Chamonix Snow Report: 7th March 2008

I knew we were in for trouble when at half nine the queue was out the door, but I did not expect it to take well over an hour to get on the lift. The situation was made worse by the numbers able to use the priority lane.

Once actually on the hill things were fine with no delays at lifts at all. The snow conditions on piste were mainly excellent with packed powder over a firm base. One exception was the crucial area at the top of the Trap chair which is used by many beginners after skiing the easy green runs here. This area is quite steep for use by beginners at the best of times and is all the more difficult when it has lost its cover of soft snow and the hard base is showing through as was the case on Thursday afternoon. Some of the steeper red runs also had some patches of harder snow showing through.

The off piste has generally been tracked and packed, but the enterprising may still find some pitches to amuse them. The best snow of the day we found was on the black Charles Bozon run from the top of Brevent which with the altitude and the slightly shadier aspect was still light and powdery. The best off piste we found was also off the Brevent, with the Col du Brevent providing good sport, with some soft crust.

The day ended as it had started, with an hour and a half wait to descend from Flegere; we finally arrived, distinctly chilly at the bottom at six thirty and there were at least a hundred people behind us in the queue when we left. There is a warning in the cable car to leave by three thirty, my suggestion is that you don't ignore it, or better still access and exit the Flegere/Brevent system via the Brevent gondolas. You have been warned!

Unfortunately the day tour we wanted to do on Friday started from Flegere, we managed to get on the lift in only half an hour by arriving at eight forty five. The piste bashers had been hard at work on the snow overnight, and the area at the top of the Trap chair had been sorted.

The tour, the Crochues-Berard traverse which is one of my favorites, was in superb condition. The track to the first col was in fine condition, and the often difficult traverse (especially on a board) was soft not icy. The main Berard valley had lots of untracked soft powder. The final bit of combat skiing through the trees at the bottom however was a bit gnarlier than I have seen it previously. During the day we enjoyed the excellent company of the guide Dave Cummings, and I would strongly recommend a guide if you wish to do this tour.

Top tip, don't blow all your cash in the pub, get a guide and have a day out you will remember for years, unlike the night in the pub which you won't remember the next morning apart from the hangover.

The avalanche threat level remains at 3, considerable. The weather for tomorrow is set fair, the following few days are forecast to be snowy, maybe very snowy, bring it on.

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!

Cross-country skiing is Open

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.

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