Avorinet.Com Sitemap SkiSet - Ski & Snowboard Equipment Rental Avoriaz
Avorinet.Com  
  Avoriaz time: 06:55  
Avoriaz Directory
 
Avoriaz - Snow Report
 
Avoriaz - Forecast
 
Avoriaz - Web Cams
 
Avoriaz - Lift Status
 
Avoriaz - Lift Passes
 
Avoriaz - Resort Video
 
Avoriaz - Resort News
 
Avoriaz - What's On
 
Avoriaz - Maps & Times
 
Avoriaz - Resort FAQs
 
Search Avorinet.Com
Search
Avoriaz
Accommodation
Winter
Summer
Events & Activities
Living & Working
Images & Videos
Avoriaz
Avorinet.Com spacer
Quick Links
  Top Picks...
Ski Jobs with over 150 resort employers - search online and apply direct
  Real Estate & Rentals
  Ski & Mountain
SkiSet - Ski & Snowboard Equipment Rental Avoriaz
  Airport Transfers
A choice of transfer options to suit all pockets and needs
Ski Set - Ski & Snowboard Equipment Rental Avoriaz

The Avorinet.Com Avoriaz Snow Report

 ... (& Rock Report in the summer!)
Our snow reports (and the summer updates) are your guide to the resort's pistes and activities, mixed in with news, views and gossip from around the slopes. We aim to offer more than just stats about snow depths, and we always give you an honest and frank account of what the snow is really like. We want to give you the best information to help you make decisions as to when and where to ski. We try and keep the reports coming regularly, especially when the snow is falling; but even when conditions aren't great we'll give you plenty of ideas and insiders' tips on where to go and how amuse yourself on the slopes. If you have any feedback on the reports please let us know.

Don't forget to check out our Video Snow Reports so you can see the conditions for yourselves!
For the latest snow information you can subscribe to our RSS snow report feed subscribe to our RSS snow report feed

Email us your news; or text YOUR RESORT'S NAME to +33 (0)6 30 98 37 45 with details
Snow Report from Thu 2nd Jul 2009 10:03 am Archived Reports:
Last snowfall:
Thu 16th April 2009
Depth lower slopes:
0 cm at 1800 m
Cross-country trails:
Depth last snowfall:
0 cm at 1800 m
Depth upper slopes:
0 cm at 2466 m
Snow Forecast
Max. temperature:
27 °C at 1800 m
Webcams
Avoriaz Video Snow Report
Video Snow Reports

The Avorinet.Com Avoriaz Snow Report
by Phil Smith | Morzine/Avoriaz Snow Reporter

Have you signed up to our Dump Alert yet?
Chatel Avoriaz News
Chatel
Avoriaz Snow Report - Chatel Avoriaz Snow Report - Col du Morgins Avoriaz Snow Report - Champoussin Avoriaz Snow Report - Corsets Avoriaz Snow Report - Chatel bike park

The weather these past few days in resort has been super hot and super dry with dust clouds pluming up behind our bikes. However, there have been a few thunderstorms over the mountains, but nothing where we have been riding - well up until yesterday when for the first time this season we got caught in the rain! I knew my luck would not last forever, so no worries really and it was good for the skills doing some wet weather riding.

So, yesterday started out hot and sunny with temperatures just touching 30 degrees. We headed out with a plan to do our own little Portes du Soleil tour starting up the Super Morzine and then Zore lifts before traversing over to Linderets via the Swiss super highway.

From the top of the Chaux-Fleurie we headed into Plaine Dranse via the green panoramic trail. There are loads of graded trails to go at here from greens right through to blacks, perfect for a downhill day if that’s your thing. The panoramic has changed somewhat since last year as the trail builders have put some double jumps, whoops and assorted other little kickers in but it’s easy to roll through if your not an airborne super star.

We headed straight off to Chatel down the road as it’s the quickest and easiest way, particularly if you’re a downhiller wanting to ride the Super Chatel tracks. We, being on smaller 6inch fork travel bikes, would normally have taken the terrace trail but that appears to be closed for now with lots of diggers blocking the way.

