While the snow quantities are insufficient at many places in the Alps, while 72 resorts among the 207 Swiss resorts are closed (it has rained up to 2400m yesterday!) and while the snow conditions are also bad in France (like at Avoriaz for example, but not at Chamonix which is high enough)...
the snow conditions (on 20th January) are good at Zinal !
Resorts like Zermatt, Zinal and Verbier are happy this year. It was the opposite last season until the middle of February: tons of snow at many places except in the center of the Alps.
Today on 20th January, I have been confirmed that there are no stones at Zinal on the slopes (thanks to the artificial snow made with 66 new snowmachines and of course thanks to the snow falls), except a few stones on the black piste "La Corne". The black piste "Barthélémy" is not prepared yet (they want to preserve it for the ECS, I guess

) while the lift "Durand" is open.
Tomorrow the temperature will drop down (10 degrees!) and it's going to snow on Tuesday and Wednesday. We will keep you informed, but the things seem good for the ECS
Check the Zinal Webcam out from time to time:
http://www.zinalski.ch/webcam/image.jpg
Patrice Fivat
*** Update on 21st January 2007 ***
It's going to snow a lot in Zinal area
