 Poster: A snowHead
|
Looking forward to it too, got 5 days guiding booked 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
Report on Turin and back - as one would expect, feckin mayhem!
We left at 12:15, at Vachette sensible people had pulled over to put chains on, we were behind one snow plough (the one with retractable blades) and a gritter plough behind that. Three cars in front of us, as soon as the incline started up to Montgenevre by the Napoleon fountain cars in front started to slide & spin, they obviously thought behind the plough they'd be ok. Then the ploughs had to stop, so getting started again was a mare even for me. More of the same and eventually all three just stopped as they were getting no where behind some others in a layby putting chains on. Me and a few others took a chance and went round them, I was also beginning to think maybe I should put mine on 
But once moving ok and managed to get over and down, by Oulx on the dual carriage way it was clear.
Dropped OH off at 14:30 (her flight was 19:00).
Driving back up was obvious many had left today as there were quite a few tailbacks coming down to Cesana. Going back up was not too bad, though have to admit to overtaking the cars with chains on in the tunnels.
Saw many crazy sites / situations, SUV 4x4 with four socks on - and many other 4x4's with chains and socks.
Below Cesana the remnants of a bad collision, the trucks that carry logs with an additional trailer had come down and had braked with the SUV behind smashing into the back and then another car into the back of the SUV!
So as for snow, snow level on the way back up was 500m at Susa, by Oulx was a better covering but trees not showing nearly as much as our side. Cesana was looking better but again not as much.
By Claviere things looking a lot better and same for Montgenevre, but to be truthful could really not see the how much had fallen etc
Back in the valley was still snowing big time, as for how much that's debatable, I'd say 25cm+.
As for up top will have a better idea tomorrow 
Guys I was speaking to tonight were raving about their lines...........
And @Guernseyfreerider, best I could do for you 
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
@Weathercam, Oooh I could jump off a doll's house
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
Finally got here (via Paradiski, which was pretty good-only 3 dud days in 3 1/2 weeks).
4 out of 4 days at Serre Chevalier, so far all good.
Today was excellent, especially from treeline down to about 1800m. Even the pistes were ok.
Off piste below about 1800m a bit stumpy (knocked on wood and stone occasionally), apart from old lower angle lift-line(?) cuts low down.
A lot of terrain here to learn.
If it carries on snowing, it will wreck my 1 rest day per week plan, and I'll be a rooted unit.
So far, I'm pretty glad I came here.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@Hells Bells, can see blue sky now, just hope we don't get the usual wind kicking in.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
Webcams look good. A few big dumps w/c 5th March now
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
@dan100, +1.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Quote: |
Now out with the instructions to deflate and pack it back!
|
One of the funniest things I ever heard was a small plane pilot (who had obviously lived to tell the tale) describing what happened when an emergency life raft decided to inflate itself, when they were in the air. He was shoved forward, thereby putting the plane into a dive. His co-pilot had to stab the thing multiple times with an emergency exit tool before they could regain control.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
@Weathercam, the Scott unit takes a fair bit of force to set the pin off. You must've been giving it one hell of a tug 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
Forecast yesterday was for snow all day, where in fact it stopped around Noon and was like that by the time I hit the sack, so was quite pleasant to wake up this morning to around 10-15cms. And at times this morning up the hill it was snowing really heavy, though has eased off now.
Went for first lifts though driving into where I park up (at a friends hotel) ended up having to dig my way in as tried driving across the snow but was too deep!
I arrived at the Casse du Boeuf lift around 08:45 expecting it to still be closed due to avalanche security, and or a large queues, but neither it was open and no one around. So skied a nigh on untracked Casse du Boeuf with around 15cm of powder at the top going to around 10cm by the bottom. At the top of the Casse it was howling and any higher would have been grim with white out conditions so back into tree skiing mode.
Today I opted to try out my new Dynafit ST 2.0 bindings however they are mounted on my light weight touring skis (BD ASpects) which are only 90mm wide along with my light weight Salomon Explorer 2 buckle boots so was quite a change to my 110 wide skis and downhill boots. In the fresh smooth untracked I was fine but in the trees where it had been skied a bit had my legs burning. But wanted to see what they are like in deepish powder as I'm touring with the CAF tomorrow morning in Nevache (sorry KenX), though could use my wider Powdairs 
Going up on the Casse chair snow cover is getting very good now with pillow of snow on the rocks and boulders and you can see the layers very clearly, always good when you see these pillows forming!
Back in resort very busy with people arriving and super market was heaving, think it's going to be a busy week on the hill, and note that there's now not too much in the way of any more snow forecast, and looks like a fair amount of sunshine, so maybe La Grave Tuesday and some more touring / off the back mid week?
