3 days on the stubital gletscher in November on an avi course, some marginal powder.
2 weeks xmas and new year kitz ski area. Piste only skiing, slushy bumps. Did enjoy it but gets a bit repeative with out off piste terrain to go at.
Feb half term in the zillertal, Snow conditions better but again very little off piste but a good week.
a week mid-March 2nd part of Avi course 4 days spent in the Kitzbüheler alp area touring and learning (1 powder day) 1 day at Kühtai(snow wet heavy and sticky) 1 day sölden great powder day.
Easter planned 1 week Ischgl 1 week Serfaus. 1st week had some great piste conditions, some okish off piste conditions. Temps dropped really low and froze the snow stopping the freeze thaw cycle and gave us a lovely eye ball rattling crust.
Bad Friday my daughter broke her leg in the snow Park, season over a week earlier than planned.
Not a great season snow wise and with the injury. We missed all the big dumps. My kids skiing has progressed so much this season, they're absolutely schralping the mountain tge poor snow conditions haven’t bothered them at all. Bit more weight and strength over this year I'm scared as to what they'll be getting up to on the snow next season.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Season started with MrMogulski and I in Tignes during PiPAU2 in December although we were not taking part. Had problems getting keys for our privately booked accom and @Admin came to the rescue finding us a studio in the Snowheads hotel for 2 nights until we got our keys. (We did get all our extra costs refunded by booking.com later). Had some great early season skiing that week although not all lifts open. Left all our ski gear with son in Meribel for the rest of the winter.
January 2 weeks in 3V where son works. Great skiing especially on Saturdays when resorts quiet. Highlight was the bumps down Combe rosael from the top of Caron down to Orelle. We both have newish skis, shorter than before and feel we are skiing better than ever though both in our 70s. Did not ski every day as also doing childcare for our then 2 month old granddaughter to let her mum ski.
Drove back out from Scotland late March to collect all the ski and baby gear left in Meribel. Arrived just after a dump so wonderful conditions first few days in 3V. Then round to Val d'Isere to meet up with other son and family. That is when it went pear-shaped. First morning with that part of the family, standing still at the top of Bellevarde someone skied into me from the rear. He did not stop, twisted what was my 'good' leg and I have an ACL tear. My other leg had had 8 injuries so now have 2 'bad' knees. I am in a brace so no more skiing this winter. Mrmogulski has to do the whole drive back to Scotland.
Will report on knee progress when I get home. Mrmogulski is old enough to get a free skipass at most French resorts and I will also at my next birthday later this year. Need to get the knee fixed to use the free pass next season. His free 3V season pass is worth well over 1000 euros. Keep skiing everyone but take care!
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?
Quote:
Mrmogulski has to do the whole drive back to Scotland.
Well that won't hurt him, but very sorry to hear about your knee, @mogulski. Hope you're back and taking advantage of those free passes next year.
@mogulski, how annoying. Poor you, you have my sympathy, I had my ACL reconstructed 2 weeks ago. My physio is very pleased with progress and I'm reasonably expecting to be skiing next year.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Contracted Covid three days before the PSB in Tignes. Unable to sell my place on the Bash so ended up out of pocket. Did manage some refund for the lift pass. Apparently the snow was great.
An excellent off-piste week in St Anton with Snoworks. Pretty decent snow. Great organisation and communication as always. Great off-piste but seems too busy on piste in resort.
Spent February in South America and Antartica. Plenty of snow and ice but no skiing.
A week in Tignes using the flights I had booked for December w/c 19th march. Three days of sun and decent snow on piste. Then it rained. First time skiing in rain in +50 weeks skiing. Horrible.
Had planned to do the EOSB but... Actually glad now as feel like the seasons over.
After all it is free
After all it is free
Last day on easter monday was 39th day on skis this season all except one in PdS. Despite the doom and gloom at xmas I would say only two of the 39 were genuinely a bit poo - 6th Jan, which was super busy as it was the day before the last of the new year holidaymakers went home - after that, despite limited opening, we had a good trip in Avoriaz and Chatel. Then one rainy/sleety day in March when we bailed about lunchtime. No classic bluebird powder days, and not a lot of off-piste done, but grabbed a couple of surprisingly good ones in March when the odd storm came through. Managed to get some use from the Ski Découverte scheme on a day out to Flaine via Morillon at half term as well, as mates were staying there.
