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Chamonix Mountain Report: 6th February 2013

Big snow, little snow. Little snow, big snow

featured in Snow report Author Alison Culshaw - Off Piste Performance, Updated

New for this season is our series of High Mountain Snow Reports compiled by a team of pros - local mountain guides and ski instructors. This is the second installment from Alison Culshaw - BASI Level 4 International Ski Teacher and International Mountain Leader:

A Scottish game keeper once said to me “Big snow, little snow. Little snow, big snow.” When the snowflakes are big the volume of snow is small. When the snowflakes are smaller the volume of snow is greater. Today was exactly that; little snow, big snow. Small snowflakes fell continually throughout the day, and by the time we returned to clear the snow off the car we had “big snow”.

It really has been a snowy week for the Chamonix valley. It’s been snowing on and off since last Friday without letting up except for a brief period of sunshine on Sunday. Along with the snow there have been exceptionally high winds, less than ideal for the stability of the snow. Over the last week the avalanche hazard hasn’t dropped below 3 out of 5.

The highs winds have led to a number of lift closures. The top bin at Les Grands Montets hasn’t been running since last Wednesday. However this is no bad thing as it keeps skiers safer forcing them down into the trees and away from the wind slab that has been building high up. When the clouds have parted to get a glimpse of the mountains the effects of the wind are clearly visible; large cornices have appeared, lee slopes are loaded and windward slopes are scoured.

With most of the high lifts shut excellent off-piste conditions have been found in the trees at Les Grands Montets and today at Les Houches. The tracks were filling in quicker than we could ski them. Les Houches adds so much value to the Chamonix valley on the days with poor visibility and high winds. There are so many sneaky routes through the trees that were full of wonderful pillows of snow this afternoon. As the snow rain limit has dropped to around 400m great conditions have also been reported just outside the valley at the lower resorts of St Gervais and Combloux. I suspect that there will be plenty of fresh tracks to be had at a lesser known favourite of mine Praz des Lys.

There’s not been one day when I’ve cleared lots of snow off the drive, just lots of days where I have cleared a little. This slow but continual top up of snow has had a dramatic effect in the mountains. Last week there was a rock sticking out high up in the Italian bowl. On Tuesday I skied down to where it was to mark it so my clients wouldn’t hit it. In its place was a hole where you could look down on the rock! I went to put my skis in the ski rack at Les Houches today. Rather than standing them up in it I had to lie them down as only to top was peeking out of the snow!

As the avalanche risk as been high and the visibility poor the ski touring options have been limited; better to spend the time off-piste skiing in the trees. Last Thursday was good weather for touring, but by then the snow pack had become a layer of crust due to the rain and rise in temperature. Our team had great views touring above Les Contamines but got in a lot of mileage practicing crust! There was a constant stream of people using the skinning track at Les Houches today. It’s a good way to get some uphill exercise when the avalanche risk is high. And there is no rush for the touring; with this volume of snow there is the potential for the touring conditions to be fantastic well into the spring.

Be careful when the sun finally comes out. Remember how windy it has been...

Alison Culshaw
Off Piste Performance

NB: Off piste skiing and mountaineering are dangerous. The opinions expressed in these articles are very much time and condition specific and the content is not intended in any way to be a substitute for hiring a mountain guide, undergoing professional mountaineering training and/or the individual's own backcountry decision making.

Stats

Snow Report
  • Alt. Resort: 1035m

  • Alt. Summit: 3340m

  • High Temp.: -4

  • Alt. High Temp.: 1035m

  • Latest Conditions: Early morning low cloud, then fairly sunny - cold with increasing N wind high upSKY CONDITION : early morning low cloud, rising, then vanishing - clear or partly cloudy in the afternoon. Period of sunshine close to 80%.PRECIPITATION : none.WIND - ground level : variable light.WIND - mid mountain : NE light to moderate.WIND - high mountain : NNE moderate -> N strong.TEMPERATURE : low -5