Half Term Snow Conditions – What to Expect
February 9th, 2010 - Posted by: Powder Monkey
Next week, February half-term, is one of the most popular for British skiers to hit the slopes. If you are among those heading for the French or Swiss Alps for the holidays you are likely to find excellent snow conditions wherever your chosen resort. If December was a little disappointing snow-wise January was outstanding with decent snowfalls on an almost weekly basis – making for current snow depths in excess of 3m in some areas, notably Chamonix. The most recent dump of snow on last Friday (05/02/10) was also one of the heaviest of the season so far with up to 50cm of fresh falling across a whole host of resorts including Tignes, Val Thorens and La Plagne in France and Verbier, Zermatt and Saas Fee in Switzerland.
- Fresh snow in France in last 7 days
http://www.snow-forecast.com/maps/dynamic/france
Tags: Avalanche Risk, Chamonix, Half Term Skiing, Saas Fee, Snow Condtions, Tignes, Val d'Isere, Verbier, Zermatt
Posted in Skiing for Families, Snow Forecasts, Snowjet, Weather & Snow Conditions | No Comments »
Winter 08/09 – Officially a Record Breaker
June 10th, 2009 - Posted by: Powder Monkey
Meteo France’s roundup of the winter 08/09 snow conditions proved what I had suspected, having skied more powder than piste, that the season was exceptional. Reading the article I reflected on some of my best days on the hill.
Tags: Bessans, Chamonix, Montgenevre, Queras, Saint Veran, Snow Depth, Snowfall
Posted in News from the Alps, Weather & Snow Conditions | 2 Comments »
Optimum Snow Conditions in the French Alps
March 18th, 2009 - Posted by: Powder Monkey
Mid-march and the snow out in the French Alps is in still in optimum condition. On Monday and Tuesday of last week snow fell continuously for 48 hours, dumping over a metre of powder in some places.
The massive accumulation of snow in Tignes meant that the third stage of the Freeride World Tour, scheduled to be held early in the week, had to be postponed until Thursday. When the event finally got underway, competitors made the most of the incredible conditions on the pristine Grand Balme face, riding faster and going bigger than you and I would have thought humanly possible. Check it out.
Tags: Chamonix, Freestyle, St Gervais, Tignes
Posted in Events in the Alps, Weather & Snow Conditions | No Comments »
Life’s Good in Chamonix’s Off Piste Paradise
January 30th, 2009 - Posted by: Powder Monkey
Although the massive pre-season snowfalls and sub-zero temperatures had ensured that the pistes were still in great great shape prior to the latest dump, there had been no significant fresh since New Year’s Eve. Until 18th January, that is, when the skies opened up and it snowed for 3 days straight. Wednesday 21st was the first blue sky day following the dump and we were fortunate and motivated enough to get first tracks down the backside of Le Tour at the Swiss end of the Chamonix Valley. Check out our lines in 50cm of fluffy white stuff.
Powder Monkey looking very untidy
Tags: Chamonix, Weather & Snow Conditions
Posted in Weather & Snow Conditions | No Comments »
Skiing is Believing
December 7th, 2008 - Posted by: Powder Monkey
The Grands Montets sector of the Chamonix ski area opened a week ago for weekend skiing. Chamonix is the latest French ski resort to open ahead of schedule thanks to heavy and frequent snowfalls across the Alps in November. It began snowing again in Cham on Thursday and it dumped in earnest on Friday, so the snow up at Grands Montets was sure to be deep come the weekend. However, people-in-the-know know that the GM is not necessarily the best place to be on a powder day because the steep terrain attracts swarms of snow-hungry, powder-pillaging skiers and boarders. What’s more, Saturday’s forecast announced 0% visibility so, since there aren’t too many trees at GM to help you judge the lay of the land in a white-out, we decided to head further a field.
Tags: Chamonix, Courmayeur
Posted in News from the Alps, Weather & Snow Conditions | 1 Comment »