The secret to that bit is to pause before the narrow section then just go down and left, straight over the edge without stopping!
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
That makes sense for when I do it again. But having not skied it before I needed to stop briefly to know what I was dealing with. Stopping for ages definitely makes it worse.
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?
Quite correct Honeybunny but understand people apprehension at not knowing what comes next first time they do it.
Did Sache for the first time this morning. What an amazing run!! My sixth time in Tignes & somehow I've never got round to trying it. The top bit was pisted but then we had deep fresh snow for the bit after you get the chance to turn off onto the red. Some of the best skiing I've had anywhere! At least until my other half fell over & lost a ski that I had to carry a long way down to him. Hard work!
Done all of these at one point or another, as people say it all depends on the conditions. The one I struggled with most was Foret. Narrow, busy with people out of their depth and really icy big moguls. We were good skiers, but nobody skied it - we simply got down it.
Golf I enjoyed, feels like you are away from everyone. Have done EPC in deep snow and that was tough.
My favourite is one that almost killed me - Sache. I took my skis off at the top of the narrow section to help someone (massive error on my part) and slipped. It was icy. I slid for ages, fast until the sharp right hand turn just after it meets the red and went into and through the nets. Queue 2 operations and a ruined knee - my boots got caught in the net and even though it saved my life it did some damage!! Completely my fault though, never take your skis off!!
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Ouch, sounds bloody scary! Hope you're fully recovered now @lowerist.
I think one day I'll attempt EDC and maybe a few others in Tignes with an instructor, but I don't think I'll ever do Foret, Piste S or Grizzly. I just stick to the blacks I know I can do (which is weird, because I had to do them for the first time at some point!!).
After all it is free
After all it is free
@HoneyBunny, @Steve Angus, are you just hoping that there's no-one either sitting or falling just below the lip?
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
Me and my 2 junior girls found the face to be a bit of a let down only 1 short steep pitch. Santons on the other hand was just horrible.
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
@lowerist,
Sounds horrendous, a sobering reminder about removing skis. I hope your knee gets better and good luck.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Dr John wrote:
@HoneyBunny, @Steve Angus, are you just hoping that there's no-one either sitting or falling just below the lip?
I'm not going fast! I just think it's better to keep going than stop on the edge and look down the steep bit.
Also, if anyone fell, they'd be sliding down it, not sitting just under the lip.
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.
Sitting below the lip.... a) that is not likely - probably on top of the lip I should have thought and b) they shouldn't be sitting just below the lip anyway really! But you can see over the lip as you ski up to it and adjust your line anyway!
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
@Steve Angus, agree on both points, but I'd rather be standing on the slope saying "you shouldn't be sitting there" than laying in Dr Alan's clinic saying "they shouldn't have been sitting there"
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
HoneyBunny wrote:
I'm not going fast! I just think it's better to keep going than stop on the edge and look down the steep bit.
I like looking down it.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
[quote="Whitegold"]The steeps in Val Despair, on and off piste, are good but not great.
The tourist-marketing board does a phenomenal job of making the skiing in Val-Tignes appear tougher than it really is [quote
Did Sache for the first time this morning. What an amazing run!! My sixth time in Tignes & somehow I've never got round to trying it. The top bit was pisted ...
Newbie question - how often are the pistes at EK groomed? Does the resort publish a daily grooming report? Here in the Colorado the grooming report is posted on the web site, displayed on signs up on the mountains, heck at Vail they hand out printed copies. I have looked at both the Val d'Isere and the Tignes web site and have found no mention of grooming status.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
It's rare for European resorts to post grooming status. Courchevel used to iirc, and I think Val disere did at one point, but I haven't seen one in years.
That said everything except blacks would be groomed nightly, blacks very some never, some occasionally, some nightly. Ime face is groomed most of the time as is the bottom of trolles, others in the area not so much. Jess
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?
Val D'Isere do it every day, look for the little green piste basher by the side of the relevant piste status here:
Chamonix does it as well. And use Skiplan. As do many other stations these days.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
I FINALLY skied Epaule du Charvet!
And (in my humble opinion), I skied it well - did the steep section non-stop at a decent pace. I can confirm it's bloody steep, and appears to get steeper and steeper as you go down! I was definitely on the edge of my comfort zone LOL. It's far steeper than Face.
However, the only reason I managed to do it is because it must have been pisted at some point and there were no moguls on it! The snow was firm and grippy. I imagine when it's at its bumpy best/worst, it's a whole different beast, and not one I'd fancy trying at all.
