 Poster: A snowHead
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@HammondR, mighty fine!!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Heading out to Chamonix this weekend with my partner and trying to get a sense of options as the off piste is still likely to be hairy by then. Does anyone know if any of the in bounds touring tracks are currently open/snow covered/secured? (Does Les Houches even have an inbounds track any more???) And are they allowing any uphill beside the pistes?
Also appreciate any other insights on conditions, queues etc!
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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@schauspiele, "hairy"? totally effing fatal, like, dying, to actual death, fatal more like.
Les Houches has been opening, not sure about today, think the skinning track will be fine, if well worn.
Why this weekend, it is very busy!
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Was there at the weekend and the home runs from Brevent and Flegere, whilst closed at the top were snow covered all the way down and had people skinning up them - they were pisted as well though so maybe they'll be open for skiers coming down by this weekend given more snow arriving?
The Les Houches skin track definitely open - in fact unless you get there for the first bubble it's probably the quickest way up the hill down there at the moment!
Conditions in general are pretty good - if the lifts are open - e.g. Le Tour has been closed all week AFAIK. Huge amounts of snow but it's fairly heavy. We did some off-piste with a guide at GM on Sat, both Herse and Bochard were open and the slopes off both had 50-80cm fresh snow but have been closed again since (more snow). Lots of people skinning up Pierre-a-Ric if that's your thing but it was in great nick going down! In general, if the lift is open, the slopes off it have been secured and should be safe but if either Bochard or Herse are closed, do not traverse across to them - chap died doing that last year.
Brevent/Flegere pistes lovely but OP limited - Floria and Lachenal closed as well as the runs right from top of Cornu chair.
You might have timed it just right for an epic weekend but if you're not really familiar with the areas, don't go OP without a guide - I and my mates been skiing in cham twice a year for 20-odd years and we still took a guide to ski slopes we all know like the back of our hand.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Things are very unusual and dangerous here.
It has been almost continuously avalanche category 4 for quite some time, except for rising to category 5 for a bit
Well, in light of the forecast for even more snow, it is back to category 5 again for parts of the Chamonix valley tomorrow.
It’s all a bit unsettling. My chum runs some swanky chalets in nether Argentiere, and the folk on holiday there have been forbidden to even leave the buildings and the gendarmerie are strictly enforcing it.
Sunshine for one of the busiest weekends of the year could equal delight or something unpleasant
However, with careful line choice (if you know the place) there is some good skiing to be had. If you are not stuck in nether Argentiere.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Argentiere proper or montroc?
The skin track in les houches exists, i did it a week ago.
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| under a new name wrote: |
@schauspiele, "hairy"? totally effing fatal, like, dying, to actual death, fatal more like.
Les Houches has been opening, not sure about today, think the skinning track will be fine, if well worn.
Why this weekend, it is very busy! |
Was 'hairy' a bit too subtle for your tastes?  Thanks for the Les Houches update, much appreciated.
As to why this weekend, it's too cold and wet to go rock climbing, we had flights planned and all our gear is in a garage in Chamonix so limited options to go elsewhere, might as well try and do something! But v alive to the current risks.
Thanks again.
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| jma wrote: |
Was there at the weekend and the home runs from Brevent and Flegere, whilst closed at the top were snow covered all the way down and had people skinning up them - they were pisted as well though so maybe they'll be open for skiers coming down by this weekend given more snow arriving?
The Les Houches skin track definitely open - in fact unless you get there for the first bubble it's probably the quickest way up the hill down there at the moment!
Conditions in general are pretty good - if the lifts are open - e.g. Le Tour has been closed all week AFAIK. Huge amounts of snow but it's fairly heavy. We did some off-piste with a guide at GM on Sat, both Herse and Bochard were open and the slopes off both had 50-80cm fresh snow but have been closed again since (more snow). Lots of people skinning up Pierre-a-Ric if that's your thing but it was in great nick going down! In general, if the lift is open, the slopes off it have been secured and should be safe but if either Bochard or Herse are closed, do not traverse across to them - chap died doing that last year.
Brevent/Flegere pistes lovely but OP limited - Floria and Lachenal closed as well as the runs right from top of Cornu chair.
You might have timed it just right for an epic weekend but if you're not really familiar with the areas, don't go OP without a guide - I and my mates been skiing in cham twice a year for 20-odd years and we still took a guide to ski slopes we all know like the back of our hand. |
This sounds really positive, thank you. We are more than happy to walk uphill if that's the only thing going! Glad you had a good weekend!
