Europe 2025/26
- Thread starter ChrisC
- Start date
Thanks. I've read that before but it's nice to read again. I've not been on snow for 9 months so I'm more than keen.
ChrisC
Well-known member
It's hard to ignore the French Alps right now, especially Val d'Isere/Tignes.
I am making tentative, cancellable reservations for Val d'Isere and Ste. Foy (stopovers/1 night each direction at Gstaad and La Clusaz.) Given the altitude, I assume most skiing in the French Alps will remain quite good to excellent. Hopefully storm track does not shut down again.
Outside of the Arlberg, most skiing east of Zurich is below average, and not sure if there will be a turnaround/return to average by February 1st.
Val d'Isere is reporting 75cm (30+ inches) of new snow as of this AM. And Tignes is reporting 60cm (24 inches). Both have snow bases of 160cm (65 inches), which, in prior visits, allows 100% operation if the weather cooperates.
There is a lot of additional snow to come. Assume they will have the best snow conditions in the Alps for weeks to come - along with Les Arcs/La Plagne, 3 Vallees, Ste. Foy, La Rosiere/La Thuile. Interestingly, Cervinia was reporting 50cm new, and Saas Fee at 70cm new; combined with their holiday storms, these areas might be skiing decently.
Val d'Isere/Tignes can even operate an OK number of lifts/pistes on storm days.
Lots more snow to come over the next 3-days.
Special note: Tignes is even reporting snowfall to date, something almost unheard of in the Alps.
And let me continue to point out what a poor product OpenSnow is globally - none of this data is incorporated in its reporting, or historical snowfall. Instead, they continue to use their very faulty model and spew BS. The numbers today were off by about 50% for Val d'Isere/Tignes. OpenSnow is poor outside of the US/Canada. How can they not use the Actual Data in order to calibrate their model?
I am making tentative, cancellable reservations for Val d'Isere and Ste. Foy (stopovers/1 night each direction at Gstaad and La Clusaz.) Given the altitude, I assume most skiing in the French Alps will remain quite good to excellent. Hopefully storm track does not shut down again.
Outside of the Arlberg, most skiing east of Zurich is below average, and not sure if there will be a turnaround/return to average by February 1st.
Val d'Isere is reporting 75cm (30+ inches) of new snow as of this AM. And Tignes is reporting 60cm (24 inches). Both have snow bases of 160cm (65 inches), which, in prior visits, allows 100% operation if the weather cooperates.
There is a lot of additional snow to come. Assume they will have the best snow conditions in the Alps for weeks to come - along with Les Arcs/La Plagne, 3 Vallees, Ste. Foy, La Rosiere/La Thuile. Interestingly, Cervinia was reporting 50cm new, and Saas Fee at 70cm new; combined with their holiday storms, these areas might be skiing decently.
Val d'Isere/Tignes can even operate an OK number of lifts/pistes on storm days.
Lots more snow to come over the next 3-days.
Special note: Tignes is even reporting snowfall to date, something almost unheard of in the Alps.
And let me continue to point out what a poor product OpenSnow is globally - none of this data is incorporated in its reporting, or historical snowfall. Instead, they continue to use their very faulty model and spew BS. The numbers today were off by about 50% for Val d'Isere/Tignes. OpenSnow is poor outside of the US/Canada. How can they not use the Actual Data in order to calibrate their model?
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ChrisC
Well-known member
I wanted to look at which Alps resorts had the best storm-day skiing, primarily around Geneva. I was less interested in Zurich resorts since some have received little snow this year, and some closures are not storm-related, but simply due to low snowfall.
Best - Megeve! Some standy, but most open. Conversely, Les Contamines in the far left is entirely closed.
I missed looking at this during the operational day, but Portes du Soliel (Mozine, Les Gets, Chatel) looks good for a storm day. I assume the 'Purple' Lifts were mostly available, but I was late to do screen captures.
I expected better results from Gstaad and the nearby Villars-Gyron-Diablerets area since they are almost entirely tree-lined.
Les Houches at Chamonix. Not very good/skip. Looks like they have not been able to make any snow at low altitudes. Better to drive 10-15 more minutes to St. Gervais-Megeve.
La Clusaz - OK.
Verbier - OK. Same lifts open when I stormed-day skied in 2019. One does not always have to retreat to low elevation Bruson across the valley via Gondolas.
Chamonix - Avoid. It's all closed!
Best - Megeve! Some standy, but most open. Conversely, Les Contamines in the far left is entirely closed.