@HoneyBunny, Did you end up poling at the end? IIRC, unless the snow is really firm, it is quite a trek out
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
I got as far as the restaurant then stopped and waited for the others, so had to pole for a bit after that, not sure how much further I would have got!
After all it is free
After all it is free
a.j. wrote:
It's rare for European resorts to post grooming status. Courchevel used to iirc, and I think Val disere did at one point, but I haven't seen one in years.
It used to be reported on Radio Val d'Isere. The English language section is much shorter this year and neither grooming nor piste closures are reported any more. Disappointing.
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.
HoneyBunny wrote:
I got as far as the restaurant then stopped and waited for the others, so had to pole for a bit after that, not sure how much further I would have got!
Don't be so modest, you'd have got all the way
Not sure if the reason I did was as Im not so considerate as you waiting for others or cos I simply heard the call of Cocorico
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
@andyman, definitely option B - you overtook me haha
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Well I'm happy to announce that the lower reaches of Face are totally unsuitable as a first ski run after 12 months away from the snow. My wretched youngest son dropped his goggles from the Bellevarde chair on our first ascent of the holiday, so we had no alternative but to explore the off-piste alongside Face / Stade Olympique. We survived. But lad #3 definitely wasn't flavour of the day!
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.
@HoneyBunny,
Well done! Is it really as steep as that middle section of Face de Bellevarde? Not in my memory...although Epaule de Charvet does have a mean camber and is steep enough for me. It is a different beast with big moguls. What's your next still-to-do challenge??
Sounds like your first run down much better than mine. Taken on it as an early intermediate...first morning of week...about 9.30am....very icy. Our 'guide' was snarled at for rest of day. Character building stuff.
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
@intermediate, Thank you!
Epaule felt a LOT steeper than any section of Face. I don't mind Face at all now, unless it's really icy. It feels the same pitch as skiing Plan off Solaise, and in fact I absolutely LOVED my last ski down it. Epaule was STEEEEEEEEEEP! Must have been pant-wetting in icy conditions.
I actually went past the drop-in to Foret on the last day, and thought I'll never ski that bad boy. Super-steep, not very wide and big moguls. No thanks. It was actually the first time in about 13 trips to the EK I'd ever skied Mangard, and what a gorgeous run that is! (who graded that as a blue though?!)
I think my next challenge will have to be up the Col Des Ves chair and down Pramecou. I've looked at it so many times and thought "naaaaaah...", but I think I could do it. I think it's just that once you're on the chair, you're committed to a black LOL.
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
@HoneyBunny,
Quote:
Epaule was STEEEEEEEEEEP! Must have been pant-wetting in icy conditions.
Well my very first Epaule run when icy remains vivid 20+ years on. I feared we'd slide down onto Santons. Since then I think I've cracked it (but never complacent).
Strangely I find the flattish, sometimes narrow approach worse than the main piste. The bumps on that never seem in the right place for my skis!
Foret wasn't too scary but became a long hard slog and I wouldn't recommend as enjoyable...not with knees like mine.
Mangard....yes a good run and agree under-graded in parts....seem to remember a fully committed schuss to avoid uphill poling at end? Is there a small bridge on it too??
Yes I see Pramecou piste on map again, after a few seasons unpisted I think. Seems to have retained naturide variant, called Guerlain Chicherit (roughly translates as 'I'm up a sh*t creek war zone without a paddle'). Chair wasn't running when I was there at Christmas.
I love that Col de Ves valley. Nothing too steep that I remember, occasionally narrowish. IMO a touch over-graded at black, though I can understand tactically why. Often hard-packed and wolves might eat struggling intermediates.
A proper roller-coaster and often quiet. I've done 3 consecutive runs down it several times. Relax on antique chairlift in between and admire amazing rock formations and scenery. Highly recommended.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Managed to ski the Face in January, the tough bit is that really steep part, I fell over after nearly straight lining down it and was laughing nervously when I got back up!
Santons was actually very nice this time round for me, just remembered how narrow it was and it was pretty quiet too, which helps.
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
HoneyBunny wrote:
I actually went past the drop-in to Foret on the last day, and thought I'll never ski that bad boy. Super-steep, not very wide and big moguls. No thanks.
My whole family adore Foret. I really don't think it's much more challenging than Epaule, so, if you enjoyed that, you should have no problem with Foret.
I think that the problem with Foret is that the drop-in looks intimidating and, because it's at the top of the run, there's always a soft alternative if you're feeling nervous. Although it gets a little narrower further down, there's nothing steeper than those first few turns. If you can survive the start, you'll be fine. Even if you fall, the mogils are so big that you'll never slide more than a few metres.
