A man wearing a blue jacket that says ' bergans ' on it

A group of people sitting at tables in front of a snowy mountain

A shadow of a person is cast on a snowy road

A person standing next to a car with a snowboard on top of it

Chamonix Snow Report: 7th February 2011

featured in Snow report Author Kieran Sharp, Updated 24 October 2014

Absolutely gorgeous sunny weather awaits you here in Chamonix, and a nice little temperature increase has brought what we might begin to consider spring time conditions to a crystal clear and present reality. With this reality there doesn't seem to be any honest weather predictions that could possibly bring snow to this brilliant excuse of a valley. You are going to have to accept the fact that unless you have the coin to pay your way across an ocean or two you won't be finding any better conditions that are currently presented at this point in space and time.

We have some of the highest mountains in Europe in Chamonix, slopes facing every aspect, a lift pass which covers 3 countries and possibly the largest area to ride on the continent. Certain hills are rumoured to close, but guaranteed we will have something on the lift pass to ride till the end of season, and even though there are many rocks poking around if you are out here for a holiday you will certainly find something which might bring you some small amount of amusement and possibly even pleasure.

Right now it's about getting on the south facing slopes early, before the inevitable soup conditions occur later on the afternoon. Or getting up the Grand Montets which is still in pretty good condition and when the sun hits these slopes after midday it's an amazing place to ride, or simply sit out and enjoy a hot chocolate with rum and admire the view.

My big thing at the moment is hitting Grand Montets every day in the afternoon and spending my time on my rock board jibbing the many rocks around, practicing my spins and getting myself inside the park when it's soft enough. The park can be quite a fearful thing for most people and I have had my share of broken bones in this particular park! Now that it's soft it's so much more appealing so I have begun the mental process of performing in this great and pleasurable place.

If you can understand that no one is judging you in this place then that will help a lot, of course you will get a woo or a whey depending on if you land something cool or stack something hard! Understand that your body and your mind have good habits and bad habits. Before you land something cool, or stack something hard your mind and body knew it was going to go one of these two ways. Believe that it isn't a psychic ability, simply your body and mind understand and communicate to each other letting the essence of what is you know that you are about to adhere to one of these sets of habits. Believe this process to be true and when you feel the bad habits coming in then don't bother. If you feel pressured to do your jump or trick and your bad habits are about to switch on, then don't do it! Get yourself in to a happy place, try to switch your good on, do something simple to start with and land that trick or whatever you do!

Right now après ski in the sun is the thing to do after you inevitably ski or even snowboard or blade. Les Rhododendrons bar in Les Praz at the bottom of the Flegere lift is a brilliant place to be with live music and happy hours to suit, and some of the most amazing chilled après ski views in the solar system! Don't worry about lack of snow out here, get on over, book that trip and enjoy, sun, beer, snow and rocks!

Check out our Mountain Guide Listings for contact details of local guiding and activity companies.

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