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Verbier Snow Prediction Winter 22-23

21st August 2022/in Blog/by Roddy Willis

Snowberries have arrived in Verbier.

Verbier Extreme Weather

Those that know me well, will know I always find reasons to predict the biggest winter ever is coming to Verbier. And why should this year be any different! It is going to be massive, more epic powder days than you can shake a ski pole at! And this is my hypothesis:

We have had a summer of extreme hot and dry weather across the northern hemisphere. So far 2022 has been the hottest summer and driest summer ever recorded. With so little rain, it leads me to wonder: Where has all the water gone? The water can’t just disappear. Does it rain more in other areas or later in the year?

At school we learned about the water and weather cycles. The water is out there somewhere in the global weather system. Surely, at some point the water will have to reappear to balance out the extreme dry summer!

And if I am correct, that can only mean, when the autumn and winter temperatures drop the water will reappear in conversely extreme quantities. This winter will be extreme with plenty of snow to balance out the lack of water this summer.

And there are signs in nature that this winter will bring a snowy skiing paradise to Verbier. If you have read my previous Smart Snow Forecasting Techniques blog you’ll know about ‘berries’. And this year the hedge rows are loaded with berries!

Let’s hope Vlad’s war in the east doesn’t bring power cuts that stop the ski lifts running! But we can always walk up to get those powder turns. Either way I can help you with your skiing dreams! Unlike this blog, I promise not to talk utter nonsense!

Powder For The Few!

13th December 2019/in Blog/by Roddy Willis

#GetPowderDone

Powder For The Few

#GetPowderDone I’ve woken up in the middle of the night to the reassuring noise of snowploughs clearing the streets. It would appear the more you say it the more people believe it and the more you believe it the more it becomes your reality #getpowderdone At this moment it is shedding it down in Bruson at 1050 meters. And it looks like it is going to dump all day. And if I may I’d just like to finish on this last point. #getpowderdone it is going to be stonking super light and deep oven ready by the end of the day #getpowderdone

What a week we have had this week! Next week the holiday season starts and will bring ‘the many’ and we’ll have to share the great snow we currently have with ‘the many’. If you think you don’t want to share the snow with the many then maybe book some time with me!

What’s New in Verbier for Winter Season 19-20

20th October 2019/in Blog/by Roddy Willis

No New Ski Lifts in Verbier this Year

New In Verbier Winter 2019 – 20

What is new in Verbier for this winter? Every year I do a little round up of what is new in Verbier for the coming winter season – Here are a few new things straight off the Verbier rumour mill.

New Indian Restaurant in Verbier

Every year the Verbier restauranteurs play a game of musical chairs. When the music stops this winter there will be some changes. First out of the game is Millennium. Taking over the restaurant in the Hotel La Rotonde is KV Hotels. Apparently they are going to open an Indian restaurant. Let’s hope it will be a truly authentic rendition of the Taj Mahal with an appropriate use of purple and mustard coloured flock wallpaper. Excellent news for lovers of an alpine poppadum!

Good Morning Verbier

Next out of the game is La Bec at Mountain Air which is being replaced by Good Morning Verbier. Good Morning Verbier previously in Le Hameau will serve an increased range of breakfast goods, Grandma’s cooking at lunch time and express sandwiches for those in a hurry. It is even possible to pre-order your favourite food on the Good Morning Verbier website. Christoph is certainly setting the pace and I look forward to some tasty lunchtimes.

However not to lose its hold on the space at Le Hameau and with a subtle name change to ‘Good Crepe’. Apparently, Good Crepe have employed a crepe-ist (if such a thing exists) from Breton to make fantastic Crepes. Fantastic moves from Good Morning Verbier.

New Snow Canons on Savolyres

On the mountain it is going to be easier to ski back to Les Esserts. TeleVerbier are installing new snow making machines all the way down the Verbier side of Savolyres to Les Esserts. Perfect for skiing to Le Hameau for a Good Crepe!

New Ski Lifts in the 4 Vallees

Nendaz not wanting to live in the shadow of big brother Verbier has upped the stakes. Ready for this winter is the new gondola between Plan du Fou and Prarion. And just to really make everyone in Verbier a wee bit jealous the dudes at TeleNendaz are adding more snowmaking between Siviez and Veysonnaz. 4 Vallee tours will be vastly improved.

New Off Piste Regulations

Off piste law changed again… Ski instructors with a Brevet Federal can ski up to 45 degrees off piste.

Brexit

New for this winter will probably be the Brexit effect. What is the deal or will be there be a deal? This hot potato is best left alone! But… who really knows what it will mean for the many British seasonal workers in Verbier? Until now British seasonal workers enjoyed the benefits of ‘Free Movement’ in Switzerland because of the bi-lateral agreements between the EU and Switzerland. Who knows what will happen? Answers on a very small postcard please! Or just book yourself some tasty ski lessons.

