Challenging skiing in Val d'Isere

On Saturday the sun returned with 10cm of fresh snow overnight we headed up to Fornet and had a wonderful day of non-stop powder skiing. After so much snow and flat-light everyone was in the mood. Happy to be able to see the mountains and the terrain in front of them, we definitely made the most of it. We skied the Lower Combe du Signal, the Combe du 3300, the Combe du Geant, the Col Pers and we finished the morning by ‘skinning’ into the Grand Vallon. It was a brilliant day after a pretty tough week and a great end to a lot of people’s holidays.

Sunday was pretty similar except that with each passing day the off-piste options dwindle due to wind, sun and tracks. It’s a shame that so many people spread out and take up more snow than they need as the resort becomes tracked-out much sooner than it needs to be. Part of it is skiers and boarders being selfish and part of it is just ignorance, but the result is a messy mountain with fewer options for the days to come. I’ve spent years trying to educate people on mountain etiquette and snow-management and it’s very frustrating to watch so much snow being needlessly wasted. Even though we’ve had over 5 metres of snow in January the snow quality is poor and the good snow that we do have has been trashed in two sunny days, and we need a top-up already!

With all that said we ‘skinned’ twice on Sunday to find fresh snow and we had another great day without seeing any other skiers except my colleague Chris and his group. The forecast calls for two or three more sunny days before a bit more snow next week, which will be welcome and give us a fresh canvas to work with. But, for the time being, the weather seems to be calming down, which is great news for those trying to dig out and repair lift or for those trying to clear roads and parking lots. Anyone who is spending time driving to-and-from the resort will also appreciate less chaos on the roads. I’m picking up my family in Lyon on February 7th and I’m hoping for clear roads and clear skies!

As you can tell by now if you’re a regular follower of the updates that I’m not much of a piste skier, but the piste skiing is fantastic at the moment and gets better with each sunny day. Clear weather and no new snow makes the slopes much easier to groom and with a firmer texture, the pistes remain flat with fewer bumps, which makes for much better skiing.

The week ahead looks fantastic with three days of sunshine followed by a couple of days of snow, so everyone should be happy. Have a great week and look out for another update on Friday!

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!