There's been so much snow in the Alps this November that the avalanche danger is 'considerable' according to the Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research in the Valais and Bernese Oberland region on Switzerland.
The warning comes as an estimated tens of thousands of serious skiers and boarders across Europe head up in to the mountains to enjoy the unusually abundant pre-main-season snowfall with some resorts reporting a metre of snow now in the past week.
A dozen or so ski areas have opened early or will do this weekend, but in many areas the only option is to hike or climb up to ski down off piste.
Swiss resorts have received up to 70cm of snow and in France Chamonix (pictured above) over a metre. It is among the resorts planning to open ahead of schedule this coming weekend.