Chamonix Snow Report: 21st December 2004
Following two feet of champagne powder yesterday at the Grands Montets, we had high hopes for today with some new lifts finally opening at La Flegere. This meant first tracks for those arriving before 10am, but even when we got there at midday there was still plenty of fresh. The best runs of the day were to be had off the Index chair - the terrain being suited to the kind of reckless jumps you can only get away with when the snow is deep and soft.
The morning was warm and sunny, which was good given that we had to wait for half an hour while our friend queued for a ticket at Brevent lift station. When we finally made it onto the mountain, there were relatively short queues for lifts and the pistes were generally uncrowded – which is unusual for Christmas week and given that most of the upper lifts – Col Cornu, Chavanne, Floria – are still closed.
The sky clouded over later in the afternoon and there was even some light snow at the top, with the flat light making it harder to see the chop and lumps that had built up during the day.
While the pistes at Brevent are quite well covered and good for carving, there are a few nasties to look out for, like the thinly covered rocks, which because of the lack of a decent base present a constant hazard when venturing even a little off piste. At Flegere some of the pistes showed patches of earth, vegetation and loose stones. With more snow forecast for the end of this week the snowpack should improve. Considering that a week ago the slopes were brown we can't complain too much after two powder days in a row.
Current status for opening of Pistes & Lifts
Webcams Index
Additional snow and weather information provided, with thanks, by meteo.chamonix.com and the Tourist Office
Stats
-
Level 4
-
0
-
Total Pistes: 80
-
Alt. Resort: 2000
-
Alt. Summit: 2500
-
Alt. Last Snow: 1042
-
High Temp.: -1
-
Alt. High Temp.: 1042
