A person is riding a snowboard down a snowy hill

A snowboarder is doing a trick in the snow while holding a shovel

A snowboarder is doing a trick on a snowy slope

A person is skiing down a snow covered slope

Chamonix Snow Report: 21st December 2010

featured in Snow report Author Kieran Sharp, Updated 24 October 2014

Still a lot of snow remains here in Chamonix from the last dump we had, and there have been a few snow showers over the past couple of days to top things up. There is a slightly warmer system passing through at the moment, which has made it a bit more bearable especially when walking between bars in the evening, but it will begin to melt some of the snow pack and with the freeze thaw effect make the slopes feel a little icier, but the process should strengthen the snow pack in the long run.

There are some patches of packed down powder to be found and with a good bit of wind up high, it can transport snow into some out of the way little bowls, where you can find some sweet lines to ride. Always take the advice of a guide if you decide you want to pursue this type of powder as you are actually riding wind slab in these cases which is one of the major causes of avalanche. Always take and know how to use a transceiver, probe and shovel. However hiring the services of a local qualified guide will get you to the best spots safely. Going to either the Bureau Des Guides or Evolution 2 will provide you with some of the highest qualified guides who operate in the valley. They both have large teams, so you will be sure to book someone through them.

If snowboarding is your game and jibbing around is your thing, finding the best spots around the pistes in the area is something only the locals normally know about. A lot of chalet companies offer ski hosting as part of their package, and don't normally cater for the poor snowboarders due to smaller numbers in the group. However Blue Mile Snowsports (www.bluemilesnowsports.com) offer a fantastic service for snowboard hosting in and around the valley to all chalets in the area. Blue Mile are highly qualified snowboard coaches, and they also coach the Westbeach professional snowboard team. With more than a decade of experience riding in the valley, they know exactly where to take you to find the best spots to ride and jib. They provide a set-up of HD Go Pro 1080p cameras where they film your sick tricks and get some awesome pics with professional photographers documenting in high quality your holiday and available to share through the power of social media. They are the only guys in the valley offering this service and if you're in to your snowboarding you will not be disappointed if you book some time with these guys!

Christmas week is definitely here now; the town is crazy busy and there is hardly anywhere to park, but walking through the quaint streets of Chamonix will put you in a very festive mood. There is so much going on over the next couple of weeks with parties, riding, and living the dream, so if you find yourself missing out this week, why not come along for New Year's week? Some amazing parties will be had all over town and in the surrounding villages. If you get out here for the New Year then make sure you get down to the square in town for the midnight celebrations, with fireworks and almost everyone in the valley attending it's an event not to be missed!

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!