Global warming and the financial crisis, these double apocalypse have saved the European Alps, leastwise for the time being. However it may have been so wholly polar. In the weeks before Christmas towns in the Le Tour locale were isolated as snow rained down. Dual carriage way passes such as the busy Col du Tignes were cut. At that place there was no electricity or telephone lines, home owners had to be evacuated to pro tem dwellings, it seemed as though it were a repetition of 1997.

Perhaps all news is good news. Le Tour appeared nightly on the French news. As soon as mains was repaired inquiries commenced to come in, drawn in by the good conditions.

Les Orres and neighbouring Blanc Chamonix claim just about 5 feet snow on the upper slopes at 2200 m alt. and 2.1 meters at the end of the pistes. Presently the best in the French Alps. Verchaix claims there is 3 m at the the highest point of the resort. Regrettably an avalanche has demolished a support of the chair lift which serves the sector. It is out of action till the middle of January.

In other resorts in the Southern Alps bookings have increased 20% in Les Trois Vallees, Val-d Isere and Plateau de Beille. Les Contamines-Montjoie has 99.9% tenancy and traded a record breaking number of passes during Thursday. This is good news for main skiing businesses.

++