I missed looking at this during the operational day, but Portes du Soliel (Mozine, Les Gets, Chatel) looks good for a storm day. I assume the 'Purple' Lifts were mostly available, but I was late to do screen captures.
I expected better results from Gstaad and the nearby Villars-Gyron-Diablerets area since they are almost entirely tree-lined.
Les Houches at Chamonix. Not very good/skip. Looks like they have not been able to make any snow at low altitudes. Better to drive 10-15 more minutes to St. Gervais-Megeve.
La Clusaz - OK.
Verbier - OK. Same lifts open when I stormed-day skied in 2019. One does not always have to retreat to low elevation Bruson across the valley via Gondolas.
Chamonix - Avoid. It's all closed!
skiandgolfnut
Member
Kicking myself that I'm locked into Zurich and not Geneva. France definitely seems headed in the best direction. Still have a couple of weeks before I need to decide anything.
ChrisC
Well-known member
Some huge snowfall totals in the French Alps for Saturday, Jan 10: about 1 meter at Val d'Isere, Tignes, Courchevel, Val Thorens. I don't know where to find snowfall amounts for Chamonix, but I am sure they're impressive. Likely 2 meters when it's all over? About 80 inches?
Surprisingly, Saas Fee and Cervinia have received another 70-80 cm. And the snow bases at Verbier are now at 180cm at its highest station. This is similar to what they were in mid-February 2019, when all of its off-piste was accessible.
Surprisingly, Saas Fee and Cervinia have received another 70-80 cm. And the snow bases at Verbier are now at 180cm at its highest station. This is similar to what they were in mid-February 2019, when all of its off-piste was accessible.
It appears that things have changed at Les Contamines since you posted that map yesterday showing all the closed lifts. I'd like to go back as my visit three years ago with sub-optimum snow only allowed me to get an overview of the place.
ChrisC
Well-known member
Yes, Les Contamines is a highly underrated ski resort and is often overshadowed by many of Chamonix's ski areas. My UK friend Nick is a big advocate for Les Contamines (a less crowded Les Grand Montets, not quite the same terrain, and hidden from the holiday masses). He pushed us to go skiing there over New Year's Week in 2005, and often skied there on short trips to Chamonix from London.
It's much larger than most Chamonix ski mountains, has a better terrain mix, and better exposure (North and East). I might go out on a limb and argue it skis better than any individual Chamonix-specific resort: Brevent-Flegere (great terrain, but exposure issues), Le Balme (lift system), Grands Montets (lacking a summit lift), Les Houches (small, too low). Skis a bit steeper than most of Megeve.
I was lucky on my first visit to Chamonix to buy a Chamonix Unlimited Pass and was able to ski the following over 7-8 days:
- Grands Montets
- Brevent
- Flegere
- Le Balme/Le Tour
- Megeve
- Les Contamines
- Courmayeur
- Verbier
You can still do this - minus Verbier.
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When you raised this issue in June, I sent Joel an e-mail, results discussed here. Recall I determined that there are 3 possible descriptions of any calendar month snowfall posted below the calendar.
Obviously method #1 should be used when possible. But that requires a human expending time to search/bookmark ski area webpage reports as I do for North America. No one is going to do that for the multiplicity of resorts in the Alps. But for the high profile areas, yes I think it's worth someone at Open Snow doing that. I would also place the above three descriptors very prominently. OpenSnow already has this caveat below its season snowfall quote, regardless of which of the 3 methods above is used to calculate it:
ChrisC
Well-known member
Impressive Day at Courchevel in the 3 Vallees. First tracks off the Saulire Cable Car.
However, most resorts are recommending NO off piste with 4/5 avalanche risk.
Luke Stone should be careful - but looks all time!
However, most resorts are recommending NO off piste with 4/5 avalanche risk.
Luke Stone should be careful - but looks all time!
I think those Saulire couloirs directly overlook pistes and thus might have to be controlled.
ChrisC
Well-known member
Looks like some potential Southern storms for the Alps with a Genoa Low / Retour d’Est.
Still far off, but wePowder is starting to show similar.
Supposedly, you can get huge amounts since there are few foothills, and everything gets pushed up against MonteRosa, Matterhorn, Mt Blanc, and other 12-15k peaks.
Monterosa, SaaS Fee, Zermatt/Cervinia, and Val d’Isere might get a round 2 of heavy snow.
