Snow report - Val Cenis

Just back (last night), so some insight:

Fine conditions were getting the locals a little 'concerned' until the
mid-week dumps, which seem to be continuing. Even the lower end of the
valley (around Modane & St Jean Maurienne) is now well covered, and looking
good.

The perceived earlier 'problems' were in fact not a result of too little
snow having fallen, but more a case of too much having blown off here and
there from more exposed areas higher up the mountain. Fortunately, sustained
low temperatures (whether sunny or not) locally have avoided any obvious
melt, so what was already lying remained in good condition and responded
well to overnight grooming. It also provided a solid base for the fresh
(snow-) falls.

Visibility was occasionally an issue higher up, but Lanslebourg/Val Cenis'
6-seater Ramasse detachable has the speed, capacity and the vertical to
ensure that even during heavy snowfalls there's plenty to enjoy down among
the forest-protected runs. It's not all tame down here, with some
respectable steep stuff on offer. On the other hand, the 10km-long Escargot
is well-named, and not something you'd want to do too often, unless you want
to learn a new use for the term 'polling station'. ;-) The run is safe for
even the rawest beginner, though, and there are North American resorts who
actually make a big deal of their own long, long greens. The problem for Val
Cenis, of course, is that it's l'Escargot which colours people's impressions
of the valley, rather than the other, more characteristic skiing on offer.
Shame.

With skies due to clear soon, conditions look set to be just about perfect.
It was our first visit, but won't be our last - the terrain above
Lanslevillard and Lanslebourg was far more entertaining than mere figures on
paper suggest. Biggest surprise was above Bonneval sur Arc, which was not
only genuinely wild and beautiful, but really felt like proper downhill
terrain. An unexpected bonus!

Next up: le Grand Massif... can't wait.

RM