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@schauspiele, hah hah fair enough.
Apparently 5/5 again, Mrs has closed the back shutters 
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Well, today was a good day at Grands Montets with a foot or thereabouts of nice light powder! Hope others were able to get out and enjoy and @HammondR, hope your friend's tenants have been released from captivity.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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@belette,  First one I've heard of that actually slid across the piste? I mean, sure, 1 is too many, but there aren't that many?
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My grizzly old timer team have had many a season here and been on some wild and woolly adventures.
However, we are becoming collectively stumped for planning worthwhile safe ish trips.
I suppose we need to just sit tight and wait for the snow to transform at mid mountain levels.
But a question mark remains over this sodding persistent weak layer.
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You know it makes sense.
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That is terrifying 
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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@BobinCH, Indeed. I can't believe that no-one was caught and not recovered
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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It is so dodgy above the Col des Montets that it is only open to vehicles at night at the moment
Daytime vehicle movements are limited to supply vehicles in escorted convoys
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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@HammondR,
@belette, I don't think so. I mean, "never, ever" events do happen.
And for sure the culture, say 30 years ago would totally support that: a great friend and his colleague, both pisteurs - were sent reluctantly up the mountain in a snow cat with no helo (or other rescue) cover to bomb an avalanche so the resort could open - and the avalanche triggered under their weight, both dying - but the resulting outcry provoked broad installation of Gazex guns across the resort and massive revisions to the safety protocols.
So I think it's pretty unlikely - today - that commercial pressures will overload mountain safety. Not least as those "responsible" will be on the criminal liability hook if anyone gets hurt.
However, a week of snowfall of the likes not seen in 30 years or longer - with a dramatic reversal of temperatures immediately afterwards (it's about 18C in Chamonix right now) and it's not unlikely that even the best artists of the art will get it wrong.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Where is the best free parking for a week in Chamonix?
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Long time lurker, first time poster. Going out to Chamonix for the first time on March 23rd for three days, staying near Savoy lift. The weather looks to have been very warm recently and would like some advice on where to ski and whether the Vallee Blanche would be in good shape, father and daughter both good piste skiers, OK off piste but not brilliant. Father sadly now less good skier than daughter. Have a car so can drive to Le Tour/Grant Montets/Les Houches
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@slowhead, two weeks out a bit for for proper forecasting.
Grands Montets good if firm on piste yesterday, a bit (very) scratchy off piste. Home run actually really nice. Possibilities of some precipitation this weekend.
No idea re VB but lots of skis going up and down aiguille so one could assume OK.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@slowhead, re post in a week and you should receive some useful feedback
At the moment, as pointed out above, you are too far out.
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Thanks for quick replies, will ask again when the weather gods have spoken.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Back in chamonix for the 3rd time this winter, and for the 3rd time snow is forecasted! hopefully not the same amount as the last times but I am beginning to think I should buy more lottery tickets
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Arrived in Chamonix last night to 10 degrees Celsius and rain. Barely any snow to be seen in Chamonix town. Not looking good. But when I woke up this morning, there was a trace of snow on the rooftops. It was still cloudy but obvious that it was sunny above and I could see the snow on the trees not far above town.
As I drove up the valley to Le Tour, there was more and more old snow on the ground as it is higher and higher elevation. Then, past Les Grands Montets ski area, all the tree branches became completely covered in thick white snow that had fallen last night creating a beautiful winter wonderland with the snow covered peaks in the background(what one imagines the Alps should look like). Obviously, the snow had been very wet at this level. There was 5 cm of snow in the parking lot and it seemed fluffy.
At the ski area it was at least 7 cm of new snow and a fantastic morning of skiing on nice, fluffy powder from top to bottom, perhaps 10cm new snow at the top. Mont Blanc looked incredible. Light winds, comfortable temperature, great snow, little to no lift lines.
All runs have a good base although it had gotten icy underneath the fluffy stuff as one occasionally heard scraping in turns on groomed runs. Clouds slowly built up during the day arriving from the valley but it stayed mostly sunny on the slopes with layers above and below either looking pretty to some or blocking views of the spectacular scenery in the afternoon.
In the afternoon, it warmed enough to make the new snow heavy and spring skiing, especially down low. The only real line up was the main chair at 5 minutes. Would be nice if they replaced some of the pomas with chairlifts.
