Perfect Weather for Half Term in Meribel

Mild, spring like temperatures & lots of sunshine

featured in Snow report Author Caroline Sayer, Meribel Reporter Updated 16 February 2017

What a glorious week this has been. If it were possible to dictate the weather for half term, I imagine most families would order massive snowfalls just before their arrival, followed by a whole week of bright sunshine and child-friendly mild temperatures. And that is just what we’ve had all week long – perfect, sunny, spring-like weather.

The unusual mildness means the south-facing lower pistes are beginning to ‘transform’, ie. becoming soft as the sunshine warms them during the day. However, the upper and north-facing slopes still have great snow on them.

The slopes have been busy, of course, but apart from some lift queues, conditions have been pretty fantastic this week.

Personally, I am allergic to lift queues so during the busy half term I like to find ways of getting away from the pistes. In my last report, I admitted to my penchant for the less-than-cool sport of cross-country skiing, a great way of finding solitude and tranquillity during busy weeks. I have also been ski touring this week, a sport most people find utterly baffling. “Why do you walk up the mountain when you’ve paid for a lift pass?” my husband asks as I set out to trudge up some slope. My answers to that are:

Uphill walking = being able to eat more tartiflette at lunchtime

Walking uphill = lovely endorphins and a really smug feeling when you’ve finished

Walking away from the lifts = reaching wonderfully quiet areas and untouched snow.

Since last year, Méribel has a new destination that is worth a bit of uphill effort to attain: Refuge du Christ. This recently-built refuge, set in a beautiful clearing in the forests high up above Les Allues, is a charming place to stay the night or just visit for lunch. I walked up for lunch this week, and thoroughly enjoyed both the 1¾ hour walk up from le Villard and a delicious lunch outside in the sunshine. From here there are fabulous views of the Méribel valley and le Mont Blanc and the owner, Hervé, is charming and welcoming.

If you have ever liked the idea of staying in a refuge overnight, this would be the perfect one for a first experience as it’s much more civilized and comfortable than most. In traditional refuges, you sleep like sausages in a pack, all squished together in one dorm, but at le Refuge du Christ, there are private rooms, shower rooms with hot (!) water and even a hot tub. Luxury indeed.

You can get there on foot, on snow shoes or touring skis, or by skiing off-piste with a guide from le Roc de Fer.