaxation is coming my way along with prep for season five.
So, see you next season......here's hoping it's as good as this one!
What you say - tell us what you're thinking
Val Thorens Snow Report: 1st April 2013
Giving Skiing a Go....
Gemma Greenway - Green Mountain Chalets | Val Thorens Reporter | published: 2nd April 2013
So, last week I tried out skiing and I actually think I have been converted. I love it! My beginner lessons with New Generation ski school were absolutely fantastic. We had a great laugh in the group, which really varied in ability and the instructor, Luke, did incredibly well to give everyone the attention they needed.
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Val Thorens Snow Report: 26th March 2013
Where has this season gone?
Gemma Greenway - Green Mountain Chalets | Val Thorens Reporter | published: 26th March 2013
Just written the date for this report and shocked myself, I cannot believe it is nearing the end of March! Where has this season gone.
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Val Thorens Snow Report: 21st March 2013
Wowsers, what an amazing couple of days!
Gemma Greenway - Green Mountain Chalets | Val Thorens Reporter | published: 21st March 2013
After snow, snow and more snow it was still forecast light snow and cloud for Tuesday. When I got up however there was blue, blue sky! My guests staying for a short break were not due to fly until the evening and so had the most fantastic powdery last day.
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Val Thorens Snow Report: 18th March 2013
Massive March Powder Week Ahead
Gemma Greenway - Green Mountain Chalets | Val Thorens Reporter | published: 18th March 2013
Erm, there’s a lot of snow. I mean a lot of snow, heaps of the stuff! Literally overnight! It is amazing for March. Conditions are probably the best they have been all season. If you have not already got something booked to come to the Three Valleys then get yourself here and enjoy the white stuff!
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Val Thorens Snow Report: 14th March 2013
Dogs, coffees, trainers and Fools
Gemma Greenway - Green Mountain Chalets | Val Thorens Reporter | published: 14th March 2013
I cannot believe it is March - where is the usual slush and early finishes to the day? Nowhere to be seen....Right now in Val Thorens the temps are low, the snow is good and there is more snow due.
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Val Thorens Snow Report: 12th March 2013
Superb conditions on piste
Gemma Greenway - Green Mountain Chalets | Val Thorens Reporter | published: 12th March 2013
The good news is that the snow is ace! The other good news is that the pistes are quiet! This makes for a very happy Gem indeed..... I have to admit these reports are much harder to write when the snow is good but I will do my best!
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Val Thorens Snow Report: 7th March 2013
Better than school....
Gemma Greenway - Green Mountain Chalets | Val Thorens Reporter | published: 7th March 2013
Well what has this week brought? A bit of a strange one really. The common theme unfortunately seems to be busy pistes and limited skiing so not great for my guests this week.
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Val Thorens Snow Report: 4 March 2013
Sledging, sunshine, dining and shopping
Gemma Greenway - Green Mountain Chalets | Val Thorens Reporter | published: 5th March 2013
Only six weeks left of our season now so we need to make the most of it. Not bad conditions to be doing so! We have had another week of sun which makes for absolutely beautiful conditions.
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Val Thorens Snow Report: 26th February 2013
The Yellow Thing in the Sky...
Gemma Greenway - Green Mountain Chalets | Val Thorens Reporter | published: 26th February 2013
After a week of sun, it has decided to stay! My tan is coming along nicely. The weather forecast for snow towards the end of last week did not really arrive and the sun has stayed in place. There was a light covering of snow overnight at the weekend but nothing to cause much chaos as the February half term holidaymakers headed home.
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Val Thorens Snow Report: 21st February 2013
Where did everybody go?
Gemma Greenway - Green Mountain Chalets | Val Thorens Reporter | published: 21st February 2013
Well what a surprise February half term has been. I have to be honest, I was dreading this week as I thought that it would be uber busy and it would not really be worth heading out on the mountain.
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Val Thorens Snow Report: 18th February 2013
Sunny Days Ahead
Gemma Greenway - Green Mountain Chalets | Val Thorens Reporter | published: 18th February 2013
People who were staying in resort last week will be very jealous to see the weather report for this week – sun, sun and more sun!
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Val Thorens Snow Report : 14th February 2013
Four Valleys in One Day
Gemma Greenway - Green Mountain Chalets | Val Thorens Reporter | published: 14th February 2013
So, we waited and waited for a sunny day to arrive. As forecast it has snowed all week but on Wednesday we were due a blue sky day. When we got up on Wednesday that was not what we found initially but it turned out to be an awesome day.
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Val Thorens Snow Report : 11th February 2013
Powder Practice
Gemma Greenway - Green Mountain Chalets | Val Thorens Reporter | published: 11th February 2013
I am not one of these gnarly snowboarder types always heading for the ‘pow pow’. That is not really in my vocabulary or ability to be honest. After a week of non-stop snow however, I could not resist at least giving the soft, fluffy stuff a go.
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Val Thorens Snow Report : 7th February 2013
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!
Gemma Greenway - Green Mountain Chalets | Val Thorens Reporter | published: 7th February 2013
Wow, it has literally not stopped snowing all week. The bad news is that the full Three Valleys has not been open for most of the week but there has still been plenty to go at in each valley and links have opened up later in the day. The good news is that the snow is set to continue until the weekend and then…it is play time!
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Val Thorens Snow Report : 4th February 2013
Big February Snowfalls
Gemma Greenway - Green Mountain Chalets | Val Thorens Reporter | published: 4th February 2013
So in quick summary - we have had, and are due…snow, snow and more snow! Whilst that is the weather forecast people think they like to see, it does not always make for happy skiing.
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Val Thorens Snow Report : 31st January 2013
Varied Weather but More Snow on the Forecast
Gemma Greenway - Green Mountain Chalets | Val Thorens Reporter | published: 31st January 2013
Quite a varied week so far and it looks set to continue. Yo-yoing temperatures mean that we have had a real mixed bag weather wise.
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Val Thorens Snow Report : 27th January 2013
Warming up in Val Thorens - Vin Chaud Included
Gemma Greenway - Green Mountain Chalets | Val Thorens Reporter | published: 28th January 2013
We were lucky enough to sneak out onto the mountain on a Saturday having raced through the changeover and we're really glad we did! Whilst we did not get off to the best start with forgotten ski poles (remembered at the top of the first lift) and a broken binding after the first run, once that was all sorted we were off and it was fab.
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