 Poster: A snowHead
|
BIG changes in French Pyrenees skiing
The Grand Tourmalet is investing 50 million€ progressively until 2020 and increasing the ski area from 220 to 360 hectaires!
A JCB digs a furrow on the beginners' area of La Mongie. Against the building of the ESF, it is what remains of the old drag lift removed this summer. To be replaced by a new covered magic carpet. This is one of the developments of the first stage of the restructuring and development of the resort, called " Grand Tourmalet 360 ."
"It is moving from an area of 220 ha of pistes and secured ski area to 360 ha, equivalent to Baqueira Beret (biggest single resort of all the Pyrenees). This is being accomplished with a mere flex of muscle in this underdeveloped ski area that retains a wealth of untapped potential. The entire enlargement is staying within the ski area without opening new areas or going higher. “We will optimize our business, including expanding trails and creating new ones. This is a project of € 50 million which is spread over seven years, until 2020. "said Henri Mauhourat , CEO of Grand Tourmalet “.
For this season, the first part of this ambitious program gives priority to the comfort and safety of skiers. The station is restructuring both the beginners sectors, Barèges and La Mongie side. At Tournaboup a magic carpet was removed and an embarkation carpet will be installed on the chairlift for easy access and a faster lift to La Laquette area. The carpet is also lengthened for the Laquette area , whose pistes are also redesigned , and also gets another new magic carpet lift.
Quatre Termes area:
In the same concern for comfort, side Mongie, a loading/embarkation carpet facilitates access to Bearn chairlift. The blue piste down from the Quatre Termes (the highest point of the main resort – excluding the Pic du Midi at 2977m), has been expanded and remodelled. Including new snow fences to avoid the occasional issue of wind taking snow from the high pistes.
Grand Tourmalet has not forgotten experienced skiers. It opens a sixth black run from the top of the Caoubère six man (Bareges). This slope which joins into Tournaboup was already widely used for exceptional off-piste. It offers 550 m drop over 1.6 km.
“The new black piste is being made possible by the investment of the municipality of Barèges of 700,000€ in a set of new “Gazex” avalanche triggers on the Caoubère - peak in the Isey sector," says Henri Mauhourat . There are two advantages of this added security. In addition to the new piste, it also secures the return piste linking Super Barèges to Tournaboup
Grand Tourmalet and Pic du Midi are also confirming their freeride offer, dedicating the whole Taoulet piste this activity. The Taoulet was hardly used by skiers , especially since removing the chairlift which was reinstalled at Coume – Lounque to replace the old double drag lift . Now a fully off-piste area will extend over three slopes of the Pic du Midi.
The total investment for this Grand Tourmalet 2013-2014 season amounted to € 3.2 million. The opening of the ski fields is scheduled for November 30 and closing April 21, 2014 .
This is the first stage of the development program of the station called " Grand Tourmalet 360 " and provides € 50 million investment until 2020.
More good news on the Ski passes front: 4 resorts for 208€ for the Week with the addition of Gavarnie to that of Grand Tourmalet, Luz and Cauterets!
The package price of Grand Tourmalet increased 2.5% , mainly because of the increase in VAT on transport from 7 to 10%. The Grand Tourmalet day pass will cost € 39. Package Grand Tourmalet + Pic du Midi 49 € .
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
Well following some epic floods this spring this makes me feel happier about being here 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
|
in garbure we trust, glad to hear you are still there !
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