Note the weird elevations OpenSnow measures on the Monterosa ski resort (Champoluc, Gressoney, Alagna). The model is highly dependent on elevation, even though geography is likely more important.
Still far off, but wePowder is starting to show similar.
Supposedly, you can get huge amounts since there are few foothills, and everything gets pushed up against MonteRosa, Matterhorn, Mt Blanc, and other 12-15k peaks.
Monterosa, SaaS Fee, Zermatt/Cervinia, and Val d’Isere might get a round 2 of heavy snow.
Note the weird elevations OpenSnow measures on the Monterosa ski resort (Champoluc, Gressoney, Alagna). The model is highly dependent on elevation, even though geography is likely more important.
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OpenSnow forecasts weather at the average of base and peak elevations for every resort. Alagna's base is very low, drags down that average.
I was wondering with favorable forecasts for Cervinia and Saas-Fee if Zermatt is getting snow. Zermatt getting Hohtalli/Stockhorn skiable is what will induce us to return there.
I was wondering with favorable forecasts for Cervinia and Saas-Fee if Zermatt is getting snow. Zermatt getting Hohtalli/Stockhorn skiable is what will induce us to return there.
I'd love to be at Pila with fresh snow. I've only had a day there in hardpack conditions but the whole ski area looked great.
Fraser's report yesterday:
The big storm in the Alps is over, with the last of the clouds breaking up across the north and most regions left with a gloriously sunny, if still very cold, day today.
Sunny skies and lots of fresh snow this afternoon in Châtel in the Portes du Soleil – 11 January 2026
Storm totals since Wednesday evening have been over 1m at altitude across parts of the French Alps (e.g. Val Thorens, La Rosière), the far western Swiss Alps (e.g. Les Diablerets/Glacier 3000) and some north-eastern Swiss areas such as the Glarus Alps. Most other French and Swiss Alpine regions, the west of Austria (e.g. Arlberg) and the north-west of Italy (e.g. Courmayeur, Cervinia) have also seen significant snow, with between 40cm and 80cm since Wednesday night. The far south-east of Switzerland (e.g. St Moritz) and other parts of Austria have seen less though, typically with between 10cm and 30cm. The least snow fell in the eastern Italian Alps, with just a few centimetres in the Dolomites.
On Monday, a warm front will drift across the northern Alps bringing much milder conditions and some rain or snow to the northern Swiss Alps, and the Austrian Alps (e.g. St Anton, Kaprun) in particular, with the snowline starting low but rising towards 1500m or so later. Between 5-15cm of fresh snow can be expected above 1500m in the Austrian Alps north of the main Alpine ridge. The northern Swiss Alps (e.g. Engelberg) might see 1-3cm, while the northern French Alps (e.g. Portes du Soleil) will turn cloudy but should avoid most of the precipitation. The southern Alps will have better weather on Monday, with sunny spells and some cloudier interludes in places later in the day.
Naturally, snow conditions are superb across much of the Alps right now, however, the risk of avalanche is sky high, especially in the western Alps, as already seen by the recent tragedy in Val d’Isère (not far from the pistes). Off-piste should not even be considered without a fully qualified local guide.
Here's coverage of the multiple avalanches:
snowbrains.com
Today in the Alps...
Updated: 2pm Sunday 11 January 2026 – Sun and fresh snow in the Alps today...The big storm in the Alps is over, with the last of the clouds breaking up across the north and most regions left with a gloriously sunny, if still very cold, day today.
Sunny skies and lots of fresh snow this afternoon in Châtel in the Portes du Soleil – 11 January 2026
Storm totals since Wednesday evening have been over 1m at altitude across parts of the French Alps (e.g. Val Thorens, La Rosière), the far western Swiss Alps (e.g. Les Diablerets/Glacier 3000) and some north-eastern Swiss areas such as the Glarus Alps. Most other French and Swiss Alpine regions, the west of Austria (e.g. Arlberg) and the north-west of Italy (e.g. Courmayeur, Cervinia) have also seen significant snow, with between 40cm and 80cm since Wednesday night. The far south-east of Switzerland (e.g. St Moritz) and other parts of Austria have seen less though, typically with between 10cm and 30cm. The least snow fell in the eastern Italian Alps, with just a few centimetres in the Dolomites.
