 Poster: A snowHead
|
Well, just back from 16 heavenly days in Plan Peisey 
rob@rar, I left your mobile no. on my computer, so never got in touch - sorry 
I was really pleased with how my skiing has improved this year - must be absorbing some of the info on here - so definately not time wasted! We had a day in la plagne - driving over there with our guide/friend, who left his car there to pick up later when picking his son up from hockey, & we really enjoyed the pretty trip back down to nancroix. I know the husbands would have prefered the North face route, but my improvement wasnt that enormous  Ventured over to Montalbert & had a good lunch at La Forparet (?sp). Another day we went to St Foy - fun there & so quiet on the Saturday we went. Husbands went for the off-piste fun, & my friend & I enjoyed the slopes.
My husband had organised a few sessions for me with our instructor friend, who set my friend & me a day of challenges  First one was Aguille Rouge. I'd done it nervously a couple of times, but this time the snow was great & I had no trouble with it at all Then we went to Malgovert, as it clouded over & the light flattened. This was my first experience of real bumps & could have done with some bright light to help, but we got down, if not stylishly, safely. We then skied down to Les Granges, which I had never done, & came back up to 1600 on the funicular.
I did Coombe for the first time - usually it is closed when we have been there, & there was a Lamagier hovering - amazing to see so close up.
But the highlight was my very first trip off piste We did the Col du Chal. We've walked there in the summer. The peace & quiet & atmosphere were amazing. Wonderful snow & all so different from piste skiing. Its really whetted my appetite for more.
Just realised most of the photos are on my husbands camera - will post some sometime.
More snow was falling on Saturday as we left in the late afternoon. So anyone going out there soon will have a great time
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
jayne durham, there are quite a lot of snowheads out for half term. Give me a call when you get here so we can meet for a beer and a ski this time.
What an amazing powder day today. Great in the trees and loads of fun in the white out conditions high up. It is hardly snowing now as i look out the window but it might start again, sky still cloudy. Tomorrow they say the sun will come out and if the wind does not come it should be great. We will try to leave a few places untracked for those coming out but not promissing!! 
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
A quick update after day 2 of my family trip. Glorious week so far - wife and 2 children delighted with their instruction, due partially at least to snowcrazy's referrals.
Superb morning yesterday! Between the pistes in 1800 and 2000. Great fresh snow with broken crust underneath but a total revelation for a piste bashing numpty like me! BruceW, good to meet you (I was Andrew) and sorry to hear from your friend that your shoulder is not good - hope to see you later in the week.
Today - plenty of snow, 40cm they say. 10pm and its stopped for now. Been out in a good group making the best of trees and new snow while its a bit yuck at the top.
Praying for light winds for tomorrow. Snowcrazy's nose for a good run is something to behold! Never have I skied so far in a morning but been unable to say that I have completed a whole piste!!
(You might have guessed I can't find the smileys on this mobile gizmo...)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
jayne durham, Snowcrazy, ooh at last, other SHs to look out for!! I shall be in a red jacket with white lid sporting a SH sticker on the back! We're staying in Vallandry & I am a novice, so prb shan't be venturing that far away from there, but who knows where NewGen will end up taking me 
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
I am having lessons 11.30 to 1.30 Mon-Fri, so have got part of each morning and the afternoons to practise etc. Are there good viewpoints/places I should try to see whilst staying in Vallandry that I could access without skiing slopes beyond my ability, eg pedestrian access routes? I thoroughly enjoyed going up to the Grande Motte viewpoint when in Tignes. Remember that at present I am limited to very easy blues!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Butterfly, You must walk up to Notre Dame des Vernettes
http://renaud91.free.fr/Photos/vernette/Exterieur/index_000.html
These are summer pictures, but beautiful in winter too. To get there, walk up to Plan Peisey & follow signs to La Vache (new restaurant- very good). Its a well walked path - quite snowy at the moment, so your yaktrax will come into there own. Its about a 40min walk from Vallandry, I would guess, but not to be missed!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Butterfly, There's also a lovely panoramic view of Bourg-st-maurice from a viewpoint on Foret! But on a blue sky day, everywhere is a viewpoint
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
|
|
|
|
|
That sounds like a good idea geri, perhaps with a visit to the restaurant too.
I take it the Sherpa & Flying Squirrel are worth the walk too then!
