Author Topic: The Ski Locker thread (Read 127122 times)

CommuteTooFar · « **Reply #400 on:** 22 December, 2014, 12:12:24 pm »

MY boss just come back from Le Praz (Courchevel). Normally a trip from Courchevel is quite easy. Up to Saulire, ski down to Motteret up to Mont de la Chambre then straight down to the centre of Val Thorens. His route was up Saulire so far the same. Then down to Meribel via lift. Up the other side to Motteret then over to Les Menuires and finally ski into the bottom of Val Thorens.

I will be going to Alpe d'Huez at the end of January. The resort webcam shows how badly next Saturday's snow will be needed. Christmas is bad but New Year may saved by the first big dump of the Winter in the French alps. Other parts of Europe already have enough snow. eg. Cervinia including Valtournech and Zermatt are fine as is Verbier.

http://alpedhuez.livecam360.net/bergers-hiver

Pingu · « **Reply #401 on:** 22 December, 2014, 12:30:54 pm »

We're going to Méribel in mid January $:-\$ Chaudanne looks grassy on the webcams at the moment.

Feanor · « **Reply #402 on:** 22 December, 2014, 02:09:42 pm »

<Fingers in ears> La La La! Not Listening!

We're off to Val Thorens shortly after xmas $:-\$

αdαmsκι · « **Reply #403 on:** 27 December, 2014, 08:03:36 am »

It is now snowing in Val d'Isere, with around 15 cm having fallen since 4 am and loads more to come. The resort needed the snow, although the skiing has been surprisingly good considering other resorts have no snow. Just a bit rocky in parts.

This is the view from the chalet this morning. We won't be skiing much today!

Ham · « **Reply #404 on:** 27 December, 2014, 04:24:40 pm »

Just back from Chamopluc, nothing on the bottom slopes but upper slopes were really great. Whole alps is getting a mega dump at the moment, Miss Ham is stuck in Bourg after training it from Turin for her SECOND week..... Apparently nothing is going up any mountain at present.

Feanor · « **Reply #405 on:** 28 December, 2014, 10:38:26 am »

12 hrs to drive from GVA to Led Menuires. 8pm to 8 am. Snowstorm based traffic chaos from Alberville all the way up.

Ham · « **Reply #406 on:** 28 December, 2014, 11:02:02 am »

Ouch, was that on a transfer coach? you there now?

Miss Ham was one of those bedded down in a school hall in Bourg, has been bused up to Tignes this morning to discover the chalet still full of people ..... who were trying to to get down from a different chalet in VC yesterday.

Reading http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-30613481 this made me shake my head in wonder:

Quote

British driver Gavin Rigby told BBC News he had taken 11 hours to drive between Val d'Isere and Bourg Saint Maurice ...... felt most sorry for the drivers who had, unlike himself, set out without snow chains.

Those are PRECISELY the people I don't feel sorry for, by all accounts caused many of the problems. Le Dauphine has the best coverage http://www.ledauphine.com/ (sorry, French)

Ham · « **Reply #407 on:** 28 December, 2014, 11:06:57 am »

Le dauphine also have a page of the best snow Photos from today...

http://www.ledauphine.com/france-monde/2014/12/28/vos-plus-belles-photos-de-neige-du-dimanche-28-decembre

ETA and if you want a smile and can understand the French, nothing to do with snow.... http://www.ledauphine.com/france-monde/2014/12/28/les-bovins-ont-enfin-leur-meetic-pour-trouver-le-bon-taureau

αdαmsκι · « **Reply #408 on:** 28 December, 2014, 01:10:27 pm »

Having read those BBC reports I'm glad we had a Sunday transfer from Val d'Isere rather than dealing with the road from Val d'Isere yesterday. There were loads of people at bourg st maurice train station at 10 am this morning when we drove past. Our rep said that people has slept in TGVs that were at bourg st maurice station as they couldn't get to their accommodation. The bit of skiing I did on Saturday in the woods was quite fun, tho cold

Now sat at Grenoble airport. Flight is delayed, but hopefully not by too much.

Pingu · « **Reply #409 on:** 28 December, 2014, 01:12:56 pm »

Quote from: Feanor on 28 December, 2014, 10:38:26 am

12 hrs to drive from GVA to Led Menuires. 8pm to 8 am. Snowstorm based traffic chaos from Alberville all the way up.

Did you get to VT?

