Again, a few teams who had checked the webcams or were feeling lucky headed up the Midi lift in to the thick cloud and mist. They were all rewarded high up with stunning views over a thick layer of inversion cloud. Great skiing in fresh snow up high but then difficult conditions skiing down the glacier in to the mist lower down. This pattern may continue over the next day or so...

Just a few teams sneaking down the Vallee Blanche today. An opportunistic approach was required to depart when the clouds had been swept away. Lots of good fresh snow up high.

A number of teams sneaked down the Vallee Blanche in good style today despite the anticipated poor weather. Recent cool & showery conditions have added some fresh powder up high and helped to arrest the progression of dryer conditions and opening crevassses! The weather for the next few days is set to do more of the same...Happy Easter!

A much quieter day was enjoyed in the Vallee Blanche today after the busy weekend. The morning sun softened the snow but then afternoon cloud stopped it going too slushy so conditions remained good. We ski toured across to the Italian side via the Col de Flambeux and skied the Combe Vierge. A few crevasses are starting to appear as the snow recedes, particularly lower down and around the Salle a' Manger. A bit of snow and cooler weather would help preserve the ski Vallee Blanche season and it looks like this is just what is on the way over the next few days....

The cool Northerly wind did little to deter hundreds & thousands of skiers who enjoyed skiing the Vallee Blanche today. Conditions remain ok with much better skiing once the tracked spring snow is sun softened later in the day. Continuing warm weather has stripped back the cover with many more rocks showing through and some crevasses visibly growing by the day.

The lift queues at the Aiguille du Midi this morning were non-existent. A pleasant effect of late season, mid-week skiing. Despite the lack of skiers the conditions remain good and we enjoyed a slightly later start (skiing at about 11) to enjoy sun softened snow on the Petit Envers variation. The bumps on the classic left hand passing of the Geant icefall are getting bigger but don't feel too bad once they have become a bit softer. Lower down there is the option for a bit of 'ski canyoning' where the glaciers melt water channels provide an entertaining funnel to ski. These have been a pleasant site seeing addition to the descent over the last month or so but now have large 'puddles' in the channel and are increasingly presenting an 'aquatic' ski challenge. A great spectator sport from the sanctity of the flat glacier above!

Lots of teams enjoying most variations on the Vallee Blanche today. We skied the classic route which was softening nicely by lunchtime. The upper section includes lots of light bumps in softish snow. Lower down, after lunch at the Requin Hut things were smoother and more spring like. The key passage through the Geant icefall is bumpy but fine for good skiers. We passed the main steeper bumpy section via a traverse to the hard skiers left which involved a very short slide over a bare ice section. Still lots of teams skiing down to the end of the Glacier but we joined most teams in taking the Montenvers railway down.

Deep fresh soft snow and a cool wind gave an adventurous feel to the excellent skinning journey across the upper Vallee Blanche today. The effort trail breaking was substantial but the reward was not only fresh tracks but also Limonata, Panini and cappucino in the excellent cafe at Punta Hellbroner (3462m). There are not many cafes that can boast both such a high altitude and a picture of the Pope enjoying a visit!

For the descent of the Vallee Blanche from the Italian side we skied from the Col Flambeux as the snow in the Combe Vierge looked highly wind effected. Conditions were good in the VB and the recent fresh snow had helped smooth out the big and bumpy section on the passage through the Geant icefall. Whilst folk were still skiing past Montenvers towards the end of the Glacier this must now involve a substantial walk down the James Bond track and most teams preferred to take the train down.

The very mild conditions today gave sun warmed snow this morning even above 3000m on the Envers du Plan variation of the Vallee Blanche. We skied a middle envers exiting left and down the steepish couloirs above and skiers left of the Requin Hut. This was bumpy but sun softened and pleasant. The James Bond Track back down to Chamonix is getting a bit rocky and has a few sections of walking but was still reasonable.