It’s starting…. Winter is coming

4th October 2019/in Blog/by Roddy Willis

Snowforecast

Snow in Verbier this weekend!

Roddy Willis Mentioned In The Weekend Telegraph Travel

2nd October 2019/in Blog/by Roddy Willis

A wee mention in the press this weekend. It’s always tricky for an independent ski instructor to compete with the big Verbier ski school machines! However I got my name in the papers!

Verbier Snow Prediction Winter 19 -20

12th July 2019/in Blog/by Roddy Willis

Verbier Snow Prediction Winter 19 -20

If you are a regular visitor to my Verbier Ski Blog, you’ll know that each summer – autumn I predict the coming winter season’s snowfall in Verbier. I use a variety of ‘special’ techniques and indicators to help with my prediction. There is no science used, just a bunch of my random randomness, which-to-date have been remarkably accurate. Being a lover of skiing and all things snow, my predictions are slightly myopic and yes every winter is going to be bigger than last winter! Listed below are this year’s indicators of the coming Snowpocalypse!

European Heat Wave June 2019

June 2019 has seen new record highs across Europe with temperatures in parts of France reaching over 46 degrees centigrade. This heat wave was caused by a hot air mass moving up from North Africa. The effects of global climate change made this air mass hotter and more intense than any previous European heat wave.

Alaskan Heat Dome

And, if the European heat wave isn’t enough… then check out the Alaskan heat dome. Temperatures, this summer in Alaska, are set to be some of the highest on record.

Volcanoes

Stromboli in Italy has recently blown it’s top and sent a massive plume of volcanic dust into the high atmosphere. The effects of ‘global dimming’ from volcanic ash in the atmosphere is well-documented.

Summer Snow in Spain

The rain in Spain stays mostly on the plain – We’ll actually the freak summer snow and hail in Spain stayed mostly on the plain. In early July in the city of Utiel, Valencia rivers of ice flowed through the streets.

Massive Insects

In the past I have used the appearances of larger than usual insects to predict the biggest snow ever. This year I’ve seen some seriously big spiders and insects and as my regular readers know… this is surely another sign of the impending Snowpocalypse.

Atlantic Hurricanes

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is giving advice about preparing for hurricane season. The past two autumn’s have seen some of the biggest Atlantic storms. There is an expectation that this autumn will see another series of massive storms sweep through Atlantic seaboard of America and the Caribbean.

Snowmageddon – Snowpocalypse

Global climate change has increased the chances of extreme weather events. Thus, applying some excellent randomness and snow-logic: This summer’s high temperatures will have an extreme and opposite winter reaction. Combine this extreme opposite reaction with a spot of volcanic ash in the high atmosphere and we are going to see some massive snowfalls this winter. You’d be disappointed if I had predicted anything else!

All I can say is the snow is going to be epic. If you’ve got this far down the page then you really need to book your Verbier ski lessons now!

Photo from The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Savoleyres Bubble Lift Verbier – What is the Gossip?

31st May 2019/in Blog/by Roddy Willis

Savoleyres Bubble Lift – What is the deal?

This week’s blog is about the Savoleyres bubble lift. It is not long since the end of the winter season and the skiing stopped in Verbier. Winter 18 – 19 has produced many tales of the deepest and steepest skiing ever. However, what has happened to the chat about replacing the oldest, slowest and wobbliest ski lift in Verbier? So, to help you liven up your bar chat this weekend!

Here are 6 question and answers about the Savoleyres ski lift

How old is the Savoleyres bubble lift? The Savoleyres bubble lift first opened in 1970, like all things Swiss was built to last.
Is the Savoleyres bubble lift safe? It maybe a little old and shaky – however TeleVerbier has managed to get a new licence to operate the Savoleyres lift. The previous licence expired in 2018. So, being Switzerland I can only imagine that there has been some sort of safety test!
How long has the Savoleyres bubble lift got left? The current operating licence for the lift is due to expired in 2022. So, we have a few more winters before TeleVerbier will need to get a new licence to operate the Savoleyres lift. Or to build a replacement ski lift!
Is there a plan to replace the Savoleyres bubble lift? Since 1996, TeleVerbier has made multiply attempts at getting planning permission to build a new lift. TeleVerbier’s current plan is shown in the diagram below. However, TeleVebier is struggling to get permission for their replacement plan.
What is stopping the lift from being replaced? TeleVerbier’s planned replacement for the Savoleyres lift has been opposed, since 2012, by a group of chalet owners. The opposition’s views and ideas can be found on their website www.proverbier.com.
What will happen if there is no lift-up to Savoleyres? This is an interesting question… The only downhill skiing access from Verbier to la Tzoumaz will be the Vallon d’Arbi itinerary. Otherwise, it is possible to skin up on touring skis or take public transport to la Tzoumaz.

