 Poster: A snowHead
|
We arrived in La Daille early this evening to La Tov
Looks like a very busy week ,and not sure there will be much WC action tomorrow.
At least if there is my Balcony has a great view.
Been a long day and Knackered now.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
@Steve Angus,
How frustrating for everyone, spectators, racers and especially all of you who have put so much effort into trying to put the World Cup Races on. While we punters were warm indoors you and the resort staff were out in the cold early in the mornings and late in the evening working hard to try and get the race tracks prepared.
We can't control the weather but thank you all for your hard work over the last 2 weeks.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
harvsurrey - hope you enjoyed the first day - bet you can't see that much from your balcony - ha ha!
welshflyer - well on behalf of the resort 'thank you' - yes lots of work (for both the mens last week and womens this) ultimately to no avail - try again next year. It has been unfortunate but thats the way it goes sometimes!
Snow and wind
As promised the snow and wind raged through the night more or less and the reports that the max winds atop the glacier were over 250km/h was a little shocking to hear - when we get up there (as in the pisteurs) I suspect they might have a surprise in terms of lift damage possibly and certainly the amount of snow moved around will be incredible! Even lower altitudes there was quite a storm to deal with - check out this pisteurs video from first light this morning atop the solaise:
https://www.facebook.com/pisteurval/videos/521921788534577/
Anyway I was teaching this morning and Clare this afternoon so I gathered myself together and went to meet young 'S' whom I have taught quite a lot before. I did do a Periscope broadcast (well actually it was 2 broadcasts as the first one cut out half way through for some reason) where you can get a feel for what it was like out there! Anyway with limited lift openings I decided to bus it to La Daille to try and get some turns down through the tree runs but as soon as we got there we discovered that the gondola had closed because of the wind and I was not about to take 'S' up the funi into that wind and especially on his first day so we went back on the bus into town and headed for the village to do a run or two. An amazing hot chocolate (very expensive mind you) at the l'Etincelle mid lesson went down well as it was semi damp out there and all the snow was in every nook and cranny you can imagine on a day like this too! So after that we fitted in another couple of laps on the Rogoney and found some fun lines in the trees but the snow was deep for little legs! No sooner than that but we had to head back down to La Daille as they were having lunch at the new Tuffs restaurant - yes I spent quite a fair while on the bus today!
With the lesson over I headed back into town to the Blue Note as Papa Noel was visiting and all the little ones and mums and dads were in attendance so I needed to go help get them back afterwards whilst Clare went out teaching - you can but imagine how excited they were.
Back at home after lunch Ben slept whilst Olivia and I played together and listened to some Christmas music which was lovely as we watched the storm raging outside... and the rest of the evening has been normal with kids bath time etc etc.
Meanwhile on the World Cup there has been very little happening apart from clearing up and this is a little photo of the 'action' from today.
https://www.facebook.com/pisteurval/videos/760252591152635/
...all I can say is that I am glad it was not my day to do duty - phew!
I did forget my photo taking today so a photo from Radio Val will have to do I am afraid!
So tomorrow the weather is going to be awful again but the show must go on as I am teaching all day! Wish me luck!
TTFN
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
Crikey. Properly snowing!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
And if we thought it was windy yesterday its worse this morning
Its hellish out there at the moment.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
@harvsurrey, yep. It looked like it was going to brighten up for a bit. But alas no, it seems to have got worse 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.
|
| Steve Angus wrote: |
In local news there is a very famous celebrity in town this week (well she's famous if you are of a certain age) - Margot Robbie - you have to google her... when I did I realised how famous she is! Anyway she is in town this week.
|
Now that is someone i'd be all to happy to share a cramped chairlift with!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Got out last knockings after the La Daille bubble opened and apart from the wind i felt it was a better experience than this morning.
Ton of wet snow now its warmed up and its still dumping
Glad we are back at the end of feb as i have not skiied much thus far.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
|
|
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.
|
Must be wonderful to do a run and ski freely for once! Especially in great conditions.
