Think positive - the snow cannons will provide a good base...

More sunshine and a blue cloudless sky - very cold out of the sun and snow cannons are blowing day and night all around the Three Valleys.

So far Courchevel 1850 (and 1550 for access) is open with the 3 gondolas from La Croissette giving access to the runs down from Jardin Alpin, Chenus and Verdons. The Saulire cable car and Biollay chair are also open giving access to their respective runs. Saulire is OK apart from the left hand entry (cable car side, the steepest) which is full of rocks. The rest is fairly smooth & fast and with emptyish slopes quite good fun. Biollay has quite a lot of man-made snow but again is in good condition and the new 6-man Pralong chair has been completed.

The only other run high up is down to Mottaret which is fine in the top section but deteriates lower down (Pas du Lac brings you back) - the Premier Neige pass this week covers Mottaret too for only £10 a day.

The piste bashers, snow cannons and pisteurs have certainly been working hard to bring us what they can with limited amounts of the real stuff. South facing slopes are looking very thin.

We of course skied down to our beloved La Tania via Boulevard des Arolles and Folyeres having gained access to the closed pistes from the top of Chenus. The snow cannoned Folyeres has an excellent hard base which should be great once there's some fresh snow on top of it (real hard pack and rutted at the moment).

Massive mounds of fresh man-made snow (see pics) next to the cannons led to some fun on the way down and once this is moved around the hill the resort run should be fine. We do need more snow above the gondola however to open the reds - grass still poking through at present and with the Christmas crowds due to arrive in 2 weeks it's not looking great.

However, snow is forecast next week (honest).

Pub Le Ski Lodge is open and workers are getting "used to each other" - Absinthe is on sale this year and has already caused some problems!

Let it snow...

Report from Toffa - Natives Resort Reporter in La Tania

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