Morzine Snow Report: 21st January 2012
Overnight snow made for a brillaint day out
A great powder day today; it snowed all last night so there were plenty of fresh tracks to be had this morning. The forecast was for up to 50cm but I don’t think we had quite that much, easily 30cm though which was more than enough to cover the lumps and bumps of hard snow underneath in the off piste.
We tried to head up Super Morzine but the Proclou télésiège linking to Avoriaz was, according to a chalk board, closed. This sometimes happens when there are high winds or if there has been too much snow to clear. In some ways, then, a bad sign although not necessarily if it was due to snow quantity.
We walked across the footbridge to the Montriond side of the valley and caught the bus to Ardent. We did not have to wait long, the buses are really frequent. It’s a lot easier than a car journey assuming you are staying within reasonable walking distance.
Ardent and Linderets above it was a good call today as the visibility was a bit of an issue. It was still snowing intermittently so we needed to hit the tree lined runs for contrast. First of all we did a run or two near the Prolays and Linderets express chairs. The snow was great but not quite as light as we expected, a little heavier as a function of the mild temperatures. Still brilliant though!
We moved on to the Brocheaux chair skiing the Brocheaux Snowzone, basically a patrolled off piste area. Some runs were better than others as the visibility came and went, no matter, we were having a brilliant time. The top half of the run was a little better snow wise as it was easier to find fresh tracks. Nearer the bottom everyone gets funnelled through a gap so the snow quickly became tracked out but it was worth it for the top part.
After being shut for most of the morning the Express Mossettes sprang into life. We headed for that lift for the change. It turned out not to be the best move. The lift put us higher so the snow was a little nicer but we were in the cloud struggling to determine which way was up. We struggled down the Frontaliere Snowzone not being able to read the terrain in front of us.
Time for something new. We headed to the secteur Hauts Forts and the Grand Combe express lift. Initially we were on the Le Crot blue, cutting into the off piste at every opportunity. This would prove to be the best skiing of the day. Although the snow was generally more tracked it was easy to pick out big pillows of untouched snow to turn into. The benefit of being lower down and in amongst trees really told here.
Next up was a run down the Grand Combe lift line, excellent, some really nice turns to be had here. And congratulations to anyone who dropped the big bertha cliff band directly under the lift, very near the top. I’ve not seen anyone do it for a while now and missed this hero/ heroine as well but the huge bomb hole landing told its own story. Have a look and see what you think, definitely a powder landing required if you are to maintain knee function in later life.
The legs were becoming really weary now, especially so after a blind run down the Coupe du Monde, the wind whipping over the fence making things a little more difficult. We had one final run in us and opted for the Combette black. I don’t ski it often but it’s a brilliant little run and, in these conditions, effectively off piste all the way (it’s never pisted). Some trees and a natural bowl shape sheltered us from the wind for a brilliant last run of the day.
We finished off with a cruise down the blue Le Crot to the head of the Prodains Vallee. A bus was waiting and we were back in Morzine in no time. I have to say the transport links for Morzine, Prodains and Ardent are fantastic, it’s so easy.
Bon Ski
