Morzine Snow Report: 8th January 2012

Earlier in the week we managed to score some fantastic powder in the Linga area. Initially we thought the day was going to be a none event due to the low viz but you’ve got to get out to know for sure. As ever we headed for some trees in the Plaine Dranse, Les Combes and Linga areas.

There are some brilliant steep pitches into Plaine Dranse from the Col du Bassachaux. At first above the tree line but quickly you get into the little shrubs and bushes that give you the contrast. Likewise the lines into Les Combes from either the télésiège du Cornebois or des Combes quickly get into the trees. There is enough snow to get some great off piste turns into Pre-le-Joux at the moment. Handily, if you’re in a mixed ability group, there is a brilliant wide easy red down to the bottom of the Pierre Longue lift where you can reconvene.

The pick of the skiing was in and around the Le Linga red earlier this week. Initially the run was closed for the ski patrol to do controlled avalanches. The boom was mighty impressive and so was the amount of snow pushed down from the hill to skiers right when we finally got onto the Le Linga piste (obviously we skied around that!) Put it this way, you would not want to be underneath it all. Once the run opened we were in the right place at the right time to get first tracks down a pisted run with a good 30cm of fresh light powder on top, it doesn’t happen often – amazing.

We had to go around for another lap and used the L’Écho Alpin to get back to the top rather than drop all the way down to Villapeyron. Obviously second time around there were many tracks but we found more fresh lines to skiers left, just the other side of the piste markers. Another brilliant powder run for free, no hike required, easy.

I can’t imagine getting bored of powder days, we had another classic in the Nyon area yesterday. The preceding day had seen some wild weather, lots of snow and high winds. The wind usually wrecks the snow as it compresses the top layer into a crust. But it also picks it up and deposits it on leeward sides of the hill making for some great skiing (the caveat being it increases the avalanche risk!)

The face of Nyon provided some amazing off piste conditions, obviously a little sheltered and leeward to the wind. We didn’t get too wild due to the avalanche risk. We didn’t need to; sticking relatively close to the pistes provided some brilliant powder conditions. The best thing was the visibility was pretty good, not a sunny day but it doesn’t always have to be to get the contrast needed to read the upcoming terrain. It seems we picked the right location as friends who’d skied Avoriaz experienced much flatter light.

The upcoming days are looking very sunny and cold which should make for brilliant conditions. The cold will keep the snow nice and light and I’m sure there will be plenty of untracked fresh around. Likewise I anticipate the pistes being in tip top condition – something for everyone.

Bon Ski