A group of snowboarders are walking down a snowy slope

Skiers on a snowy slope with mountains in the background

A ski lift going up a snow covered mountain

The sun is shining through the clouds over the mountains

Chamonix Snow Report: 8th January 2010

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

There has been a good amount of snow these past few days in Chamonix, some fresh powder lines have been common all week and although there has been a fair amount of cloud passing through the valley, there has been one blue bird day followed by a theme of inversions in the weather system, where it has been fairly clear up mountain but white out in the valley. It now seems that everyone has recovered from the party season and a lot of holiday makers have returned to snow in their own little corner of the world, so it has been fairly tranquil in the valley. With chilled out queues and nice empty slopes, we've been able to score some fresh snow without the mad rush that December can have sometimes.

Up in Grand Montets the pisters have been working overtime to fill in a large crevasse on the top of the piste on the top gondola lift. This summer was very dry and very warm, which was great for summer activities, it hasn't been great for the glaciers and a lot of the permanent snow pack has unfortunately disappeared this summer. However, the guys at CMB have been working really hard to push snow in to the crevasses to make it safe for us all to ride.

Today was the first day the gondola was open and it attracted those who noticed the inversion in the weather system to come ride this epic piste for the first time this season. I was coaching today and we didn't get a chance to go up the top lift, but I'll send a report through on that as soon as I do. With the glaciers I would exercise extreme caution if riding or touring them this year especially early on in the season as it will take a long time to fill in the holes left from the summer. After climbing and riding the Mont Blanc du Tacul in October, I noticed how big the holes have become up on the glaciers, so I will personally not be riding them till February or I until think there has been sufficient snow to fill them. Don't get me wrong, there has been a lot of snow this season especially over the past month, but it will take time to fill in the crevasses so always seek advice from guides before going on glaciated tours etc.

I went up Le Tour the other day and got some amazing pictures which you can see opposite. There was an amazing inversion where the cloud was just sitting a little below where we wanted to ride, not only giving us spectacular views but also a good opportunity to see where we were going and ride some of the fresh stuff!

It now looks like we have more weather coming though and some more cold temperatures, so the month of January is definitely looking like one of the best I have seen so far! don't hesitate to book your holiday over here before the mad rush of February begins, and score some fresh, tranquil, cold, dry powder snow!

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!