Mixed snow conditions in Val d'Isere this week

On Tuesday, we had one of the toughest mornings off-piste of the entire season. We needed to go as high as possible, meaning the Grande Motte and, even at that altitude, the off-piste was just skiable. Fortunately, piste skiing was magnificent and we spent most of the morning on piste except for two runs on the Rosalin followed by a ten-minute ‘skin’. It was overcast with very flat light so we did as well as possible under the circumstances. For a tough day, it was a good result!

On Wednesday we weren’t expecting too much of an improvement but, after a colder night and a fragile refreeze, we had lightly supporting spring snow that gave us some very much appreciated options. Instead of heading back up to the Grande Motte, we were able to ski the North Face of the Borsat in winter snow, followed by supporting snow lower down. We then went for a fantastic run on the big face of the Tourne, which was the first proper spring snow run of the season, followed by a good run in the Sachette on spring snow to finish.

By this time, the fragile freeze had disappeared and we skied back to Val d’Isere on the piste. Besides having some options, the Aiguille Percee sector often stays in the sun when the rest of the resort is in the clouds and that was the case on Wednesday so everyone went home happy!

It snowed about 10cm down in the village on Wednesday night, and between 20 and 30cm at altitude so, on Thursday, we enjoyed the best day of the week skiing great winter powder up at the Fornet. The sky was overcast for most of the morning and we had some patches of fog but, for the most part, we could see well enough to ski and navigate comfortably. The Combe du Signal was stunning and the skiing on the Pissaillas Glacier was excellent as well.

The piste skiing remains excellent for the most part, with well-groomed pistes first thing in the morning and the snow conditions deteriorate during the day. There is cold winter snow at altitude and the snow conditions change the lower you ski until you end up with slush towards the bottom of the mountain. As usual, the best snow conditions are first thing in the morning when the pistes are at their quietest as well.

The forecast for the weekend looks much brighter with a clear blue day on Friday followed by partly sunny days on Saturday and Sunday. Hopefully, the heat on Friday will give us some spring snow options over the weekend. More snow and unseasonably cold temperatures are expected next week as the wait for spring continues.

Look out for another update on Monday and have a fantastic weekend!

Follow more from Wayne on his Daily Diary.

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 and also mountain guides provide instruction in off-piste skiing, avalanche safety and mountaineering techniques. Make your time in the mountains unforgettable for the right reasons, ski safe!