Christmas in Verbier

You know the day is going to start well when you survive a double ski eject on the first run of the day!

waking up to a fresh snowfall in town

before it snowed

What a week it's been.  In the space of a few days we've had gale force winds, over 30cm of fresh snow, the first 45 minute queue at the bottom of Medran, and actual traffic jams on the roads!  Verbier is finally in full swing again and the pistes have turned from a chaotic rock and ice slalom to a softer and more agreeable surface.  There has been some good powder to ski over the last few days, but a lack of sufficient snow for a base means that there are plenty of 'sharks' (hidden / semi hidden rocks).

Christmas week was a busy one on the pistes, partly due to the lack of snow and the influx of people.  The two days of heavy fog and falling snow on the 25th and 26th made for challenging but quieter slopes.

Christmas lights in town

Savoleyres has finally opened bit by bit and I headed over to check out the conditions earlier this week.  At the time, only the telecabines and le nord were open, and it was packed.  Going in the afternoon with fresh snowfall and the pistes had turned to fun soft mogul fields,with perfect variables training on the side.  a few people had skied the front side down to Verbier, but with the lack of base you could see the grass popping through - it looked very much like skiing in the UK!

On the way up to Savoleyres in the vintage telecabine

Looking down the piste on the quieter side of Savoleyres

Savoleyres pistes, busier than it looks!

Le Rouge today, still closed but now very skiable

Other than the skiing, one of the best things about spending Christmas in Verbier is that it is not over the top.  Decorations are put up at the start of December, cheesy music does not follow you around town, and most people celebrate on the 24th, giving you a great excuse to open your presents early!