On Monday, a warm front will drift across the northern Alps bringing much milder conditions and some rain or snow to the northern Swiss Alps, and the Austrian Alps (e.g. St Anton, Kaprun) in particular, with the snowline starting low but rising towards 1500m or so later. Between 5-15cm of fresh snow can be expected above 1500m in the Austrian Alps north of the main Alpine ridge. The northern Swiss Alps (e.g. Engelberg) might see 1-3cm, while the northern French Alps (e.g. Portes du Soleil) will turn cloudy but should avoid most of the precipitation. The southern Alps will have better weather on Monday, with sunny spells and some cloudier interludes in places later in the day.
Naturally, snow conditions are superb across much of the Alps right now, however, the risk of avalanche is sky high, especially in the western Alps, as already seen by the recent tragedy in Val d’Isère (not far from the pistes). Off-piste should not even be considered without a fully qualified local guide.
Here's coverage of the multiple avalanches:
Deadly Weekend in France as 6 Skiers Die in Numerous Separate Avalanche Incidents - SnowBrains
Six people died on the weekend in several separate avalanches across the French Alps despite urgent warnings by rescue services.
snowbrains.com
ChrisC
Well-known member
Verbier looks very good now! JimK should add! They received almost 100cm at mid-mountain, and are now slightly above average for snow bases, and at almost 180cm at Mont Fort Cable Car/Gentianes.
Guides de Verbier https://guideverbier.com/ does Wednesday Group Freeride Days. (Did not see it advertised on site this year, but it's been regular for 10+ years (last year-yes!).) It's the most economical way for a guide. And given risk levels and heavy snow, important. See email below.
I think Verbier has the best, most easily accessible expert in Europe, but the issue is that very little is controlled. (Note: all yellow itineraries are controlled, but ungroomed/natural state. Safe to ski if opened.) Therefore, untracked snow remains for days after a storm and requires almost no hiking to access. (The exception is Stairway to Heaven (10-15-20 min hike) to a huge due north-facing bowl). Snowbird/Alta/Palisades/Whistler remains untracked for half a day, maybe a few more remote areas - 1 day. There is some Verbier powder panic on snow days (not like Jackson/Whistler/Altabird), but the terrain is so extensive that it does not matter. Powder addicts disappear by mid-day (jobs), and the next couple of days provide plenty of untracked.
In my opinion, Verbier is superior to Chamonix because all of its steep terrain is concentrated in one place. Again, my other favorites are St. Anton/Arlberg and Val d'Isere/Tignes. And to a slightly lesser extent, Andermatt/Engelberg, Courmayeur/Skyway, La Grave/Les2Alpes. Zermatt has great terrain but iffy snowfall, and is best from February/March 1st onwards. Same with Monterosa, Italy. Chamonix's lack of a Grands Montets summit cable removes much of the great glacier terrain and famous off-piste (backside).
Almost all of Verbier's yellow itineraries are open, and all lifts (including the off-piste/freeride capital of Mt. Gele).
Interactive ski map - Verbier 4Vallées
The ski map of the Verbier ski area always in your pocket! Opening hours, pistes and much more, all at one glance!
verbier4vallees.ch
On Sat, Dec 15, 2018, at 5:24 AM Les Guides de Verbier (info@guideverbier.com) <info@guideverbier.ch> wrote:
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ChrisC
Well-known member
The snow sites around Zermatt from the Swiss Institute of Snow and Avalanche Research / WhiteRisk showed 45-80 cm of new snow over the last 7 days, with snow bases returning to near average. Gornergrat's historical average for early January is about 100cm, but mid-February's average is nearly 150cm, so they will need more snow to get Hohtalli/Stockhorn open.
I don't see any of Zermatt's yellow itineraries open yet. (vs. Verbier, which has almost almost 90%+ of yellow itineraries open).
I don't need Hohtalli/Stockhorn to be skiable until late March, so there' still time.
I skied all the yellow routes on that map except the low ending Vallon d'Arbi by myself in 2024. I could not tell from the lift how steep NW facing frontside Mont Gele couloirs were. I probably would have tried one of those in my 60's, but not in 2024 unless OKed by a guide.
I agree, it's between Chamonix and the Jungfrau so fits his logistics easily. They can stay down the hill in Le Chable or even Martigny. The non-skiers can use the car for sightseeing while Jimk and his son ski with a guide at Verbier.
I skied all the yellow routes on that map except the low ending Vallon d'Arbi by myself in 2024. I could not tell from the lift how steep NW facing frontside Mont Gele couloirs were. I probably would have tried one of those in my 60's, but not in 2024 unless OKed by a guide.