Many teams were ascending the Periades en route to ski the Mont Mallet Glacier and, for the first time this season, a lot of tracks were coming through the Italian side of the Geant icefall although it still looks quite complicated. A few teams had also skied the Combe Noir.

With very little snowfall in the month of February good conditions in the Vallee Blanche have lasted extremely well. The skiing on the classic route today was pleasant 'flat pack' turning to 'soft spring' lower down on the Mer de Glace this afternoon. The moguls however have had the passage of many many skiers to aid their progress from molehills to mountains! The bumps on the Voie Normale are 'obligatoire' and not for the faint hearted. Conditions are such that you need to be pretty confident negotiating big moguls to tackle the VB at the moment. The fresh snow due tonight and tomorrow should help a bit in reducing their impact a little. It is still possible to ski to Chamonix although a few rocky and bare sections on the 'James Bond Track' need to be negotiated. Bon Ski.

After very mild weather and soft snow conditions in the Vallee Blanche yesterday today was a different story. A hard freeze overnight combined with icy northerly winds today gave a widespread and tough melt freeze crust. This provided some rattling and challenging ski conditions! Snow cover remains good although a few stones are coming through on the track to Chamonix. The weather for the week ahead is generally fair with some sunny days and cold nights and mornings. The transition towards spring conditions will continue and timing will become important to hit the spring snow sweet spot!

It's amazing how busy the descent of the Vallee Blanche can feel at the 'bottle necks' and how quiet it can feel as soon as you make a couple of turns off the main motorway. We found good snow today on the East Facing slopes between the classic Petit Envers variation and the Vrai Vallee Blanche. Sections on the normal route are getting a bit bumpy but overall conditions are still excellent. The final icy, and increasingly slightly rocky, slope down the snout of the glacier can be completely avoided by a pleasant traverse right a couple of hundred metres above down an entertaining small snow gorge. A team were singing old Savoyard folk songs at the Buvette on the way down and, along with the perfect sunny weather, a lively holiday atmosphere pervaded!

The arete is fully equiped, the Requin Hut and Buvette are selling Orangina's and café au lait like hot cakes and it is February half term...High season in the Vallee Blanche given an even bigger holiday atmosphere with sun, blue skies, great snow conditions and, happily, warmer temperatures. The Arctic atmosphere that has gripped the Northern Alps for the last couple of weeks was released today and their was even a touch of spring in the air.

We skied the Petit Envers variation on the Vallee Blanche, enjoyed a few turns in shallow fresh powder high up but then mainly skied in good grippy firm snow. Snow conditions are generally very good all the way down to Chamonix. A few skiers had come in on the Italian side of the Geant Icefall but it still looks quite serious and appears to be less well filled in than the French side. A few teams were also skinning their way up the Periades Glacier.

Tomorrow looks like more of the same with a return to cool snowy conditions on Sunday. Early next week looks like more excellent weather on the way so do get in touch if you are looking for a Vallee Blanche Guide.

Cold cold air temperatures combined with northerly winds gave teams descending the Vallee Blanche today an arctic like icy blast straight out of the Aiguille du Midi. Decent snow conditions were reported descending the Gros Rognon variation but only in the existing tracks. Undisturbed snow had a tricky windcrust and was best avoided. Ski conditions on the lower Vallee Blanche, Mer de Glace and track to Chamonix continue to be good. It looks like Monday and Friday may be the best days for skiing the Vallee Blanche this week as cloudy weather with some fresh snow is forecast from Tuesday.

Despite Antarctic like temperatures many teams enjoyed a descent of the Vallee Blanche today, from both France and Italy. Most variations on the French side were getting skied but only the Col de Flambeux on the Italian approach with no fresh tracks in the Combe Vierge. Skis felt pretty sticky in the very cold dry snow and a light wind crust had formed giving less perfect skiing than at much lower altitudes at the moment. Many teams were skiing the Glacier de Toule and tracks were going in to ski the Marbrees Couloir and skinning high up the Periades Glacier, presumably to ski the Breche Puiseaux.

