Chamonix Snow Report: 14th January 2011
Some very strange but very good days in this wonderful valley formally known as Chamonix. We have had a major dump of snow and a couple of truly amazing powder days, and with no one on the slopes it's been great to ride. However we are feeling a little confused as are the birds! As it feels a little more like spring time today than the middle of January. Some mixed weather has made some unstable conditions in the snow pack and has made off-piste riding a little more cautious as there have been a few slides being set off, especially in the un-patrolled areas. Take great care, hire the services of a guide and be fully prepared if you are heading in to the off piste during this period.
This time of year you would normally find some very nice cold dry powder to ride, but with all this warm weather pushing through seemingly due to the El Nino effect, it has made it feel more like spring slush. This isn't a bad thing, its better than ice, and makes carving, also jumping is much more pleasurable when you don't quite make it!
Even with the warmer weather here in Chamonix January is still a great time to come visit for its tranquillity, amazing views, and some of the best riding opportunities in Europe, just make sure you bring some sun cream! Unlike other El Nino years this year has seen a lot more snow, we had loads of pre-season dumps, and the temperature has dropped long enough for us to enjoy the precipitation which enters the valley to take its crystal form known as snow to land on most of the slopes.
With the warmer weather this has made the slopes melt and freeze between night and day, making the north facing slopes a bit hard early in the morning, so making the best of this situation and choosing a south facing slope to ride in the morning or one high enough that it doesn't feel the freeze thaw effect is the best way to go. Riding the Flegere, Brevent, and Le Tour ski areas in the valley are the best option at the moment, or the very top lift at Grand Montets. Yesterday most people thought that it might be a rainy white out day, but when we made our way up to the top of Flegere we were actually above the cloud and with some powder all be it heavy but still lovely to ride and great to play around in and have fun jibing rocks, and wind lips.
If you are out this evening don't worry about getting first bins as it is fairly hard packed in the morning, so get down to the Mix Bar for a Mix Chix evening, with DJ's and free Westbeach, Blue Mile and Cooler (womens only extreme sports magazine) give aways, and blue cocktails! So if you're in town head on down!
Check out our Mountain Guide Listings for contact details of local guiding and activity companies.
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 4
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1
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Total Pistes: 75
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Alt. Resort: 1253
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Alt. Summit: 3233
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Alt. Last Snow: 200
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High Temp.: 9
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Alt. High Temp.: 1050