Showing posts with label Courchevel off piste conditions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Courchevel off piste conditions. Show all posts
Wednesday, 23 January 2019
Courchevel powder skiing
Last week I was working with my longest-standing group of clients - 15 years and counting. While the team are not necessarily up for gnarly skiing this often works to our advantage - on Tuesday, with blue skies and powder all around we stayed low on the easy meadow skiing and had the whoel area to ourselves for the morning while the usual bunfight was going on up high in 1850!
Thursday, 22 February 2018
Courchevel snow report 22 Feb 2018
A few photos to sum up current conditions in Courchevel...
Despite rain to 2200m at the back end of last week the skiing has been fantastic this week:
offpisteskiing jr under the cables of the Saulire:
Courchevel - it's not all about Russians and money:
Last day tomorrow with Nick, Rhian, Mike, Monica, Ben and James - the weather looks set to stay cold so the snow should be great!
Despite rain to 2200m at the back end of last week the skiing has been fantastic this week:
offpisteskiing jr under the cables of the Saulire:
Courchevel - it's not all about Russians and money:
Last day tomorrow with Nick, Rhian, Mike, Monica, Ben and James - the weather looks set to stay cold so the snow should be great!
Friday, 4 March 2016
Vanoise variations - part 2
Despite a not very promising forecast Courchevel delivered the goods on Wednesday - I had thought we would probably be hiding in the tress most of the day but as it turned out the windows kept on opening and we spent the day putting first tracks into nearly all the Saulire couloirs - noone else seemed to be skiing anything other than the Grand Couloir!
Just when you thought it couldn't get any better, Thursday pulled out all the stops - 40cm of light fluffy powder, hardly anyone out skiing, and some great laps to be had in the trees. I managed to miss out on the really good photo opportunities somehow, but this one sums up the day quite well:
Friday had a groundhog day feel to it, as the cloudy skies stayed away longer than expected, and a 'reset' of the couloirs with fresh light snow offered itself to us:
Everything went a bit 'heavy' in the afternoon with a South wind humidifying the snowpack, but there is between 15 and 35 cm forecast for tonight tomorrow with a low freezing level so that should top things up nicely - avalanche risk will be high though, so lots of care will be needed out there!
Just when you thought it couldn't get any better, Thursday pulled out all the stops - 40cm of light fluffy powder, hardly anyone out skiing, and some great laps to be had in the trees. I managed to miss out on the really good photo opportunities somehow, but this one sums up the day quite well:
Friday had a groundhog day feel to it, as the cloudy skies stayed away longer than expected, and a 'reset' of the couloirs with fresh light snow offered itself to us:
Everything went a bit 'heavy' in the afternoon with a South wind humidifying the snowpack, but there is between 15 and 35 cm forecast for tonight tomorrow with a low freezing level so that should top things up nicely - avalanche risk will be high though, so lots of care will be needed out there!
Sunday, 14 February 2016
Night skiing
A busy weekend with the family... great snow in sheltered spots... only one solution...
On a more serious note the wind was absolutely howling on Friday, there has been massive snow transport and already one fatality yesterday in Courchevel (Dou des Lanches sector) - there is some good skiing to be done, but extreme care needs to be exercised currently and very careful slope selection is a must.
Night skiing from Simon Christy on Vimeo.
On a more serious note the wind was absolutely howling on Friday, there has been massive snow transport and already one fatality yesterday in Courchevel (Dou des Lanches sector) - there is some good skiing to be done, but extreme care needs to be exercised currently and very careful slope selection is a must.
Wednesday, 10 February 2016
Japow? No, Courch-a-pow...!
Well, I didn't expect the snow to be as deep and light as it was today...!
After an initial hold-up due to protesters blocking the main road up to Courchevel this morning, and then poor visibility for most of the day, we hit the perfect window this afternoon in a brief clear spell and scored a classic 'all-time-great' Saulire run - waist deep, light and fluffy with barely a track in sight!!
Perfect conditions for playing on the super-floatiness of the MTN LABs!
After an initial hold-up due to protesters blocking the main road up to Courchevel this morning, and then poor visibility for most of the day, we hit the perfect window this afternoon in a brief clear spell and scored a classic 'all-time-great' Saulire run - waist deep, light and fluffy with barely a track in sight!!
Perfect conditions for playing on the super-floatiness of the MTN LABs!
