In contrast to most weeks of the winter so far in Chamonix, this week it has been mostly sunny! Infact there has been some superb high mountain weather with folk finally enjoying the good snow cover which has accumulated through the seemingly constant storms over the last month or so.
With the sunnier weather the snow pack has finally had a chance to settle down a little and whilst the cover at lower altitudes and valley floor level has receded somewhat, cover in the middle and high mountains remains good. Infact very good with some of the Chamonix lift heights reporting record levels of over 3m in places.
Snow has hung on well at low altitudes where shady also and teams have been skiing the James Bond track right back down to Chamonix having skied the Vallee Blanche. Cover on the upper glacier is varied with good volume in places and plenty of exposed crevassing in others and we are aware of a 30m+ crevasse fall that took place today, thankfully without major harm.
Snow conditions on the Midi Ridge are quite poor with wind blasted and exposed ice making good mountaineering skills and crampons and axe essential as the ridge is not yet equipped for skiers to descend like in high season. However, snow conditions were pretty good today!
Superb powder and fresh tracks skiing next to the beautiful Geant Icefall on the left hand exit above the Requin Hut
Unfortunately the top lift at the Grands Montets is shut at the moment for technical reason which is a shame as the skiing had been good with little top ups overnight this week giving some fresh tracks and fun skiing right down in to the tree line. Likewise at Le Tour. Overall nearly all the lifts are open and most pistes too with good snow volume and good skiing.
Over in Italy at the start of the week there were some massive dumps of snow, particularly in the South East Val d’Aosta with Gressonney and Cervinia being buried! The avalanche hazard was very high, category 5/5 and some natural avalanches blocked roads. This has lowered to considerable, 3/3 now but a prudent approach is required. Where careful route choice is implemented there is some great Italian powder to ski!
Ski touring wise, activity has been plentiful with the good weather seeing teams in the middle and high mountains and even doing some early season touring on the glaciers like the col du Tour Noir above Argentiere. A few recent tours which have been done to name just a few include Mont Rogneux in the Western Swiss Valais Alps, Mont Flassin in Val d’Aosta, numerous teams have been up to the Chalet Loriaz, The Montagne des Sulens in the Aravis (via it’s north couloir in descent).
Descending the Montagne des Sulens, Aravis, with the North Couloir below.
After a relatively sunny weekend it looks like being another well snowy week next week, with cool ish temperature too. Excellent! Bon week-end, bon ski, let us know if you have any good conditions info from your ski sorties.
Please also check out our remaining places on upcoming guided off piste & ski touring days below including intro ski touring days this weekend and intermediate off piste and touring days on the 20th Jan & 10th Feb. Also places on our intro ski touring week 5-9 Feb….