Overall, not a classic, but nowhere near as bad as those looking to cancel March trips back in January were suggesting. Roll on the Tour in July, RWC in the autumn, then let the webcam watching start again!
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.
Every day this year in Les Contamines.
Early Jan - 3 days and then a day hiking. Poor conditions and busy but we had some fun
Late Jan - 3 days - fresh snow a couple of days before we arrived. Found a few fresh tracks but had mostly been skied out mid week by the snow deprived locals!
Feb half termish - 10 days including 4 days ski touring. Snow cover was full but thin and wind buffed. Weather was beautiful though.
Mid March - 6 days - 3 of proper powder!!! great end to our season
22 days on skis is a bit more than I generally manage. All in all mustn't grumble about the season after a less than promising start.
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
End of Jan, Val Thorens for a week. Very lucky with the conditions as they were great what was a light dusting one morning turned out to be proper powder turns up the hill and because it was gloomy in resort not many people were about for the morning! Skied and boarded.
2nd week of March Tignes for a week. Still good conditions but as I had flu and my knees hadn't really recovered from January I was unable to play properly. Still had a good time though..a bad day in the mountains and all that. Spent the last day dicking about on the bunny slope learning to ride switch so all good really. Skied mainly and boarded a bit.
Struggling to decide if I should keep skiing/boarding due to knackered knees, even with a skimojo they really suffer, the board option isn't as easy on them as I first thought either. Problem is I just can't be trusted!
Ho hum.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Forgot to mention, it was much busier than normal I thought.
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.
rungsp wrote:
I would contribute but still 12 more days
Same but 14 days for me
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
1. The week from 17 Dec 2022 in Schladming at a hotel we love. Two thirds empty pistes, we never saw a lift queue even at the usual bottlenecks, great snow, temperatures adequately low. In the taxi transfer from Salzburg Airport the driver said “So sorry about the coming rain and warmth”. That never happened, until rain showers on the final day, but then I had the pistes to myself.
2. 8 days in Val Thorens from Sunday 2 April, we booked 11 months ago. Some of you it appears were in VT last week too? It was a skiers dream - well below zero at night, 0c to 3c maxima?, after a big dump of snow before we arrived, plenty of sun. So, so lucky. A ski instructor described it as “Winter Three Valleys skiing, in April”. Orelle and Courcheval had great slopes.
A mishap was missing the last lift from Mottaret to VT, we had in haste carelessly taken a gondala to Courcheval, but recovering we were literally the last chair lift to the Les Menuieres link from Mottaret. We skied down with the ski patrol, then when we parted company, in error we missed the bus stop, skiing down a skinny strip of manmade slush to a hamlet a few km down the valley called Bettex. It was 6pm and we were knackered. Luckily I had phone battery and signal, the hotel sent a minibus to collect us. Oh well, another adventure and lesson learnt
Not be design, we missed the months of on and off rain and record breaking heat. Thank you snow gods.
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
4 days skiing on day 1 of the season at Val Thorens. Awesome private tuition which really brought on my confidence and paid dividends for the rest of the season.
A week in tignes le lac for Xmas. 5 blue sky days out of 6! Really enjoyed Tignes/Val D ski area but it’s no 3V in my humble opinion.
Went out to Megeve on a last minute one mid February for 5 days skiing. Lovely area and town but insane weather (warmth skiing in t-shirts) meant mash potato snow by 2pm at the latest.
Finished up with a 6 day ski in Courchevel last week 28th March to 3rd April. 2 days of rain, 2 fresh powder days including what some called the best day of the season in the 3V - I would agree from conditions that I have seen across the above destinations this season. Proud personal moment to safely get from C1850 to VT and back in good time actually. Left C1850 at 0930 and was back in Courchevel for 1330 with 3 nice coffee breaks on what was a fantastic weather day (Sunday 2nd April).