Bar Chat Conclusion

If, there is no new ski lift or no licence to operate the old lift Savoleyres lift, Verbier will lose access to the la Toumaz ski area. It is difficult to imagine not being able to ski epic powder on Savoleyres. Hopefully, there will be a sensible compromise and a new lift will be built before the current lift is to old to operate.

Seriously if you’ve got this far down the page! Then you really do need some help with your bar chat or your off piste powder skiing!

Mont Fort

17th May 2019/in Blog/by Roddy Willis

Mont Fort Verbier

Mont Fort is the highest point of the Verbier ski area. It is popular for skiing in winter and in the summer for sight-seeing and mountaineering. From the top on a clear day it is possible to see the Matterhorn, Dent d’Hérens, Grand Combin and Mont Blanc:

Mont Fort Skiing

Many glaciers throughout Europe are retreating due to climate change. The Tortin Glacier on Mont Fort in Verbier has not escaped the effects of a warming planet.

Over the last 30 years the size and shape of the ski pistes on Mont Fort have changed considerably. The changing geography of the glacier has affected skiing in many ways.

Mont Fort Picture – Showing the old Gentianes drag lift and piste

Mont Fort Ski Pistes

The ski pistes on Mont Fort have reduced in size and number plus changed directions. There were in the past several pistes in the winter. One piste headed in the direction of the itinerary to Gentianes Tortin. The other piste headed back to Col de Gentianes.

It was previously possible to ski from the summit of Mont Fort back to the Mont Fort cable car. So, this is no longer possible and access to the cable is via the recently built replacement Gentianes drag lift.

Has skiing Mont Fort become harder?

The top section of the Mont Fort piste has become steeper as the glacier has retreated and the entrance to the marked piste has become more technical and in busy Verbier holiday periods can be tricky to navigate.

Mont Fort Summer Skiing

Until 1999 there was summer skiing in Verbier on the Mont Fort Tortin glacier. So, in 2014 TeleVerbier removed the last remnants of the old Gentianes drag lifts used for summer skiing. And a new shorter drag lift was installed to take skiers back up the cable car.

However, in July 2013, the freakish weather enabled TeleVerbier to open for a weekend of summer skiing.

Mont Fort Speed Skiing

The last XSpeedSki event held in Verbier was in 2013. An additional ramp was built at the top to enhance chances of setting a new speed record. However, the succession of recent hot summers has melted large areas of the Mont Fort glaciers. It is now no longer possible to build the Verbier speed skiing course. The additional ramp for the event has been removed.

Mont Fort Statistics

Summit Altitude: 3330 meters
Destination: Gentianes 2900 meters
Length of ski run: 1750m
Altitude difference: 350 Meter
Maximum gradient: 40% (steep)
Level of difficulty: very difficult (mogul slope)

Let me know if you want some help conquering Mont Fort!

Summer Skiing Verbier 2019

12th May 2019/in Blog/by Roddy Willis

Will Verbier Open for Summer skiing?

The winter ski season has ended. However, the snow just keeps on coming. This morning May 12th the snow has again fallen right down to 1200 meters and the forecast is for more cold weather and more snow! The last time it felt this cold in May was 2013. TeleVerbier opened for a weekend of summer skiing in July 2013. Just saying…. will Verbier open for skiing this summer?

Skiers beware - this is the sign at the top of Tortin

Tortin – Verbier Ski Itinerary

10th May 2019/in Blog/by Roddy Willis

Good Skiers Only!

Tortin is probably the best known of the Verbier and 4 Valllees itineraries. It is a rite of passage for many visitors to Verbier. So, to get your Après-Ski bar chat sorted and ready for some great ‘Fisherman’s tales’. Here is a little information to help make your ski tales into classic Verbier bar chat.

Tortin starts at the Col de Chassoure just next to the top of the Chassoure gondola lift.
Itineraries are not groomed or pisted they are wild mountain terrain.
It is a north-facing bowl and is shaded from the sun.
You can expect good skiing on firm and grippy snow. You can also expect deep powder.
So, the snow conditions are whatever mother-nature has left on the side of the mountain!
The first part is a little steep and at times very busy (particularly in February half term week).
The traverse at the start can be tricky and sometimes be busier than the M25.
After the traverse, giant moguls are likely to be the biggest obstacles.
Tortin is actually-the area at the bottom of the run and the itinerary is correctly called ‘Chassoure-Tortin’.
Normally there is a sign at the top say ‘Good Skiers Only’!

Please note the following point from the Verbier Tourist Office

‘Itineraries are officially designated off-piste routes, marked on the piste map as yellow lines, a single line of yellow poles in the snow marks the direction of an itinerary route. Itineraries are bounded 20m on each side of the yellow poles.’

If you want to master Tortin? Then book some ski lessons with me – I’ll help you master the moguls whilst finding the best routes and snow conditions on Tortin,