Chamonix Snow Report: 26th November 2005

featured in Snow report Author Ellie Mahoney, Chamonix Editor Updated 26 May 2016

Sorry it's been a while since we last reported back to you - we're still here!! I promise we didn't high-tail it out the valley with the last of the tourists! It's just a funny old month November. Nothing much goes on and a strange sort of calm descends on the town as the visitors leave and many of the locals shut up shop and head to the beach for one last fix of warmth and sunshine before the winter sets in. It's probably as close as we get to a proper “inter-season” here but without the tumbleweed that blows up and down the high streets of other resorts at this time of year.

I quite enjoy this time though as you can still walk or bike on many of the lower trails in complete peace and solitude. Although with the days getting shorter and the lifts being closed, I tend to stay closer to town now but there are still plenty places to go if you have a couple of hours to spare. One of my favourites is the Cascade du Dard, an impressive waterfall that cuts through a narrow rocky gorge, high above the entrance to the Mont Blanc Tunnel. I usually head up the steep (but short!) climb out the back of the Aiguille du Midi car park that takes you up through the woods to the Petit Balcon Nord. Crossing over the balcon, the trail continues up, but less steeply, until it opens up to fabulous views over Chamonix, Les Houches and the Bossons Glacier. Perfect spot for sit down and a snack!

To get to the falls themselves from here, the trail takes you back down into the woods and you actually approach the waterfall from above. I prefer this route to the shorter and more popular trail that leads in from the tunnel access road because you get the added bonus of seeing the top section of the waterfall that most people don't bother climbing up to. A short descent brings you to the impressive lower section of the falls where most of the crowds gather and there is a small mountain hut or “buvette” (now closed for the season) for a well earned rest. It was pretty much deserted though last week, which is unusual for a Sunday. The trail back to town is clear and easy to follow, skirting briefly along the edge of the road up to the tunnel entrance before bringing you out in Les Favrands where some of Chamonix most beautiful traditional little houses are located.

But it looks like that might be it for the hiking now because as of yesterday, it is officially winter once again. The first heavy snowfall of the season has coated the valley in a fluffy white blanket and our thoughts are now turning to skiing. With Grand Montets and Brévent both scheduled to be opening in a weeks time on the 3rd December (snow permitting) we might not have long to wait before we can grace the slopes of the valley once again. With more snow forecast for tomorrow and early next week, we're feeling pretty hopeful.

There is always a brief moment of chaos when the first snow arrives, as those people (myself included!) who thought they could leave it another week before getting the winter tyres on, slip and slide to the nearest garage. Nothing like the scenes you get in the UK though with cars being abandoned left, right and centre at the first flutter of snow! They are always well prepared here and the roads are generally cleared and gritted pretty much first thing in the morning. The snow plough reminded me of that little pang of excitement you get in the winter when you can hear the roads being cleared before dawn and you know you're in for a great powder day before you've even opened the curtains!

Better get my winter legs in gear though before I take to the slopes. I went out to take some pictures of the snow for you and ended up looking very much like Bambi as I valiantly attempted to remain upright on the ice! Hope you like the snaps, I risked life and limb to take them!

Useful Information
Cross-country skiing is Closed
Piste Maps for Chamonix (pdf format), Les Houches (jpg format), Cross-country skiing (pdf format), and Mountain-bike trails (pdf format)
Current status for opening of Pistes & Lifts
Chamonix Webcam Index

We will be keeping this Chamonix snow report updated often during the season, but if you want even more up-to-date news on the ski conditions, why not sign up for our Dump Alert? We'll email you each time it snows enough to significantly change the skiing conditions. It's great to know that the snow is falling in the run-up to your holiday, and it might even allow you to book a last-minute weekend when the snow is particularly good. The service is free, and you can unsubscribe whenever you like.

Useful Links
Swiss Federal Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research
French Avalanche Research Institute
Meteo France - Mountain weather and avalanche conditions bulletins (in French)
Henry's Avalanche Talk - popular avalanche training sessions based in French Alps as well as translation of current avalanche conditions
PisteHors.com - Backcountry Skiing and Snowboarding News in English for the French Alps. Excellent coverage of avalanche safety and advice

Additional snow and weather information provided, with thanks, by meteo.chamonix.com and the Tourist Office