Summary - fantastic season all things considered. Cant believe it has come and gone. I am already looking at VT for the start of the season with some more tuition days to continue my quest to improve.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
11 weeks in the Spanish Pyrenees - stayed self catering in Vielha, skied from Baquiera-Beret. Every sort of snow, weather and temperature, after a while you just sort of adapt. Every week was different, with folk coming and going. Chalet Iori provided the base for most of my friends and Ski Definition (Ali Smith) tried hard to improve my technique. I still haven't explored everything the resort has to offer as expectations change as you get to know somewhere. I had few plans, which allowed me to take advantage of what the conditions allowed. The secret spots aren't really secret - and finding other like minded souls at the coffee stop while waiting for a particular patch of snow to soften became the norm. Busy on piste at weekends, but my legs needed a rest anyway. Only frustrations were that I was limited to 90 days and couldn't teach or guide for the local british ski school. Nearest airport is Toulouse, an easy trip, food and drink are cheap. Next year...rinse and repeat!
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
CathyAuLait wrote:
11 weeks in the Spanish Pyrenees - stayed self catering in Vielha, skied from Baquiera-Beret. Every sort of snow, weather and temperature, after a while you just sort of adapt. Every week was different, with folk coming and going. Chalet Iori provided the base for most of my friends and Ski Definition (Ali Smith) tried hard to improve my technique. I still haven't explored everything the resort has to offer as expectations change as you get to know somewhere. I had few plans, which allowed me to take advantage of what the conditions allowed. The secret spots aren't really secret - and finding other like minded souls at the coffee stop while waiting for a particular patch of snow to soften became the norm. Busy on piste at weekends, but my legs needed a rest anyway. Only frustrations were that I was limited to 90 days and couldn't teach or guide for the local british ski school. Nearest airport is Toulouse, an easy trip, food and drink are cheap. Next year...rinse and repeat!
SOunds great!
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Feb Half Term in La Tania. We had planned for Switzerland this year, but our usual group of four families fell through, so we tagged on to another group. Booked a private apt from latania.co.uk and it was great! Snow was just about ok if you picked the right pistes at the right times, and a week of full sunshine. That was our last HalfTerm week as the kids will be done with school. Looking forward to exploring more resorts as a couple. Off peak!
Then a week 1-8 April in Val Thorens. Just us 4. Absolutely fantastic conditions. The highlight was probably when we stopped to have lunch as it snowing, then it suddenly cleared to sunshine so we wolfed down the rest, and had an hour or so of messing around in the fresh stuff doing laps round Grand Fond and Portette before the hordes came back out. Either that spending the morning on Pointe de la Masse, then a beer at the top looking at the view over Maurienne. Beautiful.
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?
Usual two x one week family trips at Christmas (Paradiski - not vintage) and Easter (3V - vintage)
Not bragging but after 30-odd years I am getting quite good now. Let's hope the body can hold up for a few more years
Couple of trips this year. First one was to Serre Chevalier on the 21st January for a week. Serre Chevalier had managed to dodge the heavy rain that so damaged the snow pack of resorts further North so the snow was really good - grippy and not much ice. Weather was predominantly sunny and cold with a small top up mid week. My mate reckoned it was some of the best piste skiing we had ever had in Serre Chevalier.
Second trip was to Val Thorens on the 27th March again for a week. In the build up to the trip the weather had been settled and sunny with little snow fall. We arrived to torrential rain in Moutiers that quickly turned to snow as we climbed up the access road. By the time we arrived in resort there was 25cm of snow lying on the road - winter tyres and four wheel drive saw us going round cars that were really struggling. Rest of the week was a mixed bag of sun, low cloud and snow storms. We managed to ski all day every day on lovely soft snow and with the colder temps not much slush was encountered.
So in conclusion I think we struck lucky on both trips when so many had more testing times with the snow conditions. Next year we return to La Plagne twice - once at the end of January and again in April. Fingers crossed we do alright again.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
I got lucky with my trips this year - so for me, the 22/23 season will be seen as a good snow year, even if I know in reality that for most of the season it wasn't.
