Just One More Run: Night Skiing in Morzine

After the sun goes down and the mountains slowly begin to close, it’s usually back to the chalet for a warming drink and a little après ski.

But the ski lifts closing can be a downer – particularly if you didn’t manage to get out on the slopes until later in the day. So how about the opportunity to squeeze in a few more runs with some night time skiing?

French ski resorts are becoming increasingly well-equipped for night time skiing, and Morzine is well ahead of the curve.

Dusk typically sees the Pleney’s
ski lifts slowly come to a close.

Head over to the Pleney pistes on a Thursday evening and the lower sections are open to all from 8 – 10pm. Night skiing is included in a standard lift pass, and if you don’t have one already, you can buy one for €5 for the night-time session.

There’s only one ski run, but if you just can’t get enough of the white stuff then it gives you an extra few hours of the slopes to ski, board or sledge.

Experience a new way to ski

For those looking for a unique skiing experience, we can’t recommend night skiing enough.

Night skiing is quite different to skiing during the day. For starters, you’re going to have a lot more of the mountain to yourself, with wide open lines on every run, so you can really push your abilities.

You’ll feel every turn and hear your skis or board connecting with the snow. And all that under starry, moonlit alpine skies with the smell the fresh night air.

The floodlit Pleney pistes take on
a new character at night.

Night skiing tips

• Be sure to take advantage of the time of day and watch the sun set over the Alps.

• Dress in extra layers, as the warming Portes du Soleil sun won’t be around to warm you up during, and especially after, each run.

• Always ski with a buddy when it gets dark – it’s safer and more fun.

• It’s not just about night skiing — how about night sledging! Fly down Pleney’s slopes with a sledge and a head torch. Night time is the perfect environment for sledging, as the snow that has melted in the day and tends to refreeze quite quickly in the night, making for extra speedy runs.

Image sources:

moremountain.com
morznet.com
ski-lifts.com