Chamonix Activity Report: 7th July 2005
Well the good news is that the Winter season has already started, the bad new is that it is July and it should be hot and sunny!! Following weeks of blistering heatwave we have been plunged into a week of rain and storms with temparatures stuggling to hit the 18C mark.
This weather has been affecting the overall outdoor activity plan - hence the lack of reporting here. We did, rather annoyingly overwrite a report from a couple of weeks back by accident. We can't remember all that we wrote, though we did discuss the number of trucks passing the Mont Blanc Tunnel being excessively high - it still is but you don't really notice it in resort on a day to day basis. It still needs addressing as a long term issue
It now seems that there are serious discussions regarding the planned construction for a second tunnel du Mont Blanc as the cheapest solution to having either the current tunnel here close or that of the Frejus (which is currently closed following an accident). This seems comletely mad given the current environmental issues being raised in the valley (a natural heritage spot), the current G8 meeting calling for measure to curb global warming (inefficiency of road transportation should be an issue), and that there are far better solutions such as rail tunnels - albeit at a higher cost.
The good news is that the Frejus tunnel will be open again from the end of August, although that just means that valley gets more trucks back rather than solving the problem.
Ok, enough soap-boxing! The other information we had in the report concerned the Parc du Merlet nature park. The park sits above Les Houches with some excellent views of the valley. You can come fact to face with several free-roaming mountain dwelling species including Marmottes, Chamois and Bouquetins (horned goats). Prices are around €4.50 for adults and €3 for kids as well as there being a snack bar restaurant. Almost definitely worth a look round.
Other good news is that the centre of town roadworks and improvements are also complete: expect some photos as the weather improves in the coming few days.
Mostly this week the things we will be looking forward to are:
Join Jamie and the guys at The Jekyll Bar for the last of the Lion's Tour Rugby matches this Saturday 9am kick-off. The Jekyll are also launching Quiz night down there next week.
The return of the sunshine
The World Climbing Championships take place from the 11th to the 13th July near the sports centre. This is always an impressive event with a number of celebrations attached.
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