Serre Chevalier Area 2025 / 2026

A snowHead

Have been to SC door SoPiB for the last few years not going this year but taking fam for HT. Every SoPiB has been hurting for snow and then delivering at the last moment.
It makes such a change to have snow snow snow in SC in advance of my trip Smile

A snowHead

Not a bad morning snowHead

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

I wholeheartedly concur. Had to brush about 8-10inches from the van roof this morning. A good bit more up the hill. Easy knee deep around the place.

You need to Login to know who's really who.

Not too bad, though putting the extremely fussy hat on, and @kenx, I know, would agree, it did get a wee bit heavier lower down, so one almost had to stop to give the legs a rest Laughing

We did first lifts CDB and it was a take-no-prisoners descent at full warp speed in a mixture of 15cm on one part of the piste and/or much deeper to the side Cool

Then it was back up to play in the trees, and then back down the lower section of the Casse, and legs were screaming, though there was still a fair amount of untracked deep to the side, and that was a better strategy for the legs to ski that straightish Laughing

However yesterday, was possibly the finest day of the season so far!

We'd already done one little skin up a "bump" that some others had the audacity to already lay some tracks down without my permission Laughing

And then going up Gauthier we saw Eychauda open and I was dreading the feckfest of a queue as with that open it's pointless to skin back up my bump as people were now hiking it from the ridge, and the queue was not too bad, but as ever 50% maybe didn't have any security with them, and it would be so easy to police that, and that would keep the numbers down, he says being totally selfish Laughing

Going up the drag I had a lightbulb moment and we ended up with this.

Route finding is quite complex as you do it, taking into account how the snow is underfoot, as you get lower, so the snow gets more sunshine, so you ski away from that aspect and back into cold snow.

Then it's a worthwhile climb back out, and as you can see it's a fair old route as we drop down off that ridge on the horizon.

There were other routes we could have taken there, basically coming through that rock band in the middle, but it's quite a steep pitch out of there, but I was being very, very cautious, given the snow-pack etc

Monday / Tuesday, we were at the Ski Force Pro ski test, good piste conditions on Monday and then light champagne powder worthy of Japan for the first couple of runs in the morning, and I could have skied that with any set of skis, it was so forgiving.

And now the crazy season starts, we've been down to the supermarket which was eerily the calm before the storm to stock up, and it looks like the snow is set to continue next week, and that's putting it mildly Laughing

One of the pluspoints (hopefully, as I haven't checked) is that some lifts start at 08:30 so you can get a good half hour ahead of the groups that said the next four weeks is more famille focused and not so many freeriders etc

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

You'll need to Register first of course.

So we had yet more snow Thurs night Friday early hours, about 30cm of heavy wet snow that did dry out a little and Ken and I did first lifts CDB and tore down the piste in varying levls and quality of fresh snow, then it was back up to play in the trees and then back down by which time the lower section of the Casse was hard work on the legs.

Then Saturday, OH and I went up to the new Refuge Clot des Vaches and on the trail up from Pont de L'Alpe, Ullr off the lead came face to face with a nonchalant Bouquetin, and neither really knew what to do, though luckily I had the lead to hand and then the Bouquetin disappeared off down a steep drop.

The climb up was not too bad and we had another beastie keeping a watchful eye on us.

Approaching the refuge.

Once at the refuge, I spotted a nice, but safe line, and climbed up there while OH chilled on the terrace, and had a sweet descent back down and then a hearty bowl of soup.

Last season Ken and I climbed the steep face to the ridge behind the refuge that you can just about make out, but no way this season!!

And I'd only been back down a short while and @AndAnotherThing.., sent me this photo of two big avalanches across the Isolee piste that you access from the Eychauda drag, no one was caught, and the drag was immediately closed, but this really shows how dangerous it is, as that is not that steep there!

Off out on the skinny skis this morning as last chance for a good few days looking at the forecast as more snow, and maybe rain in the valley Sad

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

@Weathercam, what fabulous photos! What do you use to take the shots of yourself skiing? Looks gorgeous out there. Excited at the prospect of all the snow but not so much so about the rain …was hoping to escape that after all the rain we’ve had here!
We’ll be driving in on Sunday morning after an overnight stay in Macon so hopefully a little quieter than the Sat and, if the forecast can be trusted this far in advance, in the chilly sunshine.

