Offical Opening for 2009/2010 Season

Serre Chevalier's first day open this season

Just got down from having a quick squiz at the only open sector of Serre Chevalier, ie the lifts above Bachas in Monetier.

Got to tell you it’s not bad, not bad at all. There were quite a few people undeterred by the forecast and they were all happy about the three lifts that were open, with something like eight pistes open – for all ability levels – and a fair amount of off piste off the back of Cibouit.

I even saw a couple of guys skiing right down to the bottom of Pre Chabert, so that means the load of through the trees runs can be attempted, not certain I’d recommend it, there was very little snow under the lift, but on the right faces it can be done.

Chippy Jason and Nurse Claire

Bumped into the world up there, Chippy Jason and Nurse Claire, up from their end of the valley and Damien who runs the Peyra Juana restaurant off the Rochamout piste bellow. Neither the piste nor restaurant are open so he’d skinned up and was off doing some trails under L’Yret.

Spoke to Nicko at the Aroaki hire shop in Pre Chabert, they’ve rented some 30 pairs, not bad for these conditions. The village is full of people – a surprising number of English voices – not just Parisians getting an early ski in.

All in all a positive, happy feeling, and easily enough snow in a good enough condition to see us through to the next big dump, which is forecast for Monday maybe but Wednesday definitely.