Avalanche high alert on the roads
With more heavy snow forecast this weekend, yesterday (Friday) the Mairies of Chamonix and Vallorcine took the decision to close the Col des Montets to ensure that it can be fully secured from any risk of avalanche over the next few days. Meteo France predicted that 1-1.5m of snow will fall below 2000m between Friday night and Sunday morning, pushing the avalanche risk to extreme (5/5). The Mairies also took the decision to close the rail route that passes over the col to Vallorcine, leaving the community completely cut off to the French side.
High winds and heavy snowfall has seen that all of the lifts in the Chamonix valley have remained closed since Wednesday, with the exception of those on the valley floor and Les Houches. Avalanche blasting commenced at 7am this morning in and around the Mont Blanc Tunnel area and will continue up towards Argentiere and Vallorcine.
As a result of the blasting, the cross country and hiking trails along the valley are also closed and authorities have announced that it would be incredibly dangerous to venture onto them. It is also too dangerous to walk or toboggan in and around Les Gaillands or Le Cry, an area exposed to risk from some 120 identified avalanche corridors.
