It is a decision that has raised indignant comments on social networks. In order to overcome the lack of snow in the Pyrenean ski resort of Luchon-Superbagnères, the Haute-Garonne departmental council decided to have snow delivered by helicopter on certain sections on Friday and Saturday. Two helicopter flights are planned, according to France 3 Occitanie. France Bleu specifies that 160 cubic meters of snow have already arrived on Friday.
In total, two and a half hours of helicopter are needed to transport some 50 tonnes of snow, according to the director of the joint union, Hervé Pounau. "It will cost us between 5,000 and 6,000 euros, knowing that in terms of return on investment we must multiply at least by ten," he added.
So there, we are transporting snow by helicopter to operate a ski resort.
[Via @ France3MidiPy] https://t.co/JBNE4mp9qN pic.twitter.com/H7BEjkTfZ1
This operation, a first in Luchon-Superbagnères, was decided "in order to support [...] the resort, the town of Luchon and the players in tourism, already strongly impacted by the exceptional climatic conditions", affirmed the departmental council.
For the moment, around 40% of the ski area is open. "We're not going to snow the entire station. Without that, we would have to close a large part of the area […] since it is during the holidays that we have the biggest activity for beginners and ski schools, ”said Hervé Pounau. Only six tracks are open while the area has 28, says France 3 Occitanie.
"Not super ecological"
According to him, between 50 and 80 people will be able to work thanks to this operation: station staff, but also monitors, equipment rental companies, and restaurateurs. 133 jobs would be directly linked to the activity of the ski resorts managed by the mixed syndicate which manages the three resorts in the sector: Mourtis, Luchon-Superbagnères and Bourg-d'Oueil.
The director of the joint union said he was aware that "it's not super ecological". “It's really exceptional and we have no intention of reproducing it. We didn't have a choice this time, ”he said. According to the departmental council: "As soon as temperatures allow, the snow cannons will resume the production of artificial snow in this priority area for the smooth running of the ski area".
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This decision echoes the situation in the Gérardmer resort in the Vosges, where snow has been delivered by truck since the end of January. The town hall had taken this decision to cope with the lack of snow at the station.