With the fantastic skiing we’ve had this season, and with 6.15m base still at the top of the Montets let’s take a look at La Nina - the weather phenomenom we’ve been experiencing this winter. Global temperatures will drop slightly this year as a result of the cooling effect of the La Nina current in the [...]

Each week The Daily Telegraph highlights the top ski resort for the best current snow conditions, chosen by the Ski Club of Great Britain. This week: Argentière, France. The resort Argentière lies in the Chamonix valley below Mont Blanc, surrounded by impressive glacial scenery. It is around 90 minutes from Geneva, and the Grand Montets ski area [...]

Glaciers are melting at a faster rate than at any time since records began, reports The Observer. Scientists from the World Glacier Monitoring Service, which tracks 30 glaciers in nine mountain ranges, estimate that from 1850 to 1970, glaciers were shrinking at a net average rate of 30cm a year. Between 1970 and 2000 losses [...]

There have been a number of deaths this year on the Vallee Blanche, as well as a few lucky escapes. The PGHM (Peloton de Gendarmerie de Haute-Montagne) published the following article in response to the recent fatalities on the Vallee Blanche: The Vallee Blanche is not a ski piste Thursday 13th of March, 2008. We’ve just done [...]

Vallorcine Looks to Encourage Tourism The improvements to the Poya ski area has encouraged more people to ski in Vallorcine, and the increased popularity of snowshoeing and ski joering - skiing behind a horse - has drawn in the tourists. However, there are some concerns that Vallorcine is becoming too expensive and is losing its family [...]

The skiing is far from over in Chamonix with over 5 weeks of the season to go. Le Tour, Brevent, Les Houches and Courmayeur are shutting on the 27th of April whilst Flegere will be partially open until 4th May - with the Trappe and Index chairlifts running - and Les Grands Montets won’t close [...]

After the deaths of a British snowboarder at the beginning of the month and a French skier on the 13th March there has been a further fatality on the Vallee Blanche. On Weds a 29 year old Russian snowboarder fell 15m to his death into a crevasse just below the Requin Refuge. According to witnesses [...]

Unfortunately Chamonix were unable to reclaim the trophy, even with the help of the Plakes, and Zermatt once again finished first. Still, there’s always next year… 1st: Zermatt 2nd: Chamonix 3rd: Val d’Isère 4th: Méribel 5th: Verbier 6th: Courchevel

Chamonix is enjoying some of the best conditions of the season with an incredible 70cms of snow falling at 1500m in under 24hrs. With more snow forecast over the weekend, and right through next week, the remainder of the season looks set to be fantastic with Chamonix boasting the best snow base in the Alps.

The 19th edition of the Boss des Bosses, Europe’s biggest inter-resort moguls contest, is this Weds. A festival of skiing, snowboarding and telemarking that brings together some of the finest mogul skiiers from Europe’s top alpine resorts. The event, which started as inter-resort rivalry back in 1990, has now grown into an international competition for the [...]

People often ask where to go out clubbing in Chamonix. If the Clubhouse and No Escape are out of your budget you’re left with only one real choice - Le Garage. But it’s often difficult to give people an idea of just how cheesy it is, with floor to ceiling mirrors and an alarming ratio [...]

What with moving house and intermittent internet connection, at best, there’s been little opportunity to post new stories so I’m going with the Chamonix Weekly Recap this week. Chamonix’s Top Restaurants In the latest additon of the Michelin Guide Chamonix fares rather well with two new additions to the The ‘Bib Gourmand’ category (which features great food [...]

A plan for urban public transport in the Chamonix Valley for the next seven years has recently been agreed and signed. The contract, once again with Mont Blanc Bus, aims to continue to improve quality of service for passengers as well as continuing to respect the environment. A total of 12 buses out of the fleet [...]

This winter has seen a relatively low number of avalanche incidents with just 6 confirmed deaths so far. This is due the lack of snowfall in Feb and it’s period of anticyclonic weather. However, this week winter has returned again with bumper snowfalls above 2000m in Chamonix accompanied by strong North Westerly winds, with more [...]

The story of big mountain skiing, a sport that barely existed 35 years ago. It started in the 1970s in the mountains above Chamonix, France, where skiers began to attempt ski descents so extreme that they appeared almost suicidal. Men like Anselme Baud and Patrick Vallencant were inspired by the challenge of skiing where no [...]

