Chamonix Activity Report: 26th May 2006
So were back after a slight break from reporting. The snow has well and truely retreated, the first ramblers and mountain-bikers have been spotted, and we are in flip-flop mode. The weather over the last weeks has been somewhat unsettled and whilst the sun has been out this week it is only today that it has been really warm.
As it is the interseason town is somewhat subdued, although with a bank holiday in France yesterday, and the French invention of 'le pont' [the bridge] this is a very long weekend and there are the first summer visitors in earnest during the daytimes at the moment. Essentially with 'le pont' the bank holiday takes place on the religiously accurate day (such as yesterday which was Ascention) and then many French are of the opinion that it is too much bother to go back to work for just the Friday and so take two days off instead. The same in reverse happens for bank holidays which fall on Tuesdays!
As many places are closed at the moment there isn't much to report. Chambre 9 are back doing their summer lunches outside and we have already enjoyed a couple of bottles of rosé outside the Lapin Agile wine-bar. The main attraction at the moment, although some people tell me it is a rather boring subject, is all the building work going on it the centre. There is lots of landscaping happening and the [long overdue] completion of the predestrianisation of the town centre to get some new paving in. It seems trees and grass are being added to previously barren walkways - it is nice to see this effort going in as Chamonix town has received flak for not being aesthically pleasing to the eye. Within a short while I think this will no longer be very valid... watch this space.
This weekend a few sorties are planned - a long ramble at least and/or maybe a run up to Argentiere. There is a good circuit up from Chamonix which is a firm favourite - a personal record of 1h15 is unlikely to be beaten anytime soon - fitness is not quite there yet. Still, something to aim for; we'll let you know how we get on!
The really action is going to be starting from around the 9th June when the lifts are due back open.
Lastly for now, apologies for the lack of webcam action - thanks to those who have let us know it is not working. Some plonker turned all the power off at the top of the mountain on when leaving at the end of the season (normally some is left on for us). We can't get up to sort it at the moment as they have also decided to replace all the wheels on the gondolas so there is no access to them at the moment. Should be fixed in the next week or so, we hope.
Piste Maps for Chamonix (pdf format), Les Houches (jpg format), Cross-country skiing (pdf format), and Mountain-bike trails (pdf format)
Current status for opening of Pistes & Lifts
Chamonix Webcam Index
Useful Links
Swiss Federal Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research
French Avalanche Research Institute
Meteo France - Mountain weather and avalanche conditions bulletins (in French)
Henry's Avalanche Talk - popular avalanche training sessions based in French Alps as well as translation of current avalanche conditions
PisteHors.com - Backcountry Skiing and Snowboarding News in English for the French Alps. Excellent coverage of avalanche safety and advice
Additional snow and weather information provided, with thanks, by meteo.chamonix.com and the Tourist Office
