2005-06 news from the slopes

news from the slopes 2005-06

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Occasional updates on conditions during winter 2005-06:

More snow in Leysin (31 May)
There have been large falls of snow at high-altitude during May and there has been good skiing on 4000m peaks. The month ended with a night of snow down to 800m in western Switzerland. The 31 May started with 10cm of snow in Leysin. In one month Glacier 3000 will open for summer skiing.

Fantastic spring snow (6 May)
The avalanche risk is low, the glaciers are well covered, most cols are in good condition, and the spring snow is fantastic for skiing.

High level route conditions (1 May)
There is good stable spring snow on the high level route. The zero isotherm is at 2000m and avalanche conditions are low.

Glacier 3000 (30 Apr)
With still plenty of snow, and on a day of great weather, the lifts at Glacier 3000 closed for a two month break.

Mont Blanc ski conditions (19 Apr)
Mont Blanc is just in condition. The traverse from the Aig du Midi has a lot of snow and avalanche risk, but the Grand Mullet route is in good condition.

Good climbing conditions (18 Apr)
Despite some weak fronts passing the weather and conditions in the Mont Blanc Range are good for skiing and climbing. Although a bit 'thin' the Super Couloir on Mont Blanc du Tacul is in condition (see picture).

Lifts closing (16 Apr)
Some of the lower ski stations have already closed, and today is the last day of opening for the lifts in Leysin. Glacier 3000 remains open until the end of April and re-opens in July for summer skiing.

Great skiing conditions for Easter (14 Apr)
After recent bad weather and fresh snow the off-piste and touring conditions are excellent right across the northern Alps. In the east of Switzerland the descent from the Jamspitz to the Tuoi Hut is in excellent condition; and in the west of Switzerland the 2000m descent from the summit of Les Diablerets to the village of Les Diablerets is in good condition.

More snow and avalanche hazard (11 Apr)
A line of fronts crossed the Alps bringing more snow and increased avalanche risk.

Good start for Easter tours (9 Apr)
The Easter touring period stated with clear skies and great snow cover. This was followed by a humid air stream crossing the alps.

Snow and cooler weather (6 Apr)
Fresh snow in Leysin is followed by cooler weather.

The sun appears (2 Apr)
After another depression crossed the Alps the skies cleared. Some good conditions up high on the Les Diablerets Massif, and clear weather for the Trophées du Muveran - a popular ski mountaineering race in the Alpes Vaudoises. Another depression is due to bring more snow up high.

Clouds and precipitation (30 Mar)
More mixed weather with clouds and precipitation. More snow up high. Challenging conditions for a tour of the Oberland, and with a long final descent to the Rhone Valley.

Spring has sprung (26 Mar)
Spring started with a week of precipitation, clouds, and warmer temperatures. Glaciers are well covered, lower slopes are heavy, higher slopes are in good condition.

Excellent touring and off-piste (18 Mar)
A week of good weather and excellent snow conditions. Plenty of powder on north facing slopes and great spring snow on south facing slopes.

Clear skies and low temperatures (13 Mar)
Cold air from the northeast and clear skies results in some very low temperatures and excellent snow conditions.

The Black Race (12 Mar)
Because of the high avalanche risk the route for the 'Black Race' - a race with snowshoes and snowboards - was changed from the normal ascent of Pic Chasseuy. Excellent snow conditions for the race and low temperatures.

From soggy to sublime (11 Mar)
A week of rapid changes in the weather and snow every day ends with colder conditions and yet more snow. Frequent precipitation, strong winds, and rapid changes of temperature created extreme avalanche conditions at times, and the skiing has varied from the soggy to the sublime. Some roads and resorts were closed during the week because of the exceptional avalanche conditions.

More snow and colder (5 Mar)
After the warm period colder weather brings more snow. The avalanche category reaches 5 in some parts of western Switzerland. Yet some great skiing on the right slopes.

High avalanche risk (4 Mar)
After two more days of snow (60cm in Leysin), some very strong winds (164km per hour at 3000m on Les Diablerets), and an increase in temperature the avalanche hazard reached category 4 on all aspects of slopes in western Switzerland.

Heavy snow (1 Mar)
After 2 days of clouds and light snow heavier snowfall arrived on the 1 March. This was heavier than forecast and created an unexpectedly high avalanche risk but fantastic powder skiing around Leysin.

