European Ski Resorts A-Z

Châtel, France

Resort height:

 1200m

 

Slopes:

 1100-2205m

(950-2275m Portes du Soleil)

Pistes:

 90km

(650km Portes du Soleil)

 

General snow cover

 

3/5

 

Snow quality (upper)

 

3.5/5

 

Snow quality (lower)

 

2.5/5

 

Resort level snow

 

2.5/5

 

Powder potential

 

3/5

Châtel may be quite low but it does have quick access to the more reliable parts of the Portes du Soleil – the sheltered north-facing slopes of Linga and Plaine Dranse and beyond that Avoriaz. These areas hold their snow well but their altitude is still modest and snow quality can deteriorate in warm weather.

 

The Super-Châtel area is lower still, and more exposed to the sun, but better covered by snow-making.

Where to ski in bad weather:

Most of Châtel’s ski area is at least partially wooded and offers reasonable protection in bad weather. The higher runs between Linga and Plaine Dranse via Cornebois are the ones to avoid in a proper whiteout.

Where to head in poor snow conditions:

The upper half of the Linga mountain has the best local snow record and is normally as good as anywhere in the Portes du Soleil.

 

The whole Linga, Cornebois and Plaine Dranse area normally offers better conditions than the lower Super-Châtel area.