Where to Ski And Snowboard - Portes du Soleil ready to open

Portes du Soleil ready to open

16th December 2011, by Chris Gill

Châtel, Portes du Soleil [(c) Vurand / OT Châtel]

The rest of the Portes du Soleil ski area is due to open this weekend, including all the links between the resorts. And conditions look very promising.

New snow enabled the area to get going for the winter season last week, and with more snow piling up now the rest is due to open on Saturday 17 December – along with two important new lift upgrades.

Over in Châtel, a key link from the Plaine Dranse area towards Avoriaz has been upgraded. At long last the queue-prone, Rochassons slow chair has been replaced by a fast six-pack that has been crying out for a modern chairlift for some time. The sector generally is well-served by fast chairs, but this one was where everyone heading for Avoriaz needed to cross.

Over on the Swiss side in Champéry, a key lift above Les Crosets is also being upgraded to a six-pack. This ought to help progress around the area and getting up to Pointe des Mossettes for Avoriaz, and a good alternative to the nearby Mossettes fast chair.

In Avoriaz itself, visitors will find the new smart residences opening this year (see our previous news story here>>), and in Morzine guests can relax in a new leisure pool for the village.

For shorter days in mid-winter, or if you want a half-day’s skiing, the new five-hour lift pass could solve the dilemma of what pass to buy. The pass is available from 37 euros and lets you ski and five consecutive hours.