Val Thorens is the highest ski resort in Europe, located in a vast snowy bowl within the biggest ski area in the world. When it was first built in 1971, it was marked down as a rather characterless clutch of apartment blocks, much like Les Arcs? Arc 2000, suited only to die hard skiers who wanted nothing more than access to the world?s best skiing with reliable snow at a high altitude.
But since then much has changed and Val Thorens is marketing itself as a stylish 'village' and world class ski resort constructed using local wood and stone to designs inspired by local Savoie architectural tradition. A million francs have been spent in recent years in improving the attractiveness of the resort as a whole. The resort has also been designed to a well considered plan giving it a compact, largely pedestrian centre where most of the public facilities (of which there are now many!) are concentrated. It?s got big too, with 22,000 visitor beds. Despite being north facing, the resort's altitude ensures it gets good sunshine with little to overshadow it.
And the skiing! The worlds biggest lift linked ski pass - The Trois Vallees, - 600km (375 miles) of trails linking Meribel, Courchevel, Les Menuires and more. There?s summer skiing on the glacier too and a long season, from November to May. If you get bored with that, visitors buying a pass of 6 days or more qualify for the Olympic Ski Pass, which stretches the coverage to include other big regions in the Savoie province of France where the ?92 Winter Olympics were held. With 600 lifts and 1500km (nearing a thousand miles) of trails offered, it is the world?s biggest lift pass scheme. Resorts included are Tignes and Val d?Isere of the Espace Killy, La Plagne, Les Arcs, Pralognan La Vanoise and Les Saises.
The Peclet glacier above Val Thorens is normally open from the beginning of July until the middle of August. However opening naturally depends on the snow conditions, and opening dates can begin later or close earlier than planned so it is always best to call the Val Thorens Tourist Office to be certain it is open
Normal Summer hours are from 7.45 am to 12.45 pm with two chairlifts and a drag lift open to service the two red and one black run (so it's not suitable for beginners!). The maximum vertical is 500 m with the skiing taking place between 2800 to 3300 m.
1998/99
The continued expansion of Val Thorens, Europe's highest resort, sees no sign of slowing with the resort spending more than 135 million francs creating five new accommodation complexes (chalets and apartments) adding nearly 1000 more visitor beds, and 65 million francs on improvements to the ski area itself.
Much of this money has gone in to the 'Plein Sud' sector which links the resort's own ski area to the Trois Vallees, the world's largest lift-linked ski area. The lift company has completely remodelled this sector replacing the old 'Plein Sud' chair with a new six-pack (six-seater) high speed detachable chairlift. It is one of four chairs at Val Thorens with double access. This means that loading can be achieved more quickly (and the chairs placed closer together to increase capacity), by having two lines of skiers hop on the single huge chair simultaneously. The new chair increases uplift capacity on that route from 1300 to 3000 skiers per hour.
Snow-making has also been introduced in the Plein Sud sector to ensure good snow cover from as early as November if temperatures are low enough and maintain the link in to the Trois Vallees in good condition throughout the season. The 30 high-pressure York cannons are an extension to the existing system and will allow early opening of the Beranger and Dalles trails. More snow cannons have also been installed on the Cairn Piste between the Peclet cable car up to the Caron turn.
The 'Goitschel' and 'Plein Sud' trails have been remodelled to become more accessible, smoother and generally better for more skiers. In the autumn 'Gazex's' were installed - hi-tech equipment which allows the ski patrol to set off avalanches from a distance, making the area easier to keep safe.
Finally, snowboarders will be pleased to know that the lift company have invested in a special grooming machine to keep the Snow Park in the best condition. The Park has also been equipped with a full-on sound system.
| Vertical Drop: | 2954 ft
| Half Pipes: | 1 |
| Top Elevation: | 10502 ft | Snowmaking:
| 20% |
Skiable Acres:
| 10872 | Total:
| 5km |
| Trails: | 50 | Restaurants:
| 70 |
| Lifts: | 30 | | |
Cable cars:
| 5 | | |
Източник:
www.goski.com 