The fact that Europe’s glaciers are shrinking is no longer news to anyone who goes skiing. A little over a century ago a Gap based botanist noticed changes in the flora on the terminal moraines in the Alps and published a prescient article entitled: “Are these indications of a coming change in climate?”. In the [...]

After the tragic accident at Le Brevent the Compagnie du Mont Blanc has released the following press release: After extensive investigations into the terrible accident that happened on the Brevent gondola last weekend, the Compagnie du Mont Blanc have issued the following press release: Following the tragic accident that took place on the Pranpraz telecabin, early indications [...]

Sheikh Yamani once said that the stone age didn’t end for lack of stone and if a new book by Jean-Marc Jancovici, consulting engineer and specialist in energy consumption is correct the ski age will end long before snow runs out. Interviewed by Stéphène Jourdain for the Dauphine Libere Mr Jancovici’s book is called “Le [...]

With the recent warm and dry weather many crevasses on the Vallee Blanche have opened up, and a number of snow bridges have weakened. A Chamonix guide lost his life on Sat when the ice pinnacle he was climbing collapsed, and on Sunday a British snowboarder was killed on the Vallee Blanche when he fell [...]

Three men are in custody in Chamonix after one of their friends fell to his death from a cable car the four were using. The cause of the fall is unclear, but the men - aged 32 to 35 - had engaged in “rough play”, prosecutors said. Police said two of them had broken a side window [...]

If you’re thinking of tackling the Vallee Blanche on your visit to Chamonix then check out the following video. It gives a good idea of the arret walk at the beginning and the challenges facing you.

Chamonix Tourist Office has been organising a draw every Saturday for those people who have travelled to Chamonix by train. All you need to enter is your train ticket and you will be entered into a draw to win a basket of regional produce. This is part of a campaign by the resort to increase environmental [...]

Every good citizen and armchair environmentalist knows that plastic bags are evil, and the sole cause of all the world’s misery. But is it so? Most people will cite approvingly countries such as Ireland which have banned the use of plastic bags, most, however, will know little of the environmental damage which these measures have inflicted [...]

Only 100 Months To Catastrophe… If greenhouse gas emissions haven’t peaked by 2015 then the chances of us keeping global warming within check will become increasingly remote. This consensus is shared by most of the world’s climate change scientists and yet we do nothing. True, you hear a lot about climate change in the media and from [...]

Meteo France is reporting that snow cover is good in the Alps and Corsica, but only above 1500 meters. The Pyrenees, however, are suffering from a second year of poor snow with cover only starting from 1300 to 1500 meters on north faces and 1800 meters on south facing slopes. The Northern Alps have seen [...]

I headed up to Les Houches yesterday for a few hours of skiing in the beautiful sunshine.It was blissfully quiet for a Feb half term week and the slopes were in good conditions - thanks in the main to the sub zero temperatures at night and the preponderance of snow canons. However, down the back [...]

After the Kandahar downhill race on the Verte piste in Les Houches, next Tuesday sees a competition to race up the piste at night. La Verte a l’Envers is a ski touring race organised by Les Houches. Skinning up the Verte piste racers will be covering 870m of ascent, with the expected best finish time [...]

Chamonix local Alex Pittin  took first place in the European Cup downhill race in Les Houches last weekend. Once the World Cup has taken place the impeccably groomed piste Verte in Les Houches is used to host a leg of the European Cup. For Alex was a personal triumph after writing off the several ski seasons [...]

The mayor of Vallorcine, Patrick Ancey, had signed a mandate to ban skiers and boarders in the avalanche prone areas of the Posettes. However, his decision caused anger amongst guides and the skiing community in Chamonix, leading Mr Ancey to review his mandate. After a consultation with local guides, an agreement has been reached with a [...]

The body of the young Lithuanian skier who went missing on the Vallee Blanche has been found. Hampered by bad weather the search was called off after many attempts. On Sunday 27th a group of skiers with a guide found a pair of hire skis sticking out of the packed snow, with poles laying next to [...]

There’s probably not many out there who can manage this… And please take time to appreciate the music from Gladiator.

I’m sorry if my updates have been rather sporadic recently. I’m currently in the process of trying to move house and coerce my ailing computer into lasting a few more days - it’s running a slight temperature and is having to be supported on two frozen orange juices to eke some life out of it. I [...]

