UKC

is the snow really bad looks quite low down on all webcams

In reply to stuart58:

Yes, totally, excessively low & depressingly low for the time of year.

At least 4 weeks of sun before normal service resumes unfortunately

In reply to stuart58:

But could be a great year for snow / ice / N.faces....
Whymper couloir in August?

In reply to stuart58: Depends what you want to do and when you are going. In Chamonix, Mont Blanc summit is only doable on skis at the moment but I climbed chere couloir, contamine-grisolle and cosmiques arete all in the last week. Only the midi and montents lifts are running at the moment. A rockfall has delayed the opening of the lift on the italy side to the torino hut so its the lift situation thats the limiting factor in that area at the moment. No idea what its like in switzerland though and the ecrins could be fine as well.

In reply to paulmck: Torino lift now opening so that increases your options if you can get over to the Italian side.

In reply to paulmck: any idea what the north face of the Tour Ronde is looking like?

In reply to alexm198: Just been to the guides office. It has been in great condition the last few days but high wind and snow last night (and maybe tonight) have blown away all tracks and raise risk of wind slab.

We're hoping to head up and over tomorrow so will report back.

Everything off the Midi is in great condition, lots of teams on Pointe Lachenal, Cosmiques Arete and Chere. Some teams on Left Edge and Contamine Mazeaud. Also, people going as far as the Rognon on the Midi-Plan traverse but no further as too much snow

In reply to cmaradcliffe: Are there still lots of snow around le tour area I read somewhere that the route up to albert premier was avalanche risk

In reply to stuart58: Yep, snow shoes needed. People are going up there but mostly for glacier practice and sleeping at altitude. I don't think many routes are being climbed up there but not 100%...

In reply to cmaradcliffe: Is Blanc looking like a complete no-go for the rest of this week? We have the three monts route of the gouter route on the cards for next week.

Cheers.

In reply to bradzy_c: or*

In reply to bradzy_c: You really can't tell - it has rained/snowed the last two days with the next 3 set to be scorchers. This makes any snow route unpredictable and unstable.

I think the only people who have made it up MB have been on skis but that is just hearsay...

There is plenty to climb though, just need to be a bit flexible with objectives

In reply to cmaradcliffe: Many thanks. I'll check into the OHM and get the low down when I'm there.

In reply to bradzy_c: Any updates on conditions in Cham? Heading over on Thursday...

In reply to thomaspomfrett: present conditions anyone

We were at the Torino refuge yesterday. About six teams did the N face Tour Ronde, talking to one guide afterwards he said it was the best conditions he had seen on the route for many years. We were on the normal route and it was in perfect condition. There were lots of people doing the walk across from Midi to the Torino.

In reply to stuart58:
Yeah Saas Fee was awful 3 weeks ago. Got nowhere near any summits, very depressing. The woman who works in the safe said its the snowiest spring she'd ever seen.

In reply to stuart58: bump