Les Deux Alpes in France has opened for its summer skiing season on Wednesday (16/6) and the Espace Killy resorts of Tignes and Val d’Isere are due to open on Saturday (19/6).
Conditions are looking good, with fresh snow at high altitude reported as having fallen during the week. From June to September skiing and boarding on Europe’s highest glaciers is becoming increasingly popular – especially with borders who want to make an early start and hit the fresh glacier pistes when they are well-groomed.
The summer ski day normally starts about 8am and ends about lunchtime, followed by some R&R by the pool or in the bars, basking in the mountain sunshine. There’s also plenty on offer in the alps in summer for non-skiers. Many resorts provide up to 40 different activities for adults and children to choose from, including kids’ clubs, hiking, mountain biking, summer bob sleighing and even white water rafting.
The French Alps are also a great destination for people wanting to stay in alpine self catering accommodation and experience the great outdoors at their own pace.
Les Deux Alpes, boasts one of Europe’s largest glaciers. Its summer ski season got off to a good start with all but two slopes and two lifts on the glacier open, as well as all the features in its snow park apart from the half pipe.
Operations on the glacier, which lies at 3200 metres, are scheduled to run until 28 August with lifts open from 7.15am until 12.30 daily to allow visitors to make the most of the conditions, according to the Ski Club of Great Britain.
In the Espace Killy resorts of Tignes and Val d’Isere, 10 centimetres of fresh snow was reported on Thursday (17 June). Both resorts should have great conditions for the opening weekend.
Snowsports will be available on the Grande Motte glacier at Tignes - which stretches from 3,000 metres to 3,456 metres, between 7.15am and 1pm daily until 29 August. Twelve lifts will be running – providing access to 20 kilometres of runs and a snowpark.
In Val d’Isere, snowsports on the Pissaillas Glacier will run from 7.30am until 12.30pm daily. Depending on the snow conditions, summer skiing and snowboarding should be available until 18 July.
Other European resorts for summer skiing include the Dachstein Glacier and Hintertux in Austria, Zermatt in Switzerland and the Presena Glacier in Italy.