The FIS have inspected the Kandahar and have announced that conditions for this weekend are near perfect. So hopefully all bodes well for this year’s world cup downhill after the bitter disappoint of last year’s cancellation. The competitors are in training today and the Downhill race kicks off at 12pm on Sat. This year the main [...]

After much discussion amongst the various interested parties in Chamonix the daunting approach to the start of the Vallee Blanche has been equipped with ropes. It is unusual for the arret to be equipped so early, but the great snowfalls have left the Vallee Blanche in good shape for the season. There is always some to [...]

A Lithuanian skier has been missing since Friday afternoon after attempting a descent of the Valley Blanche in Chamonix. An extensive search for the 25 year old man had found no trace. The head of the high mountain police in Chamonix said that the man, who was skiing by himself, was poorly equipped for the descent, [...]

The Vallorcine mayor, Patrick Ancey, has passed a bye law for the start of the 2007/8 ski season banning offpiste skiing in 2 sections of his community and restriction access to a third area to days when the avalanche risk is less than 3 out of 5 5. This has not gone down well in [...]

After the success of films such as last years Les Aiguilles Rouge - which filmed in its entirety Chamonix - the town continues to attract an average of two films a year and 2008 looks set to continue the trend. The sequel to OSS 117 Cairo, Nest of Spies starts filming in Chamonix at the end [...]

In France a rigid ban on smoking in enclosed public places was extended on on 2nd January to cover clubs, bars, restaurants and cafes - despite dire warnings about the threat to the country’s cafe culture. A 24-hour “grace” period for the New Year festivities was allowed in a gesture of “tolerance”. Anyone caught lighting up [...]

I’m sorry for the break in blogging. What with the New Year festivities and the Chamonix lurgy, which affects most of the valley come Jan, there really wasn’t much to report on. So a small filler of a post before the Chamonix news… When it comes to glamour it would appear that the French do have [...]

With the fantastic start to the season it’s all go in the Chamonix valley. Event the top cable car at Les Grands Montets is running giving skiers the opportunity to ski from an altitude of 3300m all the way down tot he valley floor at 1200m. The lift normally doesn’t open until the middle to the [...]

The Swiss Federal Institute for Snow and Avalanche Researchhave just released a report studying the effects of snow canons on the mountain economy. Their overall conclusion is that while artificial snow is essential in the short term for the economic stability of ski areas, long term it has no future below 1500 meters. Last winter was [...]

Chamonix residents are being forced to leave the valley as the cost of living is rising beyond their means. The concerns were voiced at the Tourism Summit taking place in Chamonix this week. Since 1999 the town has lost 700 premanent residents, whilst areas further down the valley such as Passy and Servoz have seen their [...]

The Chamonix lift company has announced an investment programme of 14 million euros for the 2007/2008 season. The main source of investment is the long awaited replacement of the Plan Praz ski lift. Work has already started and the new lift, which will hold eight seated in summer and 10 standing in winter, will be open [...]

Once again this year the Compagnie du Mont Blanc has opened its Avalanche Transceiver Training ground at Les Grands Montets. The area off the piste between Marmottons and Plan Joran lift bases is equipped with buried transceivers and a central control panel to enable groups to learn about avalanche rescue and practice with their own transceivers [...]

It’s not just the downhill skiers who are enjoying the great early snowfalls and cold weather. Cross country ski fans should also be dusting off their kit as the Ski de Fond trails are ready to open as well. Its now possible to cross country ski on the 12.6km loop around Les Bois, and during [...]

With the recent bout of cold weather following the early snow falls, Chamonix is set to fully open this weekend. With great skiing already being enjoyed in Les Houces, Les Grands Montets and Courmayeur; and with Le Tour, Brevent and Flegere opening on Saturday, it looks like we’re set for a great season.

Described by the organisers as “a veritable feast of seriously hardcore winter sports”, the Winter Nissan Outdoor Games by Columbia is taking place in Chamonix this winter season. Taking Part from the 14th to the 17th February 2008, the competition consists of two elements; the first is a film competition with five teams composed of athletes [...]

2006 Winter Olympic gold medallist Antoine Deneriaz, who lives in Morillon in the Grand Massif ski area, announced his retirement from competitive skiing today at the French Ski Federation. Despite being injured in 2005, the 31 year old was a skiing star for France in the 2006 Winter Olympic games in Turin, bringing back the much-coveted [...]

