Arrived in Val d'isere on Saturday. The skiing is actually pretty good. It's a case of finding the best bits. We spent most of the morning on the Solaise side and then moved over to the glacier where the slopes were reasonably quiet and very little queueing. Lunch in the sun and a play around off piste on and adjacent to the closed Cascade run.
Some of the more heavily tracked blue runs are beginning to suffer though with stones and tufts of grass poking through.
Very glad we chose Christmas week this year rather than New year.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Another Groundhog day except the temperature dropped last night and it was slightly colder all day. This resulted in slightly firmer pistes in the morning and less bumps in the afternoon.
The new Rossett lift opened this afternoon which will please the ski schools. There is now progression from 'magic carpet' to 'Lavachet poma' to 'Rossett lift'. All Free lifts
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?
Not a lot of change to yesterdays forecast - there might be a few more bubbly clouds around the peaks but then the sun will return for the big day and remain the dominant feature until Monday. the average freezing level at lunchtime will be about 2900m for the week. It should be cold enough overnight to run the cannons as well to allow the piste elves to work their magic. But as artificial snow costs about a euro a cubic meter I'm glad its not on my electricity bill.
PS Just noticed the Funicular has reopened after a period of TLC - should make that nice snow up there a bit busier!!
@chocksaway, that's good news then I was hoping that would get fixed this week, we are there from Saturday
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Only advice I would give at the mo is keep off the main thoroughfares in the EK. It is busy and the chance of being wiped is high. Spent most of the day on the hardpack just outside the poles. Far safer place. Pistes are very hard now and increasingly difficult for the inexperienced. I am told the closed Genepy off the glacier has some good skiing
Today I was thanking skimottaret and rob@rar (and others) for making sure I can ski, but more specifically thanking spyderjon (and Scott) for making sure I know how to keep my edges sharp. It's quite difficult out there.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Today I was thanking skimottaret and rob@rar (and others) for making sure I can ski, but more specifically thanking spyderjon (and Scott) for making sure I know how to keep my edges sharp. It's quite difficult out there.
After all it is free
After all it is free
Genepy is a lovely run.
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.
@Maireadoconnor, good work
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
I've enjoyed the time I've had here, but glad to be leaving in a few days. The pistes have more and more ice, the piste meisters are doing their best, of that I'm sure, but they can't control the crazies out there either....
Certain runs, which I enjoyed when two weeks ago because of too much exposed + out of control punters causing mayhem, and frankly, skiing these particular runs, just stresses me out.
Just skiing bits and bobs here and there, and taking up in a chair in the sun for the rest.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
And the big day is going to be sunny and warm - funnily enough so Saturday and Sunday - with freezing levels at about 2800m. The sky will probably become obscured later on Monday ahead of a distinct cooling ahead of snow showers on Tuesday down to 2000m at across the Espace Killy. The weather forecasts are a little unpredictable at the moment - so no promises! After another couple of sunny days in the run up to New Year's Eve, the first days of the New Year look remarkably unsettled with a series of fronts bringing you know what
Merry Christmas to one and all!
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.
The Face was bloody terrifying today. Couldn't get an edge in at all, and that's with skis I tuned yesterday! God knows how the pros race on it, although apparently even they don't like it much.
Other stuff was better. Cugnai was in good nick - perfectly consistent hardback. Not my favorite surface, but matwall loves it. The runs around the Glacier lift were good in general. The greens at the top of Borsat were nice, and the refrozen crud on the sides was actually quite interesting and fun.
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
agree, the stuff off the sides of Borsat were good fun...
there were other large patches of ice where I couldn't get an edge either, and also had my ski's waxed and sharpened yesterday. I thought skiing Trolles was a lot of fun, but I've stopped it now... too much exposure, and too many crazies on it... I ski around or take the bubble down.
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Happy Boxing Day! The somewhat heavy rain in God's Own County put paid to mobile internet service yesterday!
