Val d'Isere Snow Report: 5th January 2016

Ah, the snow has arrived. Everyone breathe a sigh of relief. Over half a metre since Saturday has turned Val d’Isere and Tignes from a green to white backdrop, those icy pistes turned into powdery paradise, green trees having that glorious white tint. Don’t mountains just look so much nicer when they have snow on them?

As the snow started to fall on Saturday, I got my first taste of the powder we have all been craving for 6 weeks. There may only have been five or so centimetres over night, but floating down the piste was glorious.

The Fornet glacier was a particular highlight on Saturday. The visibility may have been poor, as the 20cm of snow fell throughout the day, but the pistes were almost instantly fixed from their previously challenging state. Hopping around between the piste poles provided endless joy, searching for the safest and easiest to access powder.

Some pistes were not quite as well prepared. Plan Milet under the Glacier chair on Solarise had previously been very stoney, meaning it was a little patchy and not quite fully covered.

No such problems come Sunday, though!

Another huge dump down on Saturday night was followed by the first true blue bird powder day of the season. Not a cloud in the sky, 20 centimetres of powder to play in… Everyone truly remembered why they were spending their time and money in a ski resort.

While everyone was battling the snowfall and organising their transfers, I was floating down untouched powder between pistes, basking under the blue skies and grinning ear to ear… I cannot think of a better way to spend a Sunday.

The morning over on Solaise was near perfection. Pistes, such as Plan Milet, which had previously been a little worn, were suddenly an absolute dream to ski. The Madeline lift was not just servicing a beginner area, but the gateway to some amazing powder.

A quick dash down Plan M, taking in as much of the powder as possible (naturally), took me back to Val d’Isere. The Bellevarde side of the mountain was calling.

Although a little busier, I knew there would be ample opportunity to find some freshies on one of the biggest playgrounds in the Alps. A quick blast around showed that, despite the fact there were plenty of powder hounds around, there was still lots of untracked, easy access off-piste to be skied.

Heading straight to the Borsat chair seemed logical. Alongside the green pistes, the snow was going to be less tracked and safer to ski, given that avalanches are more likely on slopes 30 degrees or greater. Riding the powder around the Borsat and Gran Pre was amazing. The shallower slopes had some of the best powder on the mountain. Less rocks protruding from the surface, meant my lovely Oxygene rental skis were safer than on some of the steeper pitches.

The powder may be fun to play around in, but you always underestimate the impact those first powder days will have on your body. Hydration and rest are vital, even for those that have been skiing on the piste all winter.

As the clouds started to roll in for the incoming snow storm and the powder was getting tracked, a trip to Cocorico seemed like the natural way to go, for some live music and hard earned après beers. Knowing full well that over 30cm was on it’s way overnight, it seemed silly to push any more on a first proper powder day.

Boy, was the forecast right. Waking up to shin deep powder this morning was glorious. The only complaint I can think of is that my work trousers aren’t quite waterproof!

The problem with over 50cm of snow falling on an icy base is the avalanche risk. Currently at 4/5, the chance of an avalanche is pretty severe. Once the fresh snow bonds with the base, the risk will decrease, but right now the chances are high that steeper pistes will slip. Follow the basic advice on how to stay safe if you do plan on heading off-piste.

Forecasts are still predicting plenty of snow for the week ahead, including 40cm on Thursday, the snow conditions in Espace Killy are looking set up for the winter.

Who was worried that the snow wouldn't come?