The Alpaka Lodge - Ski in Tignes




Tignes
Tignes is, in fact, the generic name for a collection of eight villages spread across the mountains from 1550 metres (5084ft) to 2100 metres (6888ft). The main part consisting of the villages Tignes Le Lac, Val Claret and Le Lavachet, form one area that was purpose built in the early 1960s when the dam holding back Lac Chevril was constructed. It is an area tailored to the needs of modern skiing. Situated at 2100 metres/6888ft with skiing up to 3440m/11280ft), Tignes is one of the highest resorts in Europe. It also means good snow conditions are assured well in advance of many other resorts and such conditions will continue long after snow has departed elsewhere. An extensive programme of renovation and modernisation was put in hand to turn the area into a 21st century resort. The first results of this are already in evidence much to the benefit of skiers and non-skiers alike Twinned with Val d’Isère and together forming the vast area known as the Espace Killy, Tignes offers unrivalled skiing at all levels. An advantage of such an area is that a visitor can get to know the basic geography of the area quite quickly, but come back year after year to discover new skiing. Similarly the range of skiing from easy to extreme allows someone to progress in the sport whilst skiing in familiar surroundings. Some Facts & Figures 125 ski runs totalling some 300 kms in length are served by 103 ski lifts. By type the runs are 19 green (easy), 59 blue (intermediate), 36 red (advanced) and 11 black (difficult). In addition there are many off-piste powder runs and some 40kms of cross-country skiing runs. Whilst there is skiing all the year round on the Grande Motte high alpine glacier area, the winter season proper, with good skiing conditions, runs from mid-November to mid-May. There are a variety of ski pass options to suit all needs and budgets: Free - 4 lifts for beginners in the Tignes area Plein Soleil - 34 runs/21 lifts in the southern part of the area Supertignes - 66 runs/48 lifts covering the whole Tignes area L’Espace Killy - 125 runs/103 lifts covering the whole Tignes/Val d’Isere area Olympic - covering several other ski areas in addition to the Espace Killy The Alpaka Lodge Situated in the middle of Tignes Le Lac, The Alpaka Lodge is in a quiet area with easy access to the main shops, bars and restaurants (3 minutes walk away). A ski piste (trail) runs right past the hotel giving access to the whole area providing skiing “door-to-door”. There is a nursery for children from 3 years old opposite the Lodge. The centre of Tignes is a no parking area and access is available only to deposit and pick up people. There is surveyed covered parking a few minutes walk from the Lodge. Tignes is on of the highest resorts in Europe. A high alpine ski resort which ranks amongst the world's most challenging of ski areas. Yet despite some fearsome double diamond black runs, Tignes is an area for all abilities, with gentle slopes, all day cruising runs and the spectacular Grand Motte Glacier, which at over 3000 meters high overlooks the whole of Tignes, much of the Vaniose National Park and even Mont Blanc, and you can ski right out of the cable car and down to the village all on piste, that's over 1000m vertical drop. In fact, Tignes is open all year round and maintains a vertical of at least 1000 meters for over 8 months of the year. Along with neighboring (and linked) resort Val d'Isère, Tignes is part of France's premier ski area "l'Espace Killy", (named after the French national hero and olympic champion Jean Claude Killy). Tignes is perhaps the stronger French influenced of the two resorts and is largely based at a higher, and more snow-sure, altitude.
Resort altitude 2100m (6,888 ft) Skiing between 1550m (5,084 ft) and 3439m (11,279 ft) Number of lifts 51 in Tignes, 102 in the L'Espace Killy area Linked resorts Val d'Isere Number of trails/pistes 61 in Tignes, 128 in the L'Espace Killy area Total trails/pistes 300km Summer skiing Grande Motte Glacier Snowmaking 17km covered Difficulty 59% easy, 33% intermediate, 8% difficult, excellent off-piste opportunities Other sports Ice-diving, heli-skiing, parapente, hang-gliding, climbing walls		There are five base areas to Tignes, Le Lac, Le Lavachet and Val Claret are the main areas and around the lake form the main bowl of Tignes. All areas are now linked with some fine skiing between the various villages. Many of the more popular runs are well covered by snow cannons which reduce the risk of Icy patches. New runs were constructed during the summer of '99 which enables visitors to ski around the entire Tignes bowl. Tignes has also invested in the provision of an underground funicular, linking the Grand Motte Cable Car and Val Claret and enabling the ride up to the Grand Motte restaurant to take 10 minutes instead of 30 minutes on the old "bubble" ride. Further down the mountain but linked by ski lifts to l'Espace Killy, are Les Boisses and Les Brèvières. In addition, there are three traditional villages along the valley floor on the road to Val d'Isère (Le Reculaz, Le Chevril and Le Villaret du Nial), but these are not linked to the ski area. Interestingly the original base is Le Lac, the relocated genuine village of Tignes that was submerged under Lake Chevril following the construction of a dam in 1952. The church bell was the only physical momento to be carried up to the new village site, but the spirit of skiing which began in "old Tignes" in the 1920s was certainly carried forward with spectacular results!



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