The end of the season has finally arrived and today the lifts are now sadly closed for winter 07/08.

The weather couldn't have been nicer for the last day on the slopes.  Blue skies with thin wispy high clouds for most of the day letting through plenty of sunshine and giving us nice warm temperatures.

The pistes were also in excellent condition, perfectly groomed as usual for the start of the day and quickly softening up in the April sunshine.  Le Crot piste which runs from the top to the bottom of the Prodains cable car in Avoriaz was fully open and hosting the end of season randonnee/skiing event.  The event attracts a lot of different ski teams and uses the full length of Le Crot and upper areas of Fornet in Avoriaz and consists of a mixture of uphill skiing using skins and the more popular downhill skiing.

As is the norm with the end of season, various parties were well under way by mid-afternoon with revellers enjoying the beatiful sunshine and perfect snowy mountain top views.

It does feel as though the lifts have been closed prematurely considering the amount of snow still covering the pistes but the end of season is set and lifties and other seasonal workers must move on.  It has been another amazing season for Morzine, Les Gets, Avoriaz and the other ski resorts in the Portes de Soleil.

As the lifts are now closed, so are the updates of this Morzine Snow Report Blog .... until winter 08/09.

Another great weather day on the mountain for the end of the season!

Plenty of blue sky around and temperatures were a few degrees above zero soon after the lifts were opened.  Conditions dictated a lot of piste skiing and riding today.  Although new snow has fallen recently, the freezing level was around 1600m and anything up to around 2000m was a tad heavy to enjoy off piste.  There was a good amount of light powder above the 2000m mark so we started off many runs with a quick blast through powder and finished it up on piste.  During the morning the pistes progressed from hard packed to softer snow as the temperature rose and the suns rays began to melt the snow. 

Spring conditions have finally arrived.  During the afternoon the lower slopes in and around Avoriaz became fairly slushy.  The lower third of Le Crot piste started to randomly tug at your skis or board on particlularly wet patches with some amusing results as we were thrown over the front to the ground.

We didn't make it outside of Avoriaz today so I can't vouch for snow conditions elsewhere, but Avoriaz remains in fantastic condition for April.  Great snow coverage over the whole resort.  Monday sees the start of the final week of the 07/08 season and there is plenty of the white stuff around to enjoy.

As you can see from the photos, there has been another huge dump of snow in Morzine!

Since the freezing level fell on Thursday, there has been a fairly constant snow fall.  Many light flurries and even some rain at Morzine village level but mostly snow above 1200m.  It couldn't be better for this time of year, spring conditions will have to wait!

There are just two weeks before the final lifts close in Avoriaz for the winter season but the snow will last well beyond the end of season this year.  Today, snow above 1700m was absolutely fantastic - dry and fluffy giving us some excellent off piste skiing and riding in Chatel and mostly between 20 and 30cm deep if not more.  Snow below 1700m did tend to get a bit heavy off piste but you've got to expect that at this time in April.  The day was made even better still by the lack of people on the mountain.  The overcast conditions fooling many into 'giving it a miss today' combined with it being late season, meant the slopes were almost empty and the powder just never seemed to get tracked out.

The sun finally broke through the clouds in the early afternoon giving us glorious sunshine and the chance to ride some other favourite off-piste areas from the top of the Chaux de Rosees chairlift in Chatel.

Tomorrow is tipped to be a blue sky day ... I for one can't wait.

Today was sadly the last day that the Pleney and Les Gets mountain was open for the 2007/08 winter season. 

Fortunately we've had yet another blue sky day and fantastic spring conditions on the mountain.  Thursday and Friday just gone were cursed with heavy rainfall over much of the Alps spelling an early end to the enormous amount of powder skiing on the upper slopes in Avoriaz.  However, as predicted by the weather forecast, the freezing level dropped to around 1300m late on Friday afternoon (having been around 2400m) and coated the upper slopes and valleys in another 20 - 25 cm of powder.

We started off up the Super Morzine lift this morning and found the Tetras and Zore pistes in prime condition.  Once in Avoriaz, we headed up the Lac Intrets chairlift and decided to blast down the full height of the mountain, starting off on the Bleue d'Arare (blue), joining the Vaineuve (red) and finally Le Crot (blue).  A super fast run taking in a wide variety of snow conditions.  At the top of the mountain the snow on piste was groomed, well packed and very fast, whilst the middle and bottom sections had already started to soften up with shallow slushy snow.  Amazing conditions for this time at the end of the season.

The view across to Avoriaz from the Proclou chairlift showing the Proclou piste.

As today was the final call for the Pleney and Les Gets mountain, we jumped on the bus in Prodains and soon arrived at the base of the Pleney.  The afternoon was enjoyed riding a few of the old favourites on this side of Morzine, particularly the Chamossiere bowl and of course winter Piste B that drops you back in Morzine village.  The snow was a good deal slushier over here due to the amount of sunshine the pistes receive but certainly no less fun.  Sadly, we shall have to wait until next winter to enjoy these pistes again.

Riding the Chamossiere chairlift showing the black Le Creuz piste.

Another astounding day on the mountain!  Having not checked the snow forecast it was nice to wake up to a blanket of white snow about 5cm deep covering Morzine village along with a clear blue sky.  These kind of conditions do not come often, so we quickly headed up the mountain via the Prodains cable car that takes you directly into the heart of Avoriaz.

The snow conditions on piste were fantastic but the off piste areas were even better.  The level of snow in Morzine only hinted at how much actually fell on the upper slopes and it was good to find between 20 and 30 cm of fresh, light and fluffy powder.

Looking accross to Avoriaz village.

Knowing that many people would be heading off piste thanks to the glorious sunshine, choices had to be made as to where to go first.  First run was the Crozats bowl that is accessible from the top of Les Intrets Express chairlift.  The closed sign was still there but we followed the trail beaten around the fence to get access. Unbelievable conditions for this time in April and very few tracks already made.  The powder was easily deep enough to keep you afloat above the previous chopped up base and the snow was very light and airy making it easy work.  We descended all the way down, dropping some 800m until we eventually rejoined Le Crot piste bringing us back to the Prodains cable car.  Even nearer the bottom, the snow was still great although it was a little heavier than higher up.

Plenty of untracked lines in the Crozats bowl.

Only having time for a few runs, we decided to keep using the Verare (3 man chair) and the high speed Combe de Machon (6 man chair) for a speedy return to the top of the Crozats bowl.  Each time tasking a different line down wherever we found the fewest tracks and the best powder ... great stuff.

The waterfall / cascade exit from the Crozats bowl to the base of the Prodains cable car.