After all it is free

Hi all. First time here and first time visiting Montgenevre in March.

Does anyone have a recommendations for ski hire, restaurants for a group of 14 adults and children and any must see/do places and activities?

Had an unexpectedly fantastic bit of slackcountry today, first time on a S-facing off-piste this season, left it till after midday for any crust to soften and bingo! The crust had turned to cream, on a powder base, perfect, only around 500m descent, but a nice way to kill a few hours Very Happy

IMG_0546 by Ken Reeve, on Flickr

IMG_0548 by Ken Reeve, on Flickr

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

Fatal slide in Montgenevre today. Two taken in the slide, one survived. Local guys that I’ve met in the last couple of weeks. Shocked is an understatement.

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

Any word where? We did half a dozen laps in the L'Aigle sector with a guide on Friday and had one of the best days of my life. Tragic.

snow reports

@rogg, jeees this is getting ludicrous, feel like hanging my touring gear up until Spring!

I haven't dared go up anywhere from the Lautaret at all this season!

My OH is paranoid enough as it is, and I have not shown/told her the half of it.

I'll just continue with my low-angle/nothing above me strategy as well as cross-country, oh and a bit of piste.

Again, lightly snowing this morning, and forecast(s) have varying degrees of accumulations, and some have rain in the valley Sad

I was looking at the outlook for next week, as I have family over and will be acting "Papi" to a ten-year-old, so my wings will be sort of clipped next week, but again looks to be unsettled at times.

Not too sure how much we'll get but you can see it building on the webcam, might put a bottle of rosé out on the table again Laughing

https://stylealtitude.com/serrechevalierweathercam.html

You know it makes sense.

Looks very steep? And very poorly bonded

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

@8611, certainly looks steep judging by the contours........

A snowHead

Quite a popular face. Traverse left off Rocher de l'Aigle and then boot pack up Sommet de la Plan.

A snowHead

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

You need to Login to know who's really who.

And more incidents in the general region reported by davidof-

https://pistehors.com/

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Bottle of Rose monitor on the table this morning, nigh on 20cms of soggy wet snow, I'm getting to the stage where not much more room to clear the snow from the terrace as I have to keep a path for the dogs to go around Laughing

Taps are really turned on at the moment, watch it puke on the webcam Very Happy

https://stylealtitude.com/serrechevalierweathercam.html

This morning's plan, nice safe pasture meadows ski touring direct from the village which is not normally possible, just have to find a route through the trees which I last skied about ten years ago, heading towards the Granon but think I'll only be able to manage circa 500m breaking trail in this Shocked

Of course all actually subject to getting the van out and being able to drive and then park !!!!

You'll need to Register first of course.

@Weathercam, you're gonna need a magnum at this rate!

Would you say the snow line is a bit lower than forecast?

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

Just enjoyed the next Olympic sport - live terrace clearance!!
Dont think I've ever seen it that deep in your garden!

After all it is free

@leggyblonde, was pleasantly surprised that we had snow and no rain having read reports from elsewhere.

That said snow was really heavy as we skinned up the trail which we lost at times such was the depth of the snow.

Luckily Ullr helped break trail but was still really hard work and we only managed 400m as the snow didn't get any lighter as we climbed up.

Descent was challenging in that snow and terrain but great fun and skied all the way back to the van in old La Salle which you don't get to do too often.

Then great bowl of soup in La Cantina at the Aravet, before Olympic snow clearing on the terrace, and think that was a tougher workout than skinning up the trail earlier.

Forecast for more snow tomorrow, but different levels of accumulation depending on which forecast you look at.

A lengthy closure of the Lauteret from 7pm tonight until 12 on Friday.

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

Hi. @weathercam. Loved watching you clean your patio this afternoon, and then your dog En-guarde.

Can't wait to get there on Saturday. We've done Flaine, L2A and ADH every year - creatures of habit....

This will probably get moved, BUT we are 2 intermediate (100% social / apres) skiers with 20 ski seasons done, love hard greens and easy blues and the very easy reds, early 50's and we are both post op since last feb (1x foot and 1x shoulder), where is the best point to go, to avoid the beginner crowds.

