French Alps snow melt

[Mark Allen]

Ive been watching these web cam and today the levels have started to rise, so guessing the snow is stating to melt? http://www.hautes-alpes.net/alpes-webca ... ebcams.htm

[jmmoxon]

Apparently Hawaii sur Rhone came into condition on 10th April (some paddlers had been there for whole of previous week).

Mike

[buck197]

Agree there seems more water at the Rabioux

[jmmoxon]

http://www.eauxvives.org/en/niveaux/en-direct/index tells us:

Ubaye river levels: http://www.rdbrmc.com/hydroreel2/station.php?codestation=779

also Durance has risen over last 5 days: http://www.rdbrmc.com/hydroreel2/station.php?codestation=778

Mike

[Croft]

Well they just announced on TV tonight another meter of snowfall above 1500 m for the next 2 days in the high Swiss and French Alpine chain - so looks like it really is going to be a great kayaking summer in the Alps. The melt hasn't really kicked in yet for the glacier fed rivers - they are still insulated by all that snow!

[Mark Allen]

Rivers look like there all rising well!

[Kayacb]

Don't get too excited Mark, if it starts raining like last year.........

[Simon Westgarth]

Don't get too excited Mark, if it starts raining like last year.........

Now there us no need to be pesimistic, the snowpack is good but not huge, plus we are in el niño now, so it is unlikely that the prolonged intensive rain saw last year will occur this year.

[Mark Allen]

Don't get too excited Mark, if it starts raining like last year.........

Now there us no need to be pesimistic, the snowpack is good but not huge, plus we are in el niño now, so it is unlikely that the prolonged intensive rain saw last year will occur this year.

So looking good for mid June?

[Kayacb]

Don't get too excited Mark, if it starts raining like last year.........

Now there us no need to be pesimistic, the snowpack is good but not huge, plus we are in el niño now, so it is unlikely that the prolonged intensive rain saw last year will occur this year.

So looking good for mid June?

I bloody hope so, that's when I'm going.

[Torsten]

What do people think levels will be like for mid July?

Better off heading for Austria yet again or take the risk of France?

[Simon Westgarth]

What do people think levels will be like for mid July?

Better off heading for Austria yet again or take the risk of France?

Given the good snow conditions, and the slow on set of the melt, it is likely to be a fair season for France, however in mid July France is traditional heading onto the low season, with glacial runoff and thunder storms accounting for any additional runoff. In mid July, not unless you are loking fo ra range of rivers for a range of club abilities go to Austria, or better still Norway.

[Torsten]

Well it is a school trip but we have been to the Landeck region of Austria several times over the last couple years but there is quite a wide range of abbilities going on this trip.

As much as I would love it to be I don't think Norway is really an option unfortunately :(.

[Simon Westgarth]

As much as I would love it to be I don't think Norway is really an option unfortunately :(.

Its great for all Class II to V paddlers and wonderful rivers, and I am sure your school has been there.

[Torsten]

Yea, the school has been there before, I think they have been there twice.

I would love to go to Norway, I know I plan to go there myself at some point anyway.

I'm pretty certain that we are going to somewhere in the Alps though, I think I may try and persuade them otherwise.

You reckon that Norway will be better at that sort of time of year? What will the levels be like in Norway?

Thanks

[tombankes05]

The levels are good at the moment, with it having warmed up and some rain in the mountains

The durance gorge is high, the level at prelles is 110 cm today. I did it yesterday, at 100. A couple of trees early on but no other major obstacles other than the normal portage and the letter box which we portaged.

Have also done the Guil a couple of times (other than the Guardian Angel gorge). The level today was pretty high with the bottom drop of triple steps pretty submerged. No real changes or obstacles.

The mid Claree has had an avalanche across the river so will need some cleaning up.

The slalom course has been redone and has two good holes

As I live in l argentiere and am currently qualifying as a French river guide do let me know if you need up to information on the river levels. Snow levels are very high and a lot of snow still at 1800m there is likely to be high levels from no one even if it doesn’t rain, so do bring out creek boats rather than play boats. If you need to hire boats let me know.

The weather is currently unsettled. If you need accommodation rather than camping we can help out through AlpinePlayground.com

[Simon Westgarth]

The levels are good at the moment, with it having warmed up and some rain in the mountains

The durance gorge is high, the level at prelles is 110 cm today. I did it yesterday, at 100. A couple of trees early on but no other major obstacles other than the normal portage and the letter box which we portaged.

Have also done the Guil a couple of times (other than the Guardian Angel gorge). The level today was pretty high with the bottom drop of triple steps pretty submerged. No real changes or obstacles.

The mid Claree has had an avalanche across the river so will need some cleaning up.

The slalom course has been redone and has two good holes

As I live in l argentiere and am currently qualifying as a French river guide do let me know if you need up to information on the river levels. Snow levels are very high and a lot of snow still at 1800m there is likely to be high levels from no one even if it doesn’t rain, so do bring out creek boats rather than play boats. If you need to hire boats let me know.

Great news Tommy. I come in 2 weeks, and hope your training is over, so we can fire it up. Deb's inbound on the 12th June.

[tombankes05]

Yeah well training won't be over, but I'll still be up for it whenever! it'll be cool to see you guys
see yeah soon!
tom

[Stuart J Woodward]

The weather pattern is completly different then last year.

Over the last few weeks, in the South of France (Provence) the days have been gaining heat, today afternoon 30c . This did not happen last year, it was cool and damp. As the South of France (including the South Alps) land mass warms up it helps to keep a high locked in above the region. Last year this did not happen it rained.

Up to this week it has stayed cool in the Alps maintaining the snow at quite low levels. However it is know starting to warm up there as well. Temps today afternoon is around 30c.

We are heading to our base today, and are looking forward to sunny days to get all things fixed up. Then go boating.

All the best and looking forward to a long boating summer.

Stuart.

[Simon Westgarth]

Up to this week it has stayed cool in the Alps maintaining the snow at quite low levels. However it is know starting to warm up there as well. Temps today afternoon is around 30c.

We are heading to our base today, and are looking forward to sunny days to get all things fixed up. Then go boating.

All the best and looking forward to a long boating summer.

Great news Stuart, and I hope to see you soon

[Stuart J Woodward]

Up to this week it has stayed cool in the Alps maintaining the snow at quite low levels. However it is know starting to warm up there as well. Temps today afternoon is around 30c.

We are heading to our base today, and are looking forward to sunny days to get all things fixed up. Then go boating.

All the best and looking forward to a long boating summer.

Great news Stuart, and I hope to see you soon

Will do Simon. If we get the sun, and all forecasts (including local and France Meteo) are saying its going to be a hot summer. We can then expect very high flows on most rivers well into June. My forecast is, for all round boating late June early July will be when all runs will be more accessable for most boaters. Be great if the Durance Gorge is still running well into July. Many Uk boaters do not get to run this at its best, as the last few years its gone by end June. Finished packing up, just sorting some last minute bookings. Lunch and then heading (3 hr drive) into the Haute Alps.

All the best.

Suart

[Stuart J Woodward]

At the moment in the South French Alps (Briancon area) we have already had over 30c day time temps (today 11.30am Briancon 29c). It is also quite warm at night so maintaining the melt. This is unuasual to be so warm this early in the summer. Normally you would expect warm days (25c) midday and be cold at night and quite fresh in the morning,this helps to slow down the melt.

All rivers are very high and will continue to rise if the weather stays as warm, as it is at the moment.
Also this warm weather will encourage thunderstorms, which will rise levels on rivers specific to where the storm is.

The area that seems to have the most snow is the Queyras, this means there could be super high levels on the Guil and Ubaye over the next few weeks.
As I drove into the Alps last Thursday the Ubaye Gorge already was running incredibly high and way over any grade.

We have already met some intermidate led groups, who are running out of river options that are suitable and safe.

All the best.

Stuart.

www.canoecontrol.com