news from the slopes 2006-07

Latest news:

Snow above 3000m (31 May)

As May ends and June starts there is fresh snow above 3000m.  The total depth of snow remains below the seasonal average but there is still some skiing at high-altitude.  Reports on summer climbing and mountaineering conditions are posted on Latest News from the Alps and skiing reports will resume here in November.

A week of summer, more snow on the way (25 May)

A week of high temperatures, with the zero isotherm around 3800m and up to 25° C in the valley, produced a rapid transformation and stability in the snowpack.  The snow depth decreased rapidly, and the Swiss Avalanche Foundation (SLF) recorded absolute record low depths for the time of year since records began.  Hence, there is still skiing on the highest peaks and glaciers.  The forecast is for some heavy precipitation on both sides of the Alps, and a drop in temperatures bringing up to 50cm of snow, with snow down to 2500m.

Heavy snow, particularly in the northern Alps (17 May)

Four days of passing fronts have brought up to 80cm of fresh snow to the northern Alps.  The new snow is mostly above 3000m and has fallen below 2000m (at which altitude midday temperatures have been zero degrees).  The new snow arrived on winds initially strong from the southwest, then moderate from the northwest; and these have produced some deep wind accumulations at altitude.  The forecast predicts that by the week-end another 40-80cm of fresh snow will fall in the western Oberland.

Last lift at Grand Montets (13 May)

The last day for downhill skiing at Grand Montets was the 7 May and the morning lifts for ski mountaineers ended on the 13th.  There is good snow around the Aig du Midi and at the top of the Valley Blanche.

Excellent conditions in the high Oberland (10 May)

After the storm, the skies clear to excellent ski conditions in the high Oberland with perfect spring snow for a descent from the top of the Abeni Flue to Fafleralp.

Winter returns (8 May)

Snow and strong winds sweep across the northern Alps creating some deep accumulations of wind blown snow at high altitude.

Chamonix to Zermatt High Level Route latest (29 Apr)

The Col du Chardonnet is still reasonable with a 70m descent to cross the bergshrund.  Ski conditions are genrally very good above 3000m.  The snow runs out at around 1800m on the descent to Champex (1 hour walk) and at around 2300m on the final descent to Zermatt (2 hour walk).

Great skiing on 4000m peaks (23 Apr)

The clear weather continues and there are great skiing conditions on 4000m peaks in the Oberland and Pennine Alps.

Excellent conditions and weather (21 Apr)

The weather has remained clear and sunny for over a week and the snowpack is very stable with an increase in avalanche hazard in the afternoon.  Ski touring conditions are excellent up high.  Below 2500m the snowpack is very thin but it is still possible to finish tours below 2000m. 

Sunny and stable (11 Apr)

The clear sunny weather and excellent conditions continue in the western Alps.  The avalanche risk is low (1) and moderate (2) with a significant increase in hazards in the afternoons.  In the high Oberland the snow conditions are especially good on southwest facing slopes, and it is possible to ski from 4000m to 1500m.

Great weather and conditions for Easter (7 Apr)

There is sunny and mild weather across the western Alps for the Easter holiday.  The snowpack is generally well consolidated with the main avalanche risk being sun affected slopes in the afternoons.  Around the col du Midi the ice climbing conditions are quite lean and the route up Mont Blanc du Tacul is quite difficult on skis.

Excellent snow cover and good forecast (1 Apr)

The conditions in the western Alps are excellent for high level routes.  Generally the snowpack is well consolidated, but there are weak layers that can produce deep slab fractures (e.g. as seen on the Stockji glacier, 31 March).  At high altitude good powder snow can be found on north facing slopes and good spring snow on south facing slopes.

Clear, calm and excellent snow (29 Mar)

The conditions in the western Alps are excellent for high level routes, including the classic route from Chamonix to Zermatt via Bourg-Saint-Pierre.  In many areas the snowpack is consolidating through the process of warming during the day and cooling off at night.

Unstable and changeable (26 Mar)

The weather is clearing, but with some wind and snow.  Unstable snow drift accumulations are mostly easy clearly recognisable and the avalanche danger is becoming more dependent on the time of day.
 

The clouds clear (24 Mar)

After a week with snow every day the clouds part.  The fresh snow is loosely packed and mostly well bonded to the old snow.  But there will be many avalanche prone areas once the sun starts to loosen snow on steeper faces.
 

Heavy snow across the north side of the Alps (21 Mar)

The predicted storms arrived on Monday, and over 3 days dropped more than 1m of snow in parts of the northern and western Alps.  The fresh snow has created difficulties for high level tours but excellent off-piste and touring at lower altitudes.

Week of fine weather and stable snowpack (16 Mar)

Clear skies and mild temperatures produce excellent early touring conditions.  The forecast is for more snow...

Excellent conditions for the 2007 'Original Black Race' (11 Mar)

Conditions were excellent for the annual race on Pic Chaussy (2351m) above Col des Mosses.  Clear blue skies and powder snow ensured the 9th edition of the snowboard alpiniste race was enjoyed by all.  Overnight, fresh winds from the east produced some new avalanche hazard, and when the safety team checked the route in the morning a slab released in the 'black coulior'.  Hence, the race took the 'red col' alternative descent.

Great snow and sun in the Oberland (9 Mar)

Clear and sunny weather, light winds and fresh snow: a great way to end a week of ski touring.  After a week with fresh snow care is still needed with avalanches especially on shady slopes above 2400m where the layering is weak in places. 

70cm of fresh snow and still snowing (3 Mar)

Around the Grand Saint Bernard pass the accumulation of new snow is as much as 70cm, and it is still snowing. 

