Is This the Best Start to the European Ski Season Ever?
November 23rd, 2008 - Posted by: Powder Monkey
The snow fell in abundance this weekend right across the Alps. Here in Chamonix we got as much as anywhere but we are still waiting on the lifts to open. The lifts usually open at weekends as soon as the conditions are good enough and at the moment the official line from Compagnie du Mont Blanc, who manage the lifts in the valley, is that they aren’t. The advance purchase of my season pass wasn’t wasted though as Chamonix’s Swiss resort partner Verbier is open for business.
We’d heard that the lifts in Verbier had been shut all day on Saturday due to high winds and the forecast for today was for more of the same, so when we set out we didn’t have very high expectations. But fortunately this time the forecasters got it wrong: no wind to speak of, hardly a cloud in the sky and 20-30cm of fluffy, light powder.
Check out this video of Powder Monkey doing what she loves best.
November 23rd, honestly.
We skied Verbier in November last year and thought it was pretty special but today really was something else. Given today’s awesome conditions and skiing the powder in Cervinia 2 weeks ago, I am wondering if this is the best start to European ski season EVER…
Tags: Cervinia, Chamonix, Verbier
Posted in Weather & Snow Conditions | 1 Comment »
Skiing Powder in November
November 10th, 2008 - Posted by: Powder Monkey
The early snowfalls across the Alps have got us chomping at the bit in resort. But it’s kind of premature to get excited about skiing here in Chamonix since the lifts don’t open officially until Christmas week. So what are 9 snow-starved Chamoniards to do with themselves of a weekend? Organise a little day trip, of course. We heard a rumour that in Cervinia, over the border in Italy, up to a metre of snow had fallen on the upper slopes in recent days. So on Friday night we dug our kit out of the back of the wardrobe, got to bed nice and early in order to rouse ourselves at 06.30, be on the road by 07.30 and be on the slopes by 09.30. The car park was pretty full when we arrived in resort. Word had clearly got out. But the mountain did not disappoint.
November Freshies!
Click more for video evidence of the unbelievable snow conditions.
Tags: Cervinia, Chamonix
Posted in Weather & Snow Conditions | 1 Comment »