We arrived for our Jan trip in La Roche, just after the only real dump of snow over Jan/Feb, so skiing conditions were generally really good. And our Easter trip to Belle Plagne at the start of April also coincided with some pretty big dumps. In fact, I spent more time skiing in fresh powder than I have done on any other trip I've been on. Not so much sitting outside in the sun at lunch in t-shirts this year, so the OH wasn't quite as happy as I was!!
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
5 trips and 26 days on snow for me... which is by some distance the most I have skied in one season in a long time.
1. A week in Les Gets over new year. Snow went from bad (27th Dec) to almost non existent (NYD). Avoriaz was ok but super busy and very wet at times. Fun with friends but skiing/snow wise my worst ski holiday in recent memory. Binned skiing for a run to mid station of mont chery on 1st Jan and encountered just 300m of crusty snow/ice and was warm in just a t-shirt. At least the kids didn't seem to notice limited options. Will think twice about PDS for either early or late season having been burnt (literally) there before in late March and only getting mixed conditions when we went early Feb. Maybe just unlucky?
2. After two late drop outs got a very fortunate last minute invite to a friend of a friends chalet for 4 days in PDS (Chapelle Le Abondance) late Jan. What a difference 3 weeks and a proper dump had made and a very fun 4 days spent mainly on piste under mainly sunny skies exploring some parts of PDS I'd not skied much before. Finally saw PDS in a good light. Maybe i should go back!
3. Feb HT. San Cassiano in the Dolomites with the family. Been in summer but never before to ski. Stunning place, great food, perfectly prepared pistes that skied beautifully if a little warm and slushy in the afternoons towards the end of the hol. Busy but not painfully so. Awesome family destination that everyone loved except for the very winding transfer from Venice - not good for travel sick kids. The Lagazuoi run is stunning. Will definitely head back when Carnival does not clash with HT and book a guide to unlock some of the off piste as my only quibble is there isn't a huge amount of challenging pistes.
4. Early March. 4 day lads trip to Val D'isere. Glad we made the effort to undertake extra transfer time to access some altitude as pistes were good without being great - some thin/scraped/slushy parts lower down - but 4 bluebird days. Had a great lesson with TDC that unlocked the secrets of how to ski moguls properly. Mastering it is still a work in progress! It had been 5 years since my last trip to Val but was reminded how much I love the ski area (and apres). It also seems even more up market now.
5. 2nd week of Easter. A week in Trysil. Booked quite last minute but unlike the alps they've had a decent season so knew base would be there and having been before knew it would be great for the kids. After Easter Monday the resort was really quiet and got everything from sunshine to rain to 20 cm of fresh snow. Wind and snow meant the top was closed for 1 day but plenty of fun to be had in the trees. Real mixed bag weather wise but a very enjoyable week. The kids really came on (the instruction there really is top notch). Also the 45 degree run was open this time so got down that. It's only short but I can't think of anything steeper on piste in Europe I've encountered, definitely had a stop and ponder for a few seconds at the top!
Overall feel like i had 4 very good trips with one duffer so counting my lucky stars in this mixed season. Now need to get working on 23/24 hols...
After all it is free
After all it is free
Saas-Fee in December, Zinal-Grimentz in February and then my 'Magic Pass' season came to a more than satisfactory end with six excellent days in Saas-Fee (16-21 April). It launched with the 0600 flight to Zurich (no passport or baggage delays) and onward travel from the airport railway station to Visp and then the postbus up to the Saas Valley and skiing by 1.30pm. Conditions all week were excellent and there were overnight snow refreshments along with a day of heavy snow down to the resort on Thursday - spring scenes turned back into winter! The resort was quiet although enough people around for a good atmosphere and there were more pistes and itineraries open than on our last visit in December. The often-closed Egginerjoch was superb. Skied until 2.30pm on the Friday and back on the 3.52 bus back to Visp and direct train to Geneva airport in time for the last BA flight back to Heathrow. All in all, a great way to end the season.
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.
So, my season has finished now. My best season in many respects, number of trips/days skied, improvements in my own skiing and passing some instructor exams.
1. First week of December in Hintertux for my L2 Alpine course. First time in the resort. Took the train from Bristol to Hintertux and back, which was the first time i've travelled by train, so that was a new experience too. Mixed bag weather wise, Fresh snow, blue skies, windy, foggy. A bit of everything, but snow was good for the week.
