Update on Lifts in Morgins and the Portes du Soleil

I have been asked by one of the readers of Morgins Life for an update on the Morgins lifts system. Although nothing is really clear I can share what I have heard around the village if that helps.

 When I last met with Jacque Nantermod, director of Telemorgins back in October, he showed me the plans for the new lift system. He told me they still have some local difficulties to overcome which is mainly due to land ownership issues and the fact that reciting lifts from their original position is not as straight forward as in other countries.
He hoped that work would start next summer on the new piste into Morgins along with the replacement of the Bochasses T Bar with a single 6 person express. This would be followed by a replacement for the Point de L’Au chair for the 2012/13 season and the Foilleuse in time for 2013/14.- Of course as we know in Morgins this could all change!

I did notice a communication on the Telemorgins website saying something similar. Paraphrasing they have pointed out that although Troistorrents,Champery and Val D’illiez have all approved the plan the next stage is to gain approval from the Canton Valais.It states that because these plans are not just a simple replacement of an old lift but involve “zone changes” it means that there are still certain local oppositions that need to be overcome.

When I hear any more I will write again – meanwhile if anyone else knows more please let me know or post a comment on the blog.
Meanwhile I also have heard rumour that the plan to put a link lift between Super Chatel and Linga via a new lift near Lac du Vonnes is still a possibility over the next two years, which would be a massive boost to Morgins allowing a link to Chatel and the Portes du Soleil circuit from the Corbeau.
Staying in the Portes du Soleil area, there is a new £6.7 million lift in the Morzine sector to the top of the Arbis piste. The 500m climb in the six-man chair is six minutes. You can’t get any higher and the reward is a panoramic view over the Mont Blanc Range to Lake Geneva and beyond.Another new chair has gone in from the small village of Ardent near Morzine, speeding up access to the slopes between Avoriaz and the Swiss border. Work was held up during the summer while pylons were being sunk when a colony of rare frogs was discovered living in trenches that had been done.

Further afield in Les Gets, a short ski from Morzine and the main Portes du Soleil circuit. The lift company has put in a new £4.5 million cabin and a chair for the winter ahead, which will make it quicker to get motoring on the blue and red runs around Avoriaz and Chatel.

Expansion work has begun in Avoriaz .The project includes the creation of two new resort districts with new accommodation complexes and a large new waterpark.A new lift will also be installed, replacing the exiting cable car link between the resort and Morzine. Much of the new development will be completed in time for next winter, in December 2011.The two new resort districts are Crozats and Amara. Between them they will add nine new Maeva and Pierre and Vacances residences containing more than 40 new apartments.Amara, which will open in two stages in December 2011 and December 2012, will be home to a new spa centre with swimming pool, Turkish baths, a day nursery and more restaurants, bars and shops.

At the end of the next summer season (2011), work is due to begin on Aquariaz, an innovative indoor mountain water park facility. The new complex will cover 2,000sq m and will feature a lazy river meandering through the centre of the building, a large pool, an indoor climbing wall, a ‘water playhouse’ and a sidewinder.The facility, which is being developed in partnership with holiday park operator Center Parcs, will be designed as an eco-friendly resort and is scheduled to open in July 2012.

All this is great news and a strong endorsement of the quality and style of skiing in the Portes du Soleil

Written by superadmin • 30/12/2010
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