Weekly report from HAT - 13/02/08
Just how much sun can you take? We are expecting another 7-10 days of cold temperatures and glorious sunshine with perfect visibility. The next snow is not before Saturday 23rd February.
This is offering perfect half term weather with pistes in superb condition for family skiing. But As Henry says below some of the best off piste is on heavily tracked North facing slopes.
However, skiing around La Plagne over the past 5 days we have found fresh tracks on North slopes and some very nice half tracked powder. The best snow is on true North slopes above 1800m in La Plagne.
HAT team activity
Andreas is doing follow up courses on snow in the afternoons where we look at the practical sides of the things we talk about at the avalanche talks. If you are interested call us on 020 8144 5202 or email [email protected]
Roddy is helping out Henry with snowboarders on avalanche awareness course If you are a snowboarder, then check out Roddy's snowboard coaching website www.performancesnowboarding.co.uk
The Thursdays in depth talk has slightly changed to a "RECCO show" with Fab talking about the piste patrol work and showing an great DVD plus detailed discussion of a current issue or new technical insight so check that out as well!
Tip of the week
In La Plagne and some areas the risk level is now down to 1 even though the general report suggests a risk level 2.
At risk level 1, the biggest risk is thinking that there is no risk. Henry reports that he was caught in an avalanche at risk level 1 because it made him complacent. So what should we look out for now. Most areas are safe but there are three main areas of risk.
Steep SE slopes are still creeping and gliding on the grass, keep clear Steep North wind loaded slopes above 2500m could still be triggered by a skier on the slope.
Watch out for the development of depth hoar now that the temperatures have been colder for 4 days and are forecast to stay that way for the next week. This will be reported in the bulletins when it is a risk.
So be careful, study the bulletins (on our web logs.) and read ski diaries from Andreas Henry and Wayne Watson of Alpine Experience.
Future ezines will be on Wednesday evening or Thursday - next one on 6th February.
Regards. Chris Radford - HAT ezine editor.
The great fresh snows from the first days of February seem a long way away now. There are very few options for fresh snow now unless you are willing to walk a good long way! The classic off-piste runs are becoming 'pisted' due to the multitude of people packing the snow down, the wind and the settling of the snow on its own (good skiing though). As a result, the snowpack is becoming very stable especially on the well traveled off-piste runs.
I wouldn't be surprised if Météo France will reduce the avalanche rating to 1 (low) this weekend for at least the first part of the day. For definitions of the avalanche danger ratings see: henrysavalanchetalk.com and then go to 'Skiing with HAT'. I've posted it in the photo gallery until we find a more permanent and prominent home for this important information.
Snowpack stability:
Despite the overall stability of the snow pack, in the afternoon, watch out for heating on slopes oriented towards the sun - mainly south facing slopes at this time of year and altitudes lower than 2800 metres. The suns rays create quite a bit of warmth on steeper slopes since they face the suns rays more directly. This warming heats up the snowpack, can melt the top layers and generally makes it less stable (like any other solid when you heat it to its melting point). Evidence of this instability is the recent afternoon closures of pistes that have steep south facing slopes above them.
Instability is very localised at the moment and you can read more about where in translations of the daily avalanche bulletin on our blogs for Savoie and Haute Savoie as well as on pistehors.com
One concern I do have, as I look over the snowpit data that Jacques LAFFONT (Nivo Météo Val d'Isère) and Lionel NAVILLOD (Nivo Météo Tignes) have sent me, is the return and build-up of depth hoar on flat and shaded slopes above 2500 due to the recent cold temps. The renewed growth of depth hoar is not a problem now, but could be the next time it snows if the cold nights and cold on shaded slopes during the day continues - especially on slopes that are not subjected to much skier compaction.
Tip of the week:
Watch out for 'whippers'! A 'whipper' is when you fall and slide forever because you can't stop yourself. When it doesn't snow for a while the avalanche danger may go down, but falling and sliding becomes a real danger on steep slopes especially if you slide into rocks or over cliffs. Keep your skis and boards on your feet.
Think snow; pray for snow and 'Ride Hard Ride Safe'! - Henry
We are doing follow up courses on snow in the afternoons where we look at the practical sides of the things we talk about at the avalanche talks. If you are interested call us on 020 8144 5202 or email [email protected]
The Thursdays in depth talk has slightly changed to a "RECCO show" with Fab talking and showing an great DVD for free so check that out as well.
Tignes Weather forecast.
Today, the mist well under 1000m restricted visibility and pollution By microparticles is large enough and can expect this Situation continues.
Tomorrow, Thursday, February 14:
Night clear and strong until plain cold. The regel is effective and should be Wait long enough that the snow stays firm, even in the sun. The visibility is still very good in the mountains above the mist a little less denser than today. No cloud. Pressure 1037 - 1032 mb. At 1500m above ground: -1 / +1 ° C, low wind East At 3000m above ground: -8 ° C, wind ESE/7-> N / 4 knots Iso 0 °: 1400/1800m, freezing night in the plains -10 ISO: 3500
Friday, February 15:
Same kind of time with a little wind Northeast. Pressure 1032 -> 1028 -> 1031 m In plain: -3/11 ° C, low wind At 1500m above ground: -2 / +2 ° C, wind NE / 5 knots At 3000m above ground: -7 ° C, wind NE/8-> 13 -> (night) East / 9 knots Iso 0 °: 1200/1900m, freezing night in the plains -10 ISO: 3500
Saturday, February 16:
No change. Pressure 1031 - 1037 mb In plain: -3/11 ° C, low wind At 1500m above ground: -1 / +2 ° C, low wind At 3000m above ground: -5 ° C, wind knots NE/12 Iso 0 °: 1500/2100m, freezing night in the plains -10 ISO: 3800
Sunday and Monday
No change. A little more north wind in the mountains.
