Tignes (and Tignes-Val D'Isere) 2025/26 - Useful Links Page 1

A snowHead

nice 16-23cm top up according to the Tignes instagram Happy

keep these re-fills coming ! 3 weeks to go !

A snowHead

Hi @Alex A, I was going to be quite effusive tonight about the skiing but the echoes around the resort are of an avalanche fatality on the Lavachet Wall this afternoon, so I will temper my words.

It was an early start to strap a guest to the Snowdrone, so I started cleaning and washing at 6.20. It then started to snow heavily and I was planning to go to Bourg. But I ddin't fancy doing battle with all the other cars so I contacted a mate. We were both surprised by the amount of snow in the Palet Sector where we did a couple of runs before the "no gear and no idea" crowd started to follow and do stupid things - like push in, ski close together and cut in above me. So we did a couple of Col de Ves pitches and then down the Airport Run. We finished off with Grande Balme with knee deep snow - which was as close to powder as I have seen for a long time up here - but it was cold and still this morning, so the correct recipe. We finished for a late lunch and off to Bourg.

The prep for the Handiski champs is starting - they were spraying the Lognan Stade with water - so no quarter given. I also passed an artic and trailer full of fencing. It was still cold enough at 11.30 to use the snow cannons. And its Mendikoa tonight so quite a day.

Tomorrow will start with sunny periods (hopefully) and then it will become overcast and the wind will pick up. The snow will start but as to when I have seen 5 quite wildly differing reports re both timing and amount. I'm with Meteo France - snow in the afternoon continuing into Wednesday and quite a lot! Light snow will continue throughout Wednesday but Thursday should see sunny periods and a nice day. It will start snowing again well after dark and Friday (by no means nailed on) looks like a shocker - whiteout. Saturday doesn't look great either.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Anyone going to the owners' Pisteurs' First Tracks event on Wednesday morning - again?

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Sadly a Spanish holiday maker:

https://www.ledauphine.com/faits-divers-justice/2026/01/26/un-skieur-espagnol-est-mort-dans-une-avalanche-sur-un-secteur-hors-piste

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Seen a lot of powder frenzy today. People in places that I would think very hard about before venturing even fully equipped

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I am told the deceased man was with an ESF instructor. TBC.

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@chocksaway, That’s so sad Sad

so many fatalities this year Sad

After all it is free

@Ski lots, Couldn't get a place - enjoy the coffee.

Big red sky this morning - think there's a phrase about that in the Meteorology weather lore chapter!

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@chocksaway, Sorry to miss you. @Grinning, We will see you there myself and Mrs SL will be in rather understated black and blue. As I recall there were about 16 folk there last year split between francophones and English speakers. It was very informative. It will be interesting to see what they have to say about yesterday’s sad event.
Last year the free breakfast was at the Bollin - just one croissant and a coffee.

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

It was a poignant day. A good friend and stalwart member of the Brit Community (one who helped me when I was buying the apt and ski buddy) passed away recently. So a few of us did some of his favourite runs before coming in to watch the ceremony online. Given the timings we couldn't complete the tour with a coffee at Rosies and chips at the Aspen. I'm sure he would understand.

There was a reasonable amount of light this morning, but it did get gloomy from lunchtime on and it has just started snowing lightly on and off. This light snow will be on and off throughout the night and will continue through the day tomorrow giving a total of maybe 5-10cm. It should clear up by breakfast on Thursday leaving a mainly sunny day with the odd cloud bothering the peaks. Beyond that is a bit tricky - its going to be unsettled but the weather fronts are indistinct and wandering about. If we say light snow most of the day on Friday we might not be far off- there may be heavier spells but also there may be times without snow. There is little agreement on Saturday - but there looks like being some snow, perhaps more in the afternoon. Maybe!

snow reports

Was Tignes on the delivery circuit for the BSM drugs ring that has just been busted?

@rjs, Was that the one with storage in Les Arcs? Not seen any here or any discarded canisters - but then I don't move in those circless Little Angel

You know it makes sense.

@chocksaway, I saw something about that and was wondering what it was. was it laughing gas or something more sinister?

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

@mullins, It was laughing gas, nitrous oxide.

A snowHead

I had to have an admin day today and there was another drone delivery from Edinburgh this afternoon, so ski hire and passes to sort.

The light was grey until 3 when the cloud dropped and it started snowing lightly - this snow will continue through to the small hours and then tomorrow should be sunny spells - so a nice day - but only about 5 cm of fresh. Friday will probably see light snow all day with a breeze at altitude. As for Saturday and Sunday the atmospheric tug o war (or maybe scrum would be appropriate) continues. Saturday looks like being cloudy with light snow biased towards the afternoon. Sunday - really not sure!

