Snow!

Many of us head out to Europe from the UK because it’s easy and there is very good snow to be found in the French, Austrian, Swiss and Italian Alps. Yes, it’s a little hit and miss and it may be that you can have fresh powder one week and not the next, that is frustrating. Chamonix on the French and Italian border has on average around a nine and a half metre annual snowfall. Compared to the US of A this is laughable! Mt Baker in Washington has been recorded as having an annual snowfall nearly double the depth of Chamonix, not even Alaska has beaten that…

Last winter in Europe the season went well snow-wise, it wasn’t spectacular but some resorts like Courmayeur were struggling to cope with the amounts that we falling and more to the point, the amount that they had to clear, over seven and a half metres fell over 2000m eventually. Isola 2000, only fifty-five miles north of Nice so pretty much in the South of France, had its second biggest winter snowfall ever last season with nearly six and a half metres!

One thing last season that was definitely noticeable was the cold. It was Baltic for much of the winter which was all good for the snow but you wouldn’t want to forget your cheap ski clothing. It even felt like those of us who prefer to stick to the traditional ways of Europe were being rewarded for our efforts as we were experiencing American and Canadian style fluffy snow.

Make sure that when you go on your ski or snowboard travels, take all the necessary layers that will keep you warm, whatever the weather. It’s important to have a good quality jacket and pants and a good stock of socks!

Tags: Outdoor Pursuits