Neither the weather forecast or snow conditions promised too much for skiers today in Chamonix. The ‘Jour Blanc’ never really arrived though and there was good visibility and even some lovely sunny clearings and atmospheric views in to the heart of the Mont Blanc Massif and in particular a plastered North Face of Les Drus.
The avalanche hazard was moderate however (below 2500m) and many teams were profiting from the good conditions for steeper skiing in the back bowls of Le Tour. The snow cover is really impressive and many features, couloirs, even the mini icefall, are all smothered in deep snow. The Posettes drag lift was closed as it’s almost buried and if it snow much more you will have to go down hill to get in to the Alpage Resteraunt nearby!
Ski touring towards the Aiguille Posettes with lots of fresh tracks as the lift is closed, as it’s buried in snow!
Teams were skiing steep lines off l’Arollette and heading over to the couloirs on the Van. We skied a fun easier line albeit with some steeper sections in the back bowls and then took advantage of the closed lift and did some touring for fresh tracks on both the sunny and shady side of the Posettes ridge.
Good news for the skiers in Chamonix this weekend as the top lift at the Grands Montets re-opens tomorrow and no doubt loads of team will head out to enjoy the great snow cover up there, especially as the sun looks like it will be around for much of the weekend, especially Sunday.
That was the end of a great week on our Jan Chamonix off piste & ski mountain skills course. Our Feb & March courses are now full but we do have spaces available in April.
Bon week-end, Bon ski!
Off piste above Vallorcine, great snow cover in Jan 2018