Tuesday, 9 February 2016
Courchevel off piste update - 9 Feb 2016
I have been in Courchevel the last few days running some off piste coaching for Ed, Zoe, Jenny and Tracy.
Conditions have been 'interesting' (seems to be a common theme the last few weeks), with intermittent heavy snow, but also high winds and a high freezing level.
Sunday afternoon we had an amazing 2 hours of skiing a lap, going back up the lift and finding a totally blank canvas again when we went back to the same slope!
Yesterday the wind picked up, and there was definitely a window to be found between the wind-affected snow up high and the heavy stuff down below - what was in between was quite acceptable though:
Today was more of the same, with a rain/snow limit hovering around 1700m, lots of high lifts shut due to the wind, but again a pleasant 'window' of snow before hitting the heavier stuff low down:
In summary, the Saulire couloirs were in good condition, though will be heavily wind-loaded after tonight's snowfall (up to 50cms predicted!), Rocher de l'Ombre bowl was very good on Monday, Disneyland and the 1650 tree runs all have some good soft snow on a variable base.
Caution will be needed in the next few days as there will be major instabilities in the snowpack...
Conditions have been 'interesting' (seems to be a common theme the last few weeks), with intermittent heavy snow, but also high winds and a high freezing level.
Sunday afternoon we had an amazing 2 hours of skiing a lap, going back up the lift and finding a totally blank canvas again when we went back to the same slope!
Yesterday the wind picked up, and there was definitely a window to be found between the wind-affected snow up high and the heavy stuff down below - what was in between was quite acceptable though:
Today was more of the same, with a rain/snow limit hovering around 1700m, lots of high lifts shut due to the wind, but again a pleasant 'window' of snow before hitting the heavier stuff low down:
In summary, the Saulire couloirs were in good condition, though will be heavily wind-loaded after tonight's snowfall (up to 50cms predicted!), Rocher de l'Ombre bowl was very good on Monday, Disneyland and the 1650 tree runs all have some good soft snow on a variable base.
Caution will be needed in the next few days as there will be major instabilities in the snowpack...
Friday, 15 January 2016
More Courchevel powder!
Just when you think it can't get any better, it does!
Last day with the BSSG crew yesterday was very deep!
Today was a (very) rare day off for me 'sans kids' so I took the opportunity to revisit some of Will & my old stomping grounds form a few winters back, while the world and his dog headed up high for a powder bunfight...The only tracks I crossed were my own, 3 laps of perfection (with a bit of effort to get in & out...)!
Last day with the BSSG crew yesterday was very deep!
Today was a (very) rare day off for me 'sans kids' so I took the opportunity to revisit some of Will & my old stomping grounds form a few winters back, while the world and his dog headed up high for a powder bunfight...The only tracks I crossed were my own, 3 laps of perfection (with a bit of effort to get in & out...)!
Courchevel powder heaven 15 Jan 2016 from Simon Christy on Vimeo.
Wednesday, 1 April 2015
Vanoise (brief) update
'Interesting' is probably the word summing up conditions currently!
On Monday it was raining up to 2300/2400m at times, though it had also put down 40cm of new snow (and more) in places. Tuesday the wind picked up, though as per earlier in the season we seemed to escape the worst of it as most lifts (in Courchevel at least) stayed open on a day when many other areas had nothing but lower lifts running! The snowpack is massively saturated low down and there were literally hundreds of small wet slides on all aspects and even some quite low angle slopes.
As it happens I am off to Norway very soon for 3 weeks, but if I were heading out touring/off-pisteing in the Vanoise in the next while I would be exercising extreme caution due to the combination of lots of new snow, high winds and high temperatures...
On Monday it was raining up to 2300/2400m at times, though it had also put down 40cm of new snow (and more) in places. Tuesday the wind picked up, though as per earlier in the season we seemed to escape the worst of it as most lifts (in Courchevel at least) stayed open on a day when many other areas had nothing but lower lifts running! The snowpack is massively saturated low down and there were literally hundreds of small wet slides on all aspects and even some quite low angle slopes.
As it happens I am off to Norway very soon for 3 weeks, but if I were heading out touring/off-pisteing in the Vanoise in the next while I would be exercising extreme caution due to the combination of lots of new snow, high winds and high temperatures...
