your guide to the best conditions

The first step to finding the best conditions is to know what you are looking for:

Powder - in the early part of the winter the lower altitude ski areas have the best conditions because they need less snow to become skiable.  The high ski areas need plenty of snow to cover rocks and fill crevasses before off-piste skiing and touring becomes reasonable.  In the later part of the winter, when the snow pack has transformed more, then you must look towards higher and north facing slopes to get powder snow.  Around Leysin and the nearby ski areas there is usually good powder early in the season and, as the season advances, the powder is still usually good around Glacier 3000, Les Diablerets and along the 'Wild' high level route.

Spring snow - in the early part of the winter spring snow can be found on lower south facing slopes.  As the season advances more higher slopes transform in response to the growing exposure to solar radiation.  Around Leysin and nearby ski areas there are many south facing slopes that transform into spring snow quickly.

Glacier skiing - in the early part of the winter the snow tends to be very light and conceals crevasses.  It is important to allow time for the snow pack to transform in heavily crevassed areas so that snow bridges are stronger and exposed areas are easier to recognise and navigate.  For bigger glaciers that are heavily crevassed the best skiing is towards the end of the winter and the start of spring.

Good ice - the lower altitude cascades are often in good condition from early December and through January.  As the winter advances the best ice conditions then tend to 'move up' the mountain.  A lot depends on the orientation of particular climbs and the change in exposure to the sun as winter turns to spring.  The higher altitude climbs tend to be in the best condition at the end of the winter and early spring.

Our winter - this is a simple overview of the skioff-piste calendar for winter 2006-07:

• December - avalanche courses, off-piste skiing, and ice climbing.

• January - avalanche courses, off-piste skiing, and ice climbing.

• February - avalanche courses, off-piste skiing, ice climbing and introductory ski touring courses and the first tours.

• March - May -  high level ski tours and high alpine climbs

See our calendar for specific dates.  We also welcome your enquiries for activities on dates not shown.