Off Piste Snow Report for 26th Feb 2011
The 30cm (approx) of new snow that we've had since Sunday in much off the Northern French Alps, has been a very welcome change and has made for some fantastic skiing!
It has been just enough to improve the off piste conditions immensly, but not enough to make it too dangerous in the Espace Killy. In places like the Pyrenees, they have had a lot more snow, and places have become very unstable.
More snow will fall this weekend and into Monday with a westerly winds. There should be some nice sun for the second part of the week.
Snow Conditions and Stability
I was out touring in the Vanoise earlier this past week and I still can't emphasise enough how much old, and unconsolidated snow there is out there. This snow is especially prevalent on North'ish facing slopes above 2400 metres and on shaded slopes that have not had much direct sunlight. Watch our video on facebook to see the depth hoar that I uncovered just below the surface out there.
Most steep south facing slopes seem to already have started going through some melt-freeze cycles. While this hasn't made for any proper spring skiing conditions yet, it has made the snowpack much more stable there, but made the skiing on these south facing slopes absolutely terrible!
Henry's Tip of the Week
More snow will mean serious instability on a lot of slopes.
Even though I've been saying this for weeks, if we get a good bit more snow in these last few days of Feb and/or going into March, the slopes I've mentioned above will become lethal. This is especially true of slopes that haven't had much traffic on them and thus are not particularly skier compacted. All North'ish facing slopes (and all high elevation slopes) should be approached with extreme caution when it snows much more in the Northern French Alps.
You know the drill, lower slope angles... don't expose yourself to high slope angles above you and watch out for wind slabs.
Have Fun, Be Safe!
It's never too late to get informed! Come along to the talk on Tuesdays @ 5pm in Dicks Tea Bar, Val d'Isere. They're informal, they're interesting, and they can help save your life. Current conditions are discussed in depth at the end. For your clients or your staff, we can organise a private talk at Dicks or at your chalet. Sell on one of our private talks to your clients, and we'll give you commission.
Beeper Training is Wednesdays at 2pm...
Theory into practice in The Talk on the Snow is Thursdays at 2pm...
Book with Kj on 06 29 21 33 00. €40 per on snow session