Thursday, 6 March 2014
3 Valleys conditions - Spring has arrived!
Today I was back in the 3 Valleys doing some steeps coaching for Paul O'B. Compared to Monday & Tuesday it felt like a different season of the year, with blue skies, and (very) warm temperatures in the sun. We skied widely around the top of Courchevel and the Mottaret area, and its fair to say that after today, the only place to go for soft snow will be true North slopes. Any sunnier aspects are now in the process of transforming (ie crusty!), but not yet fully transformed to spring snow...
Paul in the Creux Noir couloirs:
With high pressure here to stay for the foreseeable future it looks like it might be time to start hunting out some corn snow turns quite soon!
Paul in the Creux Noir couloirs:
With high pressure here to stay for the foreseeable future it looks like it might be time to start hunting out some corn snow turns quite soon!
Tuesday, 18 February 2014
Courchevel off piste conditions
A quick update on off piste conditions in Courchevel.
In a nutshell - "good, but rapidly getting heavy"
Yesterday we had 30/40cm of light fresh powder all over, but even by lunchtime sunny slopes were feeling the heat of the sun.
Today the foehn wind has gradually been picking up, with 5ºC at 1800m at lunchtime. North facing slopes are still fantastic, but anything that has seen some sun is heavier, with some aspects developing a light crust. The humidification of the snowpack will doubtless continue through the afternoon as well...
The Equinox face was in great shape today (so good I skied it twice) and hardly a soul had been into Les Avals, though it is worth now finding the shady slopes for the best skiing.
Reports also in of the Breche Portetta being skied in good conditions yesterday, with both entries in good shape...
Half term mayhem in Courchevel? Not really...
In a nutshell - "good, but rapidly getting heavy"
Yesterday we had 30/40cm of light fresh powder all over, but even by lunchtime sunny slopes were feeling the heat of the sun.
Today the foehn wind has gradually been picking up, with 5ºC at 1800m at lunchtime. North facing slopes are still fantastic, but anything that has seen some sun is heavier, with some aspects developing a light crust. The humidification of the snowpack will doubtless continue through the afternoon as well...
The Equinox face was in great shape today (so good I skied it twice) and hardly a soul had been into Les Avals, though it is worth now finding the shady slopes for the best skiing.
Reports also in of the Breche Portetta being skied in good conditions yesterday, with both entries in good shape...
Half term mayhem in Courchevel? Not really...
Thursday, 16 January 2014
The fun continues... off piste intro day 5
Day 5 of the Off Piste Introduction course today. Despite early flurries of snow the cloud gradually lifted through the day allowing us to put in a good run down to Le Raffort in slightly variable powder, followed by a good session in and around the Courchevel couloirs.
Rocher de L'Ombre:
Entry to Emile Allais a bit rocky at the moment but fine if you pick a cautious line in:
Rich giving it some:
Ben styling it up:
Today was my first full day on the Carbonlite Ranger skis kindly provided by Whitedot Skis this winter. I am suitably impressed - having had a few hours skiing soft powder a week or two ago - today was an interesting test as in the morning we were travelling a bit slower, and despite reports that the Ranger CLs needed to be driven hard I found them very easy to ski at slow speeds too (perhaps symptomatic of the general skiing public's inability to properly steer/smear a turn these days). A full report will follow shortly - I will be interested to compare to my old favourites the Volkl Gotamas tomorrow...
Rocher de L'Ombre:
Entry to Emile Allais a bit rocky at the moment but fine if you pick a cautious line in:
Rich giving it some:
Ben styling it up:
Today was my first full day on the Carbonlite Ranger skis kindly provided by Whitedot Skis this winter. I am suitably impressed - having had a few hours skiing soft powder a week or two ago - today was an interesting test as in the morning we were travelling a bit slower, and despite reports that the Ranger CLs needed to be driven hard I found them very easy to ski at slow speeds too (perhaps symptomatic of the general skiing public's inability to properly steer/smear a turn these days). A full report will follow shortly - I will be interested to compare to my old favourites the Volkl Gotamas tomorrow...
Wednesday, 15 January 2014
Off Piste Introduction course 2014
Great conditions currently in the 3 Valleys for off piste skiing!
Despite what you might read in some 'quality' newspapers there is an abundance of safe (not to mention fun) off piste to be skied this winter. After 2 days getting into the swing of things, the guys and girls on this week's Off Piste Introduction course were given a treat, with 25cm of fresh snow on Monday night, and a bonus top-up last night. This has left fantastic conditions everywhere - yes the steeper slopes at altitude are still likely to hold some instabilities, but lower down on on mellower angles the skiing has been great!
