A cable car is flying over a snowy village

A group of people are skiing down a snow covered slope

A group of people are standing in front of a building that says les grands montets

Chamonix Snow Report: 4th December 2005

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

After a summer away we, your winter snow reporters, are pleased to say that we've just arrived back in Chamonix for the season. For the past few years there hasn't been much snow this early on but since we arrived it's been snowing near constantly down to the valley floor, creating a buzz of excitement as everyone hopes this is going to be one of those epic seasons we dream about. What a start!

In fact we've been so caught out by the snowfall that we haven't had time to sort out our lift passes yet, so this report is from the point of view of a very eager snowboarder itching to get up on the mountain. The proof will be in the tasting of the pudding but from here I can tell you it smells pretty good already! Friday night saw some of the heaviest snowfall – the dry, cold type of snow; whilst last night's snow was lighter and wetter as the temperature has risen slightly. This morning I took a wander up to Les Grands Montets to whet my appetite and the snow looks good at the bottom of the Pierre a Ric, the lowest run down to Argentiere. Normally this low altitude piste doesn't open until later. From what I could see, there seems to be a solid artificial base with fresh, real snow on top. I saw quite a few very happy looking skiers and boarders doing laps on the Pierre a Ric. The Lognan cable car and the Marmottons chairlift are the only ones open at present.

The last snowfall seems to have laid down a reasonable base and with more snowfalls predicted it looks like being a great early start. If you've got a holiday booked for Christmas, fingers crossed, it is looking like it could be a good one. Apparently Brevent and Plan-Praz have opened now but I haven't been able to check that out. I've also heard rumours that Flegere is set for one of the earliest openings for some time. I've seen quite a few cross-country skiers out already, so the snow in the lower valley already seems good enough for ski de fond, although the trails haven't yet been groomed.

As I write this it's early afternoon, the cloud is breaking up a little and the sun has just come out. The temperature at our house in Argentiere is 3ºC.

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