Sunday's, especially snowy ones in high season are always good, as not too many FreeRiders around and those that are up on the hill in whiteout conditions tend not to know the good lines plus the groups don't start their activities till Monday, and Frejus sector is empty as Sunday is Club Med transfer day!
Below is a lovely line down an old drag lift piste (near Cretes), and that's looking down which doesn't look at all steep but it's about 25-30%.
And then looking back up
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
| pam w wrote: |
| Quote: |
Now out with the instructions to deflate and pack it back!
|
One of the funniest things I ever heard was a small plane pilot (who had obviously lived to tell the tale) describing what happened when an emergency life raft decided to inflate itself, when they were in the air. He was shoved forward, thereby putting the plane into a dive. His co-pilot had to stab the thing multiple times with an emergency exit tool before they could regain control. |
When I used to fly, if I had a raft on board, I always had a sharp knife accessible for this exact reason!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
@Weathercam, La Grave sounds good, they should be getting snow Sunday/Monday
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
Don't think you can get snorkels for Jack Russels
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
What are piste conditions like in Chantmerle area? Looking to come over from Sauze Wednesday to have a blast.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
@Jerby, probably a lot lot better than Sauze - if driving over maybe better to head for Pontillas lift in Villeneuve, below Club Med as parking and queue's should be better (get there just before 09:00 before Club Med hordes spill out) - or if you fancy an early start aim to park up at Frejus gondola for 08:15 to get first lifts at 08:30.
From Sauze to Oulx 10 -15 mins, Oulx to Villeneuve 45mins
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, that was a day and a half. Played in Frejus area initially while it was snowing and clagged in, using the Frejus chair and the 3 poma-lifts above it.
Even the stuff that had been cut up yesterday was well deep again.
When it cleared, hard skier's left of Vallons from tree-line to exit cat track from Frejus was something else.
It made me become a legend in my own mind.
Below about 1900m, one could feel the snow just starting to become a little heavier (still all good) before the clearance, when anything shady started to dry out a bit.
Below 1700, things were definitely getting a tad soggy.
With a clear night, the bottom end will be crustilicious tomorrow.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Weathercam wrote: |
@Jerby, probably a lot lot better than Sauze - if driving over maybe better to head for Pontillas lift in Villeneuve, below Club Med as parking and queue's should be better (get there just before 09:00 before Club Med hordes spill out) - or if you fancy an early start aim to park up at Frejus gondola for 08:15 to get first lifts at 08:30.
From Sauze to Oulx 10 -15 mins, Oulx to Villeneuve 45mins |
Will do thanks. Will be nearer 10.30-11.00 as we are lazy lie in skiers. Only getting up early for the travel to and from the resorts we stay at.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
@Jerby, that's still good, aim to arrive circa 11:30 then by the time you're all ready & booted up then get a three hour lift pass and ski when they all go to lunch, it is so much quieter - and like I said park up at Pontillas and that will let you get up to Vallons (see @gordonsson, post above and then you can go on to Monetier).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
@KenX, lovely stuff, and bears out what another mate was saying that there's still plenty to be had!
Imagine that elsewhere in the French Alps this time of year!
So stupid sparrow o'clock this morning meeting up in Briancon at 07:30.
To escape the holiday hordes, which looking at the above pics was not neccessary!
CAF ski tour in the Bois Noir in Nevache to Croix Carail, all four of us.
Superb trees and powder for the descent, though ascent was quite steep with many a kick turn and pace was rapido at around 450m an hour.
Track log https://www.strava.com/activities/493991955
On the way down through the trees heard these voices (not in my head) "Where are your dogs" so skied over and it was the team from Riquet Sports Villeneuve going up, they started at a sensible time of day. Though powder was way too deep for the Les Rando Chiens!
This was the view from Nevache valley as to where we were heading for.
And now zoomed in to the Croix
Climbing up in the trees
Atop the Croix, and behind her was "fall and you die" terrain, think that's why they put a feckin cross there!
(which you can't actually see that is what they are holding on to)
Yours truly
And she was damn feckin fit / strong, in her early 60's, though classic CAF technique
So where do we go tomorrow, watch this space
And as for the pistes, heard they were in great condition and trick as ever this time of the season, either get up early or get the lifts circa 11:30 and miss the hordes whilst they lunch!
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hi all, I've been actively following this thread over the last few weeks in advance of my first visit to Serre. How's the pistes holding up?
Driving up from Turin airport on Saturday morning, if I leave Turin at 10.30 what is a realistic time to arrive in Vilenueve at? Is there a half day pass for the Vilenueve sector only? We will be skiing Sat to Tues so hopefully the weather gods are kind. Staying in the Mont Thabor, should I set my expectations low or high?
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
@debtors#2, pistes are doing really well, if you have piste skis that is!
