Snow or No Snow - Keep Calm & Carry On!

So the snow has arrived is still falling and the panic is over!  But why was the panic even there in the first place?

It's mainly due to the media writing scare stories, overhyping, sensationalising and making things up!  Really? The press do that? Surely not I hear you say!  Afraid so I say!

So it's early December and the snow hasn’t arrived and we see articles like this published on 4th December  “Skiing holidays at risk as warm spell leaves slopes snow-free – Hundreds of thousands of skiers could see their holidays ruined as a record-breaking warm spell leaves slopes across Europe snow-free.”

And a week later we have a load of snow and forecasts looking fantastic (see pic above)

It's looking good isn’t it?  Altitude can’t wait as we will be out there this weekend and are as excited as kids on Christmas Eve!

So should we have been worried that there was no snow at the beginning of December and that temperatures were warmer than ever? Should we have been panicking that “hundreds of thousands of skiers could see their holidays ruined”?  Well not really as if we look back historically, the snow doesn’t often arrive until mid December.

Back in the early days when the earth was cooling, global warming was just a thought and Altitude was starting up (it wasn’t that long ago – Ed). OK then, back when we ran around looking after guests in chalets and owners apartments, we had staff,  a big red minibus and latterly a little Renault as well!

One of the first things I always taught our staff to do, when we arrived out in resort, was to put snow chains on Altitude’s vehicles  – they would practise and practise until they could do it in a deep freeze and blindfolded (well nearly).

And guess what – in 10 years I can only remember one of these practice sessions in early December taking place with snow on the ground.

Ok so last year we would have had to do it in the snow but then last year we had no staff or minibus and the season was a bit rubbish after Christmas and one of the worst I have experienced.

So if the snow doesn’t arrive in the first week of December don’t panic and if it does try not to get too excited!

We can’t control it and if you skied at a certain time last season it doesn’t mean that the weather and snow will be equally good or bad at the same time this season! Yes I do really get phone calls asking to go the second week in March as last year the snow was…… anyway that’s a different story!

Whenever and wherever you go we hope you get a load of snow!  Enjoy!