All runs at Le Tour have great snow coverage although the one run that goes way down into the valley is closed(I was told that those runs at the ski areas at Chamonix are rarely open). There are some bare areas to be seen in areas in direct sunlight. Apparently, it has been warm for a while but I suppose all that snow is still keeping things together.
Tomorrow should be good followed by new snow.
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Today, I went to les Grands Montets, a 15 minute drive from Chamonix town. Keep in mind that you cannot get all the way to the very top as that gondola is being rebuilt.
It was clear blue skies to start but clouded over in mid-afternoon with the approach of a weather system. Still, the clouds were thin enough to let some sunlight through.
The snow base is excellent with barely a rock showing except the ones that one might expect on the difficult runs.
The snow for skiing on is still somewhat powdery near the top and on some runs not facing the sun. But a couple of black runs I went on were very challenging due to the crusty snow, which is not packed down yet. On-piste grooming was fairly good but still soft ice patches to ski around with plenty of loose snow to aim for for starting the turns.
Line-ups were short to none. The food was excellent. The views spectacular.
Therefore, it was much more icy day for skiing. The usual softening happened at lower altitudes, although not fully as the sun is not direct on most of this ski area. All that being said, it really doesn't matter as I was told that 30 cm of snow is expected tomorrow. I will rest and recover with a day off and do a few errands around town. The hard-core skiers can have the mountains to themselves tomorrow.
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You know it makes sense.
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Skinned up from bottom of grand montets today, to the glacier view point. Found some nice powder in places up there.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Fresh snow today. Rain in town in the morning, snow in the afternoon, accumulation starting around 4pm. Therefore, snow at all levels of ski areas.
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Poster: A snowHead
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@Blakegreid, thank you for all the helpful reports. Hope you enjoyed the new snow today!
Saturday at Grands Montets was glorious despite the occasionally low vis. The magic forest was fantastic...
Headed up to the VB today, super crowded on the main route, we peeled off a little early and skied untouched but very heavy, wind affected powder down as far as the Salle a Manger.
Potentially bringing a friend up for an easy ski tour off the Midi next weekend so grateful for any insight into snow quality up there as the week progresses.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Amazing conditions on GM yesterday, but VERY wind-loaded in places, particularly bottom end of Lavancher bowl.
Saw a skier repacking their airbag after triggering a slide. Then another one ski over that slide, onto an identical aspect/gradient slope 100m later, for that to slide as well.
First time I've seen someone skiing with an avalanche flowing around their legs. Quite disturbing. He made it to safe ground.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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@snowdave,
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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That’s slightly terrifying. My wife and I get to Cham Sunday night to ski the following week with Johann from chamex. Really excited to be back in the valley and hoping for good (and safe) conditions.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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The wind has indeed been at work.
As we neared the end of the Retour Pendant lift yesterday, someone was skiing the slope visible behind and facing the Liftie hut
Then the slope just went.
About a foot in depth to the old hard layer
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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@HammondR, very similar to where we were. Just above the plateau that requires a 10min walk back to the lift; continuation of the "normal" Lavancher bowl routes into the gullies down to that plateau. It was about 10.30 yesterday morning.
After crossing a purged slope, I stopped (on a rise) to evaluate the second section, and was figuring out the best way back to the safety of the trees, when the "victim" skied straight past me onto the next slope which immediately gave way with him on it.
I wonder how many of these events never make it into the stats? Two separate skier-triggered slides with surviving participants and no external rescue involved. Both slopes were only borderline steep enough, which explained the lack of burials; the slide speed was low, the snow was soft so the skier apparently was skiing "normally", and essentially the snow slid at a constant depth rather than pooling.
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Was skiing today at Brevant and La Flegere. No avalanche issues noted today except the ones that appeared to have happened yesterday due to blasting.
Unfortunately, it stayed cloudy or thin cloud with not much sun. Too bad as we could see blue sky in the distance. Therefore, the snow did not soften as much as it could have. Plenty of scraping sounds from skiers today. No lift lines. Lots of snow. Day off tomorrow from skiing(for paragliding) and then to the 15 km Vallee Blanche ski run of a lifetime on the Mont Blanc glacier(Aguille Du Midi). With all the skiers up there, apparently, it is natural grooming for a few days to push down the heavy powder and make it easier to ski(I heard up to 500 skiers per day). Forecast is good but that is what they said for today as well.
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