Lack of snow and snow making in chamonix

Just thought i would ask few people in the know on there experiences in chamonix. a friend and i are planned to fly out on december 17th for a cheeky pre christmas ski and so far were looking like having to cancel.

my concerns are that they still haven't started making any snow and any forecasts more than 2 days away are just plain unreliable.

Does anyone have any words of wisdom as were at a loss.

courchevel and val thorens have had partial openings and have made several pistes using snow cannons and alas nothing from the supposed most notorious ski region in europe.

Thank you in advance for any advice positive or not.

Wait until later in the season, things will come good.

Tony_H wrote:Wait until later in the season

how much later i fly in just over 2 weeks. i have no doubt there will skiing and a great season but right now europe is so dry. i have never seen it like this in december. needs to change pretty quick if they want to be open for christmas and.not loose all that revenue. as it is there due to open the week before christmas. cutting it close ....

Keep the faith, Matt.

Assuming you're reasonable skiers and looking to ski above Argentiere you shouldn't be considering cancelling.

The latest outputs from the major forecast models are encouraging... check back here tomorrow afternoon when the weekend's weather should be clearer.

Tomorrow's weekly email will be going out late in the day so we can give you the latest...

No one can control the weather. However, I've never personally skied before Xmas, and these days dont go before early Jan, never had a problem, even with a late start like this year.

Matt,

I would have thought Chamonix will be good regardless. Live there and plenty to do regardless. With temperatures dropping ground will be nicely frozen for the forecast snow. Glacier will open in few weeks time and will have 50cm on fresh snow on it.

Am heading out there myself on 26th and my only precaution am thinking is maybe to rent a car. Courmayeur is within 30min drive and cannot believe both sides of Mt Blanc will be green.

Have to say always annoys me when people moan about snow conditions etc. If you don't thinking skiing on, ice or slush or low visibility is more fun than work then must have a great job. The food/wine and company will be good regardless of snow conditions :-). As you say forecast has not been very reliable, imagine missing a decent dump and getting Chamonix to yourself before all the powder hounds arrive after Christmas ?.

If there is no snow will eat my hat or at least the bobble.

HAhahaha can see wha your saying and im not for one second complaining at this point i would be happy to just have reason to put my skis on. as for the above post yes were both of a reasonable standard and not really fazed by much just concerned that other resorts have started using snow cannons and chamonix havent. although looking at the current forecasts it said to dump pretty well over the next week. does anyone have any ideas of time scales involved from first decent snow to pistes being ready ? i assume the mountain staff will no be ready and waiting should the weather arrive ??????

once again thanks all

when would you expect them to start using the snow cannons ??

As soon as it's consistently cold enough! (which it hasn't been so far - at least in the valley).

Temperature is forecast to take a step down on Saturday so I reckon you'll see snow-making kick into action then, to lay the beginnings of a base for the snow expected on Monday.

In fact, I think some of the webcams are going to make for some quite entertaining viewing over the weekend - reckon we'll see the piste bashers working overtime.

(this is, of course, "entertaining" for us - other people might not understand the excitement...). 8)