As we enter Spring there is still very good snow cover on all mountain ranges with snow from 600-800 meters. In the Pyrenees snow cover has broken 30 year records in some areas.

There was fresh snow early last week in the Pyrenees with a few cm at valley level. At 1500m altitude there is 150cm of snow in the Hautes Pyrenees and Atlantic Pyrenees. Snow cover is close to average on the Mediterranean side of the range where there is continuing snowfall. Some figures from the Meteo France stations:

Soum Couy (Pyrénées-Atlantiques, 2150 m) : 341cm
Lacs d’Ardiden (Hautes-Pyrénées, 2445 m) : 385cm record since 1995
l’Hospitalet (Ariège, 2300 m) : 323cm
Canigou (Pyrénées-Orientales, 2150 m) : 102cm

In the Northern Alps there has not been fresh snowfall since the weekend of the 23/24 February and then only localized, at altitude due to clouds on the mountains but the cold weather has conserved the snowpack. The last significant snow was mid-February. We were skiing fresh powder in the woods of the Chartreuse yesterday. Around Grenoble there has been 53 days of snow cover at 600m altitude, the area hasn’t seen those conditions since the 1980s but it is still a long way from the 1980-81 with 103 days of snow cover or 1985-86 with 83 days of cover. In the Haute-Savoie there is 260cm of snow at Avoriaz (1800m), 170cm of snow at le Grand Bornand (1300m). In the Savoie 200cm at la Rosiere (1850m), les Aillons (Bauges, 1400m) and the Col de Porte (Chartreuse, 1350m).

Fresh snow in the Belledonne last week

Snow cover is also above average in the Southern Alps with 115cm at Put St Vincent (1600m). and 180cm at Monetier (Serre Chevalier, 2100m). Isola (1870m) has more than 200cm at the top of the resort. There was some localized snow last weekend but like the Northern Alpes the last generalized snowfall dates to mid-February. Once again strong winds have affected the quality of snow, particuarly at altitude.

Despite early snowfalls Corsica suffered something of a drought mid-winter. However things have improved with a series of falls in February with 60-70cm over the weekend of the 24/25th February. This brough level 4 avalanche risk to the island’s mountains. Snow depths are now above average with 140cm of snow at Asco (1400m) and Vergio (1800m). In time for the Spring touring season.

The Jura has good snow cover with most of the popular ski touring routes possible from trail heads with a skiable 30cm at 800m altitude and more than 100cm at 1100m, the situation is similar in the Vosges with 30cm depth at 700m and over 100cm in places at 1000m. The Massif-Central has less cover with just 15cm at 1000m altitude and 100cm from 1400m.

-- source Meteo France

Lots of evidence of full depth avalanches around today. Be careful about timing especially on sunny slopes with an increasing risk in the late morning, afternoon. High avalanche risk in the eastern Pyrenees following fresh snowfall brought in by SE winds from the Mediterranean.

This week is looking to be very springlike in the French Alps with valley temperatures up to 18C through to Thursday with some rain/snow at altitude.

A skier suffered an ankle injury after being caught by a small purge on the Valloire side of the pic des Trois Evéchés yesterday afternoon (2nd March 2013). He was taken to hospital by the CRS from Briançon. There have also been purges which crossed the col de la Sarenne at alpe d’Huez (triggered by off piste skiers) and the road to the Oulles (opposite l’Alpe d’Huez). No victims in either.

Conditions in the Belledonne were not the best today. Fresh snow above 1200m but a very strong foehn wind. There were purges and spind drift coming off the steeper slopes.

Snow above 2000m was firm. Lower down on NW slopes there were powder pockets, largely snow that had been transported by the wind. These had filled in old tracks so skiing was challenging as what looked like a powder field was filled in frozen ruts. Below 1600m the snow was very heavy.

There was an avalanche in the Hautes-Alpes. Probably a small purge that took 4 climbers in a couloir who were being belayed by their guide, who escaped with injuries.

Risk is high tomorrow in Corsica which has seen heavy snow from 1400m to 1800m on Tuesday and in parts of the Eastern Pyrenees (Canigou).

The Col du Lauteret was closed today (again) due to the weather conditions - poor visibility and snow drifting in the high winds.

Well the snow is pretty soggy off piste at the moment. Haven’t tried touring again since Tuesday but the Tot and I were doing some slalom training at les 7 Laux today. Doesn’t look like the tot will go for his fleche this season given the deteriorating snow conditions.

