No snow means Les Gets lifts open for mountain bikes… in January!

At this time of year the Port Du Soleil area on the French/Swiss border ought to be mobbed with skiers and snowboarders. Instead, the area has reopened some lifts to pedestrians and mountain bikers, as snow has failed to fall. Before Christmas, rain caused landslides and the closure of some areas, and this has been followed what has been one of the warmest New Year’s Days in European history.

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A post shared by Morzine Source Magazine (@morzinesourcemagazine)

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A post shared by Morzine Source Magazine (@morzinesourcemagazine)

LES GETS PISTE UPDATE: (5pm 31/12)
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The heavy rains of yesterday combined with todays mild temperatures have got the better of several slopes in @lesgetsofficiel. Unfortunately some no longer have enough snow on them to open safely. The lack of snow around the ski lift arrival and departure stations is also causing problems.
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As of tomorrow, Sunday 1st January, only the Chavannes gondola lift, the Vieux-Chêne draglift and the Chavannes magic carpet will open.
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🔴 Unfortunately this means the connections between #Morzine and #LesGets will also close.
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Lift pass prices are now heavily discounted to take account of the situation, you can buy them online and at the ticket office on a day by day basis.
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Remember that the Mont Chéry lift is also currently open for mountain hikers and bikers.
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The piste team in #LesGets have made incredible efforts to keep as much of the resort open as possible and this situation is constantly changing so stay tuned for updates.
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#lovelesgets Picture from snowier times in Les gets by @kenoderleyn for @lesgetsofficiel

Across France, from the Alps to the Pyrenees, ski areas have been either unable to open or only partially open due to lack of snow. Meanwhile, snowfall in Scotland has been quite good so far, and in the Western USA some ski resorts have been overwhelmed. Alta and Snowbird resorts in Utah had a two-day ‘interlodge’ – when the road to the resorts are closed and no one is allowed outside – after a storm brought in 37 inches of snow and huge avalanche risks.

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It took a day longer than usual, but we dug out, fired up the lifts and made our first turns of the new year. As luck would have it, they were powder turns following a 37-inch storm.

Thank you to everyone who waited patiently for Mother Nature to do her thing. And a huge shoutout to our @altaskiarea co-workers, lodge employees, @udotcottonwoods crewmembers and everyone who worked through the New Year’s Interlodge. Today wouldn’t have happened without your hard work. 🙏

For many, this is no surprise – as global temperatures have risen, permanent snow pack and glaciers have vanished and predictable weather patterns have become…unpredictable. Expect longer bike seasons and more trail focussed marketing as the French resorts look to stabilise their income in this changing world.

While you’re here…

Hannah Dobson

Managing Editor

I came to Singletrack having decided there must be more to life than meetings. I like all bikes, but especially unusual ones. More than bikes, I like what bikes do. I think that they link people and places; that cycling creates a connection between us and our environment; bikes create communities; deliver freedom; bring joy; and improve fitness. They're environmentally friendly and create friendly environments. I try to write about all these things in the hope that others might discover the joy of bikes too.

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