Feanor · « **Reply #410 on:** 28 December, 2014, 03:47:20 pm »

Yes, we picked up rental cars at GVA and wisely took chains. We were in an aire du chainage at 3am in the dark chaining up. Cops at Moutiers not allowing vehicles up the mountain without them. Some total knobs trying to pass the line of stationary traffic and coming head to head both a bus coming down the way. Several of people were to be seen making a friendly guesture to them.

Hmm many hours to go 100k, in the dark, all night, with much discomfort and rubbish food. Sounds familiar.

Anyways after a couple hours sleep we went out this afternoon. Lots of snow, and low viz.

αdαmsκι · « **Reply #411 on:** 29 December, 2014, 01:17:13 pm »

Here's which pistes we skiied over Christmas in Val d'Isere: http://goo.gl/fCr5bn Can you tell where there was and was not snow?!

PaulF · « **Reply #412 on:** 29 December, 2014, 03:48:38 pm »

Quote from: Ham on 28 December, 2014, 11:02:02 am

Ouch, was that on a transfer coach? you there now?

Miss Ham was one of those bedded down in a school hall in Bourg, has been bused up to Tignes this morning to discover the chalet still full of people ..... who were trying to to get down from a different chalet in VC yesterday.

Reading http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-30613481 this made me shake my head in wonder:

Quote
British driver Gavin Rigby told BBC News he had taken 11 hours to drive between Val d'Isere and Bourg Saint Maurice ...... felt most sorry for the drivers who had, unlike himself, set out without snow chains.

Those are PRECISELY the people I don't feel sorry for, by all accounts caused many of the problems. Le Dauphine has the best coverage http://www.ledauphine.com/ (sorry, French)

It was teh following paragraph that made me shake my head:

Quote

"The police should have got people to fit chains this morning after half a metre [20 in] of snow fell last night," he said.

I'm not sure people should have to wait to be told to do something. Surely common sense would dictate that chains might be sensible after that much snow?

Ham · « **Reply #413 on:** 29 December, 2014, 06:01:17 pm »

Quote from: αdαmsκι on 29 December, 2014, 01:17:13 pm

Here's which pistes we skiied over Christmas in Val d'Isere: http://goo.gl/fCr5bn Can you tell where there was and was not snow?!

Let me guess, there was lots of snow on Face, but you chose not to ski it. Actually interested to hear how the slopes were that were skiable, as compared to where we were (will do a review inna bit)

hatler · « **Reply #414 on:** 29 December, 2014, 06:06:10 pm »

Quote from: PaulF on 29 December, 2014, 03:48:38 pm

Quote from: Ham on 28 December, 2014, 11:02:02 am
Ouch, was that on a transfer coach? you there now?

Miss Ham was one of those bedded down in a school hall in Bourg, has been bused up to Tignes this morning to discover the chalet still full of people ..... who were trying to to get down from a different chalet in VC yesterday.

Reading http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-30613481 this made me shake my head in wonder:

Quote
British driver Gavin Rigby told BBC News he had taken 11 hours to drive between Val d'Isere and Bourg Saint Maurice ...... felt most sorry for the drivers who had, unlike himself, set out without snow chains.

Those are PRECISELY the people I don't feel sorry for, by all accounts caused many of the problems. Le Dauphine has the best coverage http://www.ledauphine.com/ (sorry, French)

It was teh following paragraph that made me shake my head:

Quote
"The police should have got people to fit chains this morning after half a metre [20 in] of snow fell last night," he said.

I'm not sure people should have to wait to be told to do something. Surely common sense would dictate that chains might be sensible after that much snow?

Something doesn't quite fit there. If there really had been half a metre of snow, I don't quite seee how anyone could have got anywhere without chains. Either that or snow tyres. I suppose.

Ham · « **Reply #415 on:** 29 December, 2014, 06:14:34 pm »

Quote from: hatler on 29 December, 2014, 06:06:10 pm

Something doesn't quite fit there. If there really had been half a metre of snow, I don't quite seee how anyone could have got anywhere without chains. Either that or snow tyres. I suppose.

1) assume exaggeration. Forecast suggested a 30 cm fall over the 24 hours, not insubstantial
2) assume ignorance from the person reported. Quoted comments seems to substantiate this
3) assume that the problem of no chains included those with snow tyres, who could not conceive there might be times that more might be a need for chains.

All fits.