The most popular route to the summit of Mont Blanc involves a night at Refuge de Gouter with over 7000 overnight stays this year alone. The Departmental Commission has given the initial green light for the plans, but with financial questions ever present, construction on the 140-bed hut isn’t expected to start until 2009, with [...]

There’s been a lot of talk and rumours in the valley about the growing uncertainty of the relationship between the two parties (SEPP and LH-SG) who own and run the Les Houches ski area. Things came to a head again last week with rumours that SEPP was unwilling to accept skiers with a Mont Blanc [...]

Ok, are you looking for a new way to enjoy snowboarding? Are you tired of the same old ride the ski lift then snowboard down the slope that everyone else is doing? You need to start heliboarding. You can experience virgin ski areas that few others get a chance to snowboard. What is heliboarding? Heliboarding is [...]

Ok, you have snowboard and will travel. Are you looking for an adventure destination that not everyone is flocking to? Do you want to be able to talk not just about the great runs but also the travel adventure you had in getting to slopes? Here are three adventure destinations for snowboarding. Timberline Resort on Mt. [...]

Would you like to experience a ski adventure holiday that is unique and second to none? Would you like to find a ski destination that offers a unique skiing experience? Would you like to be hitting the powder slopes when everyone else is sweltering in the dog days of summer? South America just might be [...]

Les Houches is set to see the opening of its new snow park this winter. Serviced by the new chairlift of the Schuss Des Dames the snowpark boasts two sections an initiation, beginner and intermediate section and an expert section. With tabletops, jumps, rails - including a rainbow - it’ll be the perfect place to [...]

We may have been hit by the fohn wind on this side of Mont Blanc, but on the Italian side the snow has been falling and Courmayeur will be opening its lifts this weekend. With access via the Checrouit gondola and Maison Vielle chairlift, further key installations will be open making it possible to ski [...]

The Compagnie Du Mont Blanc has just announced that the Grands Montets will be partially opening this weekend, making it the official start of the 2007/08 winter season. After 2 weeks of snow making and last weeks snowfall it will now be possible to open up the Lognan Cable car and the Marmottons chairlift to skiers [...]

Speed Riding, a kind of cross between ski kiting, paragliding and skiing, will be available to try out at Le Tour in the Chamonix Valley this winter. Participants slide “or fly” down a ski slope wearing a small ‘”wing” similar to a paragliding chute but only six-ten metres square. The idea is not to fly too high, [...]

As reported on Carbon Neutral Tourism and Pistehors: THOUSANDS of skiers will soon be dusting down their salopettes and dashing off in search of the biggest snowfall. And doubtless the impact of our carbon footprint will be about as far down the list of holiday musts as a turkey sandwich after Christmas. But last year, a slow snowfall [...]

It may have been 3 years in the pipeline, but this week, the Bellevue sector of Les Houches finally saw significant progress in the installation of two new chairlifts in the area. The recent settlement of (some of) the well publicised disagreements between SEPP (Bellevue) and LHSG (Prarion) has meant that the €15 million SEPP [...]

New detailed GPS readings taken on the 15-16th September have shown that Mont Blanc measures 4810.9 meters. Mont-Blanc is covered by a thick ice-cap which has thickened by 2.15 meters in just 2 years but more suprisingly the volume of the ice has nearly doubled. At least that is, according to the “Géomètres experts de [...]

More improvements over last year as reported on Piste Hors: The Compagnie du Mont Blanc website is live in English. Though someone should point out that running the French text through ‘Babelfish’ is not a good way to translate a page - some of the sentences are completely ridiculous, and place names like ‘Mont Blanc’ are [...]

A new programme for winter 2007/08 will be started in Chamonix called ‘ski ambassadors’, designed to help tourists at the ski hills find their way around, give information and get the morning ski queues shifting. The new project has been accepted by the Compagnie du Mont Blanc for the coming ski season. Run as a [...]

I awoke this morning to 15cms of snow outside Chalet Schuss (alt 1275m) with more snow settling. Which is kind of lucky as we cleared up outside the chalet yesterday and chopped the last wood for the winter season. What is slightly less unfortunate is our minibus which is at the top of the drive [...]

It’s been snowing in Chamonix and across the French Alps this weekend. As predicted, Friday dawned a damp and cloudy day but instead of drops of rain it was flakes of snow that were falling from the sky. Whilst there wasn’t much that night, on Saturday morning the flakes were much bigger and falling [...]