 Poster: A snowHead
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@Samerberg Sue, I'm more than aware of Petain and Vichy thank you so no history lesson needed, but good point, think it just goes to show how life was good for Vichy French, and I for one would be embarrassed as a French person to put that photo up!
Last four weeks been watching an average French TV drama, The Resistance, and apart from numerous cliches and at times a diabolical cliche-ed costumes (all baddies in long leather coats and black fedoras) it provides a good insight into France at the time of the Vichy and how the Resistance grew.
The actual history of the Serre Valley and Briancon in WW2 is rather interesting from the bombardments of Briancon by the Italians, the execution of villagers by the Germans after the Maquis killed some Mongols (might have some of that wrong as I don't have the history book to hand) who were part of the German army and much more........
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Weathercam wrote: |
@Samerberg Sue, I'm more than aware of Petain and Vichy thank you so no history lesson needed, but good point, think it just goes to show how life was good for Vichy French, and I for one would be embarrassed as a French person to put that photo up!
Last four weeks been watching an average French TV drama, The Resistance, and apart from numerous cliches and at times a diabolical cliche-ed costumes (all baddies in long leather coats and black fedoras) it provides a good insight into France at the time of the Vichy and how the Resistance grew. |
I watched a bit of Resistance when it was on French TV but I found it tedious. I notice that Pauline Burlet, who looks a lot like Marion Cotillard, played Marion Cotillard's younger self in Piaf.
Jean Moulin, a French affair wasn't bad as a history of the internecine battles in the French resistance: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0349646/?ref_=fn_al_tt_4
and because this is a ski forum here's Jean Moulin (right) with Pierre Cot (left) in the Savoie in 1936
Pierre Cot was one of the government officials behind the development of Courchevel. The chief architect of Courchevel was Laurent Chappuis who died recently in Chambery. He was a decorated French war hero and the planning for Courchevel was done between Chappuis and Maurice Michaud in a German PoW camp in Austria during the war. the Vichy government, who like their Nazi cousins in Italy and Germany, were keen on sports, elaborated the first winter development planning documents and the construction of the Briancon cable car was considered quite an achievement in 1942 in a country recently defeated by the Germans. The Vichy documents were used to restart the French winter sports development in the immediate post war era, along with Marshall Aid given to the hoteliers in Normandy who had had their hotels destroyed in the D-Day landings. l'Alpe d'Huez also continued functioning during the war and both Montaz and Pomagalski were active members of the resistance.
There is a bit of history here
http://pistehors.com/backcountry/wiki/Ski-Areas/Oisans
and some more here
http://pistehors.com/backcountry/wiki/Isere-Drome/L-Alpe-D-Huez-History
I believe the German troups that were killed were Cossacks and not Mongols. I have trouble imaging Mongols in the German army.
Back to l'Alpe d'Huez: Montaz and Pomagalski along with others assisted American airmen who had crash landed near the ski resort. It was all very 'allo 'allo with the airmen being moved around to escape detection from the Germans.
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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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@Alastair Pink, my father joined the German Army (under age) to fight the Bolsheviks in WW1. He was in the mounted artillery and won the Iron Cross, which is kinda odd for a Jew!
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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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@Hurtle, Yes, many German Jews joined the German Army in WW1 and won medals for bravery. A fact that of course sadly cut little ice with Hitler and the Nazis later on.... 
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Maybe we should have a separate thread on The Resistance 
I am pretty sure they were not Cossacks as I would have remembered that, it was a nationality that made you think, strange never knew they'd fought alongside Germany, though I may well be wrong!
I'm back in a couple of weeks so can confirm.
The whole Mont Chaberton story I find one of the most interesting. Read the WIKI on that well worth a read if you are unaware.
