Chamonix Snow Report: 11th January 2010
There has still been a little bit of snow passing through the valley but nothing like the previous weeks where we had epic proportions of the fluffy white stuff. It has been good to have a few days of sunshine, although some cloud still remains down low. Its been great riding the past sunny days, as its felt like we haven't seen the sun for around a month and the snow seems to be stabilising a bit more now and some of the off piste roots on to the glaciers are looking good. The hope is there over the next few days that as long as the weather stays good, we are hoping to get some tours in.
In previous seasons touring has been possible much earlier in the season and I have found myself having some epic tours as earlier as the beginning of December. This season however, due to the heavy snow, changing temperatures and high winds the avalanche risk has been far to high to risk going in to the backcountry. I have been speaking to some of the guides recently and it seems that the unstable snow layer in some areas has stabilized, although that doesn't mean its safe on every slope, so I shall be out at some stage over the coming week to check for myself and have a good day touring!
Yesterday, seeing as the sun was shining brilliantly and the snow was very enticing after having a couple of runs from the top of Grand Montets, we decided to head down the Pas De Chevre which is a route off the top of Grand Montets down on to the Mer De Glace following a route back down to Planards. There where only a few lines off the top so we had a good chance at scoring some fresh and we were very excited at the run we where about to get!
The entrance to this route should be chosen carefully and the experience of a guide is invaluable. If you head too far left you can find yourself in either a nice couloir or a very dangerous one, and it can be hard to spot the entrance exactly, so staying right is a good option. There are also many crevasses on the way in to the Pas De Chevre so great care needs to be taken on the way in. Once in to the area you will enter a wide couloir which opens out in to a very large open field of powder, where unless there has been 200 people down it, you should be in for some fresh lines! It was an awesome ride down and once at the end of the run it's necessary to begin traversing left to hit the exit couilor on to the Mer De Glace. This part of the descent can be a bit tricky and picking the correct route down is essential as there are ice waterfalls and cliffs all around, with only 3 small gulley's to exit on to the glacier. Once down on to the glacier we traversed across to the end of the Vallee Blanche to walk up the path which takes us on to the track down to Planards. It's about 20 minutes of walking before reaching a hut where you can get a refreshment after your epic run before heading back down the narrow path all the way in to Chamonix.
Once back in Chamonix we headed for a couple of après ski locally brewed beers in MBC. Although its fairly quiet this time of year which has been great for riding the bars are still attracting a number of good parties, and some great après ski entertainment, make sure you sample the local bars while on your visit to powder filled Chamonix!
Check out what to do around town once the lifts have closed with our Apres Ski Report - a weekly round up of what's hot and where to party in Chamonix!
Stats
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Level 3
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1
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Total Pistes: 75
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Alt. Resort: 1972
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Alt. Summit: 3233
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Alt. Last Snow: 1500
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High Temp.: -2
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Alt. High Temp.: 1050