Since the recent snowfall hit the alps in the last month you can't seem to open Facebook or emails without seeing endless stories of avalanches or people shredding powder. Each hour more photos of people enjoying themselves in the snow are uploaded and each hour my (and others I'm sure) FOMO - fear of missing out, increases. The thing is though, within easy reach of the lifts I have only a few more ski lines that I really want to do, that will challenge me, and will still be there in many more years, waiting for the right avalanche and snow conditions. At the moment, my primary focus is on trying not to get avalanched, and second to this is having fun. Yes, you can have fun skiing powder at less than 30degrees!
 |
| Off piste at Savoleyres |
In recent weeks there have been several well published deaths across the Alps, including in Verbier. What has been less noticed are the amount of avalanches set off resulting in more minor injuries (most locally are published here http://www.policevalais.ch/communiques-pour-les-medias/nendaz-avalanche-hors-piste-un-blesse/ ).
 |
| Morning wintery views down the La Tzoumaz side |
This, combined with some recent avalanche training last week, has made me rightly very cautious, and what our guide, Simon Hale said rings true 'the more you know about snow, the more you realise you don't know'.
 |
| Blue skies and mellow angled fresh tracks |
So what did I get up to today on one of the best powder days of the ski season? I headed to Savoleyres where the majority of the terrain is more mellow, and the few sections that aren't are well skied, very short and have good run outs. The first few hours were spent skiing freshies on the pistes, followed by those on either side of the pistes, and lower down in the trees. Until 10am there was still plently of powder to ski on the piste alone. Following this was the entire Verbier side of untracked powder. Avoiding the steeper rollovers (which commonly slide) you could ski almost directly back to the bottom lift station. There is still the odd running stream around to keep you focused, and the occasional hidden rock and tree roots (double eject there!), but until mid afternoon it was soft and powdery the whole way.
 |
| Wind affected snow at Savoleyres, just one of many factors contributing to the avalanche hazard at the moment |
And so, you can have a great day of safe skiing, despite the fact I would have loved to hit some other steeper parts, I did enjoy myself, and it's only the start of February.
 |
| Sun and snow at Les Ruinettes on Sunday |
More statistics in addition to some useful snow information are available here http://www.slf.ch/praevention/lawinenunfaelle/index_EN
No comments:
Post a Comment