Sunshine adds to the great ski conditions : 12th January 2012
The park is now built and the crowds have gone

After weeks of mixed weather, which did see heaps of snow come in, the customary sunshine and warm temperatures have returned to Verbier. Initially the sunshine, coupled with a drop in the avalanche risk, allowed access to the off piste sectors that had been closed off for days while our last storm raged.

There we found some great patches of powder but plenty of wind blown crusted stuff too which was not too bad for the boards but a little less fun for skiers.

Lower down areas, under around 2000m, have now had a week of sunshine and warm temperatures on them now so the melt freeze cycles has taken it’s toll and the better powder is on the higher shaded faces. Watch out on these faces as there will still be unsettled patches of slab but, by the afternoon, the lower sun facing slopes will be more dangerous as the heat gets into the snowpack. The risk of avalanche is 2 out of 5 which is pretty stable but by the afternoon those lower sun drenched slopes will jump up to 3 out of 5.

On piste conditions are superb. The holiday crowds have dropped off the face of the earth and that decrease in skier volume has meant less people scraping off snow so less ice, although lower slopes into resort are still icier. Up the top of the mountain the pistes are in great condition and lifts are super quiet. The whole main area is open and that includes all the free-ride off piste runs.

Great news in La Chaux; as well as the new Le Dahu restaurant the snow park has now been built and there is an airbag jump to train on in the park so you can try out all your big flips and spins without the same risk as on snow. There is also an avalanche training area again this year which is fully automated and free. You can head down there with friends or on your own (with your transceiver) and practice searching for the simulated ‘buried people’ to get ready for the next snow fall.

This great weather is a good time to get out and about in the mountains and enjoy the incredible scenery. Parapenting, husky sledging, skinning (like walking but on skis) and snow-shoeing are all ways to get out and about while the weather is great. If the snow does come by the time you read this then the sports centre has a swimming pool, ice rink and ice go-karting and the pubs and restaurants have plenty of good food and fine beer.

The weather at the moment looks as if it will stay sunny which is great new for any competitors taking part in the DaFat Derby this weekend. This is a Chinese downhill style off piste competition and is open to anyone. Sign up at the Medran café at 07:00hrs on Saturday 14th January or go to www.dafat.ch for more info.

• Depth of snow on lower slopes
  25cm
• Latest Conditions
  Sunny, warm and quiet pistes
• Altitude of last snowfall
  +1550m
• Date of last snowfall
  05.01.2012
• Depth of last snowfall
  40cm
• Total number of pistes
  37
• Highest temperature
  +1
• Altitude of lower slopes
  1500m
• Depth of snow on upper slopes
  275cm
• Avalanche risk
  2
• Altitude of upper slopes
  2950m
• Number of pistes open
  37
• Altitude of highest temperature
  1500m

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