Mist and calm leads to sun (26 Feb)
The period of snow and wind is followed by calmer weather and some excellent powder snow.

Week of snow (17 Feb)
Four days of snow from 14 and two days of strong winds (15th and 16th) create a mixture of high avalanche risk and some great skiing conditions.

Snow from the north and west (8 Feb)
A storm from the north-west brings more snow.

Still powder on northern slopes (6 Feb)
Despite the warm period there is still good powder snow on medium altitude north facing slopes.

Complex avalanche conditions (4 Feb)
The strong warm winds created complex avalanche conditions, in particular in the south and west. Excellent for the avalanche awareness course for Base Camp in Val d'Isere.

Settled weather and good ice (1 Feb)
The storm cleared to clear weather. Warmer temperatures has transformed a lot of snow and brought good ice climbing conditions.

Storms and strong winds (28 Jan)
The storm bringing heavy snow on the south side of the Valais ended with strong warm winds crossing the northern Alps.

More fresh snow (26 Jan)
More fresh snow arrived in the Western Alps, in particular on the Italian side of the Valais, which so far has had very thin cover of snow.

Sun crust and powder (25 Jan)
The sunny weather released many avalanches and transformed a lot of south facing slopes. Still powder snow to be found even down to 1200m on north facing slopes.

Clear weather after the snow (19 Jan)
Changes in wind direction and a warming at the end of the storm produced a crust up high and avalanche category 3. At lower altitude and in the trees the snow is good powder.

Stable period ends with fresh snow (16 Jan)
After the two week period of clear weather the avalanche course (13-15th) found very stable conditions (category 1), plenty of evidence of old avalanches, and some powder snow around Leysin. Snow arrived on the evening of the 16th with around 10cm of fresh snow with a light south-westerly wind.

A week of sun (12 Jan)
A week of clear clear skies followed the new year holidays. Snow on south facing slopes has developed a crust, there is still powder snow on north facing slopes.

Great start to 2006 (3 Jan)
2005 ended and 2006 started with a warm storm bringing fresh snow to western Switzerland (avalanche category 3). The weather has been steadily clearing and getting colder resulting in some excellent off-piste conditions. British aspirant guides gathered in Leysin for the annual ski training run by top Swiss ski instructors. The training is sponsored by the Fred Harper Trust.

Good Ice (28 Dec)
The Grande Cascade du Dar has been formed for some time. Despite being -15°C one side of the cascade had perfect plastic ice for climbing! The approach was in good condition with snowshoes. (Alas a low battery and low temperatures meant no photos this time, some pictures from 2004).

Big Fall (27 Dec)
The Leysin rescue team was in action today: a woman snowshoeing along an exposed path through the woods slipped and fell. She came to a stop almost 200m below the path having fallen over a cliff. She had to be lifted by the team to a small gap in the tree cover to allow her to be lifted out by helicopter. Despite the long fall and many obstacles her main injury was a broken arm.

Great conditions for snow sports (26 Dec)
There are excellent conditions for snow sports in Western Switzerland. High areas have less snow and wind affected snow, lower areas and north facing slopes have great powder, lower south facing slopes are starting to transform to spring snow. The avalanche risk is low to moderate, and the weather is calm, clear and cold.

Excellent off-piste and touring conditions (20 Dec)
There are great skiing conditions in the Vaudois Alps.

Excellent conditions after fresh snow (18 Dec)
The second big fall of snow for the winter brought 36cm to Leysin and excellent off-piste conditions. But care is needed because of avalanche category 3 (considerable). With high pressure forecast the prospects could not be better for snow sports.

Good off-piste on lower slopes (15 Dec)
Low temperature, clear weather, and light snow - some great off-piste on lower hills.

Leysin Lifts open (10 Dec)
Because of the good snow conditions the lifts in Leysin have opened 1 week early for the winter season.

17cm fresh snow (25 Nov)
Overnight 17cm of fresh snow in Leysin.

Cool and clear (16 Nov)
There is skiing at Glacier 3000. It has been dry and colder (excellent rock climbing conditions). There is fresh snow on the summits.

Skiing up high (17 Oct)
The Glacier 3000 lift is open as usual. It is a bit early for anything particularly exciting, but people had been skiing high peaks after the fresh snow in late September. Prior to that snow conditions were good in September for classic alpine routes.