Monday afternoon and Tuesday are due to be snowy, which is good for the slopes, but not always greeted with a smile by those already in resort. Here are our ideas for what to do during a whiteout:
 

Firstly, don’t be put off skiing completely, it can be quite fun to ski when the snow is falling - a friend calls it ‘etch-a-sketch weather’, ie. your traces are wiped out by the time you get to the top of the lift! It’s also peaceful and you can often be skiing fresh powder on the piste which is a great experience. If you’re new to skiing powder then you can end up rolling around in fits of the giggles, and best of all, the soft snow means it doesn’t hurt when you fall!

(If you do get stuck on the mountain, read our tips below*)
 

See things differently
Get your boots on and have a walk – there are often side roads into the forests to explore and it’s incredibly peaceful, strolling along and looking at the beauty of nature that you so often miss when speeding by on skis. You can pick up a walking map from the Resort Information folder in your chalet, or of course the Tourist Office.
 

Warm up
What better excuse to pamper yourself - have a steam or sauna, or head to the hot tub. You could also call up Pamper Off Piste and have one of their mobile beauty therapists visit the chalet for a massage/facial or pedicure. If you fancy venturing out then there are many resort hotels with spas where you can bathe and groom to your heart’s content. Ask your Guest Services Manager for details.
 

Treasure Hunt
Once the sun’s passed the yard arm (what’s that, no sun all day? Well….) then go on a pub crawl to find the creamiest hot chocolate or the fruitiest vin chaud. It’s essential research...
 

Borrow a book or DVD
If you’re planning not to head out all day, then we have a selection of books and DVDs in each resort office - can call your Guest Services Manager to find out what’s in the library, then brew up, get the comfy trousers on and tuck into afternoon tea… (But make sure you leave a crumb or two for your chalet mates!)
 

Hit the shops
Even supermarkets are interesting when you’ve time to kill. Send Auntie Maud the weirdest husky/St Bernard postcard you can find, get Uncle Arthur some weird herbal sweets, and who doesn’t need a whistling marmot in their life? Alternatively, you can easily persuade yourself that you need some new ski gear, and what better place to buy than in a ski resort where you have so much choice! Or at least while away an hour dressing up like a seasonnaire…
 

*Skiing in a whiteout
Don’t panic! If you’re stuck in a cloud, look at your nearest piste marker – if it has a bright orange band around the top, that’s the RIGHT side of the piste. Hopefully you’ll be able to sense which way is down - carry on slowly from there, if you go too fast or become panicky then you may get motion sickness. If you can’t see any piste markers, sit down and have a rest for a few minutes, it’s amazing how quickly the clouds move in and out. Always carry a piste map and mobile phone: not only useful for finding your bearings, they also have the pisteurs’ number on. The piste markers with the round tops have information on that you can give to the pisteurs if you’re really stuck. You should also have in your bag a snack, a drink and some extra layers so you can refuel and warm up. Don’t let yourself get too cold.