Chamonix Snow Report: 22nd March 2013

Last weekend we had visitors in town, which is always provides lots of fun and silliness on and off the slopes. With the weather perking up on the Friday and the sun peaking through we were hoping for a great day out on Saturday. As there was a large group of our friends heading to Grands Montets for a day in the sun we thought we would join the masses. So with backpacks full of market treats, including goats’ cheese and courgette cake (yum) and freshly made brownies, we packed the car and drove to Argentiere.

After a little battle in the car park we found a space and hopped on the Lognan cable car with no queue, which was surprising given how busy the car park was. With the lack of fresh snow on the slopes the week before the off-piste had been completely tracked out and there was not much fresh snow to be found, so we decided that it would probably be best to stick to the pistes and have a quiet slope day. Heading up the Bochard bubbles we enjoyed the sunny views over the Chamonix valley, something that never ceases to be breathtakingly beautiful. Once at the top we clipped on our skis and boards and headed down the Bochard red piste. The snow was a little icy and the piste was a tiny bit busy but in a big group going down the mountain enjoying the sun and snow this didn’t matter at all.

Heading up the Herse chairlift can sometimes be a little breezy when the wind picks up so despite the warmth of the sun the top of the lift can often be a little bit nippy – which last weekend could be seen from the ice at the top of the Combes red piste. We headed on down the first part of the run, just after the path, which was icy and a little intimidating but once past that small slope the run seemed to be in much better condition. It had been groomed well so there were no moguls and the snow was nice and firm with a few soft patches here and there, great for just whizzing down or taking it nice and easy. I always find the Combes piste is a great run for intermediates as they can tackle the slightly steeper areas, it is usually nicely pisted and it is quite a long run overall, especially if you decide to keep going and take the Pierre a Ric home run down at the end. A few laps of this run and we decided to take a break and get out the cakes!

The afternoon provided plenty of sunbathing at the mid-station along with a few more laps of the Bochard. Towards the end of the day some people decided to have a go in the Snowpark, which is located just off the Marmottons piste and is accessible from the Bochard bubbles, Tabe chairlift, Plan Roujon chairlift and the Retour Pendant chairlift. Not being much of a park bunny myself and a few others sat on the side of the piste watching the others tackle the jumps that the snowpark has set up. It almost makes me nervous watching people doing it but if you fancy jumping or having a go at jumping either on skis or on a snowboard then this is one place to head. With different coloured jumps from green to black you can start off with smaller and tamer greens and work your way up to the blacks. I know so many people who like to freestyle ski and snowboard and the park in Grands Montets is great place to play if you are one of them!

The Foehn wind came on Sunday meaning that some of the lifts and areas were closed first thing in the morning, and took slightly longer to open than normal. So with our eyes on the Lift Status page we decided that we would go up Brevent as everything seemed to be open there and with the Flegere cable car closed we thought it might be quite quiet. Hopping on the bus with our gear we got told by friends we were crazy but we wanted to go up, do a few runs and clear our slightly heavy red wine heads. Going up the Plan-Praz bubbles we could see the wind in the trees and the grey skies and started to get a little nervous. Once at the top we tried to quickly head down to the Cornu chairlift but, with the strong wind against us we struggled a little on the path to the Vioz piste which takes you there, but after some serious pushing we made it and actually heading down the pistes the wind did not seem as strong.

We headed up the Cornu which again, although a little windy, wasn’t too bad near the top howevee the wind just cut right through you. Once here we thought we would head down the Charlanon red piste, it was a little icy at the top but it soon eased off after a while and the snow got softer further down. We headed down to the Cornu again via the Sources blue piste, and this time took the red Cornu run down which again seemed to be in good condition despite the wind, just icy patches here and there. I have to say even though it was windy at Brevent the visibility was good and that meant you could enjoy the pistes despite the wind. A break at the restaurant at the top of the Plan Praz bubbles and a few more laps of the Cornu, Vioz and Blanchots pistes and our weekend of skiing was complete.

With a huge dump of snow on Sunday, Monday & Tuesday morning it meant we were spoilt to some fresh powder and even sunshine on Tuesday afternoon. I went to visit a friend on Tuesday who was holidaying in Morzine (about an hour’s drive from Cham) and got to enjoy all the fresh snow there and, having not skied there since I was a tot it was a really awesome day out. I hear that the snow in Chamonix was spectacular and the off-piste was lots of fun. But having missed out in Cham on Tuesday I was looking forward to skiing on Thursday.

With only a light dusting of snow on the Wednesday I was not holding out for fresh powder but was looking forward to cruising down some groomed piste. We decided to head to Le Tour for the day…. And what an INCREDIBLE day it was! There was plenty of fresh powder snow, I arrived a little later than the others who had told me that the L’Aiguillete poma had just opened and there was lots of powder snow just off the piste. So off we trundled skiiers right at the top of the lift and the snow was amazing, soft and giving with fresh tracks to be found everywhere just off the side of the piste. After a few laps of this beautiful snow we decided to venture a little further off piste and headed over to the Tete de Balme on the Vallorcine side, this meant going through the Nature Reserve. This part of the mountain can be a little tricky and is definitely advisable with a guide and all the appropriate avalanche safety equipment. Off we went with John (a mountain guide) taking us down some more fresh powder and tracks and it was just amazing. It really was one of the best days I have ever had skiing, thank you Le Tour!!

The weather is meant to be a little warmer over the weekend with a few peeks of sunshine and a little cloud but the snow is in such great condition from the snow fall at the beginning of the week it will definitely make for a wonderful weekend!