© Barnaby Bos
Mid-winter conditions in Verbier
It's officially spring but winter refuses to let go
Despite being nearly the end of March, the amazing snow conditions show no sign of stopping here in Verbier. We started the week well with 10cm of snow falling on Monday, followed by a glorious week of sunshine and empty pistes.
The conditions off-piste earlier in the week were phenomenal, especially up high where in places waist deep snow had accumulated. On the South-facing slopes, which are prone to more sunshine, a thin layer of crust quickly developed below 2000m. However, many of the more shaded north-facing routes around Verbier still have good snow even now, largely due to the consistently cold temperatures throughout the week.
If you were to guess, you would say the conditions were more like mid-Winter, early February, and not the springtime, slushy snow, and warm weather which you’d usually expect for this time of year. Hopefully, this will mean an extended season, given that the snow base in resort is still a fantastic 95cm, and 365cm at the top of the mountain. This week I managed to ski some perfect lines on the front side of Mont Gele, hitting various couloirs, opening out into wide powder bowls. The snow inside the couloirs was tracked out at times, but still very soft and allowed for an easy and safe descent.
Heading to the highest point in Verbier, I also skied over the backside of Mont Fort, a classic Verbier freeride line which takes you into some beautiful, remote valleys far away from the resort. The snow was crusty and heavy in a few places, but for the most part fresh and barely tracked out, making for a hugely enjoyable adventure. I would thoroughly recommend giving this route a try if you are a competent skier. It’s certainly memorable and the scenery alone makes up for the effort required when traversing the lake at the end of the tour. Avalanche equipment is also essential, and good knowledge of the route, i.e. a local guide.
On piste, Verbier seems to be possibly the quietest it has been all season. I haven’t properly queued for a lift in weeks now, and what a difference this makes to the overall experience of a day on the mountain. Without having to queue for long periods of time, you can explore a much larger area, and ski many more pistes in a day. The warmer afternoon sun has been softening up the snow nicely throughout the day, meaning that the snow on-piste appears to be best towards the end of the day. The only exception to this is on the busiest runs, where the high volume of traffic can create some moguls on the steeper sections.
Looking ahead to the coming week, and once again there is a surprising amount of snow on the horizon for this time of year. Currently, the blue skies are set to continue for the next few days, after which 25cm is predicted to fall over Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Beyond that, the longer range forecasts are saying even more snow could be on its way, but we will have to wait and see if those predictions remain the same as the dates get closer. The avalanche risk is currently only at level 2, but a large avalanche occurred in the Vallon D’Arby area near La Tzoumaz late last week, so as always, caution should be taken when heading anywhere outside of the well-controlled area.
Ski safely off-piste
Exploring beyond the ski resort boundaries is an amazing experience for anyone who's physically fit and has mastered the pistes well enough. There are, however, risks associated with venturing outside the safety of the marked/patrolled ski area, including awareness of your actions on those below you on the slopes. Mountain guides are professionally qualified and have extensive knowledge of the local terrain, to provide you with the safest and most enjoyable possible experience in the mountains; as a visitor here we highly recommend you hiring one. Many ski schools and also mountain guides provide instruction in off-piste skiing, avalanche safety and mountaineering techniques. Make your time in the mountains unforgettable for the right reasons, ski safe!
