At this time of the year many of the locals are preparing themselves for the mad rush that is about to start in the lead up to the next ski season. This is the time when a lot of the important last minute jobs will get done. The major companies, including those operating the ski area, are in a similar position except their work started months ago. Every Summer sees significant changes to the lift system, or the slope preparation, or installation of snow making, or road works, or new hotels, restaurants, ... it goes on.

Yesterday in the late afternoon I was up in Meribel and Mottaret having a look at a few of the changes taking place.

MERIBEL CHANGES

In Meribel the towers and cable of the new Saulire Express gondola are in place. This is the second phase of the replacement of the old Burgin Saulire gondola, the top part of the lift was replaced last Summer.

The photo above shows the base station in a half finished state so I guess there is still plenty of work to be done there. I am sure the workers will not share our enthusiasm each time we see snow at this time of year, but instead hope for better weather in the Autumn while their job continues.

Other work taking/taken place around  Meribel include:

- piste changes in preparation for the Womens World Cup alpine events to be held in February 2013

- construction of a new 'La Folie Douce' bar and restaurant on the West facing slopes above Meribel (I will write more about this sometime soon)

- completion of a new 5 star hotel not far from the Chaudanne, the area where the lifts, including the Saulire Express above, depart.

                                              CHANGES IN MERIBEL MOTTARET

  Mottaret is also getting a new lift with a new chair replacing the first 2 stages of the old Plattieres gondola. 

The picture above shows the new lift being installed and the now obselete base station of the old gondola on the left of the photo. I have read on another website, therefore it is true, that the journey time on the old Plattieres gondola was 22 minutes and that this new lift will take just 9 minutes - waaoohh!

Mottaret also has a new Magic carpet lift for beginners, if you have not seen one of these before, they are like a travelator you see in airports except they travel up a mountain slope.

There is also piste reshaping work taking place on the slopes at the bottom of Mottaret. This includes the construction of a mogul course seen in the picture below.

Apparently this earth moving work including the slope in the photo and improvements to the Martre piste just above it has cost S3V(the lift company)about 2 million euros - WTF! - I am sure my mate Billy could have been up there in his digger over the Summer and had it finished for ... about ... for ... well ... much less than that!!