Les 2 Alpes – the largest skiable glacier in Europe – opens this weekend for its summer glacier season.  

Conditions look especially promising: the recent cold temperatures we’ve all been suffering have been reflected in the French Alps, together with recent fresh snowfall.   Les 2 Alpes has even built a superb terrain park to appeal to freestyle fans.   

The Pissaillas glacier at Val d’Isère opened last weekend, and its neighbour Tignes will also be opening on 16 June, with skiing on the Grand Motte glacier.

Summer glacier skiing is a perfect introduction to skiing for those with young families or beginners.  The wide open slopes are perfect for learners; the weather’s usually warm and pretty reliable (although it can change quickly in the summer as well as during winter months in the Alps). 

Also, there’s far more going on in the resort out of the main ski season, with hiking, mountain-biking, and a host of other outdoors activities as well as snow sports.  Here at FamilySkiNews.com, we love getting up on the first lifts to ski on the fresh, crisp early morning snow, then coming back down the mountain at lunchtime (when the snow starts to get a bit slushy and heavy) to spend the afternoons biking, spa-ing, playing tennis or simply strolling in the breath-taking mountain scenery.   We think summer skiing’s pretty idyllic. 

A word of warning though: Anyone new to skiing, do bear in mind that – even if it’s hot and sunny in the valley – you need to make sure you are properly covered up – with a high quality sun block and long-sleeved clothing.  See our clothing list here for advice.  We appreciate that you may not always need huge winter ski jackets, but remember you are at very high altitude and you do need well insulated, waterproof clothing.  No T-shirt skiing (tempting though it might be) unless you want to risk some serious ice burns!..