 Poster: A snowHead
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Hello and greetings from what is currently a very cloudy, yet possibly the only place in the Northern hemisphere where it isn’t snowing, Nendaz. I’ve been out here for about three weeks now so it must be time to start this winter’s trip report. As with last year expect mainly photos with a bit of writing (I don’t write that well and a picture is worth a 1000 words etc.) also forgive me for being a bit more coy about saying where things are: currently there is no official off piste guide to the area (unlike L2A) and understandably locals want it to stay that way so I won’t be giving details on how to access most things hereabouts.
Anyway, on with the show. When I first got here everything was well tracked but then they opened some more lifts so we could get in on the act.
Me under a chair.
Christmas came and went and it snowed so we were back out for the last fresh of 2009.
Scottish Skier with an interesting stance.
gorilla enjoying untracked snow.
Scottish Skier if he had wings then maybe he could fly.
Me putting the first track in a nice little gully.
Early January and it snowed again, to low levels this time as the previous snow had been rain in town, never nice but particularly unwelcome in December when it’s nuking back in the UK. gorilla had gone away for new year and returned with Sam so the three of us headed off to hit L’Eteyegon, an itinerary that ends with a bus ride back to Les Masses. We were the 2nd group up which isn’t too bad when you consider the first group turned the access lift on! We made it down for the half ten bus only to find out the first one was at 11.30, still it was worth it.
Sam
Two planes playing around above us, note this was the first bluebird day in ages.
gorilla
The next day we headed up the hill not knowing what to do, Scottish Skier only had a couple of days left and so far would have had a better winter if he’d stayed at home, at Tortin we decided to hit the backside of Mt Fort.
Scottish Skier powers into the right chimney.
Sam and me in the chimney.
We rode out to Siviez and then headed back up for another lap taking a slightly different (and steeper) route.
Me exiting the steep couloir.
Our return to Siviez was met with the setting sun highlighting the peaks the other side of Sion.
Unfortunately once off the glacier this was a very flat route out and one I’ll be on the splitboard for next time.
Speaking of which Scottish Skier and I decided to have a go at something requiring skin access. This would be the first time I’d ever skinned up anything and to make matters worse shortly after splitting the board I had to go downhill, I’m a pretty shoddy skier at the best of times but on something with a 130 mm waist, free heels and snowboard boots/bindings this was going to be interesting.
No they aren’t the tracks of two skiers behind me, just one scared split boarder doing a snowplough!
Still after that the skinning was easy despite an arduous route choice to minimise avalanche risk.
At the col switching back to downhill mode.
Now we had a massive completely untracked bowl to play with, easily enough reward for the effort
Truly getting away from it all.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Swirly, good to hear from you. enjoy the rest of the season 
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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?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Swirly, some great photos there
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Swirly, Nice, much prefer to seeing a load of pics like this to an essay!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Swirly, Thanks for the photos ...
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Swirly, Great photos and thanks as out in Nendaz with family half term week. Never been before but you are selling it well!!
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Swirly, nice, I'm looking forward to being out there on the 24th Jan, snow forecast seems to be good!
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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.
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Swirly, I love your pictures. They make me jealous. B@$!@rd. 
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Swirly, great stuff. Keep on posting your photos!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Nice one Chris. I expect many an update to keep me sane at a desk!
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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.
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Swirly, nothing like that feeling of downhill skiing in split mode..... 
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Great pictures guys.
Got a free couple of weeks from early next week till half term time (early Feb).
Are there any hostel type places in Nendaz?
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You know it makes sense.
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gryfon,
There is one in Le Chable. Its not the Nendaz Valley but the Verbier one. It is 29CHF per night. I've heard mixed reviews.
www.le-stop.ch
It is right beside the train and lifts. You could be in Nedaz pretty quickly via a few lifts and Runs.
The snow flakes I mentioned above amounted to Sweet FA it seemed to stop snowing when I pressed submit  .
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Thanks RPF
Will take a look.
Just looking for somewhere basic to stay for a couple of weeks.
Not long back from Tignes over Christmas, but got the time and the urge to escape again 
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Poster: A snowHead
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Swirly, nice work, again.
Love that shot of scottishskier, is he trying out for the next S&R edition
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Been pretty ill this week but made it out today to watch the world cup boardercross in Vessonaz, quite impressive to say the least.
is the womens medalists just after they'd passed by me, earlier I got to see our number one uproot the fence just by where I was stood.
Hopefully proper service will be resumed shortly.
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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?
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Swirly, get well soon....
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Nope that looks like it didn't suck
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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bobinch, indeed, was speaking to some guys about that the last time we did it. Hence the staying below 30 degrees approach to the line, of course that doesn't stop people with no gear following you (as happened I just potato-shopped them out the photo).
Be careful out there kids.
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Swirly, sounds like you're getting to know the area. I love that 3rd photo of the 2 tracks. Hopefully I'll get across to Nendaz soon. Would be good to hook up with you and Gorilla. Sounds like we have a similar outlook - it's all about the fresh tracks
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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.
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bobinch, yeah definitely, got a few lines about here that I'd certainly appreciate some local knowledge for solet us know when you're next in the area.
norris, not 100% fit yet but should be flying about by your visit.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Looking good, really looking forward to our trip in a couple of weeks time, but think I will give those runs a miss .
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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.
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You know it makes sense.
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Swirly, Sweet. What boards has RPF got?
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Gsyfreerider, Whitedot Preachers 189.
Swirly, Gorilla, Nice work on the pictures lads. I've take the first two steps and put batteries in my camera and started to read the manual  .
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Swirly wrote: |
RPF |
RPF certainly looks like he means business in this one!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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?
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Haggis_Trap, getting nostalgic? Count the photos as thanks for the info. 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Swirly, not sure where you were but looks awesome! Snowing down here. You got any yet?
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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bobinch, not yet but it's socked in quite heavily so expecting it soon.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Sweet. Thats more like it. Looks like a fair amount of fresh still left. Now get up the Rossablanche! Immensely jealous sitting here at a desk 
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bobinch, I don't think we've got all that much. The precip radar suggests that the disturbance passed to the north of us. There is a solitary centimetre sitting on the balcony.
scottishskier, we've got the 1:50,000 ski tour map out right now and are evaluating our options. I don't think we're going to hit it right yet. I think we'll see what the weather brings us over the next couple of days.
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Swirly, looking good on the spliter... really looking forward to next week 
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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.
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gorilla, Verbier doesn't seem to have done that well over the last couple of weeks Assuming you guys have a 4 Valleys season pass you might want to think about doing a day or 2 to Chamonix or Courmayeur. I think both are covered on your pass and they've both got more of the recent snow.
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FAQ
