16-3-2012

Chamonix is world famous for the off-piste at the Grands Montets (GM).

For geographical reasons this place is Mecca for skiers. 

The GM is a pyramid shaped mountain, where the main skiable face is north-facing. Directly behind it is another pyramid shaped mountain (The Aiguille Verte) which is another 1000m or so higher.

The result is that the GM is largely sheltered from direct sunlight and what sun there is hits it at an angle, so it doesn't usually warm the snow up and melt it.

This year has seen exceptional snowfall and the geography should have preserved this. Sadly we've had unseasonably warm air temperatures over the last few weeks, which has caused the snow to melt and re-freeze overnight.

Currently the weather is unseasonably warm and the snow is unseasonably cold, so it's like skiing on re-inforced concrete (beton armé).  We waited yesterday until 3pm and the concrete in Lavancher was only just softening. Very sad.

Mind you the run home was great- did it twice!