Sunshine & great pistes : 12th February 2012
Touring & ice climbing are on

Sunshine continues and chilly temperatures remain too as we slip into the February holiday period. The temperatures are around -15 up the mountain and even in a light wind it can get very chilly, although not as cold as previous weeks. Thankfully an abundance of sunshine is taking the chill off, especially in suntrap areas such as La Chaux.

Thankfully the recent cold snap has helped to form ice on the many cascades in the valley below Verbier. This has allowed us to get out and go ice climbing. On Friday we walked for half an hour through beautiful alpine scenery to get to a two stage waterfall deep in the forest. The ice was not blue but grey and dirty white, which is not as hard as clear or blue ice but it was still hard enough to climb.

On Saturday we decided to get away from the crowds and go touring on our skis. We drove over to Thyon, on the other side of the 4 Vallees, and then skinned for 4 hours through incredible mountain scenery. Eventually we reached our destination and below us to the valley floor were powder covered slopes with little trees and bumps of snow to play through.

The risk of avalanche is currently 2 out of 5 and should not change for the next few days at least. There are no untracked powder areas within striking distance of the lifts anymore and the outlook for new snow is bleak for the immediate future. However, now is a great time to ski tour or get a helicopter to search out the powder. There is an unlimited amount out there but you just need to know where to go and how to get there. A helicopter is an easy way to get there but expensive and there are only three local areas that the helicopter can drop at. Touring, on the other hand allows you to go anywhere and is cheaper than flying and more rewarding as an experience.

On piste conditions are really good. All lifts are open and the pistes are in great condition. The lack of crowds up until now has helped to keep the pistes smooth. Very cold temperatures and no new snow have made them super compact but with good edges they are great fun. An increase in half term holidaymakers will make them much icier so sharp edges are vital to enjoying your holiday.

The sunshine is expected to continue with occasional hazy cloud which will keep the daytime temperatures chilly but tolerable.

There are a couple of centimetres of snow due in over the next week. This may just be enough to freshen up the off piste, otherwise get those skins dusted off.

• Number of pistes open
  37
• Latest Conditions
  sunny, cold and clear
• Date of last snowfall
  10.02.2012
• Altitude of last snowfall
  +1500m
• Depth of snow on lower slopes
  30cm
• Depth of last snowfall
  dusting
• Total number of pistes
  37
• Highest temperature
  -14
• Altitude of lower slopes
  1550m
• Depth of snow on upper slopes
  270cm
• Avalanche risk
  2
• Altitude of upper slopes
  3330m
• Altitude of highest temperature
  1550m

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