For most of the winter the clientele is fairly homogeneous – they’re here for the snow. They might ski, board or (if they absolutely have to and don’t mind being completely despised by all right-thinking people) snowblade, and they range from serious off-piste powder fiends through aspiring park rats to families bimbling round the blue runs, but they’re all here for the white stuff one way or another.

The summer punter is more difficult to nail down – there are bikers who might ski now and then, skiers who fill in the afternoons with a swim, walkers, marmot spotters, kids on summer camps, families, random tourists who just wondered what was up here, mad Dutch cyclists, you name it. Must be a total nightmare for the marketing chappies trying to create their ‘brand image’. Serves them right for having such a bloody silly job.

Despite the untidy diversity, there are distinct and identifiable tribes, all of whom turn up every year and have their own hangouts and habits. Here’s a handy pocket guide to the most common species.