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Verbier Activity Review: 23rd September 2011

Lifts may be closing but there is still plenty to do while the weather is good

featured in Activity reviews Author Lee Fieldsend, Verbier Reporter Updated

As always the most important part of my report is the weather. After the awful weather of last weekend, which saw heavy rain and snow on the higher slopes, the fantastic weather returned. Sunshine and clear skies allowed us to get back into the mountains to play, although temperatures are now more comfortable when doing sport, in the direct sun it is still very warm and comfortable.

The lifts closed last Sunday for weekdays but thankfully they will still be open until the end of October for weekends, Saturdays and Sundays only but not Fridays. All the downhill tracks are still open and the builders continue to add new bits all the time and have been doing some much needed repairs. While many resorts have now closed for biking Verbier is one of only a handful to keep the lifts open through October. It is not just bikers that benefit from this extended season. Walkers and parapenters continue to do their thing surrounded by the beautiful mountains of Verbier.

Now that the lifts are shut through the weekdays it has given me a good opportunity to go further afield and do some rock climbing. On Wednesday we went over to Chamonix to climb around Vallorcine. The rock there was still a bit wet as the snow above was melting. Most other areas lower down the valley and in the sun are now dry and over the next few days everything should be bone dry again, if the good weather holds out.

On Thursday I went to a new Verbier climbing area just outside Le Chable, below St Christophe. We climbed a 5b and a 5c and found them both to be under-graded. Both were easy starts but then as they hit a roof half way up the wall sloped out considerably. The climbs at this point needed considerable confidence to continue as the rock becomes loose and the bolts are in exposed positions. At one point I had a foot cut loose as a foothold snapped off which was quite intimidating. The spot is very beautiful though and the rock is very grippy so well worth a trip but keep your helmet on!

There is still plenty going on in town through the day, Verbier is not going to turn into a ghost town this time of the year, especially if the good weather continues. This weekend Verbier will get busier as weekenders and tourists flock to resort to get their mountain fix. At the moment many night spots such as Pub Mont Fort and Coup d'Etat are closed but places such as T-Bar are still open providing food and drink all day and night.

The weather for the weekend looks set to be mainly fine with some sunshine and very little precipitation although the forecast is indicating some clouds and the possibility of some isolated showers. Whatever the weather this time of the year it is a great time to be out in the mountains of Verbier as the hills are quite and weather good so fingers crossed that the good weather of this week continues for as long as possible.