Storms bring more snow (1 Mar)

A new cycle of storms bring more snow and unstable conditions to the western Alps.  The latest figures for snow cover from the Swiss Avalanche Foundations shows that the deepest snow cover is in western Switzerland and across the Oberland.  Meteo Suisse has issued a severe storm warning for western Switzerland with high levels of precipitation and wind.

Clear sunny weather followed by snow (25 Feb)

Several days of clear sunny weather have been followed by new storms with snow down to 1000m and high avalanche risk.

Great snow up high (16 Feb)

The storms at the start of the week have produced great snow especially at higher elevations.

Avalanche tragedy in Leysin (13 Feb)

Tragically a student at the Leysin American School was killed in an avalanche.  At the time of the incident he was skiing off-piste alone with an avalanche hazard category 3.  He was only noted as missing at the end of the day.  The victim was not wearing a transceiver and was eventually found by a coarse probe in the terminal part of the debris.

Cloudy weather and light snow clears (9 Feb)

A light top up of fresh snow revitalised the off-piste skiing in western Switzerland.

Clear skies, spring snow and powder (4 Feb)

February started with sunny windless days.  The very mild weather in January has created some icy conditions, but in western Switzerland there is still some good off-piste skiing and powder on north-east facing slopes.  The avalanche hazard is category 1 and 2 and more snow is forecast for Tuesday 6th.

Deepest snow in Switzerland (30 Jan)

The figures for snow depth published by the Swiss Avalanche Foundation show that the deepest snow is in the western Oberland and the south of Central Switzerland.  Conditions are currently very good for high level off-piste and tours in the western Oberland, and the prospects of good snow for the Wild high level route are very good.

Italian side: 'interesting' and 'very interesting' (29 Jan)

The clear sunny weather has transformed snow on south facing slopes.  On the Italian side of the Pennine Alps, around the Grand St Bernard pass, the snow is in 'interesting' and 'very interesting' condition and a good test for off-piste ski technique. 

Leysin: 21 cm de belle poudreuse (24 Jan)

As temperatures dropped the overnight precipitation brought over 20 cm of powder snow to Leysin village at 1300m.  The avalanche risk increased at altitude.

Light snowfall (21 Jan)

Some light snow in western Switzerland, with more snow and lower temperatures forecast. 

5eme Recontres Expéditions et Himalaya in Grenoble and La Grave (18-21 Jan)

Julie-Ann Clyma made the opening presentation in Grenoble, with a talk

 about recent trips to the Eastern Himalayas.  The event then moved to La Grave for a very sociable series of talks and workshops over the week-end.  Up high at La Grave the ski conditions are good, and the climbing conditions are very good on some medium grade routes and high alpine peaks like Le Rateau.

Mild, and thin snow cover on the pistes (13-14 Jan)

Despite very mild weather, and thin snow cover on the pistes, conditions are excellent for a week-end of avalanche awareness training for students from the International School of Geneva.

Guides' ski training (8-10 Jan)

The British guides' ski training took place in Leysin between 8-10 Jan.  The training is sponsored by the Fred Harper memorial trust, and some of the trustees and other guides were around to enjoy some excellent off-piste skiing and tours.

Still plenty of tracks to be made (6 Jan)

As the holiday period comes to an end there is still plenty of snow without tracks in western Switzerland.  Also, because of the mild temperatures some rare faces are in good condition, and the descent of the north face of Pic Chaussy was a great ski today.

Heavy snow (2 Jan)

The New Years starts with plenty of snow for the pistes, and a big jump in avalanche conditions for off-piste and touring.

Cascade Dard in condition (31 Dec)

The Cascade Dard is thick enough, and it is just cold enough to be able to climb to end 2006.

Spring conditions up high (30 Dec)

In western Switzerland many medium and high altitude summits have spring snow and good touring, and the Grand Saint Bernard Hospice is full for the festive period.

Thin ice (28 Dec)

Just cold enough for some ice climbs above the Col du Pillon.

Sunny and calm (23 Dec)

Great conditions for off-piste skiing and tours at high altitude.

Thin pistes, but some great snow off-piste (21 Dec)

There is limited piste skiing, but some very good conditions for tours on northern aspects and some great off-piste.

Great snow up high and on northern slopes (18 Dec)

Avalanche conditions are very stable with some great snow up high.

Clear and cold Courcheval (13 Dec)

Thin pistes and some good snow on north faces in Courcheval.

Excellent powder (10 Dec)

After the storms the weather clears and gives great skiing conditions and practice for terrain choice for the avalanche course.  The weather forecast is for continued good weather.

Storms bring snow (8 Dec)

Storms bring 38cm of snow in Leysin.  The avalanche risk locally is category 2 (but in some areas is 3 and even 4).  Bad weather creates ideal conditions for transciever searching and rescue exercises for the first Foundation avalanche training course of the season.

More snow in Leysin village (22 Nov)

The second snowfall of the season means it is definitely time for snow tyres.  The first snow of the season has arrived earlier than last year.

Snow in Leysin village (19 Nov)

The first snow of the season arrived in the village.

Transceiver training area in Leysin (17 Nov)

With support from Mammut, Leysin Tourism and TeleLeysin, today the Leysin guides' office installed a transceiver training area near the Lac d'Ai.  Knowing how to use a transceiver efficiently is an essential skill for anyone skiing off-piste, but the best protection is understanding what causes avalanches, and how to avoid being caught.

Snow on the peaks of Alpes Vaudoise (12 Nov)

The Leysin Tours, Mont d'Or and Pic Chaussey had their first good covering of winter snow.  Two lifts are open on the glacier at Glacier 3000 for early season skiing.  More precipitation is forecast...