A snowHead

Interesting morning with the Pisteurs. Not quite as interesting as last year, but nevertheless informative (and more buns). There was a little irony in that one of the participants had to be taken off by the Pisteurs to get her arm x-rayed having taken a fall on the way down - she had already threatened to take out some on the group, causing Mrs SL to take some evasive action. It was nice to meet some new folk at the event.

Pisteurs said that they now get a little psychological support after a major incident like the avalanche death the other day. Also said (as might have already been implied) that the sons of the Spanish gentleman who died were part of the group involved in the rescue attempt.

On a slightly lighter note, later in the afternoon we witnessed a lady skiing out of the bottom of the Chardonnet - no backpack, but what looked like a designer handbag. Must ask the Pisteurs next time if the avalanche dogs are trained to find the smell of Dior.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Well the snow continued until about 9.30 in Tignes and there was between 15 and 20 cm of fresh light cold snow that arrived with no wind, so yes, a powder day. It appeared that there was a bot less snow in Val borne out by the fact that the sun was breaking through on the webcams in Fornet at 8.30. I planned to go over there for a big day out for the guest as hes only here for 4 days so off we set via the 'Chocks route' to find that there was a delay in opening Pissailas, so we went down the Pays Desert 'cross' to waste 5 minutes. It opened about 10.15 and we did a couple of runs including the T bar and then the World arrived in about a 5 minute period. It was a bit early for lunch so we popped out and down to the Pyramides chair and then back to Cascades for an early lunch, by the time we left the queue was across the deck!

By now the runs were bumping up in the fresh snow, you have to feel sorry for the early intermediates on a day like today! We came down Rhone Alpes into Val - the lower part was like boiler plate. As we descended into VC the queue for the Grand Motte Funi was not large (Lanches is shut for a couple of days for planned maintenance) we joined it as it might be the only time this week to get up there under blue skies. So we did the 2 high points of the resorts - tick. Genepy was mobbed with poor intermediates trying to get down. We then whipped round the 'Eye' and back home.

Tomorrow will be overcast and probably light snow all day, there may be a glimpse of the sun in the afternoon, if we are lucky. After that the synoptic chart is a mess of occluded fronts and troughs so go and find a pinch of salt. Saturday will be overcast and it may snow lightly all day or it might not snow at all. Sunday - is likely to be a day of mixed cloud amounts and sunny periods (this forecast is more firmed up than Saturday) and Monday cloudy, odd sunny spells and snow showers, rain below the Dam perhaps.

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chocksaway, I think your forecast for today's weather the only one anywhere near right, though you may have undersold it.
It's been snowing steadily since 9am, and still snowing, but "light snow" it is not. Quite big flakes are pouring down.
If you can stand the poor visibility, the skiing has been marvelous.
All in all a great week.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

@Jonpim, You are right, the snow was much heavier than forecast from about 11.30 - but a most welcome top up! As it was light snow we set off down to Brev early doors and there was more than enough vis even above the tree line. As we got to the bottom we saw that the bottom half of the Sache had been pisted - so there's a challenge. The only snag was on the Marais chair we encountered very light freezing drizzle which put a thin layer of rime on the gogs. Now I'm used to flying in cloud but snot skiing so a quick minute or so under the armpit was required. After coffee in Brev we did a couple of laps in La Daille and then a deliberately early lunch in Rosies to take advantage of deserted pistes - so 3 more laps of the Gondy. As we came up Tommeuses the light got worse and by the time we had skied down Henri and round the Palet Bowl it was nigh on impossible to see.

The snow will stop over the next 3 hours or so before we are left with an overcast sky for tomorrow. This will persist all day and there may be a little light snow at altitude in the afternoon. A glimpse of the sun cannot be ruled out. Sunday - sunny periods and light winds. Monday will start OK and then cloud over with light snow starting in the afternoon or late afternoon and there will be strong winds potentially closing links. Because of the nature of whats heading our way for Tuesday all bets are off.

For the travellers tomorrow - no real weather headaches on the road but with 31k vehicles heading up and 26k heading down there will be minor/moderate delays if they all arrive in the same place at once. Lots of folks are leaving already so that might help the journey out. For the fliers it will be showery across the UK and there is a slim chance of fog at LBA which won't stop the early flights departing on the cobbled flarepath. Should be good for flying over here.

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I'm due into Tignes next Saturday, flying from SOU > GVA and taking off in the UK at 1525. We have the GVA transfer booked with Alpine Fleet.

