The snow has arrived

Over the weekend we had some excellent falls of snow in the Alps. It snowed all day on Friday to below 1000m with an accumulation of around 30cm at 2000m. Saturday and Sunday were mixed weather with snow showers and sunshine. The intrepid headed out on Sunday to ski tour in the lower tree lined resorts of St. Gervais and Megeve and skied some fantastic powder between the spells of heavy snow.

On Sunday night as Jodie and Ian were being voted off Strictly Come Dancing the snow really began to fall outside in Chamonix, I did not know which was more exciting to watch! In the morning there was 20cm of light fluffy snow, it took me an hour to clear my car and shovel the driveway clear to leave to get to work. The snowline fell right down to the valley floor with snow all the way to Geneva on Monday.

This morning I headed out with Stuart MacDonald to ski tour up Les Houches, putting on ski’s and boots by 0815 in the freezing cold and heading up the newly pisted slopes was wonderful. With the sun rising and illuminating the peaks of the Dru, Aiguille Vert and the Midi, the trees laden with fresh snow and the noise of the snow cannons blasting out we headed to the top of the Prarion. Arriving at the top the view towards the Aravis and Mont Joly was beautiful, a real winter wonderland. We took our skins off quickly as it was windy and cold and headed off down the piste and into the powder where the piste machines had not been working. The snow was around 2ft deep and light and fluffy and with a few wobbly turns we whooped and smiled our way back down to the bottom.

Here are some pictures of our ski tour.

Susie skinning up the piste

View of the Chamonix Valley


Stuart


Heading down


Enjoying the powder

The Big Freeze

Well I had my first ski of the winter season on Saturday in Cervinia, Italy. Conditions were excellent and almost all of the ski area was open with great snow on the piste and some good conditions off piste, even getting some fresh tracks in nice soft powder snow.

We have a very active cold weather front heading towards the Alps arriving tomorrow bringing huge quantities of snow right down to low altitudes, very exciting! The meteo forecast is predicting up to a meter of snow at 1500m over the next 4 days, a brilliant beginning to the season. They are also predicting chaos on the roads, sounds a bit like the UK, hopefully everyone will have got their winter snow tyres on the cars by now!

With snow falling well into next week I expect there will be some other ski resorts opening at the weekends very soon, why not pop out to join us for a cheeky early season ski in Chamonix or Les Contamines, we have spaces on our early season ski trips so give myself or Chris a call to book your place.

Here are a few pictures from last weekend...



Great snow and fresh tracks to be had.


More off piste


On the chair lift

Roger happy to be back on the slopes

First Ski of the Winter

I'm off for my first ski of the winter tomorrow in Cervinia, Italy I can't wait! With new snow during the week and cold temperatures at altitude and I am in eager anticipation of some good snow and even powder ;).

Checking the forecast the weather will stay good for the early part of next week before a new frontal system brings snow on Wednesday and Thursday with the Chamonix Meteo saying, I quote: " Abondantes chutes de neige en montagne..........!", YIPPPPPEEEE

Wax those ski's, find your gloves and goggles and book a flight to the Alps, join us for our Early Season Skills Weekend or our Zermatt Intermediate Off Piste week from the 13th - 20th December. Don't get left out on getting your first tracks of the season before Christmas!!

Metro Ski & Snowboard Show, London 22-26 October 2008

Check out the photos of our stand at the recent Metro Ski & Snowboard show which took place at Olympia in London from 22-26 October.

This was the second time we've had a stand at the show - first time was 2006 - and something of a last minute decision!

Thanks to everyone who visited the stand and made the show worthwhile! We're already in discussion with the show organisers about next year's event - we're hoping to get some support for a 'Backcountry' feature where we can demonstrate ski touring skills - e.g. skinning, uphill turns, avalanche search and rescue. Watch this space for developments!!

Where are my skis?

This morning provided a lovely surprise with a covering of beautiful fresh snow, somewhere it will be a great powder day! Here are a few pictures I took on my way to work and as I look out of my office window the sun is out, there is blue sky and the mountains are shining brightly with their covering of perfect fresh snow....

First snow of the Autumn

Well I awoke to snow falling outside my window this morning in Chamonix, very exciting. I went for a quick trip to the top of Aiguille du Midi to take some photo's when the cloud began to clear today. Have a look at the beautiful view....

First snow's of the winter

The first snows of the winter are falling on the Alps today, as I look out of my office window in Le Fayet, close to Chamonix, I can see the peaks of the Aravis range of mountains are all white!

The forecast is for a small accumulation of 5-10cm at 1800m and looking at the webcams on the Grands Montets and Aiguille du Midi you can see the snow falling. It’s not a lot but every little helps and the excitement is high for the coming winter season. I will post some pictures over the weekend.

Mountain Tracks will be at the Metro Ski & Snowboard Show between the 22nd – 26th October, come along and meet Nick and the team and book your winter trip.

Susie