Late January 2021, Superb Snow & Ski Conditions In The Aravis & Mont Blanc Massifs

26 January 2021, Mint Ski Touring Conditions On The Croise Baulet, Aravis

Lots of teams had noticed that today was THE day of the week, and what a day.   Snow volume is extensive, down to low altitudes, snow quality is high, below high altitudes; the sun was shining yet the air temperatures were cool.  In short, a real mid winter ski touring classic.

Ski touring above Megeve Jaillet en route to the Croise Baulet, visible upper centre behind the cloud.

We made our way up over the Petit Croise Baulet from and up the sunny powder slopes of the Grand too, with half the French army breaking trail ahead!

Beautiful snow and ski touring conditions on the ascent of the Croisse Baulet, late Jan, 2021

Superb views from this central location and interesting to see tracks going up into the steep couloir across the valley on the East Face of the Roche Perfia?

Fine snow and good skiing off the Croisse Baulet, 2236m

The voie normale off the Petit Croise Baulet had great snow but was pretty tracked so we took to the woods and enjoyed some good meadows, and only minor combat, to take an alternative route down and finished with some Steeper and deeper powder down the line of the Black Aigle Piste which gave a big fun final descent.

Croise Baulet, late Jan 2021

Looks like more snow on the way tomorrow with a High avalanche risk building on the back of that and then warmer temperatures, for the first time in long time, on Thursday.

Despite the significant thaw, high avalanche conditions and poor weather for Thursday & Friday, conditions for both Chamonix and Aravis ski touring and ice climbing are generally excellent at the moment so please get in touch, via the contact form at the base of this page if we can help with guiding or training and some inspiring sorties in the mountains…

Megeve Ski Touring, great cover and snow quality late Jan 2021

25 January 2021, More Snow To Very Low In The Aravis….

It snowed a lot over night, right down to Arve Valley floor level all the way down to Cluses and beyond, and just kept snowing lightly all day.  With cool temperatures and deep light fluffy snow, the good skiing continued although visibility was not so good above the tree line today!

Aravis Tree skiing!

Infact with the recent snow falling on strong winds in the high mountains, the lower and middle hills are the pace to be for snow quality and it was no problem skinning from the parking at below 1000m today in Burzier above Sallanches in the Arve Valley.

Fine easy angled meadow country above Burzier for some good low altitude, low angled powder touring

The weather looks very good for tomorrow so it should be a real mid winter classic but with some burly and then wetter valley weather rolling in later in the week.

Some fun turns on the ski back to Burzier Parking on the Chalet Mayeres Tour

Conditions for both Chamonix and Aravis ski touring and ice climbing are excellent at the moment so please get in touch via the contact form at the base of this page if we can help with guiding or training for either of those.

Ski touring on the Croise Baulet above Combloux above the Arve Valley with great views of the Aravis – Chablais – Fizz & Mt Blanc Massifs

24 January 2021, Superb Snow & Ski Conditions In The Aravis & Mont Blanc Massifs

It was a rare winter treat for those lucky enough to be able to access the mountains this weekend and enjoy the skiers holy grail of beautiful fresh snow, lots of it, with a good base, and excellent weather.  Even in the absence of any big lifts being open for the public, the parking at Passy Plaine Joux was full to the brim with folk enjoying the great touring, views of the Mont Blanc Massif, and some steep couloir skiing too…

Wonderful views of the Mont Blanc Massif from Passy Plaine Joux with Mont Blanc in the centre. Great snowy conditions in late Jan 2021

There were numerous skinning tracks heading up in to the base of the striking Couloir Gypaete just above the little resort of Plaine Joux.  This is a spectacular gully line visible in the centre of the picture and casting a shadow across on to the steep sunny limestone walls part of the Fizz Massif.

The impressive Couloir Gypaete in the centre and casting a shadow across the steep limestone walls above Plaine Joux, Passy, Arve Valley

The gully itself is 4-500m of narrow couloir skiing with an average angle of 46 degrees and sections up to 52 at the top.  There is a short ‘Cham Lines’ film of Aurelien DUCROZ and friends skiing it here.

Pristine snow and superb ski touring conditions on the Tete de Sallaz above Romme with the Pointe d’Areu (2462m) in the background, Aravis.

Over in the Aravis there were some idyllic ski touring conditions with basically pristine snow for the ascent of the Tete de Sallaz above Romme and great views over the to Areu as per the picture above.   Likewise, superb cover and snow quality for touring around the Chamonix Valley, albeit with a considerable avalanche risk too.  More snow on the way tomorrow!