As we all know, there are two types of phone app in the world – those that look pretty and seem like a great download at the time before becoming pointless and occupying vital space on your device, and those that are a damn good idea, full stop. The official Portes du Soleil app for iOS and android is the latter and there are some really handy updates for this winter season.
The interactive piste map gives you live information on which runs are open and closed whilst offering up piste conditions, weather and temperature updates in real time. The avalanche risk is updated constantly and is prominently displayed on the app homepage. Spend five minutes using this function over breakfast and you’ll set yourself up for the rest of the day.
On the mountain, GPS tracking within the app helps you pinpoint exactly where you are at any time, making life much easier for groups in the habit of loosing members. Also, if you’re anything like the Morzine Source Magazine ski team, you’ll take comfort in knowing where your nearest restaurant is at all times.
The handy webcam feature gives you the opportunity to discover how busy pistes are across the Portes du Soleil’s 12 different ski resorts, either from the chairlift, your desk at work or your sofa (be warned, this function can become addictive!).
The ski pass simulator is another handy function on the app. Add inthe dates of your trip and your home resort for a concise list of lift pass options and prices, plus a handy summary of any special offers and discounts too. An emergency SOS button is prominent throughout the app, logging your GPS coordinates in case you need urgent help on the mountain.
We also love the sheer volume of information available on the app. It’s always worth checking the opening and closing times of the lifts you’ll use, especially if you’re travelling across the ski area on a big day out.
There’s a handy calendar of events so you can see what’s happening in each resort each day, whilst the ‘My Activity’ function let’s you retrace your steps at the end of the day so you know precisely where you’ve been. You’ll also love the augmented reality section – point your phone at any peak in the Portes du Soleil and the app will tell you it’s name and altitude!
New for this winter, the app will now send you real time notifications when bad weather hits the slopes or if there are mechanical issues on the lift system across the Portes du Soleil network. This feature alone makes the free Portes du Soleil app worth downloading. Yes, you read that correctly; the whole app is free! You’ll find it in your app store, tap the links below!