Sunday and Monday will remain warm and sunny - unfortunately the showers for Tuesday seem to have vanished but it will cool down a bit and be cloudy. Wednesday through to Saturday will remain sunny but be a little cooler. The good news is that post new year the weather looks unsettled and snowy - just for when all the crowds have gone home.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
And you
BUT
friggin' wet here.............
and windy,.................
not just the sprouts either
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
To those in Tignes- enjoy! We sure did. In the car heading to Norway to chase some snow and avoid the NY week crazies
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
To those in Tignes- enjoy! We sure did. In the car heading to Norway to chase some snow and avoid the NY week crazies
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?
Still stuff to do. My old skis coming in handy for rock hopping. Keep your eyes open ahead and be prepared to use your skills. Pistes are very inconsistent in texture. As said above some pistes are very difficult. In most places off the sides is far easier to ski.
Another beautiful day in the EK.
I had a bit of a change and skied on the glacier. The Funicular is working so no hassle getting there and only a small queue at the cable car which was rather surprising. The snow is just great Good winter snow and lots of it. I rode on Rossolin with a member of the Yorkshire Regiment who are out here training. After he told me where he had been deployed this last year and where he is expecting to go in the next few months he deserves a few weeks in the alps.
The run down Double M was not too bad, a few rocks which could easily be avoided by skiing at the side.
It looks like the weather might be changing towards the end of the week Hopefully it will so we can have some off piste to ski
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
@Maireadoconnor,
May be Billy no Mates this week. If you fancy a ski some day let me know.
First day off in over 2 weeks. Cat-napping most of it.
Let's hope the predicted snowfall late in the week comes to pass. Will be too late for me to get the full benefit. But hope others do, honestly
After all it is free
After all it is free
@thecramps, Tee Hee.
@stewart woodward, Yorkshire Regiment would be handy in York - we back to the flooding of the 50's and 80's thanks to the failure of the Foss Barrier. Just a tad damp underfoot in the basement carpark of chocks towers this morning!!
Still I am back at Leeds Bradford after an interesting journey where it is raining again But the weather in Tignes will be sunny and warm tomorrow out of the wind which will be a bit stronger. Same for Tuesday and Wednesday - the clouds start to return on New Years Eve and the unsettled weather is proving a little unpredictable but currently there may be snow in the village just after the bells as we see in the New Year. permission to shout hurrah in an annoyingly loud voice!
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.
chocksaway wrote:
permission to shout hurrah in an annoyingly loud voice!
Only if the forecast is correct Baldrick
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
@Mark1863, yep, have sent you a message.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Seemingly its a bit foggy at Geneva, so currently sat at Geoffrey Boycott International with little to do, knowing that I have missed the second Altibus and it will be a long wait in the Caf at Geneva
So here goes for the weather forecast in which there is quite a lot of positive news! The jetstream is marching south and will be over or to the south of the Espace Killy for the first week of the New Year which will mean a generally snowy and windy week. The freezing level will be much lower so it will be snow for most if not all the lower villages. It is too early to say how exactly how much and when but winter seems to be on its way. In the more immediate term tomorrow will seem a bit cooler as the sky will be veiled by a thin layer of cloud, but the sun will return on Wednesday for another pleasant day. The forecast for New Years Eve is a little complex and timings are unsure but it will cloud over through the morning and there may be light snow/drizzle from the afternoon with a snow level at 1800m initially. This will drop to Bourg as we celebrate the New Year and it looks like the fireworks will be held in snow showers. New Years Day will be cloudy and cool with the occasional hangover. Beyond that we should enter a very unsettled period and winter returns, more detail will be available here in due course when the forecasts firm up.
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.
👋👋👋😀
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
@chocksaway, hope your wait isn't too long
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
chocksaway wrote:
Seemingly its a bit foggy at Geneva, so currently sat at Geoffrey Boycott International
@stewart woodward, Nah, Just a quick rub down with a flannel.
Made it back to Tignes just in time for last orders at the Jam Bar. Lots to catch up on Today, notably installing new security software on the 'puter so haven't been out but it looks mostly like mayhem out there with lots of ski schools from other resorts, hard pistes and very busy cafes.
