Conditions are looking good in the French Pyrenees for the start of the 2019-20 ski season where several areas have already opened early and more are set to join them this weekend.
Resorts in the region frequently see better snow depths than those in the French Alps and Autumn 2019 is so far shaping up well as this image yesterday from La Mongie in the Grand Tourmalet ski area illustrates. It's due to open the weekend after next on 30th November.
Several ski areas in the region have opened early for the season (ahead of the big opening by Val Thorens this weekend, which likes to say it's the 'First in France' to open although in fact will be about the sixth this year). The openings follow heavy snowfall in the region earlier this month.
Cauterets, which will open its Le Cirque du Lys terrain this weekend, a month ahead of schedule, is currently posting the deepest base in the country, with 140cm lying on its lower slopes, 180cm up top – ahead of Tignes which has a 160cm upper slope base on its glacier.
Porte Puymorens and Val d'Azun have already opened terrain.