Welcome to winter!

 

It's official: it's coming on Saturday night, with its procession of snowflakes. Get out your skis and scrapers, and let's get started!

 

Last night, around 20cm fell at Lognan, 30cm at La Flégère and 30cm at Montenvers. On the other hand, the strong winds at altitude have also been doing their bit, increasing the risk of avalanches (the département is under yellow alert, so be careful!).

 

The first layers of snow are not very deep, so if you venture off-piste, it's best to stay light on your skis.

 

Some routes are already in good condition, such as towards Bel Oiseau or in the area around the Refuge des Prés, which opens tomorrow. Be careful, though: you'll need a good level of skiing for some of the final sections, such as the Bérard valley, the return via Point de Vue or the bottom of the Posettes.

 

In Les Houches, the marked itinerary for ski touring has been modified by decree: it is now compulsory to start from Maisonneuve. Departures from the Prarion are only permitted between 5pm and 9pm.

 

On the Argentière glacier, the Col du Tour Noir and Col d'Argentière have better snow cover than the Col du Chardonnet, but beware of crevasses that are only just covered.

 

The good news is that all the ski lifts will be open from tomorrow, including the Aiguille du Midi. The snow up there is in good condition, but the crevasses are still wide open, so be careful.

 

For fans of ice climbing, some waterfalls and gullies have already formed, such as on the Aiguille des Pélerins, under the Chardonnet and on the left bank of the Argentière glacier. The Bérard waterfall is still forming: it's too thin to climb, so we kindly ask you not to play!

 

As far as hiking is concerned, it's the winter truce: avoid the heights and keep your hiking boots inside. The Charme loop at Les Houches is already open, and the Index and Raverettaz loops at La Flégère will be open tomorrow. The valley floor circuits should be ready after Sunday's precipitation.

 

Enjoy your skiing!

 

 

Translated with kind permission from an original report by La Chamoniarde.

Readers are reminded that conditions in mountain environments are prone to (sometimes rapid) change and that they should use their own best judgement when visiting them.