From the top of Super Chatel we dropped half way down the downhill course and then turned onto the four track leading to the col du Morgins. A small road climb later and we were soon descending into Morgins itself for a coffee stop in the sun. At this point, there was no hint of the deluge to come with almost cloudless blue skies above us.

However a little later, as we made our way along the terrace trail from the top of the Champoussin chair lift, dark clouds were building ahead of us over the Col du Cou and the Dents Blanches. The original intention was to drop down to Champery for lunch, but the rain clouds were putting us off big time. Just as we were getting ready to drop into Les Crosets and get the Mossettes chair back to the ridge line with France, a group of down hillers were pushing their bikes up the trail and informed us the Mossettes chair was shut as it had suffered a lightning strike the day before.

Not sure how long it will be out of action, only a day or two, but it’s the reason why the lifts stop quick sharp when there is a storm. Worth bearing this in mind if your heading to Switzerland on a ride, as the only way back out if there is a storm is a big climb up either the Col du Cou or the Col du Portes du Soleil – always check the weather.

Fortunately for us we could pedal our Freeride style bikes and opted to head up the Col du Portes du Soleil to try and avoid the rain. Sadly it was not to be as just before the top the rain and, I might add, rather large hail stones started bouncing down. Our Kenyan pal found it a novel experience and collected some hail stones in her water bottle which she preserved in the freezer later!

We were soaked in seconds, but fortunately everyone had an extra jersey and a waterproof in their back packs as it gets super cold 2000 metres up even in the summer. We gingerly headed down the GR5 past Lac Vert and seeing how it was still raining, decided to sit out the rain in the Refuge du Chesery. A cheese and ham sandwich and a hot chocolate later and everyone was feeling a little better.

The rest of the GR5 to Linderets had become a little more technical than usual with hard packed clay sporting a super slippy layer on top and slick rocks to contend with too. The route also served to show how localised the weather can be, as by the time we reached the ski piste the trail was bone dry again which in turn gave way to a soaked Linderets. The lift out of Linderets was shut, again due to the risk of lightning strikes, so we headed down the Col du Joux Verte and along lake Montriond, again all very wet - we got some funny looks riding into a bone dry Morzine covered in mud.

The weather is red hot again today, so the trails that did get a soaking will dry really quickly and those into Morzine will be dry from the get go. The outlook is more of the same; hot days with possible thunderstorms late in the afternoon.

Bon ride!


Check out what to do around town once the lifts have closed with our Apres Ski Report - a weekly round up of what's hot and where to party in Morzine!

Useful Information

Piste Maps for Morzine Les Gets and Portes du Soleil
Current opening status for Avoriaz & the Portes du Soleil Pistes & Lifts
Morzine Webcams Index

We will be keeping this Avoriaz snow report updated two to three times a week during the winter season, and weekly during the summer. If you want even more up-to-date news on the ski conditions, check out our video snow reports or why not sign up for our Dump Alert? We'll email you each time it snows enough to significantly change the skiing conditions. It's great to know that the snow is falling in the run-up to your holiday, and it might even allow you to book a last-minute weekend when the snow is particularly good. The service is free, and you can unsubscribe whenever you like.

Useful Links
Swiss Federal Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research
French Avalanche Research Institute
Meteo France - Mountain weather and avalanche conditions bulletins (in French)
Henry's Avalanche Talk - popular avalanche training sessions based in French Alps as well as translation of current avalanche conditions
PisteHors.com - Backcountry Skiing and Snowboarding News in English for the French Alps. Excellent coverage of avalanche safety and advice

Additional snow and weather information provided, with thanks, by portesdusoleil.com and the Tourist Office

Avoriaz Last Minute Offers
Description Price Picture
Weekends & Short Breaks in Avoriaz £75(GBP) per person per night
WEEKEND/SHORT BREAK Winter 2009/10 Hotel availability £99(GBP) per person per night
FREE UK airport parking for chalet and hotel package bookings £0(GBP)  
Apartment bookings now being taken for 2009/2010 £499(GBP) per apartment per week
SAVE money and book a chalet package £449(GBP) per person per week
More Last Minute Offers...
This website and all original content remains Copyright © Powder Blue Ltd 1998-2009 | Terms & Conditions of use | The site is built & maintained by Powder Blue