We didn’t have much time this morning. After consulting the avalanche bulletin - risk 3 everywhere with higher risk on N/E through SW aspects we decided on a quick climb of the Chamchaude.

It was quite a bit warmer this morning, 2C in the valley and a bit of a thaw. Anny thought the snow would be heavy, and she was right.

At the summit you could feel the North Westerly that was loading snow on the NE->SE slopes and there was a fair bit of spindrift at 2000m. The weather also began to close in.

The snow was windblown at the ridge but tracking into a more sheltered part of the summit snowfield we found heavy powder. This improved through the woods which were relatively sheltered and the snow was positively light below 1600m.

We may well end up with crust on lower slopes now although conditions are still very skiable.