Today we had a great run down Les Avals, and despite the signs of previous tracks the snow was super-light all the way - though with a firmer base on the sunny side aspects below 2000m.
The happy team on this year's Off Piste Introduction course:
Les Avals:
Meanwhile all the easy access off piste in Courchevel and Meribel was also in top condition - with surprisingly good cover on the Adret slopes above Meribel. More snow is due Thursday night, and with unstable weather forecast for the foreseeable future the winter seems to be getting into shape finally.
Despite what you might read in some 'quality' newspapers there is an abundance of safe (not to mention fun) off piste to be skied this winter. After 2 days getting into the swing of things, the guys and girls on this week's Off Piste Introduction course were given a treat, with 25cm of fresh snow on Monday night, and a bonus top-up last night. This has left fantastic conditions everywhere - yes the steeper slopes at altitude are still likely to hold some instabilities, but lower down on on mellower angles the skiing has been great!
Today we had a great run down Les Avals, and despite the signs of previous tracks the snow was super-light all the way - though with a firmer base on the sunny side aspects below 2000m.
The happy team on this year's Off Piste Introduction course:
Les Avals:
Meanwhile all the easy access off piste in Courchevel and Meribel was also in top condition - with surprisingly good cover on the Adret slopes above Meribel. More snow is due Thursday night, and with unstable weather forecast for the foreseeable future the winter seems to be getting into shape finally.
Sunday, 5 January 2014
Off piste conditions update - Courchevel 5 Jan 2013
A quick update on conditions around Courchevel and the Vanoise currently:
On Saturday it was mild and wet, with rain up to about 2000m, but snow falling above this. By this morning the trees were white down to St Bon (~1000m). I had a couple of hours in hand and headed for my old stomping ground of Courchevel 1650 to test out my new work-tools compliments of Whitedot Skis :
Review to follow...
Snow conditions were good in the 1800 - 2100m bracket with ~20cm of light powder, above that the snow was still good, but with evidence of wind during the fall - lots of 'duning' visible (not to mention soft snow slides on almost every aspect):
Around 2300m pretty much everything had fallen off during the morning's PIDA blasting - though there was still some takers for the bits in-between!:
A good day for some mellow runs & meadow skipping:
High winds were visible on the crests, and although the avalanche risk forecast has dropped from 4 to 3 care will still need to be taken on steeper slopes as there is a persistant weak layer lurking from the early winter. Additionally the snowpack remains thin, and there are definitely plenty of rocks just under the surface, particularly near ridges and any convexities where the wind has worked the snow a bit.
The scenery is still good though:
Around the Vanoise friends reported wind-affected powder up above the Refuge de la Vanoise, Val Thorens & Orelle reportedly even more wind-affected than Courchevel, and a ski instructor and his client had a lucky escape in an avalanche incident in La Plagne (Les Bourtes area) losing nothing more than their equipment fortunately.
Current advice - keep it mellow, and watch out for (invisible) rocks!
On Saturday it was mild and wet, with rain up to about 2000m, but snow falling above this. By this morning the trees were white down to St Bon (~1000m). I had a couple of hours in hand and headed for my old stomping ground of Courchevel 1650 to test out my new work-tools compliments of Whitedot Skis :
Review to follow...
Snow conditions were good in the 1800 - 2100m bracket with ~20cm of light powder, above that the snow was still good, but with evidence of wind during the fall - lots of 'duning' visible (not to mention soft snow slides on almost every aspect):
Around 2300m pretty much everything had fallen off during the morning's PIDA blasting - though there was still some takers for the bits in-between!:
A good day for some mellow runs & meadow skipping:
High winds were visible on the crests, and although the avalanche risk forecast has dropped from 4 to 3 care will still need to be taken on steeper slopes as there is a persistant weak layer lurking from the early winter. Additionally the snowpack remains thin, and there are definitely plenty of rocks just under the surface, particularly near ridges and any convexities where the wind has worked the snow a bit.
The scenery is still good though:
Around the Vanoise friends reported wind-affected powder up above the Refuge de la Vanoise, Val Thorens & Orelle reportedly even more wind-affected than Courchevel, and a ski instructor and his client had a lucky escape in an avalanche incident in La Plagne (Les Bourtes area) losing nothing more than their equipment fortunately.
Current advice - keep it mellow, and watch out for (invisible) rocks!
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