a “not so bad” winter season in the upper Jura

At the Jouvencelles ski school (Jura sur Léman), in the upper Jura, the instructors used the shovel throughout the holidays to make snow when necessary for the ski lift and the kindergarten, accompanied by work snow groomers.

Some groups migrated to La Serra, the cross-country skiers alternated between the Marmousets site (Bois-d’Amont) and La Fournière in the Massacre forest, but the activity is going well more than respectable if we consider the amount of snow on the massif this season.

“Everyone adapts”

There would still be a shortage of around 30% of what was planned, but almost everyone has been able to work until today. “The important thing is that the weather is good” say the instructors consulted. “No one comes to complain, everyone adapts, parents relax in the sun or go for a walk.”

The results were somewhat similar at the La Grenotte gîte, a medium-sized accommodation provider: the clientele of snowshoe hikers was there, as usual, but not that of ski hikers. “This year, summer activity will probably be at the same level as winter activity, but that will not make up for the 20 to 30% who missed this season,” explains Isabelle Gayet, owner of the place.

“Habits are changing”

“While the profile of our customers remains roughly the same, their habits change. In winter, she now waits as late as possible to book.” Change in summer too: “She becomes more demanding, but books more in advance than before”.

Renting three small furnished apartments to supplement her income, Nicole Zorn preferred for these winter holidays to invite her own family to come and enjoy them. “The whole family was delighted, from the youngest who took his first ski lessons to the parents who went hiking.” But on the economic side, “this year has been bad since Christmas 2023. And demand is changing: I have more and more reservations at the last moment, and the weekly stay model has completely disappeared. What could perhaps catch up is the summer season, if people come to take refuge in the heights to escape the heatwaves.”

And the sale of packages?

No precise figures yet, but those most affected by this difficult season will most certainly be on the side of ski equipment rental companies, and of course the resort itself through the sale of passes, which will not have found customers regional who travels for the day. And for this one, no hope of finding a way to compensate for her absence.