With the winter season underway in the alps many resorts are suffering from the warm spell and a worrying lack of snow.
With winter sports restricted to high altitude pistes throughout the Alps many resorts are keen to attract mountain bikers to the still open riding trails at lower levels. Les Get, near Morzine is one place where the lift companies are appealing to riders to come and ride and are running lifts with bike hooks as well as the more seasonal ski and board racks.
Over the border in Switzerland Lucy from bike holiday guiding company Bike Verbier sent us this picture, taken yesterday by partner Phil at 1500m asl.
The official snow reports from Les Get currently give just 10cm of snow depth on the lower slopes and only 25cm on the upper slopes.
In Verbier some higher pistes are open with reported depths of 60cm but the lower slopes have no snow at all. The main lift company in the resort are keeping the main lift from Le Chable to the town of Verbier running for bikers although the season officially ended for uplifted riding in October. The Verbier Bike Park are currently offering free guided riding on the enduro trails and bikes are allowed on the lifts from 12 noon every day.
Meanwhile, if it’s snow you are looking for then Whistler is one famous bike resort you won’t be allowed to take your bike on the lifts. It currently has snow depths of 190cm on both upper and lower slopes.
So, if it’s a snow holiday you are looking for then it may be better to think about the west coast of Canada right now. But if you want to get some very rare Christmas Alpine riding in then now is your chance.
Les Get Webcam image taken on Christmas Eve.
