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Chamonix Snow Report: 22nd March 2012

Freshies and sunshine in Chamonix

featured in Snow report Author Helen McGrory, Chamonix Reporter Updated

No doubt you’ll have seen on the weather reports that it dumped in Chamonix at the start of the week – snowed steadily from Sunday afternoon, overnight and on into Monday, laying down about 30cms of freshies up on the hill. My skis have promptly been dumped and the board is back in action after a week off.

It was fabulous to have fresh snow to play in on Monday but the visibility was rubbish all day, wherever you were in the valley. Top ticket at the Grands Montets undoubtedly had the best snow being that much higher than anywhere else and there were many fresh lines to be had if you got up there early. As is always the case, “you snooze you lose” round here and the terrain was pretty well tracked by early afternoon but still fun to ride. The difference in the snow was really noticeable once you dropped below 2500m; instantly feeling wetter and heavier and much harder work for legs that have been starved of powder riding for a few weeks now. Came a cropper a few times on a couple of my favourite sections that typically get pretty mogulled – they were much more thinly covered with fresh snow than I’d hoped and combined with the bad vis, it was face plant central for me a few times!

Since then though, we’re back to the beautiful blue skies and sunshine. Although the temperature has remained lower than the previous week or so with highs of around 17/18 degrees in town rather than the mid-twenties! Tuesday was fabulous on Brevent/Flegere, there was another 10cms of fresh pow to play in and it was so nice to see fresh lines laid down across the mountainside. However, the pistes off to the right of the Cornu chair – Charlanon & Bouquetin – are both closed for the rest of the season according to the Compagnie du Mont Blanc website – I can only imagine this is due to the avalanche risk. Coming back up the Charlanon chair you can see off to the right where a huge section of the mountainside has slid. Whilst the initial bulk of the slide happened some time ago now, every time we get a new fall of snow the same thing happens and this is such a popular area for people to sample easy access off piste that I guess the risks are just too great. Likewise, on the Flegere side, the Lachenal red is still shut this week but I’m sure we’ll get to ski that again before the season is out.

Whilst on the subject of avalanches, if you are interested in learning a bit more about avalanche awareness (and let’s be honest, if you have any thoughts of dabbling off-piste then you really should), why not take advantage of the last of the FREE avalanche talks held in La Terrasse on Monday 26th March by the guys from Avalanche Academy. Presented by Stuart McDonald, a fully qualified British international mountain guide, the session covers some essential basic risk assessment and safety pointers for riders in the back country. Presented in an interesting and light hearted manner, if you wish to put this knowledge into practice on the hill, then the guys also run practical awareness courses throughout the week in the valley. Last talk starts 7pm Monday at La Terrasse. Get there a bit before to get the beers in!

Don’t forget about the Miss Jacuzzi competition today boys – from midday at La Chavanne on Flegere. However, you’ll need to get there via Brevent as the Flegere cable car has been closed for the last couple of days due to high winds in the valley. Now where did I put my bikini.......

Stats

Avalanche Risk
  • Level 2

Snow Report
  • 1

  • Alt. Resort: 1900m

  • Alt. Summit: 3330m

  • Alt. Last Snow: 800m

  • High Temp.: 17

  • Alt. High Temp.: 1035m

  • Latest Conditions: partly cloudy - high cloud crossing over from the south in the morning - some cumulus cloud over the slopes in the afternoon. Period of sunshine close to 85%.PRECIPITATION : none.WIND - ground level : variable light.WIND - mid mountain : SE -> E light.WIND - high mountain : SE -> NE light.TEMPERATURE : low +2

Location

Map of the surrounding area