Morzine Snow Report: 27th March 2012

I headed over to the Morzine/Les Gets side of the Portes du Soleil this morning. The Pleney telecabine followed by the Belvedere télésiège had me at the top of the gentle blue Granges run down to the Grand Pre. From here you can head to Nyon, Chamossiere or the Chavannes bowl above Les Gets - I opted for Chamossiere. It’s a lot quicker than it used to be with the new express Chamossiere chair lift getting you up to the top in no time.

Usually there is an option of the black Creux and red Arbis runs from the top. The black was shut due to avalanche risk. Although there has not been new snow for a week, the high temperatures can make for high avalanche risk. The red was in really good shape. It’s a great run, long and steep in places but wide. I hit the run a little early in the day really. It was still icy when I was skiing down which is fine but not as good as catching the snow on the turn when you get that soft inch or so on top.

I headed into the Chavannes bowl to do a few of the south facing slopes which soften up first in the morning. There are a number of blacks, reds and blues all accessed via the Rosta and Grains d’Or chairs. I took in a mix; the reds were nice and smooth and well pisted and the blacks were all bumped up. There was plenty of variety, then, and something for everyone.

The Chavannes is a good place to hang out at this time of year. As the south facing runs, described above, get too soft and heavy later in the day you can move around to the runs on the other side which will still be in good condition. My favourite is the Tulipe from the top of the Ranfoilly express. It’s long and wide with a few different gradients thrown into the mix. Unfortunately the Ranfoilly express was broken today so I could not get up there. To compensate I put in a few runs of the Meleze and the Perrier express. It’s a superb run, wide and fast with a few flatter sections to take a rest before the next steep pitch.

Heading home via the Grand Pre I had a quick look around the Nyon Plateau and put in one run from the top of the TS de la Pointe. This was followed by the Chamois red and the Retour des Nants green home run all the way back down to the Pleney in Morzine. Quite a long run to do in one hit but the last green is obviously nice and easy.

The pistes were in great condition today, no problems with lack of snow anywhere. There were no patches of earth coming through and things should be in great condition for a little while longer yet. We’ll easily hit the end of season on 22nd April with some great piste conditions.

Bon Ski