Ian has just returned from Barèges where he reported ideal conditions on the slopes but the Pic du Midi was closed and the local authority had also barred access to the off-piste sectors by a bye-law because of the risk of avalanche.
A chalet in Barèges was hit by an slide earlier in the week.
Chalet hit by avalanche at la Mongie
The chalet belonged to M Soucaze des Soucaze, the former mayor of Campan. It appears that planning permission had been granted for the chalet in an area zoned as at risk from avalanches, by Mr Soucaze himself!