2. A week in Tignes over Christmas. We drove out in the van with the dog, so there wasn't any downhill skiing involved, except a couple of laps of the free lifts, but we did do some very basic touring. More dog walking on skis than anything, and just general walking with the dog.
3. 9 days skiing in Austria Mid January. We were based in Saalbach, but had the Superski pass so skied, Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Zell am See, Alpbach, Maria Alm, Wagrain and Zell am Ziller, and also spent an evening in Innsbruck. Real mixed bag of weather, with snow most days or nights. Not much in the way of nice blue skies though.
4. 5 weeks in Switzerland 22/03-27/04. I drove out for in the van for a long stay to predominately train for and take part in instructor exams.
The trip started with 4 days in Saas Fee for the Allalin Rennen. Perfect conditions on the first day, and wet and snowy for the remainder of the time.
https://www.saas-fee.ch/de/events/top-events-im-winter/allalin-rennen
I then drove round to Nendaz for a week where I did my L1 Off piste course. If I said we had every weather imaginable, I mean it. Day one, knee deep powder while we traipsed around hunting for avalanche transceivers in the avalanche park behind Le Tipi in Siviez, through to thunder and lightning, blue bird days, more knee deep powder.
https://iasisnowsports.ie/education/ctt-common-technical-test/
From Nendaz I then had an apartment in Fontenelle which is a couple of minutes up the hill from Le Châble on the Verbier side of the 4 Valleys. I had this place rented out for the whole of April. A few days skiing with a mate, plus the GF flew out for a few days as well. She hurt her knee on day 2 of 3 days skiing, so we also spent 1 day sightseeing in Zermatt.
Dropped GF back to Geneva Airport very early on a Thursday morning before driving literally the entire width of Switzerland, in to Liechenstein and in to Austria to go and meet face to face my new employers in Jenbach, before sleeping in the van for the night in the car park in Hintertux, skiing for the day there on Good Friday, before driving back to Fontenelle straight after skiing.
A week of training in Verbier with the Warren Smith Academy, before I packed the van up for a week on a campsite in Engelberg for the L3 Tech exam. Loads of fresh snow in Engelberg, as well as beautiful blue bird days.
Back to Fontenelle for a final weekend where I drove both mornings to Zinal for 7am starts GS training. Then 3 days in Zermatt, 2 of which were skiing ahead of the Speedtest, after which I jumped in the van at Täsch at 3pm, drove as far as 2 hours south of Calais, hunkered down in a service station for the night, and finished the journey home the next day.
So in total I managed 47 days skiing over the course of the season. 3 exams, all passed, 1 failed GS speedtest and 1 pair of bent GS skis
On top of that, I taught 12 Saturdays throughout the season on the dry slope, and skied most Monday nights between about December and March for slalom training on the dry slope.
So all in all, a fair amount of skiing!
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
I think I got in 50 days skiing this season, all using the Snow Card Tirol
First trip was 9 days over Christmas (the week before Christmas, then extended to come back on the day Border Force weren't on strike) in Mayrhofen. Arrived with snow down at resort level, and matched it gradually melt before most people arrived for Christmas. Slightly weird to get spring-like conditions in December, but as Mayrhofen has a range of aspects, we got decent snow conditions most of the time, and some barely tracked powder up at RastKogel
Then 4 weeks in Kirchberg for most of January. Opposite of Mayrhofen in that we turned up with no snow in resort, and then it got snowier with a few dumps. Overall pretty good conditions
And finally either side of Easter in Zell am Ziller then Kappl/Ischgl, Again, we did pretty well with snow conditions.
A few highlights:
Skiing in Hintertux. We'd previously only had 1 day there, in a whiteout, but this season we had 3 excellent days there, on each day finding fresh, easily accessible powder, and decent visibility almost all the time.
