J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by Ranchero_1979

Some decent rumbles as they secure slopes above valley in Chamonix. Webcams seem to concur that we had a lot above 2000m. I think if you go high could be a good powder day.

Not sure this high altitude rain will have helped any resort in Alps. Hopefully the dusting tomorrow will repair some of damage.

Conditions in Cham are pretty good at moment. Offpiste snow is really badly wind affected above 2500m. Skied the Rochers des Enclaves yesterday and was pretty tricky conditions. Definitely need another big one to sort everything out.

Just to add to above, typical hot decision making. We were an experienced group who has all discussed previous evening to stick on piste. Despite this we found ourselves at front of lift line checking beacons at 7:40 this morning (I guess we had already made decision to hit the powder). Lifts opened at 09:30 where one person in group suffered card clash. Hence instead of being first persons on untracked piste we ended up around 20th and missing out a little. Snow was great and 1/2 way down piste we cut into some fresh and soon crossed into bowl. Pretty quickly we made the wrong choice of going further down and in where first signs of avalanche activity were evident. No skins, so we were committed and soon into full spread out mode. Basically brain failure and poopy group decision making.

So good skiing to be had at GM this morning. No pisting had occurred which made first hr great fun and then a bit of a nightmare as it all got chopped up. Offpiste conditions are a bit sketchy, few double releases as we went through to rocks. Plenty of signs of avalanche activity and triggered a small slide first thing traversing. In hindsight not very smart as slid for 2m with it and manged to stop before a small cliff into a terrain trap as everything poured over. Basically anything over 40 degrees has slid and anything less than that with small roll overs is ready to go. Good quality snow to be found though if you can find a low angle pitch.

Am more worried about wind then temperature, I think is wind chill which is driving it down. This lot has come on 70+km/hr winds and looks like will be 40km/hr tomorrow and a gale the day after.

Snow is really coming very hard again now in Chamonix, 50cm@1400m. Will be interesting to see what actually opens in morning. Poor visibility and strong winds = no helicopters = no gas exploders. Plenty of fixed Gazex dotted about so fingers crossed they feel they can make areas safe to open if winds allow lifts to run.

http://www.meteofrance.com/previsions-meteo-montagne/bulletin-avalanches/mont-blanc/OPP03

After a short break which allowed me to reset the depth gauge, snow is back on. Looks much more like 2-3cm and hr, although is supposed to get going again properly in early evening.