Chamonix, France: the resort breathes a sigh of relief. La neige est arrivée. Here and in most ski resorts in the French, Swiss and Austrian Alps. And it's just in time, just as we were writing off 2007 as the ski season that wasn't, after 3 long weeks of unseasonably warm weather, cloud-less skies and ever louder cries from the doomsayers about global warming. Temperatures today in Chamonix - 10 below at resort level - are far from warm. Higher up on the slopes the cold is biting. Cold enough to justify a snood? It's never that cold.
As dumps of snow go this one was near perfect, big fat flakes falling mainly overnight and whitewashing trees, mountains and pavements. Skiers and boarders woke this morning to a blue sky day and get-me-to-them-quickly white peaks. Les Grands Montets looked good. Le Tour looked good. Damn even Les Houches looked good. But is this week's snowfall enough to make a real difference? Should the fence-sitters book their ski holiday now? Well, Geneva (ok, so it's not a ski resort, but first impressions count when you step off the plane) hasn't had this much snow in 16 years. Where it matters, up on the hill, the piste conditions are definitely better. Less icy, fewer rocks poking through, and less grass visible. Sub-text (and read knowing I'm a glass half-full kind of person): we still need more. On more exposed slopes the wind has whipped the powder into stiff white waves pushing today's avalanche risk up to "considerable" (3/5). Phat boy skis back in the box, you will have your day (though this year you might have to go to Whistler).
This week's snowfall does at least confirm the difference a day can make, and if things get really desperate we can always join in with these guys…
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment