HAT Snow Reports
We publish these reports in the season from December to April. New reports will appear here from early December. If you sign up by clicking on the link below you will get these delivered by email as soon as they are published.
Spring Skiing Tips, ‘Ski the Smooth’ and Off-Piste Snow Report
After enjoying some fantastic powder skiing over the past week, and with another 10–15 cm of fresh snow just fallen, conditions are about to shift. With sunny days and clear nights in the forecast, this powder will quickly transform into classic spring snow - at least...
Off Piste Snow Report – Northern French Alps & surrounding areas – 12 March 2026 and next few days
Spring snowpack (almost) with fresh snowfall on Saturday. Much more stabilised snowpack, although persistent weak layers remain....Last weekend, after several days of wall-to-wall sunshine and clear nights, we were enjoying excellent spring snow conditions, with...
Off-piste Snow Report – N French Alps (week of 22 Feb): Rapid Warming, Wet-Snow Avalanches & Still Hidden Weak Layer(s)
Rapid warming, wet-snow avalanches… and a hidden weak layer on the shady side of the mountain (north'ish facing slopes above 2200 m)We've had record-breaking accumulations of 2 to 3 metres of fresh snow over the last 10 days in the N French Alps and surrounding areas....
When “Nothing Happens Most of the Time” – Off-piste Snow Report & Risk Context article (N. French Alps, Week of 9 Feb 2026)
Fresh snow again in the Northern French Alps and surrounding areas this week, and plenty of it – great news, and fantastic snow quality! But this season we’re also dealing with an exceptionally unstable snowpack in many places.Weather forecasters are talking about an...
Off-Piste Snow Report N French Alps & Surrounding Areas : 29th January & next few days. Regular top-ups of fresh snow, but beware of continued snowpack instability, especially N’ish facing slopes above 1800 m
Since the major mid-January storm cycle and the highly unstable conditions outlined in our last snow report, we’ve benefited from a series of small top-ups of fresh snow - around 5-10 cm at a time - over the past few days. More light snowfall is expected throughout...
Highly unstable off-piste conditions continue as accidental avalanches are widely reported in the N French Alps
One of many recent avalanche incidents illustrating unstable off-piste conditions (no one hurt in this one, as far as we know)Accidental avalanche on “Familiale” – Val d’Isère (Sun 11th Jan) Someone triggered this slide just minutes before I filmed. It happened on a...
Off Piste Snow Report – N French Alps – week commencing Saturday 10th Jan: Highly Unstable Off-Piste Conditions after Massive Fresh Snowfall !
Much-needed fresh snow has significantly boosted snow depths and revived off-piste conditions! But also an extremely unstable snowpack.... We’re currently in the middle of a significant snowstorm in the tail end of storm Goretti, with 3 consecutive days of snowfall...
Avalanche Triggering Explained, Technique + Equipment Compatibility for Touring: In-depth ‘Backcountry Smarter’ Webinar Replay with Henry + Mark
The “Backcountry Smarter Webinar Replay” covers avalanche triggering insights from Henry Schniewind and practical touring techniques from Mark Jones. Key topics include avalanche initiation, remote triggering, essential safety habits, touring gear compatibility, and balance techniques. The session emphasizes informed decision-making for safer backcountry experiences. Accessible on Henry’s Avalanche Talk website.
Off Piste Snow Report : 11th to 16th December, and HAT Pocket Guides
Off-piste snow report for the Northern French Alps and surrounding areas. Temperatures are running well above seasonal norms, and that pattern looks set to continue for roughly another week. Expect mostly blue skies, with only occasional breaks- possibly bringing a...
Off Piste Snow Report – N French Alps – 29th Nov – 5 Dec 2025. Early-Season Conditions & Key Safety Points
Beautiful skiing conditions mark the start of this year's season, but there are some things to be aware of.....We now have a good amount of snow after the recent snowfalls. At 2,000 m, there is around 50 cm settled, with well over a metre in most places above 3,000...