I was coming back down the piste today after a bit of a off piste expedition (will post laters), and legs were really tired, not helped by a dead leg after falling on a load of rocks (no exaggeration) yesterday. And I was on my light weight touring setup and was having issues holding an edge, but it was more tiredness and this whole group of 10 - 12 yr olds chasing their ESF instructor came whizzing past me 
So pistes are great, hard corduroy in the morning softening up during the day.
Give yourself two hours from Turin airport to here and you'll be able to get a three hour pass, and you'll find the pistes empty as it's a Saturday. And watch out for the turn off the autoroute for France just after Oulx, you can quite easily miss it - it's sign posted Oulx Circ NE - double check on Google Maps and you'll see what I'm on about!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
@Weathercam does the 3 hour lift pass start from a specific time or does it merely expire after 3 hours? I must say €41.50 does seem expensive for a half days skiing, it was €27 in Sauze last year.
Any personal recommendations for apres drinks? We are hiring from Ski Republic in Vilenueve, is it much of a walk in boots to the lifts from there?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
@debtors#2, hotel and shop are really close if you look about three or four pages back I list a whole load of bars and restaurants in Villeneuve - nearest to you is Le Frog and then The Cocoon next to the Sherpa.
As for today, wanted to tick another one of my bucket list. I've meaning to do this ever since I did this with a guide a few years ago.
It's quite pertinent for me as it's the "face" that is right in front of where we live. Plus the guide, Mathieu, lived here for ten or so years before I bought it from his parents, so it was kinda his local spot.
Last year snow was not good enough to consider skiing it. I'd also done three or four hikes in the previous two summers trying to suss the route(s) out.
Last week I even suggested to KenX that we hire Mathieu for half a day so he could show us!
I heard on Monday night that someone had skied the traverse line that is necessary to get into the area, and then Mathieu FaceBooked me after the tour I did Monday Look in face of your house .... and with my telescope I could see tracks!
To get there you have to hike Cucumelle then ski down and do a long traverse that involves a bit of a mini hike & clamber through some rocks, then another traverse, and then another hike to the summit, though when we did it Mathieu did say how you can carry on the traverse without doing the hike but can be more exposed to slides.
And it was a tad ironic in that I thought I was doing this gnarly off piste route and there in front of me was one ESF group with no security gear, and then another ESF guy with two snow boarders but they were tooled up.
That said they all took a different route, sticking to the snow that was obviously going to be heavy as it was in the sunshine
The descent was superb, and so much better than anything we skied yesterday in LG.
I also did a nice variation coming in down through the trees that I skied with KenX and the OH recently, that said there are still numerous other lines to do, coming down to above the Roche de Bez, slap bang in front of me, but route finding can be a tad hazardous if you get it wrong.
Tête du Grand Pré face from home
Looking down from Cucumelle, you can just about make out the traverse
And now zoomed in, you can make out the ESF instructor on skis whilst the two snowboarders are having to hike up another way
Then looking back up to Cucumelle, 96% of those tracks are going off to Monetier, and you can see a nice line all the way down in untracked to that skinning traverse track
Then through the rocks
And then the hike (dotted line) as oppose to the traverse
And then...........
And feck it, a selfie why not, I deserved it
Long old post I know, but have heard some tragic news today and need to take my mind off things and then drown our sorrows.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
@Weathercam, tragic news indeed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
Great line Weathercam, shame it was tempered by the loss of a friend here...............
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
@jzBun, yes that's the traverse and clamber through the rock - then that drop in was way way below (you're in the trees) - and like I mentioned but route finding can be a tad hazardous if you get it wrong. and that looks like maybe that was the case 
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
@Weathercam,
| Quote: |
| but route finding can be a tad hazardous if you get it wrong. and that looks like maybe that was the case |
Quite possibly, it was a bit of an adventure
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Weathercam wrote: |
| @Jerby, that's still good, aim to arrive circa 11:30 then by the time you're all ready & booted up then get a three hour lift pass and ski when they all go to lunch, it is so much quieter - and like I said park up at Pontillas and that will let you get up to Vallons (see @gordonsson, post above and then you can go on to Monetier). |
Great info Weathercam and did as you said. Parked in the free Pontillas car park, 25 metres to lift pass office and gondala. No queues and straight onto gondola.Had and great day with Bruised Skier and number 2's.
Only dissapontment was we never saw the famous Jack Russells
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
Having had a great 5 days' skiing in SC (thanks for the tips, particularly the Pery Juana) I'm thinking of trying a day in PSV tomorrow, just for a change, before heading home on Sunday. Couple of questions......1, Is it easy to park or is this likely to be a nightmare unless I get there really early?..... And 2, Is it likely to be really busy or our Saturdays quieter? Thanks.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Quote: |
I must say €41.50 does seem expensive for a half days skiing
|
surely not?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
