Chamonix Snow Report: 17th December 2012

As forecast though, those gale force winds were making themselves felt on Grands Montets.  There was much rejoicing at the Herse opening on Sunday, although we were reminded that until the Tete de Balme chairlift opens at Le Tour next weekend, the Herse is the coldest lift in the world.  Even though it was several years ago now that it used to be 8 minutes of icy misery on the old 2-man Herse; I still feel that this was a good candidate to be replaced with a lift with a pull down lid.  Instead we were pebble dashed to within an inch of our lives on every ride up, arriving at the top with snow beards that would rival Santa Clause’s facial hair.  Apologies for the lack of photos from Sunday but the visibility left a lot to be desired for much of the day; in fact, if you stare at a blank piece of A4 paper for a few moments you’ll get the general gist.  In the more sheltered sections of the mountain, the wind had whipped the fresh snow into huge soft pockets.  However, as the visibility was so bad, you inevitably found them face first!

The snow has been falling fairly continuously since my last report, and I can’t lie, it’s getting pretty rubbish out there as a result......  Snow, snow, snow, snow, snow!  And what’s worse, it’s mainly been that really light fluffy stuff that keeps coming down – you know, the kind that’s all in your face every time you turn and gets all down your neck.  I knew it was going to be a rubbish day in Les Houches today when I found myself in knee deep powder on the first piste I headed down....  I mean, on the piste??  Honestly.  Things just got worse when I headed into the trees and there were times that I almost needed breathing apparatus.  My lack of a ski buddy meant that I didn’t even have anyone to lament the terrible conditions with and because there were not that many people around, I couldn’t even have a moan with a random stranger in a lift queue because there weren’t any (queues or strangers).  Anyway, I’d soon had enough – I went straight down as soon as the last lift closed.

It’s true, when you live in Chamonix you have to put up with these inclement conditions from time to time, but I can’t believe that people are going to head here in their droves next weekend when actually they have a choice.  No doubt many of you reading this will be heading out here for Christmas too.  Well just remember it’s not too late to change your mind.  Wouldn’t you much rather have the feeling of warm sand between your toes than wave after wave of fresh powder hitting you in the face?  Honestly, EVERYONE I’ve spoken to this weekend thinks the same; that we should try and spread the word that Chamonix is rubbish just now and there is no Christmas spirit in this valley – it’s all bah, humbug here.

And it looks like the misery is going to continue, at least for the next 24 hours anyway.  Snow overnight tonight, snow showers throughout Tuesday and the wind is dropping too so it’s not even going to get blown away.  Ug.  Of course, I have to keep going out in it day after day; it’s my job, but don’t feel that you have to put yourself through it.  I’ll let you know when the worst of it is over and it’s safe to start planning a trip – once we’re back to a nice bit of groomed corduroy and sunshine ;O)