 Poster: A snowHead
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@iainm, yayyy...2 more short black runs, 76% slope apparently, with only infrequent visits from the piste basher.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I am still a bit unclear about this.
Is the tunnel itself reopening or are the black unpisted runs they mention simply the two routes either side of the lift back down on the Solaise side?
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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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Did that run before it was closed... hilariously horrible condition too, crusty, rocks, moguls and bogglingly steep. (The run on left back down on Solaise side, tunnel was closed)
Make sure everything is carefully in place before going up the drag lift as it is wincingly steep itself.
Think they have a mount point for the piste basher to attach to, to winch itself up if it ever bothers/tries to bash it...
Last edited by Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see? on Thu 11-10-18 13:51; edited 2 times in total
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| richjp wrote: |
I am still a bit unclear about this.
Is the tunnel itself reopening or are the black unpisted runs they mention simply the two routes either side of the lift back down on the Solaise side? |
At the top, you go through the tunnel and the black pistes (plus free ride area) drop you down the Fornet side of the ridge.
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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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@richjp, there’s no mention of the tunnel reopening, just the runs either side of the lift.
I don’t remember it being scarily steep skiing but challenging enough. As for the drag lift ride up, for some reason the Nutcracker Suite usually came to mind.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@PeakyB, isn't there just one black on either side of the ridge? So if both blacks are reopening, the tunnel would have to reopen too, otherwise there'd be no way to access the black on the Fornet side.
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@denfinella, good question. As I recall, 2 pistes came down either side of the drag lift. Then the other ‘piste’ was on the Fornet side, from the tunnel. Time plays tricks with the memory though.
All will become clear in a few short weeks I guess.
If the tunnel piste reopens, good luck with it
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You might be right. It's been a while since I was there too!
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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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I found this on an old Piste Map, not sure how old it is so it may have been different in the past.
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@Mikeg36, interesting, guess that map at least a decade old.
I don’t remember the black piste on the Solaise side sweeping around so far away from the lift.
Also, map implies that the lift drops you high enough to ski down to tunnel. The twice I went through it, I’m sure it dropped you beneath, so you had to clamber uphill a little to tunnel.
After being out of action for so long, I can see it being a novelty attraction this season.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@PeakyB,
It's all piste map cartographer's licence 
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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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The pistes were never that interesting from it but there was quite a good bit of off piste that could be reached by traversing form the top of the drag from memory.
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You know it makes sense.
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Looks horrible/terrifying! I'd be too scared to put a turn in. None of the people on the vid above were making a good job of it.
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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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Gosh that video brings it all flooding back. For me it was right up there with a 30 minute walk out in ball deep snow after getting lost in a white out - so pretty high on my list of things I have vowed to never do again.
It's as steep as the 'drop off' on Face but never pisted. The areas off the side can be good after a fresh dump but are a strong avi risk due to the gradient.
I heard they only closed it as they got fed up rescuing so many people from it. You will still get 'expert' Parisians taking their terrified 3-days-on-skis wives/girlfriends down there.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Fascinating video Onnem.
As HoneyBunny mentions: looks a bit scary, and the skiers seen seemed to be having a tough time at the top.
Best bit was at the start of the drag up: sign says "No Boarders" 
(grabs coat and rapidly exits building)
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Jonpim, I did the tunnel on a board. The drag lift was so steep that it destroyed your front leg for the rest of the day.
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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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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Cannot believe folk who can barely ski were allowed down that run.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@Whitegold, can’t think how lifties would stop them. Warning sign at bottom of drag lift. Individual skier decides.
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Unlike a chairlift The Poma will put many off including most snowboarders.
It’s good though that they are doing this providing access to some unpisted challenging runs and a challenging lift.
I carnt see it being open before January most years however. Will be interesting to see whether it is more resilient than the up and over chair or is closed more often because of avalanche risk ?
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Used to enjoy those Tunnel moguls mid 1990's.
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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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@bar shaker, what I want to know is whether or not the Tunnel drag lift was as bad as Homme de Pierre in Risoul. Another ball breaker. Sounds steeper, but shorter.
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| dobby wrote: |
| @bar shaker, what I want to know is whether or not the Tunnel drag lift was as bad as Homme de Pierre in Risoul. Another ball breaker. Sounds steeper, but shorter. |
I've never been to Risoul, so can't help. Drags are a pain when on a board and I try to avoid them unless on skis.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Its purely technique. Just make sure your skis are moving forward at the instant the Poma engages the moving rope. That will greatly reduce your inertia. Skating off gently will help.
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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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| Peter S wrote: |
| Its purely technique. Just make sure your skis are moving forward at the instant the Poma engages the moving rope. That will greatly reduce your inertia. Skating off gently will help. |
I think you misread me. You need to try a steep drag on a board, to realise what an absolute pleasure and PoP they are on skis.
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Initial jolt due to inertia is not even remotely the issue with that 3000 button lift... once underway, it's the extreme slope which means far more of your weight will be resting on that tiny button than on any 'normal' Poma lift. It really is 'interesting' and the warning for 'no snowboarders' is for that good reason.
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You know it makes sense.
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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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Radio Val report that following the technical inspection by the 'State Authorities' yesterday, the refurbed/mostly new 3000 draglift will open towards the end of Jan or early Feb. Unless we have significant snowfalls only the piste back to the Solaise will be open, so we will have to wait for the Tunnel and its run.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Once you have got down that narrow path is it actually any fun further down? Sort of reminds me of the Swiss Wall in PDS - the sort of run you tick off and decide you never have to do again until someone who hasn't needs company and the whole mess starts again...
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Spin Doctor, I don’t remember the Tunnel side piste being much fun, even lower down. Not too tricky, after the horrible top section, but teeth and buttocks still clenched, which squeezed the fun out of it.
However, in this age of social media, I look forward to seeing a new wave of Tunnel terror eventually. Must be challenging for the piste basher too!
I can only think the tunnel was an alternative way over to La Fornet, for when the old up ‘n’ over chair closed.
The Solaise side of drag lift 3000 much more enjoyable. Be good to see the lift working again.
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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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I was in Val last week and had a good look at the drag lift whilst riding up Glacier. It looks as if the top of the drag lift is now on the summit ridge, allowing direct access to both sides. There was a Pistebully creating a piste on the Solaise side as I went past.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@kditrj2d, really? Lift straight to top of ridge? Wouldn’t want to overshoot then.
In that case, no need to stoop through the tunnel to get to the La Fornet side?
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FAQ
