Ski lessons in the Monts Jura for Christmas, anyone? Archives photo Shirley Curran
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – Time to pull out your skis! MeteoSwiss reports that the snow that has fallen in the Jura and Alps is coming to a halt and the amounts measured, between 2,000 and 2,300 metres, are as follows:
- Southern side of the Alps, 70-150cm
- Goms/Conches vallely, 40-70cm
- Binntal, 90cm
- Simplon, 100-150cm
- Zermatt, Saas-Fee, 60-70cm
- crest of the Valais Alps, from Grand St Bernard to Zermatt, 15-50cm, with 70cm at the G St Bernard hospice.
The northern side of the Alps, the pre-Alps and the eastern Lake Geneva region had snow falling down to 500-600 metres early Thursday 29 November, with 8-15cm measured.
Ticino had heavy precipitation for the past three days, measured at 70 litres per m2 around Poschiavo and 190 l/m2 in the upper Vallemaggia.
Resorts are opening
A number of resorts open this weekend, including the large ones in Vaud and Valais: Verbier‘s snow cover isn’t yet deep, but runs are open and it’s snowing today, Thursday. Crans-Montana: you have one more day to buy a season pass at the pre-season price (to 30 November) and judging by the snow seen on the webcams you can put it to work right away – runs open this weekend. Zermatt: More lifts gradually opening.
Diableret in Vaud: check regularly, with runs opening gradually, depending on conditions.
Monts Jura: One of your best bets is close to home if you live in the Lake Geneva region. The Monts-Jura region opens officially this weekend, and it has plenty of fresh snow to welcome the crowds. The group of resorts, just 30 minutes from Geneva, said Thursday that all downhill runs at La Faucille will be open Saturday and Sunday for pre-season skiing, from 09:00-16:15. Note that the restaurat above, Le Grand Tétras, will be closed. Cross-country ski runs are open as of Friday 30 November at La Vattay. Note that the webcam is currently not operating. The restaurant will be open.
Graubuenden resorts, including Davos, Klosters and St Moritz, are currently offering special ski deals, so if you’ve been tempted to try these pistes, famous for their snow supply, this is the time to look.
Christmas season run-up
The events section of GenevaLunch.com is a good place to look for Christmas season events such as concerts and markets – the big one in Montreux is open this weekend.