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

@Halowa, who is moving anything?

Which village are you staying in?

snow reports

Rock Noir.
La Salle.

@Weathercam, mesmerised by the snow on on your webcam this morning. Think youre going to need a Melchizedek on the table this week!!

You know it makes sense.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

@Gilbotron, will have a better idea later tomorrow

@Halowa, I'll give you a more detailed response later, do you have transport?

But next week will be rammed everywhere, best strategy do the 08:30 lifts and do buy Joy lift pass extension that gives you priority

A snowHead

@weathercam we are used to busy lifts / times.

We have transfers from Grenoble, no car.

Both teachers so only can do feb half term, although we sometime do Easter as well.

A snowHead

@Halowa, well buy the NJoy will be so worth the investment especially for next week!

Currently going up the hill from Pointillas hardly anyone around, wind seems to be picking up armed with the special skis that have not had an outing for 7 or so years Very Happy

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Wind's howling up top, skied back down to change skis, as have just found out that skis that have not been used for years have no glide Laughing

Not too sure how long Pointless will keep open, no beginners or snow shoes allowed up, and seems far windier on the second lap!

Bizarre seems like winds eased nearing the top Puzzled

You need to Login to know who's really who.

Meanwhile here in the Chantermerle sector, yet another day of knee-deep pillow-hopping in the trees above Ratier, actually a bit lighter snow today and a guy on the lift I was chatting to said it was better here than Villeneuve, though I have no idea why that should be???

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

You'll need to Register first of course.

Early pickup from Milan this morning, finished by midday so hit the slopes just after the deluge when the sun came out. Just a few laps above observatountracked (but vey low angle). Massive slides evident all round the area.

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

Some of this copied from another thread.....

Well, today we saw so many people skiing lines without any kit, and for the vast majority the terrain was safe, and on the ridge hike lookers left, as you take the Vallons chair, I told a few feckwits in no uncertain terms what I thought, though also didn't want them ripping our lines Laughing

The best, however, was a woman who had done the ten min ridge hike and was standing on the edge, and I asked her (she had no backpack) where here security was, and she pointed at her chest, and said it was under her jacket, so I asked her where her shovel and probes were and to that she said her son had them, I asked where he was and she said down the slope already, you just can't make it up rolling eyes

For sure, that pitch looks ok and is not uber steep, but I've seen that whole face go as it propagates across the face, and we had already skied it once but why oh why isn't there a sign up at the start of the hike advising people that they need the neccessary gear, I do think that the resort could up their education game!

Snowpack was way better than expected after yesterday's wind, though it was wind-affected, so a tad technical to ski at times.

And I'd dug out yesterday, and serviced by old Blackcrows Atris, which must be nigh on ten years old, and they still ski so well Very Happy

On the second run we held a high line and traversed across all the avy debris below the Balme Couloir where the whole face had been dislodged, and I was sort of taking it in turns with a guide and his two clients.

I got to the lovely line first that we were both heading to, and I took it and then heard him shouting, so I went into instant paranoia thinking I'd set something off so tore out of the glade to the side, I then came back out and skied down to him asking him why he was shouting and he said he was warning me about some of the death cookies hiding in the snow, to which I replied that it was indeed a good stratgey to get me to stop so he could take the better line, to which we had a good giggle Laughing

But he was being genuine.

Looks like a bit of respite for the weekend, though could be windy, and then Mon / Tues very stormy, which is not good for the vast % of people next week, including my niece and her little one Sad

And Lautaret still closed, now estimated 20:00 (original opening was Noon) so a fair number of people leaving/arriving would have had to take the long way round.

After all it is free

@Weathercam, I'm wondering if they are going to keep it shut overnight and open early tomorrow? It's going to make it an interesting transfer day if it doesn't open.

Lauteret has reopened.

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

MY deepest apologies, they have now said it is closed again. Perhaps it would be better to make a decision now ! YOu couldn't make it up, it is chaotic.

Help!!

Serre Chevalier Area 2025 / 2026

snowHeads Forum Index >>> Snow Reports - weather - snow conditions