A snowy mountain with a ski lift in the background

A snowy mountain with a sign that says danger on it

A snowy slope with a mountain in the background

A group of people skiing down a snow covered slope

Chamonix Snow Report: 25th April 2008

featured in Snow report Author Helen McGrory, Chamonix Reporter Updated 24 October 2014

The rising temperature in the mountains – it was 6°C at Lognan on the Grands Montets today - has ensured that most of the off-piste is now soft and heavy. Still lots of it! But much harder work on the legs than it was a week ago. The pistes are fairing better, with good coverage on most slopes, and only a few moguly sections on the lower pistes.

During these last couple of weeks of the season, the ski areas become much quieter, and it is a great time to try your hand at a snowsport that may not normally be your first port of call. First, there is hardly anyone on the pistes for you to collide with whilst learning how to ski/snowboard/telemark, and second, the snow is lovely and soft should you happen to take a tumble. So, for the third time this year, out came the skis, and we popped up to Brevent to practice our carving turns, and that nonchalant stance skiers have when they are cruising the pistes! The snow was smooth and soft and excellent for us novices. We were soon hurtling down the pistes almost in full control! There have been quite a few slides of snow all along the top ridge at Brevent, and not many people were venturing off-piste. The last day of the season at Brevent is on Sunday. Flegere is staying open until 4 May.

Today we went back to Les Grands Montets to see how the off-piste was faring at the higher altitudes. The answer is – not so good. At the very top of the Grands Montets cable car, the snow is still in great shape, light and grippy. But only for the top section. We came down the front face a couple of times, and found that the snow soon became heavier, once the steep section was over. It's still good fun, but I find heavy and choppy snow to be quite wearing on a board. The pistes, on the other hand, are still feeling great. Bochard is still smooth and soft, and even the bottom section is not too sticky. The Pierre a Ric is suffering quite badly now, particularly at the end of the day, and many skiers were choosing to take the cable car down. We were pretty much the last ones down today, and the piste was full of sugar-snow moguls that were actually a lot of fun (if you like that sort of thing and no one else steals your line!) About half way down, several little rocks were appearing, and I swear I did a bit of surfing over a stream that seemed to appear from nowhere!

Weather for the weekend indicates that the sunny and mild conditions will be continuing to drench the Chamonix Valley. If you still have some energy left after your day on the hill, there is a closing party at La Terrasse on Saturday night, and at the Clubhouse on Sunday.