Merry Christmas Steve and to Clare, Ben and Olivia
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Merry Christmas Steve hope you and the family have a peaceful day.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
Best thread on snowheads , merry Xmas Steve and Clare, Ben & Olivia. Hopefully will ski with you again!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
HoneyBunny - yes it is! And thanks - same to you.
harvsurrey - thanks - you too.... not sure about peaceful but nice!
kitenski - again thanks and yes one day - get it in the diary!
Merry Christmas
The day didnt start too early actually (I think the later night meant they slept in later) but we started with stockings, much excitement seeing that Santa had eaten the mince pies etc and then a family breakfast of scrambled eggs!
After a very lazy couple of hours - with maybe a glass of bucks fizz and some Xmas music, we headed to the Blue Note for the traditional 'locals invite' morning.... they provide the bubbles and everyone brings a dish... it doubles up as not only a good social and catch up but also a nice lunch too before the main event later that evening. Someone brought in a HUGE plate of 'hot out the oven' pigs in blankets! Anyway it was really nice for an hour or so before the kids got a little OTT... and it got too busy! But some yummy nibbles had by all.
When we got home Ben had a sleep and Olivia watched a film and then we had the main event later on... if only Ben behaved it would have been perfect. However otherwise Hu.Ski provided an amazing Xmas lunch with all the trimmings and it was super yummy!
A few more presents, another glass or two and another film finished off the day... but boy it is a tiring one with young kids as they are SOOOOOOO full of energy all day long! I was glad to get them into bath and into bed that was for sure!
Tomorrow it is back to work!
It was a lovely sunny day out there today and the first time we have seen the sun for several days - they did some heli PIDA blasting first thing and the whole resort was pretty much bombed to get things open quickly and I think those that went up had a wonderful day. However it was certainly warmer during the day than it has been but the temps have plummeted overnight so I think the snow will dry out quite nicely overnight and the off piste will actually be better tomorrow than it was today and with descent weather tomorrow it should be a descent day!
The Fornet has been cut off for the last few days but finally they got the road open as it was deemed safe enough from the risk of avalanches from above!!!! The generalised risk dropping to 3 from a high 4 that it had been!
The weather for the next few days generally shows increasing temps and this could be linked to a return of the Foehn wind but generally sunny! All in all the weather has been most unlike December for the last few weeks!
Right one more drink and then off to bed.
TTFN
P.S. Sorry forgot to get a photo today (of anything useful here anyway) so will use this photo from the Val pisteurs showing the view tonight of the Refuge de Solaise - wonderful evening to be up there I am sure!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
Merry Christmas to you, Clare and the family.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
Merry Christmas Steve and family
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
Happy Chrimbo Steve & family, Muppet, Snow Trax and all of our La Daille neighbours.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
@Steve Angus, great pics!
Is the talk still of this being the best December for snow conditions for 25 years? 
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
Windslab Or sastrugi?
Don’t know what the other two are
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@bar shaker, Merry Christmas
@Steve Angus, Looks like you’ve had a nice but full Christmas, no doubt we’ll meet again soon.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@Steve Angus, terrain trap?
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
Some old avi debris in the foreground bowl, then in the far distance can’t work out if those are glide cracks or a skinning track!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PeakyB I certainly think that for a December overall this is a cracker - whether the best I am not sure but the best I can remember in my years here yes! The actual opening weekend a few years back saw about 1m of snow fall so that was the best opening weekend I can remember but for a whole month this December must surely be the best
Peter S, HoneyBunny, kitenski - well yes I like your thinking and analysis... the 3 things to note as far as I am concerned... 1) lots of sastrugi and signs of wind scouring on the ridges so plenty of wind activity has been happening 2) the wind direction should have lead to the blasting in this bowl done by the pisteurs to lead to a slide or 2 but there isnt really an debris from the current round of snow - hmmm weird 3) the cloud - a sign of a weak drawing in of air from the south (weak retour trying to build - that never really developed in the end!)
muppet - yes I am sure!
