Chamonix Snow Report: 5th December 2008

The flakes started falling around 16.00 yesterday (5/12), and kept up through the night. It's still snowing now. But this isn't the dry, cold, silky snow that blanketed the Alps last week. This snow, that's been falling for the last 24hrs now, is a sticky & claggy glop that weighs down tree branches and caves in rooves. It's also the sort of snow that burns out wiper blade motors on cars, so clear the snow off your windscreen before you hit that button.

Gloopy snow like this stuff - the product of warmer storms - is great early in season. It puts down a thick base that covers the rocks and fills in the pistes, so as not to ding your bases. It's not amazing to ski in because it creates substantial friction, which slows you down. The light, dry stuff - the "Champagne Powder" enjoyed by Utah, parts of Colorado & interior BC - and here last week - comes from cold weather systems, and is much better for skiing. But at this stage, we're not picky. We'll take what we're given, very happily.

We took a trip over to Courmayeur Tuesday. It's only a 20-minute drive through the Mont Blanc Tunnel, and is well worth a visit. The average slope angle is way mellower than Chamonix, and the pistes are kept in dreamy condition, making it brilliant for carving, tricks and intermediates. Furthermore, the Italians are known for their timidity off piste, so it was really easy to find fresh tracks in fairly obvious places. If you're headed to Chamonix this year, definitely get to Courmayeur for at least a day or so. It's a magical resort, made even better by the abundant bombadinos - a heady Italian cocktail of hot brandy, whiskey and egg liquer!

Grands Montets is open for the duration of the winter from tomorrow - weekdays too. If you can't remember what it's like, do check out the imaginary run that I took there a fortnight ago. The cable car will be open from 8.45...see you in the lineup!

Tom