As for the forecast tomorrow will be the last decent day for a while with sun sun and more sun. The freezing level is slowly coming down so not quite as warm as previous days. New Year's Eve will start with some cloud which will thicken through the day as showers are expected early afternoon, initially the snow level will be about 1900m but will slowly move down the hill as the evening progresses towards the 'Bells'. It may still be snowing as they set off the fireworks at midnight but slowly the skies will clear to give a reasonable day on Friday, a mix of sun and cloud. From Saturday onwards the actual day to day forecasts are proving tricky as the Atlantic chart is mildly chaotic to say the least. But what we can say there will be a lot of cloud, very little sun, some strong winds and most of all a decent amount of snow, this unsettled period looks like it will continue all week. Just a note of caution for those transferring on Saturday, it is likely to be snowy to below the Dam (and further down in the afternoon) so if you haven't got snow chains it might be prudent to pop to the Garage/Supermarket now as I suspect the Police will be checking you have them if you are not equipped with snow tyres. It could be quite a journey to Bourg!
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?
looking to come back to Tignes - either 9th or 16th Jan
i know its a million dollar question but would you leave it to the 16th due to conditions? hopefully booking it today!!!!
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
I'll be watching the weather forecast very closely these next few weeks!!
After all it is free
After all it is free
It seems those coming out are going to benefit from great conditions after the coming storms. Spare a thought for those of us that have seen 10cm in 5 weeks. That's a lot of expense for skiing in increasingly difficult conditions
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.
I do sympathise -
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Yet another glorious day in The Espace Killy!! It was a layer cooler today at height thanks to a cheeky breeze. The team decided to head to Le Fornet kitted out for a bit of touring so it was down to La Daille from the top of the Tov which was eminently skiable on lots of artificial snow. The bus was a tad crowded so on to the Fornet Telepherique and then to the Gondola trying to persuade people to fill the bubbles - how can you moan that there is a queue when you dadle and don't fill each one - or let people past that are prepared to be separated for 10 minutes
Up to the Glacier where the snow was fine and then across to Pays Desert where there was a mix of conditions off piste - but a 10 minute hike up to skiers left found us in untracked boot deep sugary snow - some of the best turns of this season. Another skin up the track of the Pays Desert Poma to get out (the buttons are still at neck height ). They have also ploughed the road up from Bonneval to the level of the cascades Chair - people were actually bussed up there yesterday.
We then skied back for a late lunch via the Solaise (again better than average snow) and even Plan below the restaurant was easily skiable thanks to the artificial snow. Which all goes to show what Val can do for the average fee paying skier once they have finished using all the snow making capacity for their beloved races.
The last run of the day was down Trolles - a bit too rocky for my liking - so probably the last time down there until it snows - luckily.......
Which brings us to the weather - tomorrow will now be mainly cloudy with some sunny periods - the front has just about petered out. There will be a breeze so - another layer me thinks. We are still expecting a dusting overnight but nothing more. Friday will be nice put probably quite quiet in the morning...... Sun all day in fact. Then it starts, Saturday will be miserable - it will be snowing at 2000m and above in the morning, this snow level will then drop rapidly and the wind will pick up (remember those snow chains!!). Luckily it will not be a major dump - I say luckily because if we had a metre of snow on top of the current hard surface the avalanche risk would go through the roof. So lets hope its enough to help on piste and a start to a decent base off piste. Sunday will be bookmarked by showers early morning and late evening with sunny periods in between. After that it is a bit unclear but it is going to be a wintry week with something between 50 and 150 cm of snow, its impossible to be more accurate.
And finally, sounds like the groupies are sound-checking for tomorrow nights party - evidently DJ Zebra is going to take us back with classic tracks from the 80s - now where is my C&A Rodeo yellow, pink and lime green smock??
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
I was hoping that would get fixed this week, we are there from Saturday 
Lots to catch up on Today, notably installing new security software on the 'puter so haven't been out but it looks mostly like mayhem out there with lots of ski schools from other resorts, hard pistes and very busy cafes.