There has been quite a cluster of avalanche incidents, particularly close to the French / Italian border where a strong Lombard blew on Monday accompanied by some fresh snow. Apart from the Crevoux and Tignes incidents we noticed these, more or less serious avalanches:-

On Sunday skiers triggered a slab on the Montagne de Razis above Crevoux, risk 2, 35 degree slope in the lee of the recent wind

http://www.grimpisme.com/blog/avalanche-crevoux-parpaillon.htm

and in the same sector on the 5th (risk 2 again), in this case remote triggered but the slab broke on a slope around 35 degrees, again probably windslab

http://www.camptocamp.org/outings/412143/fr/pic-de-boussolenc-avalanche-de-plaque-en-versant-n

In the Pyrenees, which has been on High alert a lot this season six walkers were caught by a slide on Wednesday (6 march) afternoon. Three escaped unhurt, of the others: a fractured femur and dislocated shoulder, a fractured shoulder and finally facial injuries. They were caught by the avalanche at 16h00 while walking above St Lary in the Hautes-Pyrenees department. Rescue by the piste patrol later assisted by the PGHM. The slide was possibly due to recent rain plus a thaw.

Finally back to the Savoie where two local freeriders were caught by a slide in the “vallée perdue” off piste in Valfréjus today (7 march). They were in the wooded section of the descent when the avalanche occurred above. A rescue helicopter was unable to reach the scene due to the wind. Finally the PGHM were able to reach the scene where they found one skier was ok, the other with a fractured fibula and tibula. Only the victim could be heliported due to the weather. The rescue workers and other skier had to descend under their own steam.

The PGHM have warned that there is a risk of slab avalanches due to the wind and also from full depth avalanches due to the quantity of snow and the recent thaw. These avalanches can occur in unexpected locations.

Snow is expected tomorrow at 1500 meters in the Northern Alps with a return to cold weather on Monday 11/March and maybe some more snow down to valley level as a weather system moves in from the Atlantic.

Tomorrow the avalanche risk is 4/5 in the Pelvoux, Mercantour and Haut Var/Verdun where there has been 36 to 60cm of fresh snow and high winds. It is also 4/5 in the Western Pyrenees due to the thaw and foehn.

We were off piste skiing this morning in the unexpected sunny weather, well unexpected by Meteo France. Snow still present from 1000 meters in the trees on North aspects, it is reasonably settled so skiable. From 1700m there are a few cm of powder on a hard base.

A couple of snowshoers had a serious accident in the Chartreuse this afternoon. They were at Entremont-Le-Vieux at 1750 altitude when they fell (maybe icy conditions?). The man was recovered in a serious condition and taken to hospital in Chartreuse. His wife was only found after a 3 hour search and was taken to Grenoble in an extremely serious condition.

They appear to have been in the cirque St Meme.

// update: the woman did not survive

Out above Praz des Lys again yesterday lunchtime, we managed to catch a break in the weather, untracked on Pt Marcelly but heavy going, thin wind-slab on the ridge which was to be expected. 

Yesterday I went cross country skiing from St Hilaire above my house, to the Col de Marceu, about 16km on cross country skis and the farthest I ever remember doing. The snow was a bit soft and my skating skis are rubbish so it was probably more like 25km effort.

There is still a lot of depth at 1200m, around 50-70cm despite the thaw. Fresh snow at 1600m.

Tomorrow, Thursday, they are talking about -20C in the Vercors at 1200m with 120km/h winds and 15cm of fresh snow. There are going to be some slabs around, although not very deep. Take care on exposed terrain.

Weather has been much colder with some very light snow but accompanied by strong northerly winds (a Mistral is blowing in the Rhone valley). There have been a number of incidents today

http://pistehors.com/news/forums/viewthread/1449/#4832

Snow has been mixed. Some light powder in sheltered couloirs. Elsewhere a mixture of frozen tracks with some infilling by wind blown snow. On south facing slopes the snow is only just softening in the afternoon, frozen on other aspects.

Today on the Tete de Bostan, 2 were up and back before 9am - thanks for the track! 20 or 30 people set off at around 9.30am plus a couple of military groups too, then another 10 to 20 set off in dribs and drabs up until I was off the mountain at 1pm.

Up until midday the snow remained cold and powdery, 20 to 30cm of fresh so all old tracks were covered, less sign of the effects of wind with this latest cover. From midday on it all warmed up and became a sticky mess.