Chamonix Snow Report: 15th October 2012
October Powder Days
Whenever an opportunity to ski some fresh lines comes around, I'm always up for the challenge - especially if it's in October! Last week's rain in the valley might have been depressing for some but I knew it'd be falling as snow up high and when the clouds cleared, I was ready to head up high for a look.
Last Thursday I took the Aiguille du Midi cable car with some friends and we were handsomely rewarded with some fantastic snow conditions. The arete was airy as ever and icy in places but we were thankful of it as ice generally doesn't give way into an avalanche and send you spiralling down the mountainside. The snow itself was great - a couple of centimeters of soft velvet sitting on a smooth, firm base. Most of the summer's crevasses are currently buried under a nice firm layer creating wide open playground-like conditions up on the glacier right now (as long as you know what you are doing - see below). It's just a pity that they'll be closing the Aiguille du Midi lift in 3 weeks!
With frost lying in the valley floor and the snowline currently at 1,700m - winter in Chamonix is definitely well on its way. We only need a couple more snowfalls and we'll be skiing in the valley rather than just up high in the mountains!
Glacier and o
Watch this
Stats
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Alt. Resort: 1035m
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Alt. Summit: 3340m
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Alt. High Temp.: 1035m
