 Poster: A snowHead
|
|
@HammondR, mighty fine!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
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!
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
@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!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
Argentiere proper or montroc?
The skin track in les houches exists, i did it a week ago.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 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!
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
@schauspiele, hah hah fair enough.
Apparently 5/5 again, Mrs has closed the back shutters 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
|
|
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.
|
@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?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
That is terrifying 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
@BobinCH, Indeed. I can't believe that no-one was caught and not recovered
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
@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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
Where is the best free parking for a week in Chamonix?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
