Meribel Snow Report : 2nd December 2012

Méribel has been transformed virtually overnight from late autumn dreariness to sparling winter wonderland. On Thursday it snowed heavily to below 1000m and when the clouds cleared on Friday, Meribel was thickly blanketed in fresh snow.

It’s slightly frustrating to be here with all this untouched power around with a whole week to wait until the lifts open on 8 December. For some people, the urge is simply too strong. Today I saw a few skiers at la Chaudanne who had obviously skinned all the way up the mountain just to put in one run and some people have driven around to the already-open Val Thorens which boasts 100cm of snow on the summits.

I’m currently contenting myself with dog walking around the valley, enjoying having the walking paths to myself. There was plenty of snow for the dogs to frolic in at the Altiport area yesterday and they showed their enthusiasm by rolling, digging, eating and leaping around in the stuff. Dogs and humans should remain alert in the forests; the spruce trees have a habit of dropping their entire load of fresh snow in one sudden powder shower. If you happen to be walking under one at the time, you emerge looking like an instant snowman/dog.

Driving back through the centre of town I was somewhat startled to see the new Christmas sculpture outside the Tourist Office. Here lolls Méribel’s uber-kitch answer to Pudsey bear. This huge, golden glittering teddy bear is like some nightmare offspring of Strictly Come Dancing and Children in Need. For some reason, Méribel’s public sculptures are growing larger and more outlandish every winter. A gigantic metal snowman now greets visitors at the entrance of Les Allues. Can’t we bring back the sweet wooden animal sculptures instead?

The forecast for the next week is wonderful – day after day of snowfalls with some sun on Saturday, just in time for the lift openings. Clearly, the snow gods are smiling on us this December. I promise to be first on the lifts on Saturday morning and report back on snow conditions this weekend.