I'd encourage you to give it a whirl. Just make sure it's not icy or you'll never forgive me!
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
intermediate wrote:
@HoneyBunny,
Quote:
Epaule was STEEEEEEEEEEP! Must have been pant-wetting in icy conditions.
Well my very first Epaule run when icy remains vivid 20+ years on. I feared we'd slide down onto Santons. Since then I think I've cracked it (but never complacent).
Strangely I find the flattish, sometimes narrow approach worse than the main piste. The bumps on that never seem in the right place for my skis!
There were no bumps at all when I did it, I got off very lightly I think...
Quote:
Foret wasn't too scary but became a long hard slog and I wouldn't recommend as enjoyable...not with knees like mine.
Mangard....yes a good run and agree under-graded in parts....seem to remember a fully committed schuss to avoid uphill poling at end? Is there a small bridge on it too??
Yes and yes - but it doesn't matter how fast you schuss, you can never make it up the hill right at the end, it's always a walk up.
Quote:
Yes I see Pramecou piste on map again, after a few seasons unpisted I think. Seems to have retained naturide variant, called Guerlain Chicherit (roughly translates as 'I'm up a sh*t creek war zone without a paddle'). Chair wasn't running when I was there at Christmas.
Yes, Guerlain Chicherit always looks like a very long descent of bumps!!
Quote:
I love that Col de Ves valley. Nothing too steep that I remember, occasionally narrowish. IMO a touch over-graded at black, though I can understand tactically why. Often hard-packed and wolves might eat struggling intermediates.
A proper roller-coaster and often quiet. I've done 3 consecutive runs down it several times. Relax on antique chairlift in between and admire amazing rock formations and scenery. Highly recommended.
OK, you've convinced me, will aim to give it a bash next season.
Jonny Jones wrote:
My whole family adore Foret. I really don't think it's much more challenging than Epaule, so, if you enjoyed that, you should have no problem with Foret.
I think that the problem with Foret is that the drop-in looks intimidating and, because it's at the top of the run, there's always a soft alternative if you're feeling nervous. Although it gets a little narrower further down, there's nothing steeper than those first few turns. If you can survive the start, you'll be fine. Even if you fall, the mogils are so big that you'll never slide more than a few metres.
I'd encourage you to give it a whirl. Just make sure it's not icy or you'll never forgive me!
It was definitely the first bit that was off-putting!! Maybe one day ... or not
I know the very good skiers love it, I just think I'd be surviving it more than skiing it lol
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?
@HoneyBunny, Pramencou used to be red many seasons ago, possibly 1999/2000. Haven't been up there for many seasons. The chair is a long long cold ride and you had to jump off at the top. All very interesting. Might have changed now.
Did Sachs this morning. The top was lovely. But when we hit the trees it turned into a soft snow, mogalled nightmare. It was our first run of the day and it nearly finished me off.
Not the first time I have done it, but one of the toughest.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
@NE1, yes, in fact I think it had 2 red graded variants from the same retro chairlift. Presumably now a similar line followed by the black and the naturide. It is one of those areas we should try to use more, I think, or the liftco would have an excuse to close it.
@intermediate, The Mairie would never let the close it! Pramecou is now little more than a track to get you to some great off piste (although they did bit an extra bit of piste in the bowl to the left of the lift this year).
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
intermediate wrote:
@NE1, yes, in fact I think it had 2 red graded variants from the same retro chairlift. Presumably now a similar line followed by the black and the naturide. It is one of those areas we should try to use more, I think, or the liftco would have an excuse to close it.
It was all very deserted up there a couple of weeks back. Easter holidays so peak period, glorious sunshine, snow to die for and absolutely no-one there. We only did one very lonely lap, though. You sit on the antique chairlift for half a lifetime, and the run (we did Guerlain) is over in a quick but very satisfying blast. It hardly seems worth the time investment.
The black rating seems very generous in good conditions. We did the run last year, though, and a thick, dense cloud descended while we were on the chairlift. A blind descent of a mogulled slope covered with a few inches of fresh was definitely challenging enough to be regarded as a proper black by anyone's standards.
Definitely a suitable run for nervous black skiers in good conditions, but definitely unsuitable in poor weather IMV.
After all it is free
After all it is free
@chocksaway,
Quote:
The Mairie would never let the close it! Pramecou
Three cheers for la Mairie...maybe the chairlift has Grade 1 listed protection?
@Jonny Jones, great picture...wish I was there now...or have the marmots taken over the piste?
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