Colder and snowier than anticipated
It certainly came as a surprise the amount of snow (about 10-15cm) and how cold it was today!
The usual start to the day with the kids and getting them off to creche etc and I found myself at the meeting point.
The plan was to head to Tignes and the mother of the kids of I am teaching had never been there so we had a plan to rendezvous at Grizzly's bar in Val Claret... the kids were excited as they love it when I take them over there!
When we got to the top of the Olympic it was apparent that the weather was a lot worse than it seemed - it was pretty windy and bleak but I've seen much worse! We battled our way across to Tignes and had a good lesson. The kids were not overly keen on the weather but there you go!
After a nice hot choc we made our way back to the Val side although young Sam wanted to come via the Col de Fresse and with the wind blowing it was not that nice a route with some polling required!
I took lunch at the Sun Bar and then by the time I came out for my pm session it was almost trying to clear up and had certainly stopped snowing - yay!
I headed up the Solaise side and initially there was no-one about but word spread about the improving conditions and by the end of the afternoon the slopes were very cut up and it was quite busy - oh well! Trying to work on dealing with lumps and bumps etc was a fun lesson to deliver and there were some positive changes but most importantly plenty to get on with working on!
I collected Ben whilst Clare got Olivia at the end of her week of ski lesson... she got very close to passing her 3 star this week in these tricky conditions - go girl go... next time!
Some more Christmas leftovers were on the menu before getting the kids into bed!
In local news it looks like there was a rescue in the Tour du Charvet yesterday with some persons including teens that basically got fatigued by the tricky snow down there meanwhile at the other end of the valley in the tunnels out of town someone had to pull a fire extinguisher to their car for fear of a car fire and that automatically shut the tunnel for a while whilst that was sorted out!
So as we finish Christmas week tomorrow we also welcome New Years week and the traffic forecast for tomorrow is 'heavy' - they reckon 35000 cars coming up the valley so there could very well jams so as always leave early or late and ditto for departure from town too!
I think thats all for now. Being a weekend day tomorrow Clare and I need to work out the kid logistics a little better tomorrow so as a result I am teaching in the morning only tomorrow!
TTFN
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
Cracker
As Clare was teaching this afternoon and me this morning it meant we did not have the normal rush to get ourselves AND the kids out the front door thankfully! It was little chilly due to the clear night but promised to warm up substantially. Being a Saturday it was always going to be quiet on the slopes and with the sun shining a special one and even more so with the fresh snow of yesterday (of recent!).
So I headed to the meeting point and needed to catch up with my colleague to chat through a few things so was nice and early!
The kids were on time and so we were off. We headed up Solaise and had the most amazing start to the day - pretty much the first down the Glacier Plan Millet piste - awesome... it was superb snow! It was time to take the kids onto the Arcelle as I knew it would be in great nick and I was not wrong. The thing about the Arcelle is that in the Spring time, timing is SOOOO crucial (too early and late in the day and its a nightmare)... during the Winter months it is often incredibly icey as 'pivot and skidder' skiers tackle the slope and 'holiday warriors' too. On top of that it does not get pisted very often SO basically what I am saying is that when all the stars align you gotta go ski it... today was a good one - I would say the best conditions I have skied the Arcelle ever!
We ended up doing Arcelle a few times and I really thought the kids were rocking! Good on ya.
After a hot choc at the Datcha we took a trip down the front and veered off to the Rhone Alps too - the snow was great, conditions perfect and kids on form - awesome stuff... tomorrow we are planning a trip to Brev and back! I have also told the parents that we will see if we can ski the Face this week too - hmmm fingers crossed!
I dashed home at lunchtime and Clare was out the door but the timings worked well as the kids (mine obviously) both took a well needed sleep and I had the luxury of being able to watch some ski racing on TV - yay!