This is the latest I have travelled into the alps before, is this normally better or worse for traffic (weather conditions being equal)? I'm guessing we're going to get to Val Claret around 2245, does that seem about right?

If so, are there any local shops open (ideally near to Golf) at that time to grab some basics or will we have to ask Alpine Fleet to kindly stop somewhere on the way?

Appreciate the updates from all in this chat for the past few weeks keeping us up to date, especially with Marmottes!

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@Bowerz, no the shops will be closed at that time. A few takeaways available though.

A beautiful day’s skiing today. Amongst other things did the Col Pers, where the snow was amazing, so deep and light. We did feel a bit vulnerable at times due to the avalanche potential. The familial was also still in excellent condition despite the number of tracks. Snow was still light and largely unaffected by wind and the rather welcome sun today.

After all it is free

@Bowerz, depending on whether you have enough time between clearing passport control / collecting bags, and your transfer pick up, there's a supermarket at Geneva airport, by the train station: Migros. It's reasonably priced and would have essentials for a simple supper or something to eat while you are being driven up.

As regards traffic, it's likely to be pretty dense that Saturday I think, as we are creeping into school holiday time. Chocks may be able to offer a better view on it.

Well today was surprisingly excellent! We woke to clear skies which was a bit of a surprise which meant it was quite cold. On the positive side this meant the new snow kept really well - light and fluffy but for the travellers it meant fog formed at Chambery leading to diversions and 3 hour delays, consequently they are now stuck in traffic jams down the valley.

Not long after waking it did cloud over but we stuck with the plan of Solaise via face de B. Face was in great condition and it had very few folks on it - so good fun. But there was a bit of a queue for the Solaise Gondola because they have intorduced an even more constrained queuing snake - so most gondolas were carrying 4 or 5 people. STVI need to get a grip and bus their lifties to Toviere to see how a large free boarding area means full gondolas and less queues. Grrr.

Anyway the snow up Solaise was fab - we didn't have to go far off the side of the piste for freshtracks in boot deep light snow. So we did the lot. Coffee in Le Lounge. After that we did bits of Super Arcelle and then joined the piste (in remarkably good condition). A couple more laps of Datcha meant more powder skiing and then towards Lac via a deserted Piste L, bus, 2 chairs up Bellvarde. They were racing on OK this morning but had just finished - so off the racing line we were faced with virgin groomed corduroy - nice. Lunch was taken at Kaijo - fab. Then more off piste down to Brev and around Aiguille Percée - as the new chair is quick laps of Cyclamen are now easy and good.

Duncan is cooking tonight (QDC) so quite the perfect day.

Tomorrow's weather looks good, a bit like this afternoon. Monday is less than definitive - nice in the morning, deteriorating in the afternoon and getting windy, leading to a bit of a wild night. On Tuesday we have a triple point heading towards us, but displaced to the south. This is a very active feature so we will have a grey old day with a bit of snow or a lot depending on how close to the action we eventually are. As for Wednesday it would be easier to guess what a certain President is going to say.

If you are flying tomorrow, the Uk is going to be showery, but all four London airports are going for a chance of fog, so it is likely to happen at one of them, which of course, will lead to things slowing up. Over here, looks OK other then Chambery where he is hedging his bets with a chance of thick mist - if this forms - then delays!

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I don’t know if it was a breakdown or an accident today but has taken 6hrs back to Geneva airport. Hit traffic by the station at BSM and then stationary or crawling for ages. Took approx 2hrs to get to Aime. Once through the tunnels near Moutiers it was fine all the way..

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

Anyway it has been a fantastic week in Tignes/Val d’Isere. I’ll write up a formal trip report but what an area! I have skied all over from the top to the bottom of both areas, with great runs throughout. Weather was superb - plenty of fresh snow and top ups but some sunshine as well and never too bad to not ski.
Now to deal with GVA…

snow reports

A morning of firsts! First Tov, first down Piste H, 1st Funi and 1st out of cable car and boy what a result. In 30 years of skiing down the Grande Motte (30 years last week, should you ask) the snow from the top has never been that good. Perfectly groomed cold snow - just like velvet - a run I will remember for a long time. So we did it again, then down Genepy for some packed powder. And then - possibly the most selfish and reckless act I have seen skiing. Coming down Prariond there is a flat bit which is a pain especially for borders, I get that. But a youth pulled out a blue piste marker, used it to punt along and then dropped it in the middle of the piste. There are some long drops off that piste in a whiteout. A one way conversation took place, he was not invited to speak.