The single day of good weather this week was taken advantage of by many and huge grins were reported in proportion to the massive deep powder turns and sunshine in the Vallee Blance. More cool, snowy and cloudy weather is on the way over the weekend which will only improve conditions for when the sun comes out again!

Despite the recent thaw stripping snow back in the lower valleys the Vallee Blanche has received another metre of fresh snow! Teams were back skiing the route today and reported varied conditions according to elevation. Good fresh tracks were found up high and decent cover remains all the way down to Chamonix.

The Midi snow arete now has been made wider and with tough metal stakes linked by thick rope on either side the descent is now easier than usual. The arete is still described as 'not equipped' as the large snow terraces that appear later in the season are still under construction. However, along with lots of skiers, the Requin Hut being open for drinks the Vallee Blanche had more of an 'open for business feel' as good snow conditions prevailed with skiers on nearly all routes on the French side as well as the normal route on the Italian side. We found some good snow on variations to the Petit Envers variation and exited the Geant Icefall via the Salle a' Manger.
Good conditions on the 'James Bond' track gave a swift and easy descent to Chamonix which left time to nip up to the summit of the Grands Montets and enjoy a superb quiet descent of the Argentiere Galcier with sublime evening light. This route is not super well filled in at the moment but there is a good track and some interesting short passages require side stepping and some precise turns.
Fit skiers can complete both itineraries in a day giving a great experience of the high mountain glaciers of the Chamonix Valley.

The Aiguille du Midi was closed all day today leaving empty pristine slopes on the French side of the Italian Vallee Blanche. We skied the route from the Italian side via Punta Hellbronner. As always the coffee was half the price and twice the quality over there but the snow not quite as good! The strong North Westerly winds have scoured the slopes leaving less powder and mainly a windblown sastrugi smeared hard snowpaxk. There was still some good skiing to be had and perfect weather for this great ski journey.

After several days of thick cloud engulfing the mountains the valley finally enjoyed a clearing today and the curtain dropped on masses of deep soft powder for the entire descent of the Vallee Blanche. We skied the Petit Envers variation whilst other teams also enjoyed the Grand Envers and Vrai Vallee Blanche. The descent to Chamonix via the 'James Bond' Track was in good shape all the way to the Planards pistes and streets of Chamonix.
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To finish the day we also skied the Pre du Rocher off the Plan de l'Aiguille and, as is often the case. there was fine snow in the open meadows below the Plan but a tougher finish through the trees characterised by bumps and then a fast track crossing the 4 avalanche debris gullies.

Fine skiing in the Vallee Blanche today although the cloud descended a little in the afternoon preventing most teams from doing another lap. We skied the Gros Rognon variation and enjoyed good powder all the way down to the Salle a Manger. This had a good track in providing a straightforward crossing. Teams had skied both the Grand and Petit Envers although not many on the latter and a helicopter was seen hovering over this route for much of the afternoon.
We also had some great turns heading north from the Plan de l'Aiguille and down the Pre du Rocher. Lower down in the trees the fresh powder gave way to the old rain crust and the track running back to the Midi car park gave a full combat skiing!

We went for a look at conditions along the Vallee Blanche classic route this morning to blow away the Christmas Turkey. It is still very early season and care is needed negotiating crevasses. We skied one section on the skiers left of the Geant Icefall roped together. No tracks were in place and whilst this gave an impressive 'lonely' early season feel there was some great skiing to be had on the Grosse Rognon variation. Some teams had exited the Petite Envers and Italian Route via the Salle a Manger and reported decent conditions. We traversed hard skiers left from the Requin Hut (as per for the whole of last season) to access the Envers du Plan exit couloirs. The furthest left and easiest couloir was fine but the traverse from the Hut is not yet filled in with snow and a short booting section across easy mixed terrain was required. The exit from the snout of the Mer de Glace; boot up to the Buvette and ski down the James Bond track were all pleasant and straightforward. A number of tracks were noted joining the Mer de Glace from the Grands Montets classic 'Pas de Chevre' route.