The sun was shining hard and you have to make yourself appreciate that 'there will be another day' ha ha!
We had a couple of lazy hours when the kids woke before the usual evening chores and routine...
In local news they reckon this week will see about 16000 people staying in the resort which is over 92% occupancy (the 8% not occupied is mainly people that dont need to come at this time of the year but own places here - retirees and second home owners etc!).... this 92% figure is apparently (I'm not sure how as seems mighty high to me) 8% UP on the same week last year.... in short it is going to be a mega busy week on the slopes - arghhh!
Struggling for things to write about tonight so will sign off now and leave you with a couple of photos of the first lifts of the day when no one was about!
TTFN
|
|
|
|
|
|
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 town have a new system for collating occupancy figures this season. I can’t remember the exact details but I think it was to bring everything inline with other towns in the area.
One thing we’ve noticed the past few days is illegally parked vehicles. Over 20 had been ticketed at the bottom of the Funival today. Yesterday we watched 2 cars get tickets on the Main Street and currently the buses have problems due to cars in the bus stops.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
Dear All, I couldn't quite figure out where to post this question; and the Val d'Isere resort thread was a few years dated  . If the post is indeed misplaced, would be great if the Admin could relocate it to the correct thread.
This year it will be our first time in Val d'Isere; we are lazy recreational skiers in our 40's. Is there a ski+boots depot (heating for boots a must) right at the Solaise valley station - or as close as possible?
Thank you.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
@Odysseus, I'm not sure I understand your question. Are you looking to buy and shape some new boots? Or do you want to store boots overnight and put them on warm in the morning?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
@thelem, clearly overnight storage and toasty warm boots
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
@holidayloverxx: exactly; and @thelem, to clarify my question if it's vague; we would like to store our skis and boots at or as close to the Solaise base station building as possible. We would prefer to have the boot storage to have a heating system of sorts for the boots, if possible.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
@Odysseus, we are in town next week for the first time and I have booked ski and boot storage with “My Ski Case” - https://myskicase.com/www/ksc_info.php Not sure if they provide a boot heating system or how far away from Solaise valley station it is but I think it is relatively close to the pistes.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
@1556garyt, looks like Skicase are opposite the Blue Note bar / ESF. In other words, short of actually being in a lift station, you're not going to get much closer to the bottom of the Solaise.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
@Odysseus,
I believe that if you hire your skis and ski boots from the intersport shop adjacent to the nursery slopes you can leave your equipment there overnight. There's also a Snowberry ski hire shop at the Rond Point which may let you leave their hired equipment there overnight. That's only useful if you're hiring equipment.
If your accommodation is close to the main road through Val d'isere getting to the Solaise Lift is very easy. Walk in your ski boots carrying your skis to the nearest bus stop and use the free buses that take you to the Rond Point (through the road tunnel under the nursey slopes) then ski down to the Solaise Gondola or Olympique Gondola Lifts.
The buses will also take you to the Lifts in La Daiile, Le Laissanat and Le Fornet.
Do you know where you will be staying in Val d'isere?
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
Personally I think it's better to keep skis and boots with me because I may want to start or finish the day in La Daille or Le Fornet. The bus service works well.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@Jehu, +1. I would not wish to have to start or finish at solaise. Missing too much
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
| Steve Angus wrote: |
In local news I heard that a 60 year old Brit did us proud out here yesterday - getting so drunk that he was picked up at the end of the day down here in La Daille by the authorities as he was unable to communicate where he lived or anything - oh dear a good reflection on the Brits - doh!
|
Clearly following the example set by the mayor.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| holidayloverxx wrote: |
| @Jehu, +1. I would not wish to have to start or finish at solaise. Missing too much |
Many thanks to all who responded. Given your detailed information, it seems like it's best if we keep our skis/boots and leave them at the hotel; given that we will be staying 50 meters from the Intersport - which seems to be as close as it gets anyway. Many thanks - and Happy New Year to everybody! 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
