© W. Watson
© W. Watson
© W. Watson
© W. Watson
Mixed conditions in Val d'Isere over the weekend
Clouds, sunshine, wind, snow and rain
It was a pretty mixed weekend weather and snow-wise in Val d'Isere, as we had cloudy skies with the odd patch of sunshine, as well as wind, rain and a little snow.
Friday was a tough day with overcast skies, wind at altitude and very poor visibility. My colleague Chris and I took our clients for a ‘skin’ to Mont Roup, which is at mid-altitude and protected from the wind. Although the light was very flat, we had excellent snow for the most part and a really good adventurous morning, where ‘travelling safely in the mountains’ is more important than the skiing itself. We did have the odd moment when a tiny ‘light-bulb’ of sunshine showed itself but it was mostly travelling and skiing by feel.
It rained up to 2400 metres on Friday night which made for some pretty tricky skiing on Saturday. The wind was blowing and the pisteurs needed to secure some sectors with dynamite, which kept the lifts accessing the higher parts of the Espace Killy closed until about 10:30. However, we had a patch of sunshine and managed two rotations off the Fontaine Froide lift. We were skiing from about 2700 to 2400 metres and just managed to stay high enough to avoid the rain crust. The snow was slightly ‘educational’ and what I call ‘skiers snow’ but, considering the wind and rain, it was pretty good skiing. Once the connecting lifts opened, we headed as high as we could go and found some easier snow off the Grande Motte in Tignes where we had a couple of great runs.
Unfortunately, on the way down to lunch I hit a grabby clump of snow on the piste and exploded with skis, poles and sunglasses flying everywhere. I knew immediately that I’d hurt myself and managed to ski the last few hundred metres on one leg. I was immediately worried about how long I’d be out and hoping my season wasn’t over. However, when we returned home, my wife Gill, who’s an excellent physio, tested the stability of my new and was pretty certain that it wasn’t a knee joint or ligament injury, which was a huge relief. A few hours later we’ve concluded that it’s a high calf injury.
The Christmas period is about to kick off and I strongly recommend getting out early and taking advantage of the piste skiing while the pistes are at their best. You’ll also avoid the crowds, not only on the slopes but for the buses. The bus queues aren’t a great way to start the day and, if you’re on the first lift of the day, you’re off and running. Another good time to ski the pistes is from noon until 14:00 while many people are having lunch.
With the rain in town, the pavements are even worse than they normally are so please be careful walking about. Don’t be caught with your hands in your pockets or children on your shoulders, and I’d suggest some slip-on crampons that slip onto the soles of your walking shoes. The medical centres in the village are full of people who have injured themselves walking in the streets, so please be careful.
Sunday started off quite sunny, which was a nice bonus as it wasn't forecasted. I sat at my computer and didn't ski because of injury for the first time in a long, long time. My colleague Chris and Andreas went up to the Fornet to get above the rain crust and had some good winter snow in places and wind-compressed snow in others. The good light didn’t last long as the cloud cover returned by 10:45 but they had a pretty good outing in tough conditions.
Just to give you an idea of how good the early season snow cover is, I’ve included a photo of my terrace. This time last season, there wasn’t a flake of snow on it! The weather forecast for the next few days looks much better. Monday will be the toughest day with some light snow and perhaps some drizzle in the village but Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are expected to be sunny with clear blue skies.
Merry Christmas!
Follow more from Wayne in his Daily Diary.
NB: Exploring beyond the ski resort boundaries is an amazing experience for anyone who's physically fit and has mastered the pistes well enough. There are, however, risks associated with venturing outside the safety of the marked/patrolled ski area, including awareness of your actions on those below you on the slopes. Mountain guides are professionally qualified and have extensive knowledge of the local terrain to provide you with the safest and most enjoyable possible experience in the mountains; as a visitor here we highly recommend you hiring one. Many ski schools also provide instruction in off-piste skiing, avalanche safety and mountaineering techniques. Make your time in the mountains unforgettable for the right reasons, ski safe!
Off-piste skiing and mountaineering are dangerous. The opinions expressed in these articles are very much time and condition-specific and the content is not intended in any way to be a substitute for hiring a mountain guide, undergoing professional mountaineering training and/or the individual's own backcountry decision making.