First day ever in Kappl, with again fresh powder, then Ischgl where we'd essentially never skied before (other than a half day warm-up before starting a Silvretta tour about 10 years ago)
No significant damage to kit or body
Main innovation was, after 25 years of telemarking, I'd got some AT bindings mounted on some unused skis, and did maybe 14 days on with them across the season. It still feels very weird with a fixed heel, but I think the variation contributed to this being the first season for a long time when I've not had any inflammation of my (most) ACL-impacted knee
Main disappointment was hardly any touring. Partly due to conditions (mostly that I felt decreasing confidence in short and medium-term weather forecasts - they seemed much less likely to manage reality than I'm used to), but also with a lift pass already paid, and good snow conditions it was a bit too easy to do another lift-served day
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Now back in the UK so no chance of any freakish further last hurrah's, and the count is, from 5th December 2022 to 11th May 2023.
Total of 107 days with some sort of planks on my feet*
28 ski-tours
10 off-piste lift-served powder days
12 slack-country days lift served but then off the back of resort and touring back & other routes
34 piste ski days
31 XC skate cross-country days.
Compared to previous years, ski-tours well down, off-piste down, piste and XC both well up.
The season started far later than usual, where we'd start ski-touring mid/end of November.
Piste skiing was up as I was dallying with the Carv system, and had my daughter out for quite a few weeks, and off-piste was non-existent Jan into early March.
XC again saw better progress with technique and faster times, and the dear old Carv really helped me get a handle on carving, but piste skiing and Carv always took a back seat to the other disciplines.
And if it wasn't for a great Janvril figures would be well down.
So not a great season, but no complaints and one's all important health and body (important at my age) held up, and don't think I had any days off games?
*numerous other days when I was out on the bike, hiking, running with the dogs etc etc
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.
Overall a great season for me, I was pretty lucky with timings of snow.
Solo week in Tignes mid Jan just as the snow arrived with group ski lessons in a group of 1 so I got very cheap private lessons
Week with my son in Les Arcs 2000 for half term, pistes ok but lifts a bit busy
Week with my son and non skiing wife in Saas Fee just after easter, excellent snow at higher altitude, wife found hiking a bit limited so will probably give it a miss next time
Week with a friend in Ischgl in final week of their season, snow excellent and hotel very cheap for what we got. Lost the final day to rain but still great overall
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
@Weathercam, …and what did the chiens think of the season?…
How was the hardpack? Ruff!
And the crust? Ruff!
And the master’s technique? Ruff!
And so on…
Beanie thought no1 ‘…I try to follow him loyally but the Fitzwilliam keeps turning…..’
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
@valais2, unfortunately not the best of seasons dog wise what with Ullr being taken out at the beginning and then off games for nigh on 18 weeks. He's now getting stronger, though fitness/stamina still has a long way to go, but he's running 10km off-road, and as long as there's some motivation, as in wildlife, he keeps going.
We thought Beanie was past it, but she came out and did three tours, though I carried her on the traverses!
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Sölden 4 days in November, Flaine 6 in Januar plus 1 more in April, Jungfrau 1 in December, Berwang 1 and Oberjoch 2 days with the Ski Club, Warth with a little bit of Lech 4 separate Days in Feb March, and La Plage in April 7 dass
26 days ... cannot compared with the over 60 days but these old times were before the kids....
According to the circumstances (high costs, school holidays etc) not bad at all....
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
@Weathercam, …lovely photo and great bond between you.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Slightly off thread but I've been thinking about the Serre Chevalier gang @Weathercam,
watching BBC weather last night.
This time the west of northern Italy to get the heavy rain, retour d'est?
Suggestion of 300 - 500mm rain, wow that's a lot of snow had it come 3 months ago!
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?
Only 1 week this year, in Samoens... Heavy snow and wind first day so link to Flaine closed. Caught an edge in zero visibilty on the last run of the day, took a low speed tumble but left ski didn't come off - huge pain! Managed to gingerly ski down and get ski bus home where I discovered a bruise all the way from ankle to knee and lots of difficulty walking.
Following day leg very swollen so spent plenty of time in the hot tub on the balcony watching the heavy snow and being sort of pleased I was injured as only the cable car and 1 chair open in Samoens, meaning 1 very short run and beginners slopes available. Lifts stayed closed for 2 more days with me starting to look like a prune in the hot tub.
