Chamonix Snow Report: 7th April 2008

After our exertions at the end of last week we headed for Le Tour on Saturday for two reasons, we wanted to avoid the weekend crowd (there was an event on at Grands Montets) plus the Aiguilettes de Possettes drag had reopened after a few days out of commission and we hoped there would be fresh tracks to be found there.

We accessed the system via Vallorcine and it was soon obvious that both on and off piste the snow was in great condition. It did change though the day with the front side becoming softer and therefore better as the day went on, also the off piste was distinctly better higher up on the Vallorcine side.

The Aiguilettes was good but slightly crusty in places, the best snow we found off piste was high up on the Vallorcine side of the Tete de Balme where the snow was soft and light, but there was still fun to be had in the afternoon above Charamillion after the sun had softened the off piste snow creating spring like conditions. All the pistes were in good shape with mostly soft snow over a firm base.

We headed for Grands Montets on Monday. The friend who had been visiting last week was fortunate enough to have his flight home cancelled due to the snow in England (cannot comment on English snow as it is not in my job description) and had a three day extension to his holiday, courtesy of the airline.

There had been at least 20cm overnight and there were fantastic conditions both on and off piste. We had a bin booked on the top section of the cable car but unfortunately it was closed all day due to wind, so it's all still all up there waiting…

We got some fresh lines early on in the Lavancher and the Italian bowls, plus the secret stash was as usual untouched. We also managed to get some lines in perfect snow on the ridge with the Catex on skiers right of the Lavancher bowl, but the access was a bit sketchy requiring a some exposed down climbing, I will take a rope next time!

The on piste conditions are good too, with powder on the unbattered black pistes and the other runs soft. The home run is holding up well, not too crowded even at four thirty. The middle section had gotten very soft but was still great fun, despite tired legs.

The avalanche threat remains at 3, considerable, and is set to remain there. The forecast is for tomorrow to be overcast with a likelihood of the Foehn Wind, aka the snow eater. Light rain, or snow above 1200m in the afternoon, more disturbances through the rest of the week.

Check out what to do around town once the lifts have closed with our latest Apres Ski Report - a weekly round up of what's hot and where to party in Chamonix!