And if you ever get the chance, well worth making the climb up there which I did in the summer as well as Fort Janus.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Thanks my brain cells are still sort of working then 
I did write that there was chapel at the Lautaret devoted to the people that were executed, but then edited it out as I came across this when Googling and thought I must have lost the plot and maybe the Chapel was devoted to those ?
http://pistehors.com/backcountry/wiki/Hautes-Alpes/Villar-D-Arene
Sue Lomas has written an excellent book on the history of Serre / Briancon, with much help from Madame Maynardier (local school teacher) who I bought our flat from (mother of the guide Mathieu) and obviously there are French ones - I think it might still be free via Amazon but I actually bought a hard copy as it's a great coffee table book etc
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To come back to the term "Mongol", Clemenceau (French president in WW1) was nicknamed "Mongol". The rumour being that Mongol hordes had passed through the west of France 1500 years before, finally being stopped at the champs Catalauniques. Of course it is largely nonsense, it was Attila who was defeated on the champs Catalauniques. Anyway the French believe there is a Mongol gene in the people from Brittany and points west. The Huns certainly originated from the Russian steppe. The Mongols might have conquered Europe but in the 13th century at the height of their power. Maybe the Germans put about that they had "Mongol" soldiers to frighten the French?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Snow again last night, this time down to ~2400m 
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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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@KenX,
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@KenX, at this rate I'll be dragging you back up the Granon, but this time on skis in a couple of weeks 
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You know it makes sense.
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@Weathercam,
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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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Poster: A snowHead
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@Hells Bells, Great idea
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@KenX, just 4 weeks until we're back out. Let me know if you need anything else bringing out with us.
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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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@Hells Bells, 
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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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It was a great day Ken and hopefully plenty more to come. We're just finished our Summer two weeks in the valley and we've been blessed with really great autumnal weather. Sorry to be leaving.
Back Christmas and already counting the days.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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A little exposure for Antoinette and me:
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 I suspect that ibex is impressed.....
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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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Weather looking pants for this coming weekend 
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That's the trouble with weather, has a mind of its own.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@Weathercam, ? Fri/sat not so good, then perking up!
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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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@KenX, weekends don't really count when you're retired do they
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@KenX, trouble is leaving crackingly good weather back in the UK but after weekend is looking good 
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You know it makes sense.
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Valoire side of Galibier at 2500 and snowing !
Last edited by You know it makes sense. on Fri 2-10-15 20:08; edited 1 time in total
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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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@Weathercam, take care on the top.
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Poster: A snowHead
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@Hells Bells, no worries, I opted for the Galibier tunnel rather than go over the Col temps were only +3 but another 150m and did think would be rather foolish sliding off the edge etc etc for the sake of going over the the top, plus was getting dark!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Could see the snow on top at those altitudes!
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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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@Weathercam, wise decision I think.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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The early morning low cloud and mizzle gave way to some blue sky, and at times could see the top Eychauda, and a fair amount of whiteness.
Temps dropped down to +6.5 and we waited till they went into double figs.
OH wanted to run up to Frejus and I tagged along on the cross dresser / hybrid bike. As we crossed the river, getting ready to press the buttons on our gizmos, we actually stripped off a layer or two as it was almost warm in the sunshine.
Climbing up was so different to the summer, not plagued by swarms of flys and not over heating after ten or so mins.
Could see the work they'd been doing on widening the bottle neck on the piste above the shitty chair and looks good.
I left OH at Frejus and continued up traversing under the shitty chair and passing Cote Chevalier and Clot Gauthier, by now it was raining quite hard, and I continued up the traverse that then takes you up to the top of Casse du Boeuf.
At the top I was getting cold and quickly put my jacket on, and in hindsight should have put my dry base layer on, plus should have had some spare dry gloves as my fingers were going quickly.
Descent down to Arravet was very tricky, all those lovely gravel groomed tracks in the summer had been churned up by rat tracks and were wet, muddy and slipery, not ideal on my smooth tyres with tread only on the side walls.
Below Aravet I took the long green Route Aravet back down which was much more enjoyable, and once home, it took me a while to get my core body temp back up and my feet still feel cold!
Strava Track https://www.strava.com/activities/405338339
All afternoon has been tipping it down and looks like snow level has come down to around 2200, will have a better idea in the morning.
Have put the webcam back on so you can see for yourself tomorrow morning!
http://www.stylealtitude.com/serrechevalierweathercam.html
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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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23:00 temps +3.5 and just shooed dogs out and it's nigh on snowing here !!!!
Did say that temps were coming down along with snow level, but did not think as low as this!
Who said October was a lovely "Indian Summer" time of year to come out 
So check the cam out tomorrow Am to see what we have !
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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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FAQ