Thursday dawned to blue skies, an ability to walk (and hence ski!) so a most excellent day was had, as was the Friday. Then back to Blighty...
I claimed from the lift company for the 3 days that only one lift was open with half a run available, and they generously (!!!) gave me a whole £80 back for 2 passes.
Got home, found I couldn't get away from work so immediately planned for next year - Silvretta Montafon!
Managed about 14 days this year. Unfortunately no skiing for me in Scotland this year which was a shame because more often than not those end up being the most satisfying and friendly runs.
Had 4 days at Yad Moss two of which in March were excellent. We ran the tow until 5pm!
Six days in the Dolomites based at Badia at the end of January were as reliable as ever. Everything was open and the pistes were pretty much perfect. The Refugios were as excellent as ever, just more expensive this year for those of us paid in pounds. Great to meet Igor at the Post Hotel one night.
The last trip was four days at the end of April in Argentiere. I’ve never had less than a great time in Chamonix at that time of year. Skiing and sunbathing at the end of the day! Only the Bouchard and Herse chair were open but plenty of snow so everything was skiable including the Pendant bowl and even Pierre a Ric down to 1200m. Lift passes were around 30e so not expensive either. The massive vertical always comes as a surprise after skiing in the Dolomites and the UK.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
@Leonard Smalls, ...have you had that diagnosed? was the leg swollen or the knee or both? internal bleed like that can be from ligament damage or muscle tear or both. It would be worth getting an experienced medic to check the tightness of your ligaments in that leg - it's a simple two minute check but needs to be done by someone highly experienced, and that would tell you whether the ACL or MCL or both have been stretched of torn, and this would help you know what prep you should this summer and autumn to strengthen the muscles to prevent damage next season. I have serious instability in my left knee from ligament damage but a combination of training for technique and muscle building (mainly cycling and hill walking) allows me to compensate for the damage and ensure that I am at lower risk of repeating any injury.
Returned from Stubai Glacier last week, so this season is closed
I logged 35 days this season, despite not much snow, it was one of best off-piste seasons for me, I think thats becasue of cold temps stayed longer than usuall, just one 15cm snowfall was enought for 5 days shreding. Yup, a lot of skibases destroyed, but nothing not reparable.
I was able to do lots of skiing becasue we had 2 weeks of hols to utilise before end of the year, so I purchaised Tirol SnowCard for 950 eur, devided by 35, its 27 EUR skipass cost I realized that most of cost is actually travel expences (airport car park, plane + ski baggade, transfer/carhire). That left me without pants tbh
Hope the coming season will bring us more snow.
Cheers
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
valais2 wrote:
@Leonard Smalls, ...have you had that diagnosed? was the leg swollen or the knee or both?
Thanks for that!
I haven't seen any docs about it... I think it was a muscle tear as I could actually feel a ridge near the bottom of the calf. I was only able to hobble for 3 days and it stayed swollen for about 2 weeks.
But I've had no pain since, despite my daily routine involving a dog walk through steep un-pathed woodland and 4-500m of climb and weekends alternating mountain biking (XC) or hill walking/rock climbing. So I'm hoping that there's no residual damage. Annoyingly, it was on the same leg as my ankle break last June!
After all it is free
After all it is free
A great season for Scooter is now over as of Monday; I miss my wife and its time for the garden and golf. 47 days, none in my home state of Washington, a first. A week each in the Dolomites, Zillertal and Kitzbühel (where I met our London-based daughter); a long road trip for Grand Targhee, Snowbasin and Sun Valley; two trips to Tahoe (where I met our now-graduated Son); and a bunch of days at Mt Bachelor, where I was remodeling the kitchen at our place near there. Already booking stuff to return to all of 'em next season except SB and SV. Targhee and Zillertal stood out. All this with a torn meniscus that somehow got better, balanced by a disc that got out of whack while booting up late in the season. All in all, I'm a lucky and grateful guy.
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.
@Scooter in Seattle, sounds brilliant in every way.
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Hi @Scooter in Seattle,
A few years ago I spent a few days in Bend, but it was summer, my son and I did some cycling he was 12 ....
He's 40 now, gosh time does fly.
My mate from Seattle always said Mt Batchelor was his favourite.
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