Chamonix Snow Report: 24th November 2008
Winter's here! We woke up to 20cm of snow up here in Chamonix - even more in Argentière, as usual - which has transformed the valley into a real winter wonderland. It's been snowing on and off for 48hrs now, but the bulk of the dump came overnight last night.
Digging out my car took 20 minutes this morning. I shan't park there again. And thank the Lord for snow tires.
The snow that fell around midnight last night was unlike anything I've seen or heard before. Small (2mm diameter) pellets of snowy ice (slice?) came down making a delicious zipping sound on the snowy ground. It was like listening to Rice Crispies crackling away.
There are enormous piles of snow around Chamonix town - it's as if they don't know where to put it all. Parking spaces are filled with ploughed snow, pavements are ice-rinks and the trees look like they belong in Christmas cards. Fortunately, the Col des Montets is open, which is excellent news for me as I'm off to Verbier for first lifts tomorrow morning.
Les Grands Montets is now officially opening 29/11/08, so long as they can top up this fresh stuff with some artificial snow - full details here - so I'll see you in the lineup at 8.30 on Saturday. Conditions are looking sensational; let's just hope that the temps stay low and keep the powder at altitude nice and dry.
Tom
***UPDATE 25/11 You're not going to believe this, but pretty much the whole of the frontside of Le Tour, the Pierre A Ric at Grands Montets and a bunch of couloirs above Vallorcine are already tracked out. The resort's not even open yet! How early do you have to be to get fresh tracks nowadays!***
Stats
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Alt. Resort: 1050
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Alt. Summit: 3800
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Alt. Last Snow: 1050
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High Temp.: -2
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Alt. High Temp.: 1050
