We’ve noted a few threads from folks off on extended trips this winter and are looking for some willing volunteers to email us ‘reader snow snippets’ and maybe a pic or two of the day etc.
Ideally, you’d be in a resort for a season, or a few weeks at a time, but we’re happy to post updates from anyone out ion a trip.
Send them to me on a weekday, and I’ll pop them up on the same (or as soon as possible) day.
We’ve already got one volunteer for Chamonix ... anyone else?
Hi Wendy, if its any use Im in Montgeneve next week and then again in March, also possibly Puy st VIncent around 11th April, quite happy to email you with updates and pics although I’m begining to think that next week may be just white photos everywhere with this weather coming in from Russia.
I’ve just spent the day in Engelberg and the snow is falling heavy at the moment - so yes, whiteout for pics today! Haven’t seen any views yet. Fab powder high up though, but challenging conditions - and it was only my first ski this season
Noting your Puy St V trip - would be excellent if you could also file a report for us (or send me some news) - we don’t get many reports from there.
Hi all, well we just got back from the Haute Alps and Montgenevre today and I just thought I’d share a quick update on the piste conditions snow/weather etc. We arrived on Thursday 17th Dec just for a few days in Montgenevre and were on slope by 1pm, Reported snow depths are 40cm bottom and 70cm at the top, the piste is in excellent condition thanks to some fresh if light falls early part of last week, conditions Thursday were sunny but really cold, around -10 at resort level. We were warned about venturing off piste due to cover depths but on piste was fine Thursday with only a few hard packed/icy areas on the slightly steeper pistes. Friday 18th we woke to light snow and cloud and this did not stop until around 10am Saturday. Goggles were the order of the day but a least the cloud kept the temperatures feeling a little warmer. The snow kept falling all day with approximately 5/10cm falling. The snowfall feshened up the slopes with great skiing everywhere. Very limited lifts open so far though. Saturday the 19th, great skiing everywhere with blue skies and most lifts suddenly open , slopes were deserted all three days, however in 20 years skiing I can bearly remember temperatures so cold, we went to the Gondron bowl at the very top of the resort and it was in the region of -30 with windchill at midday, regardless to say pistes were deserted up there with everyone staying below the tree line. All in all some very good skiing all day though and for the time of year although the depths are not up to last year at this time things are pretty good. Just wish I didn’t have to return home quite so soon.
We are spending our second year here in le Villaret just below Valmorel and having bought a season’s liftpass we can update you on conditions here anytime. After very very cold temperatures but not much snow (except last Sunday night when we had a nightmare journey back from Geneva airport, son’s plane diverted to Lyon, five hours late getting home) we now have heavy rain(!) which has washed some snow away. We skied Monday and Wednesday when the links with St Francois were still closed and only about half the pistes on the Valmorel side were open. Today the Grande Domaine was open and in fact the snow on the Francois side seemed in better condition but the home run back to Combelouviere had to be closed as it has already worn down to the grass again. Main pistes like the Planchamp and Mont Olivet are also closed. We can see that huge mounds of artificial have been stockpiled during the very cold spell but they don’t seem to be deploying them much. Maybe because the resort is still relatively quiet and they are saving it for next week. Joyeux Noel to all my fellow bloggers and I’ll try to keep you updated from time to time.
Many thanks. Hope you don’t mind if we post a few snow snippets from your reports. More people will see them then.
Rose: what’s it like out in Valmorel for the New year weekend?
It would be great if you were able to update us on snow conditions through the season - and I’ll post them as snow snippets if there’s a major dump, change, lack of snow etc.
Hi Wendy
You are not going to like this but it has absolutely poured with rain all day and the temperatures are considered mild for the time of year so I guess the snow isn’t going to be much improved unless at high altitude. There is also a high avalanche risk posted. Looking from my window here at 1000metres, I can see snow down to the foot of the Valmorel home pistes but I bet it won’t be in very good condition. Certainly the lower runs down to Combelouviere and Cote Soleil won’t have held up. The TV forecast is for better snow on Friday (down to 1500m) but they are about as accurate as British TV forecasts so don’t hold your breath. I’ll let you know how we get on next time we go out to ski.
Yours Rose
Many thanks for this. I’ve just updated our snow snippets. It’s raining in Somerset too! What bizarre weather we’re having in Europe at the moment - just a few miles further north, they’ve had heavy snow.
As you have reported already, we had a good dump of snow last Monday here in Valmorel which improved the pistes considerably. They are still making snow though whenever they can as it has been pretty chilly. It almost looks as though you in England have had more snow than we have but the forecast is for us to have three days of heavy snow starting tomorrow. For those driving to the Alps, be aware that northern France has suffered in the same way as most of Britain and traffic conditions are not good. But now the holidays are over, the resort seems very quiet.
Yours Rose C
i am in zermatt for the next three weeks. Yesterday we had further fresh snow of about 15-20 cm. Not all of the ski routes are open yet.
not much wind so off to Valtournache today. cheers Bob
Hi Wendy
We appear to have fallen into a pattern of 2/3 sunny days followed by a day of snow which is good because we ski in the sunshine and then get a top up of snow every so often which is keeping the pistes refreshed. It’s still very quiet and one doesn’t see too many classes lined up by the side of the piste so maybe the resorts are having a lean time.
Forecast for the weekend - Friday and Saturday to be “veiled” sunshine with more snow on Sunday.
Yours Rose
Just come back from a quick trip round the slopes with light snow falling. We went today as we hear the next two or three days might be quite cold and snowy. This is good for maintaining the pistes of course but there is nothing like feeling the sun on your face too…......
Rose