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
Butterfly, Don't get to excited by the Sherpa, its just the local Spar but an essential service, though one could argue the Flying Squirrel is more of an essential service
|
|
|
|
|
|
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
|
thefatcontroller, 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
Another great day in the powder. The sky cleared, the sun came out and we were up to our knees in powder. Even with the hords arriving this week, it is getting busy, we still found some untracked areas. Fresh powder on top but be warned, hard ice or crud underneath so care needs to be taken. The kids say that they had a great time as well skiing to fast all over the ski area with some excellent french instructors and local racers. More snow forcast for tomorrow, maybe, but could also bring high winds. Today the winds did not come which kept the snow good all day. Still quite cold so the snow should be good again tomorrow for those with any legs left after today.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
Snowing quite hard at the moment. A bit of a surprise to me as I didn't see this in any forecast.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
rob@rar, 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
|
rob@rar, meteo france had it on their site last night
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
With temperatures looking likely to rise should those of use who have trips booked for next week be overly worried or is there enough of the white stuff to keep us happy whatever happens? 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
smudger, Who said temps were going to rise
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thanks geri!
I am excited...
A dump whilst we are there would have been nice but I will enjoy it whatever happens
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
smudger, Temp often rises during the day but it will take a hell of a heatwave to shift what is there. Don't forget that once it hits -5 or so at night they can turn the snow cannons on. As geri says nowt to worry about
|
|
|
|
|
|
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
|
Smudger, relax! There is an awful lot of snow here. The bases of 1800 and 1600 were a little slushy late this afternoon but noticeable only at the chairlifts or if you fell in it.
A decent flurry this morning probably added 5cms so the pistes stay topped up,
But let's not talk about pistes - the powder is still there and, on northerly slopes, quite light.
Weather tomorrow looking promising, so everything crossed for another special day...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowcrazy, ... 
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
Great snow again today managed to find some untracked stuff this morning and some nice tree skiing. They say the sun will continue to shine for a few days now but with all this snow, it promises to still provide powder in those hidden places. I look forward to meeting other snowheads next week. PM me if you are coming out so we can meet up.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
Most places tracked out now after another day of sun but still good snow as the temp has stayed low and the wind did not arrive. Let's hope these conditions continue for the next few days.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
BernardC, looks fabulous. Is that La Ros in the background or St Foy?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
rob@rar, ... Ste. Foy ...
.... obviously you should have known if it was La Rosiere, it would be enveloped in halo-like sun ...
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
BernardC,
Is that route off the back after a short hike up from the Grand Col chair? I really must do some skiing with snowcrazy and yourself; unfortunately this season has been a bit weird doing lots of BASI related stuff.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
rob@rar, ... yes, Grand Col, though it's forbidden to ski the nature reserve from Gd. Col, - 'Hauts de Villaroger' which is shown on the photograph, without a guide, or a special license. (License involves taking a short course at Villaroger)
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
BernardC, is that the 'Chicken Licence' I've heard about a few times? I'm, unlikely to do that route by myself, if ever as it looks pretty steep, so I don't think there's much call for me to do the course.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Just back from a week in St Foy & a Day in Les Arcs, theres plenty of white stuff everywhere, though I was suprised how icy the arc runs were epecially into town. Feck me, was les arcs busy!!!!! & the lifts there are only for very small people lol.
I would'nt recomend St Foy to anyone, its only got five lifts & not many runs, unless you like off piste
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nice pictures, BernardC, good to ski with you that day, even though I forgot to pack spare thighs - you'll be pleased that you had the best of the snow, it all ending up a bit hard and icy at the end of the week. A fabulous few days, which have completely changed my attitude towards skiing, i.e. less piste, more powder Thanks again to snowcrazy and a hearty recommendation to anyone with an opportunity to be shown around a resort by him.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BernardC, Great pics. sproggski Pleased you enjoyed the trips we did. As for the weather and snow today, it was still sunny and despite the different snow conditions if you go to the right place there is still untracked powder to be found. Good soft snow on slopes sheltered from the sun and wind. You can still ski back from the top of deux tetes to 1600 off piste in soft freshish snow, and make a few jumps. The place is starting to get busy but still not too bad. We had the col du chal to ourselves most of the afternoon and the track down according to our younger members was 'awesome'.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
So I'll just have to get back out there and have a bit more fun! 
