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Chamonix Snow Report: 10th December 2007

featured in Snow report Author Helen McGrory, Chamonix Reporter Updated

The only way I can begin to describe the current snow condition in Chamonix is in the words of Janice from “Friends” – “OH…MY…GOD!!!!” We have just had two of the most incredibly awesome powder days that I'm kind of at a loss as to where to start. So, I guess the beginning is as good a place as any…..

After a bit of a mild, damp week down in the town, we were anxiously looking skywards to see if it was still snowing higher up. It appeared to be to around 1500-1600m but with no lifts open during the week, it was impossible to get up there and check ourselves. However, on Friday night, the temperature dropped and the rain turned into snow which settled on the roads overnight. Despite, a lively party scene on Friday night with live music from Hoax and the Soul Rats in Elevation and Chambre 9, many people headed to bed early in anticipation of the Bochard gondola opening (Grands Montets) on Saturday morning.

I confess to failing slightly in my snow reporting duties, favouring one last song from the band over getting the first lift (Sorry, I am ashamed – this would never have happened with Kevin last year!!). However, I headed up later in the morning and joined the, by now, heaving throngs at the bottom of the Lognan. After a 35 minute queue we arrived at the top, to see an awful lot of milling about and not much Bochard action going on – it had just broken…. What was thought initially to be a 10 minute fixer turned out to be more complex and resulted in the gondola closing for the remainder of the day (and Sunday too as it turned out) leaving only the Marmottons open to cope with the crowds. Since the old 2-man Herse was replaced a couple of years ago, the Marmottans is now definitely a contender for the “Slowest Lift in the World” and is one that I generally avoid if at all possible. However, knowing just how good the snow was going to be up there, I endured yet another 30 minute queue in order to sink some turns in the powder. And it was more than worth it - deep and light; we “woo hoo'd” our way down the front face. Friends who had made first lift, and therefore already done a few runs from the top of Bochard, reported that higher up, the Lavachet bowl was in pretty good shape (but a hike out is necessary), still the odd crafty rock, but better than it had been for the majority of last season. Quite a few people were hiking up the bottom of the Herse run in order get a few off-piste turns before dropping down onto the Pierre a Ric, which was also in fabulous condition on Saturday. Alas, the queues at the bottom of Lognan by mid afternoon, made the prospect of doing a few laps of the home run less attractive, despite the great conditions.

Now, Sunday, well that's a different story. The day dawned, snowy and cloudy in Cham so it was back to Courmayeur again for me - now officially my new favourite place! The snow was absolutely dumping down on the Italian side, that if you weren't quick getting your boots on, they would pretty swiftly begin to fill up. What a difference from last week! The majority of the area is now open and it is absolutely full to bursting with fresh snow. We headed up the Val Veny cable car (the first one you come to after the tunnel) and stepped out into a scene straight from heaven – about 40cms of fresh snow down the edges of the piste, which rapidly grew to nearer 70cms as soon as you headed into the trees. Equipped with all the necessary safety gear and our snorkels, we spent the day practically drowning in some of the best powder in living memory! Crossing over towards Plan Checrouit, there is some spectacular off-piste through the trees from the top of the gondola to the base of the Bertolini chair lift. In the shelter of the trees (hugging a few on the way!), conditions were just fabulous – deep untouched powder which even once it began to get chopped up, was still enticing enough to always warrant another descent.

Unfortunately, it was high winds at the top that eventually lead to the chairlift closing, forcing us to seek out more fun back on the Val Veny side. Having taken the Zerotta 4-man, we found our next fix in the trees around and under the Peindeint chair, although this isn't an area to fly around wily nilly, as there are some pretty big cliffs that would make short work of the overenthusiastic powder hound. The snow was noticeably getting heavier on this side as we dropped down to around 1500m, but it was burning thighs rather than loss of will than eventually resulted in us calling it a day around 3pm. Nearly 24 hours later, my grin is no less beaming as I recount one of the best days I've ever had this side of Christmas!!

And it doesn't look as if the fun is going to end any time soon. Today, it is absolutely dumping down in Cham and the snow plough has been passing every few hours in an attempt to keep the roads clear. Grands Montets is now (partially) open full time although, due to the sheer volume of snow that has fallen, only the Pierre a Ric piste is open today and the avalanche risk has shot up to 4/5 (high). Latest reports indicate a 150cm base at the top of Bochard and 45cms fresh! We're still hoping that more of the valley will open up early – Les Houches being the most likely contender for next weekend, although that isn't yet confirmed. Otherwise, the official opening date for the remaining areas is December 22nd. Gird your loins, because oh my god it's great!!

Useful Information
Cross-country skiing is Closed
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

We will be keeping this Chamonix snow report updated often during the season, but if you want even more up-to-date news on the ski conditions, why not sign up for our Dump Alert? We'll email you each time it snows enough to significantly change the skiing conditions. It's great to know that the snow is falling in the run-up to your holiday, and it might even allow you to book a last-minute weekend when the snow is particularly good. The service is free, and you can unsubscribe whenever you like.

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

Stats

Avalanche Risk
  • Level 4

Snow Report
  • 0

  • Total Pistes: 75

  • Alt. Resort: 2000

  • Alt. Summit: 2700

  • Alt. Last Snow: 1800

  • High Temp.: 3

  • Alt. High Temp.: 1050