A trip down Familial followed and an early lunch at The Corner and then a Grand pre (more soft snow off piste) and Santons, up Solaise, Up and Over, then Pyramides and Signal drag pinching the soft snow when we could. Down into the bowels of Fornet and then home via Marais and Aiguille Percée - where we have a new piste since yesterday. It branches off Cyclamen towards Ancolie and is quite wide and will be of use to intermediate and beyond lessons - as quick laps can be done via the new chair.

It will not come as a surprise that the weather is still unpredictable - however I will give it a go. Tomorrow will start like today but the cloud will thicken from lunchtime onwards. The winds will pick up quite dramatically in the afternoon and it may start snowing mid afternoon or it may wait till late evening. The shutters will be rattling through the night. Light snow is likely to persist through the morning with a reasonable wind. Sunny periods will then develop through the afternoon. A mixture of sunny spells and cloud for Wednesday and the re may be some showers later on, the wind will return. Thursday Puzzled

.

I knew this morning was going to be an early start as guest had an 0600hrs drone. But, it was much earlier as there was a medical emergency in the hotel next door, so there was, understandably, a fair bit of noise and a lot of flashing lights in the street below. I did get back to sleep but then the alarm went off. So I stuck with the original plan which was to skin up Palafour early doors as breakfast had been taken at some ungodly hour! It was a glorious morning, cold, so 2 base layers were needed (!) but I knocked a couple of minutes off, so nearly back to my precovid time. Having exerted myself, I had lunch at the Jam Bar and then had a siesta.

For those coming next week the "Expedition Cobra" luge track is about 80% prepared now, so hopefully it will be ready for next weeks kids (and big kids).

The cloud slowly filled the sky this afternoon and light snow is expected in the next couple of hours. The wind is going to pick up so it might be a bit of a wild night, but only about 2-5cm of new snow - though a lot of last weeks snow will be redistributed adding to the dangers off piste. The persistent weak layer is still there so there is still the chance of a small avalanche triggering a much larger one through the Cascade effect - beware. The snow should have finished by first light, maybe a bit later leaving a day of sunny periods, a little warmer than recently but it won't feel like it initially in the wind which will abate a little through the day. Wednesday will be windy again with fast moving sunny periods. Thursday - a mixture of sunny spells and more cloud later in the day which will then thicken to give snow sometime after dark. Currently it looks like the snow will continue through Friday until the wee hours of Saturday - but that is far from gospel.

You know it makes sense.

Well the snow and cloud did finish a bit later, it was quite dark till just after 11, so a group of us went down the hill to Brev to start with. Coffee turned into an early lunch at La Cantine in Lavachet, by that time it was now officially sunny. The group got bigger as we picked up friends of friends and skied around Tignes. Last nights wind had had an effect on the snow - much less fluffy but the pistes are holding up remarkably well.

There will be some sunny spells tomorrow but varying amounts of cloud will keep changing the visibility, it looks like being a gusty wind again in the morning. Thursday will be a mixed bag of differing layers of cloud with the sun peeping out occasionally, these layers will thicken up through the afternoon and snow will start after dark and continue through Friday until early evening. Currently Saturday looks like a day of sunny spells.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

Well, there wasn't many sunny spells this morning - more mist and dampness - so not high on the pleasantness scale. But we had agreed to meet some longstanding mates who are regular visitors - so martyrs to the cause and all that. So we had a good run round the pistes of Tignes - down to Brev etc. Lunch in the Jam Bar and then over to La Daille. Thee was mor light from about midday but still a cold damp wind at altitude. Not a lot else to say other than the pistes are still n very good condition all the way to the bowels of both resorts.

There seems to be general agreement on the weather for the next 3 days, beyond that forget it! Oh, how I long for a period of high pressure when forecasting is easy and a lot more exact. So, tomorrow should be sunny spells all day before the cloud thickens late in the afternoon and the snow starts after dark sometime, a cheeky wind will develop through the day. The snow will continue through Friday again till after dark. How much - well it really depends on where the triple point of fronts passes - its currently projected to pass over the northern tip of Corsica, if it were to come north then things would be better. At the moment maybe 15-25cm in the 24 hours from 2100 hours tomorrow. Saturday a mixture of cloud and sun, any snow should stop before transfers start so fingers crossed. As for Sunday?? But next week as a trend looks quite unsettled.

A snowHead

@chocksaway, what's the "forecast" on the base situation for the next month? Will there be this elevated risk for the rest of the season or would the right conditionsimprove things?

A snowHead

@chocksaway,

Half term transfer day looks interesting if the forecasts are to believed

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

@mullins, if it is any help, the Pisteurs at an event last week, said the only things that will change the weak layer are significant rain (clearly undesirable) or another 1.5m+ of snow which would compact/collapse the weak layer.

