Morzine Snow Report: 18th April 2012

We headed up from Ardent, the Super Morzine and Pleney lifts closed for the season this last Monday. From there we took the Chaux-Fleurie to the Col du Bassachaux ready for a warm up run down the Grand Plan blue. The visibility at the top was very poor, almost white out but we soon descended far enough for the conditions to improve a little. Although not the depth of snow we had Tuesday there was a good 10 cm or so to play in.

Next up we took the Express Prolays and then the blue Prolays run back down. We ventured off into the edges of the piste and got some reasonable snow although we had to be cautious of all the lumps and bumps underneath. The snow on the piste was soft and cutting up into chunks, it was nice skiing though. Lower down on any well used tracks approaching ski lifts for example the snow was wetter, more compacted, soap like and a little catchy on the edges.

We spied a break in the clouds over the Secteur Chavanette and quickly chased the patch of blue via a quick ski through Avoriaz, the Express Lac Intrets chair and the Bleue du Lac piste. By the time we reached Fornet the elusive blue patch of sky had disappeared but the visibility was not too bad.

Initially we had a run down the Fornet blue, again popping off to the edges of the piste to get some reasonably deep un-tracked fresh snow. From the Choucas chair we could spy a couple of skiers getting some good fresh tracks off the edge of the Blanchot red. We followed suit and got some great lines in before re-joining the Fornet blue. These lines were the pick of the day so we could not get back on the Choucas chair quick enough to repeat them. We did this a few times before we had the area tracked out. We were not really competing against anyone as resort is very quiet.

We had a coffee in Changabang to celebrate all the this late season bonus snow. The consensus was that it has been a great season. It’s probably been my best season, I’ve certainly never had so many powder days.

It all comes to an end this Sunday 22nd. Shame really as there is tonnes of snow up the mountain and even if the sun comes back out there is another week’s worth of good piste skiing left easily. As an example, if the lift was still running it would still be possible to get a great ski all the way down the Stade from Pleney right into town.

The usual end of season party at Chez Flow will be happening this Sunday. That’s where all the seasonaires and locals get mortally drunk in the afternoon and then ski down Le Crot home run – carnage.

For me it will be the end of season ski randonnée race; Le Trophee des Hauts Forts. A 1000m climb up to the Hauts Forts from Prodains followed by a dash down the Bleue du Lac and then another 300m climb up Fornet before a ski to finish outside Chez-Flo. A nice way to end the season if that’s your kind of thing.

Bon Ski