Recent reports from the Rhone Valley in CH?

Heading to Switzerland tomorrow, and looking for any current reports on conditions. I'm aware the snow is thin and there hasn't been new snow for a couple weeks, so the prospects aren't great. But if anyone has advice on where the exposure/snowmaking/grooming has kept pace, I'm all ears. Possible resorts within an hour of where I'll be staying include: Nendaz/Verbier, Crans Montana, Laax-Flims, Saas-Fee, Portes du Soleil, and Chamonix. Any recent reports to share?

Grimentz is having a big party this weekend with Giant Igloos in the centre of the village. I got back last w/e, and we were still skiing to the door in the village. I doubt you'd want to go there though, as it's nothing like any of the other resorts you've listed.

http://www.tsr.ch/video/info/journal-12h45/2934715-grimentz-vs-des-igloos-geant-ont-ete-construits-pour-celebrer-les-100-ans-du-ski-club.html#id=2934715

"Please dont come to my area because its so nice and we dont want toursits finding out about it is I think the literal translation of what she just said!

I know through this site that Verbier is really struggling, and I drove past Laax 2 weeks ago and there was fresh snow right down to the valley floor so it might have better conditions maybe.

Tony_H wrote:

"Please dont come to my area because its so nice and we dont want toursits finding out about it is I think the literal translation of what she just said!

I know through this site that Verbier is really struggling, and I drove past Laax 2 weeks ago and there was fresh snow right down to the valley floor so it might have better conditions maybe.

Tony, you're reading into what I've posted and applying your own interpretation. All of the examples given by the original poster are for big ski stations, Grimentz is small. If I didn't want tourists finding out about it, why would I bother posting. Come to think of it....

As for Verbier struggling, it really does depend on who you chat to. I'm in contact with folks who live and work there in ski jobs, and they see a different Verbier.

Bandit, chill. Seriously. I know you're area is hardly small, albeit disjointed, but I also know many people your way don't want tourists coming in big numbers.

As for Verbier, I was merely adding what people had posted on here who had been there lately.

I skied Verbier in mid-Jan, and it was great....still fresh powder stashes to be found. I suspect it's completely tracked out by now, though. I'm not expecting anything great....just hoping to carve some turns where the grooming is good and the melt/freeze cycle hasn't wreaked havoc.

Conditions above 2000m meters are still very good. I skied in Saas Grund (just down the road from Saas Fee) last Sunday it was quite cold but not too icy, there was even a dusting of new snow. It started to get warmer again on Wednesday, and today it was 7° at 2000m so the snow was a little softer. If I were you I would head for Saas Fee.

rsuminsby wrote:I skied Verbier in mid-Jan, and it was great....still fresh powder stashes to be found. I suspect it's completely tracked out by now, though. I'm not expecting anything great....just hoping to carve some turns where the grooming is good and the melt/freeze cycle hasn't wreaked havoc.

Seriously, enjoy. I'd go back to Verbier any day, it was cracking skiing.