Great conditions that you need to get out early to enjoy

Perhaps not but I definitely have had a better time on the slopes today and yesterday than I was having at the end of last week when it seemed like all that was left on the mountain was ice and rock. The festive crowds are still around, possibly in greater numbers than previously and there’s been no new snowfall, yet somehow the runs are better covered and far fluffier than they were last week.

I was out this morning up at the top of the Grande Rochette where last week there was a disturbing amount of grass poking through, worrying at such high altitude but there’s no sign of it this week at all, coverage is good and the grass remains hidden as well it should. Up there it’s easy to see how they’ve fixed it, the Petite Rochette run (the cat track that leads to Bellecote) has been roped off and the bashers have been down there scraping the snow back up to replenish Mira.

This snow repurposing has gone on all around resort; you can see the marks off piste where the bashers have been out scraping the snow back onto the pistes and bashing it down. It’s certainly working as coverage is much better, the only down side is that stones do get dragged onto piste with the snow so make sure you’re alert to dodge the occasional pebble!

The predicted snow fall that we were due Monday night alas did not arrive (rumour has it that Morzine stole it from us) although one gentleman swore to me that he did see snow in the air last night, some might say that was wishful thinking, some might say that he was stood under a snow cannon... Either way we are due some more this week, a little fall of 2cm at 2000m on Wednesday night and the same again Thursday morning. If Morzine would be so kind and keep their snow stealing mitts off it we should get a nice dusting to freshen up the pistes. The temperature has definitely dropped and is due to drop again when the snow comes which means that the new white stuff will fall even below 1000m with no hint of rain. Low temperatures also mean we can keep cranking out the artificial stuff and keep our mountain nice and fresh! 

In the meantime I’m pretty convinced that the trick to enjoying your week on a low snow pack is to get out early in the morning. The runs are beautiful when they’re freshly groomed and since the majority of ski schools don’t begin until 10am the pistes are noticeably emptier for the first hour of the day. It was also pointed out to me this week that the regardless of the state of the mountain a jump is a jump and a rail is a rail. Meaning if you’re really not feeling afternoon riding when the runs are in noticeably shakier condition, take a trip to the snow park, session some jumps and hone your skills.

The main snow park above Bellecote isn’t open yet, it’s not in any way built or shaped, but the beginner park with its combination of small to medium jumps and boxes is not only open but well maintained and a fun way to spend an afternoon. Find the beginner park by taking the Blanchets chair up form Bellecote and then a sharp turn onto the Roc du Diable run, which is a fun track that hugs the mountain and deposits you right at the mouth of the learner park. In fact if you feel like going this route until the powder reappears why not book yourself into a park lesson or two and start throwing those 360’s with style.

However you’re choosing to spend your days on the mountain I hope you’re all having an excellent start to your 2017 and also hoping it grows into a wicked snow year!