We are sad to see the Chatel pool being demolished. However, this is making way for a brand new aquatic due to open in summer 2014. And if this video is anything to go by, it should be very impressive!
Category: Chatel
Winter 2012/2013 – the story so far…
We are almost mid season, and it feels like it hasn’t stopped snowing for weeks! Snow depths in the Portes du Soleil are impressive – nearly 4 m at the top of the domain. And temperatures are low so the snow is staying good.
This season is certainly becoming one to remember. It started off great and has got better ever since. Take a look at Chatel skier Nicolas Cruz Mermy on the Super Chatel opening day – the day after the world was meant to end…
Save money this year – ski in Chatel
Looking for a budget ski holiday this year? Why not try Chatel, in the giant Portes du Soleil ski area of France and Switzerland.
The resort is close to Geneva Airport (great for budget flights with Easyjet), and is also one of the first resorts you reach when driving from Calais.
With the greatly improved pound-to-euro exchange rate (and assuming it doesn’t change too much during the winter), in-resort prices will be between a fifth and quarter cheaper than they were last winter.
What’s more, the Chatel tourist office is offering 10% off either a local-area Chatel lift pass (valid 3 days or more) or a Portes du Soleil lift pass (valid 5 days or more) if you book online before the 9th December 2012. Visit Chatel.com for more information.
We also have lots of budget apartments to rent in this ever popular resort – plenty of studios and 1-2 bedroom apartments which won’t break the bank! Follow this link to view our self catered apartments in Chatel.
Stunning time lapse photography of the French Alps
Here is a beautiful time lapse sequence of Chatel, taken by Matt Wilmshurst. Enjoy…
Critérium du Dauphiné 2012 Chatel
Some great pictures from yesterday’s Critérium du Dauphiné 2012 stage which finished in Chatel.
Great end of season conditions in the Portes du Soleil
After a mild and sunny March, I was just about ready to hang up my skis and get my bike out for the summer. However, winter has returned with a vengeance – heavy snow on the mountain (even a light covering in the village of Chatel) and cold temperatures and more snow forecast for the rest of the weekend.
With the lifts staying open until the 22nd April, and the pistes (and off piste) empty, the next 8 days promise to offer fantastic skiing and boarding in the area. The Chatel tourist board are still reporting over 1 m 50 at top station and there is still 2 m at the top of the Portes du Soleil.
For those of us who live here – this is a little reward for all the hard work during the winter season. And once the lifts close, if it remains snowy I’ll just have to get my touring skis back out!
Chatel Razorsnowbike 2012 video
Great POV video from last weekend’s Chatel Razorsnowbike Derby – a crazy downhill mountain bike race on snow;
Snow update – the season so far…
Wow, what a season it has been so far. We had huge dumps of snow at the end of December and throughout January, followed by a couple of weeks of Siberian temperatures. The snow is fantastic, over 3 m at the top of the Portes du Soleil. And once again this area has benefited most from the snowfall. Pretty much all areas in France have good coverage (including areas not in the mountains) but as per usual the Portes du Soleil has more snow at 2-2500 m than Val Thorens has at 3200 m. Still goes to show – you don’t need to go high to get the best snow, you just need to come to the Portes du Soleil!
The White-Peak team have been busy not only selling ski holidays in the Portes du Soleil, but also with music festivals in Avoriaz, and Alpine interior design projects. However, this all comes to an end at the weekend and we hope to be able to get some skiing done (just in time for the kids breaking up from school)!
We hope to see you in Chatel soon…
Chatel Snow Report
If you are interested in skiing, and you have an internet connection, I am sure it won’t have escaped your notice that it has been snowing in the Alps.
Here in Chatel and the Portes du Soleil, it has been dumping it down for days. The freezing level is low and the snow depths are very impressive for this early in the season. The top of the Portes du Soleil has over 2 m, and even at the bottom of the runs we have nearly a metre.
Snow conditions have settled since the weekend, and the avalanche danger has been reduced to 3 (which is still pretty high, but a lot better than the 4/5 we had at the end of last week). So the off piste is open for business as long as you keep your sensible head on.
And it is still snowing, with up to 50 cm forecast for the next 24-36 hours.
This snow gives us a fantastic base to build on for the rest of the season. It also ensures great conditions for the Christmas and New Year guests. For now though, all the locals are just walking around with big smiles on their faces. With hardly anyone on the mountain, there is more than enough powder to go around.
If anyone needs me, I’ll be up to my waist in the white fluffy stuff…