αdαmsκι · « **Reply #416 on:** 29 December, 2014, 06:45:37 pm »

Quote from: Ham on 29 December, 2014, 06:01:17 pm

Let me guess, there was lots of snow on Face, but you chose not to ski it. Actually interested to hear how the slopes were that were skiable, as compared to where we were (will do a review inna bit)

The top half of Face was closed. The bottom section was open with access via the Bellevarde Express chair. Despite it being closed people were skiing the top half, but there was a distinct lack of snow on the piste. Why bother skiing that piste when there was plenty of good snow on other pistes?

Most of the pistes that were open were in pretty good conditions despite the lack of snow. The snow canons were doing their magic whenever possible. The best conditions were found on Grande Motte and Val d'Isere glacier, both of which had some lovely snow. The area around the Glacier Express had some very good snow.

The bottom part of the OK piste back into La Daille from was bloody awful as it was very very icy. Raye was a much better way back to La Daille. The blue Edelweiss was the worst piste, with lots and lots of rocks poking through the snow and it required picking a careful line to get down without trashing the ski. I only skied it once. I am guessing Edelweiss was kept open because the piste links Tignes 2100 and Tignes Le Lac with the Marmottes chair, although it should have been closed in my opinion.

Pingu · « **Reply #417 on:** 29 December, 2014, 11:32:40 pm »

La Sache not open?

αdαmsκι · « **Reply #418 on:** 30 December, 2014, 10:07:43 am »

Quote from: Pingu on 29 December, 2014, 11:32:40 pm

La Sache not open?

I'm not 100 % sure if it was closed, but as there as no snow around L'Aiguille Percee it seemed very unlikely to have been opened. Moreover, there wasn't any snow in Tignes Les Brevieres at 1,550 m.

Karla · « **Reply #419 on:** 30 December, 2014, 10:15:13 am »

I'm now in Zurich for the next six weeks, so it would seem sensible to supplement my previous skiing experience of one day at Cairngorm. What does the panel recommend?

Ham · « **Reply #420 on:** 30 December, 2014, 10:35:06 am »

Hmmm ... Engleberg is easy to get to, http://www.engelberg.ch/ as are many resorts by Swiss train.

Here's a page of resorts suitable for day trips http://www.inyourpocket.com/Switzerland/Zurich/Daytrips-and-Leisure/Ski-resorts

I haven't skied any of those, I have skied in Saas Fee and Fiesch both of which I enjoyed. Some Austrian resorts are easy to get to, but as a novice you may have to cope with a T-bar, so I wouldn't recommend.

Exit Stage Left · « **Reply #421 on:** 30 December, 2014, 11:45:56 am »

Quote from: αdαmsκι on 29 December, 2014, 06:45:37 pm

The best conditions were found on Grande Motte and Val d'Isere glacier, both of which had some lovely snow. The area around the Glacier Express had some very good snow.

The pissaillas glacier is the place to be after snowfall. the T-Bar takes a time to sort out, and it opens up a lot of good accessible off-piste, which gets skied out in less than an hour. It's then possible to go into the pays Desert if you know what you are doing. The Glacier Restaurant is also good value.

I think there's too much temptation to cruise around in the Espace Killy, you can spend a lot of time dodging the intermediates on the blues between Val and Tignes. Fornet has a lot going for it.

Tewdric · « **Reply #422 on:** 31 December, 2014, 12:11:59 am »

I love the Fornet end - the up and over being my favourite lift ever.

Exit Stage Left · « **Reply #423 on:** 31 December, 2014, 09:55:41 am »

Fornet is not very board friendly, it needs a lot of schussing to get around effectively, and there's the Signal poma, the Col poma and the Montet T bar. It does mean that you only see really good boarders.
Many days seem to have ended with a few runs down Glacier and Cascade, then over to Solaise, up Cugnai, and down Mattis.
We tend to go very late, so Face is a bit slushy for a last run.

hatler · « **Reply #424 on:** 01 January, 2015, 01:57:35 am »

One of my finest days on skis ever was at Le Fornet.

Up to the top, walk for half an hour to Point Pers, then ski very carefully along the ridge to the point of no return, then drop off to the right heading for the refuge almost exactly 1000m below us. April 4th 1990. (A year to the day that I had bust my knee in Verbier.) Glorious clear blue skies. There were four of us and I was the last one down. It took the preceding three 10 minutes each to get far enough down the chute so that they could clear it before the next person could set off safely. The start was an extended pitch at over 45 degrees. I haven't felt that alive very often.