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We arrived home on Sunday afternoon after a 4 week stay in Lavachet. Not much to report that Chocksaway and others haven't already covered. It's now noticeably busier in January than it ever used to be. The very cold temperatures earlier in the month reminded us of our January trips from 20 or so years back.
Accommodation prices are continuing on their upward trajectory. And I've just pulled my skis out of the back of the van. They've suffered more damage in the last 4 weeks than the last 4 seasons combined. I'm going to drop them in at Rivington Alpine for a full service.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

@GeorgeVII, Before Christmas we had a long chat over a Genepi or 5 with our favorite bar owner down in Brev. He mentioned how the seasons have changed. Pre Covid he said there was a definate low during the first 2 weeks of Jan before building back up again to Half term. Now it's quite busy for all 3 (or 4) "low season" weeks between Christmas and half term. He reckoned that the quietest weeks are now in mid March, but even that is busier than it used to be pre Covid.

When quizzed why, he thinks it's because more people are chosing the High Tarantaise over the lower resorts, so it might be different in those lower resorts. Also the pre Christmas skiing is getting dodgy for snow, so people that used to come before Xmas have switched to after.

Then we set about putting the world to rights but I don't remember much about that due to the onset of Genepi amnesia.

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@mullins, I'm with @Ski lots, on this one. If there's any change it will be very slow.

@phillip33, Its a long way off but, yes, it could be challenging.

@Judwin, Not the 'vipre' I trust.......

Well it was a glorious morning and off I popped to watch the World Cup Paraski Alpin, from the VIP area, no less. So after a welcome coffee me and a couple of mates wandered round the 'village' that accompanies these events. As it was quiet we had an in depth discussion with the Tessier Rep regarding all the different sit skis available - some quality engineering goes into those things. The racing itself was down the Lognan Piste - it was downhill day - both Ladies and Men and had standing, sitting and visually impaired categories. It is very humbling watching them descend at speeds of which I could only dream. Impressive.

Just after they had presented the "Globes" to much fanfare the cloud started to thicken and we are expecting the snow to start within an hour r so. This snow will continue through the day tomorrow, so a grizzly one. The snow will stop after last light, hopefully having left us with 15cm of fresh. Saturday will be one of sunny periods and Sunday will start OK, but the clouds will thicken and snow will start in the late afternoon. Monday - not so sure.

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After all it is free

@Bowerz, A combination of small stones exposed on pistes and tracks. (Particularly the first week) And clipping a couple of sharks dabbling off-piste.

I went over a rock buried just under the snow off the side of Palafour. It sounded awful, and nearly fired me out of my bindings. But there seems to be remarkably little damage from that.

Well the snow Gods played ball and delivered slightly more snow - about 15cm to 8AM in the village. Tricky to tell on the balcony as its about =3degs so its melting quickly on there. It snowed quite heavily for an hour or so this morning and then the suckers gap appeared - for about 10 mins the sun peeped out and folks were throwing themselves off piste. And then cloud and light snow came back. As I type its just about stopped and we are sat in cloud. So, you have probably guessed I did not go out - I spent the morning packing for the trip home to swerve the Feb hols.

The snow will fizzle out this evening leaving tomorrow a mainly cloudy day with some sunny spells, particularly in the morning. Sunday, again, should be an overcast day with some sunny intervals, maybe not many. Monday the same but with more cloud later leading to snow overnight. Then its just a conveyor belt of unsettled westerly weather with looks to continue well into and beyond next weekend. There will be gaps and timings will change but overall the models are agreeing it's going to be snowy (a bit moist below the Dam at times).

For the travellers tomorrow the roads should be clear. The estimates are for 32k vehicles coming up and 29k going down (though I suspect many will leave tonight). On the way up thats another 1000 on last week but well below a peak of 38000, but its the local areas that are on holiday including Grenoble and Lyon so expect the jams uphill to occur earlier in the day.

For those aviating most of the UK will be subject to blustery showers and mist - not fun but unlikely to cause many delays. However, Leeds may go out in fog (ie be in cloud) tonight and this may persist till morning, so it will depend if all the aircraft come home tonight given the wind direction and the main instrument runway - there could be an issue. Over here - a slim chance of fog at Geneva - no real snags foreseen, a slightly higher chance of fog at Lyon - but with 2 fully equipped runways no problems. OK at Grenoble and again the forecast for Chambery is mist early doors, currently its going to be very close to limits and there is a forecast for temporary fog patches. So do not be surprised, if you are on an early flight if Biggles decides to hold on the ground rather than risk orbiting over France for an hour and then diverting (like last week!)

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@chocksaway,

Thanks as always for your updates - safe trip home

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