Chamonix Chalet news

This season’s really shaping up well! Here’s come of our best photos of the winter so far:
30th November: The snow arrives in earnest and we go snowshoeing along the river.

..returning to a magical twilight at the chalet

The snow continues steadily – this is two days later, a lamppost in central Chamonix:

…and the day we’ve all been waiting for dawns bright and clear – opening day! Les Grands Montets, 5th December:

Wonderful views from the top of the Poubelle couloir…

…and from the base of the Grands Montets, a few days later, where the frost and snow looks like cherry blossom on the branches:

It’s not too long before the fun starts, though clearly our photo skills are a bit rusty!

and as you can see, the coverage is pretty good by December 10th above the midstations on the south side of the valley:

December 14th, sunrise. The snow is definitely moving down the sides of the valley

New Year brought rain and wildly fluctuating snow levels, but by January 4th, it’s thick and powdery even on the lower runs of Les Houches:

..and on the 5th we had the first perfect bluebird powder day at Flegere

Even better, we were in the right place at the right time for first tracks on the Floria lift, which opened at about midday:

Classic “sea of clouds” at Les Grands Montets:

Also in very good shape at the moment are the ice climbing conditions:

Overall a great start to the season!