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The view from............ Val d'Isere and the Espace Killy

 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
welshflyer wrote:
@Kenzie,

The ears have gone, The Moris has gone and Espace Killy is now Tignes/Val d'isere.

Should they name the area Clary/Noel Laughing


Toofy Grin
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
chocksaway wrote:
@Steve Angus, Steve, I do like the way spell check changed that to near the Grand Prix from Grand Pre. Very prescient given that a Grand Creme is €7 in there, but to be fair a small bottle of Mont Blanc is only 6!
So €€€€€€€€€€ there
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 Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Old Fartbag wrote:
@Steve Angus, Please accept my belated condolences on the loss of your Mum.
Thanks
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Bit of everything

It was a day of everything today weather and lesson wise.

An early start to get up and sorted and then hit the road to Tignes and park up.

I started the day snowboarding and moved onto a group and finished with private freestyle lessons. All in all quite a varied day. The weather was really up and down too.... at one point during the day I thought I was going to have to go down a layer as it was so hot.... but later on it was like a blizzard.

For my first full day of the season it was a jolly good day... the slopes however were slightly busier than I thought they would be and the pistes were somewhat more scraped than hoped. I think off piste could be a little bush-wacking if you are not careful so maybe still rock skis time!

By the end of the day I was tired and it didnt help that I seem to be damaged my ski edge somehow today - well the sidewall really. So ive been bust working at home this evening fixing them up, hope they will be OK tomorrow. Oh and also I had a lunch disaster - my yoghurt blew up in my bag.... queue ham and mayo sandwiches with a topping of raspberry yoghurt mixed in. Needless to say a lot of cleaning of my rucksack has been needed this evening!

After work I drove home and collected (finally) my TDC uniform for this Winter.

So tomorrow is the funeral of Joe and Clare is heading to Chambery for that to represent the family.... so she is having an early night as it is an early start.

Im shattered so im off to bed too.

TTFN

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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Steve Angus wrote:

http://youtube.com/v/1gkwC3FRNq0


Is that Joe Harkess in that vid?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
Shame the new restaurant at Grand Pre is more up-market we were hoping for something similar to Marmottes or Cascades.
Soup 17€ Burger 30€ Shocked We’ll probably give it a miss but I’m sure come peak season it will be full
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
yep cant beat the goulash at cascades for vfm!!
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
@muppet, Shocked has it got a Michelin star?
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
welshflyer wrote:
@Dr John,

It was on the climb up to the Col D'iseran from Bonneval that Egan Bernal won the Tour de France a few years ago. Geraint Thomas couldn't lose his competitors and so he told Bernal to attack. The stage was abandoned because of a land slip blocked the road on the descent into Val d'isere. Bernal was awarded the stage and the timings were taken at the top of the Col.


The landslide was on the st Foy side of the Tignes dam, not in Val d'Isere.
I was in Tignes 1800 right in the middle of the storm and we could not believe they were climbing in sunshine .
The road along the lake was also covered in about 2 inches of hail.
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Kenzie - most certainly is - one of my happiest memories of him. His funeral was today. Clare made the trip. There was about 80 people there apparently and his brother , wife, and parents were all involved. It sounds like it was an exceptionally hard day for them and those attending. Still can't believe he has gone. Im not sure I could have stomached seeing his two little ones there with their mum today wondering what the fuss was all about. Its just so sad! People had come from a LONG way away in order to attend so it just goes to show how much he was loved!

muppet - I have to agree... especially given the location - bit of a shame tbh!

JDL65 - it was ridiculous amount of hail on the road and the fact it was effectively a river rather than road was why the stage was cancelled wasnt it! I was in La Daille on that day and it was bonkers!

Sunny but cold

Talking about the new resto bottom Grand Prix - this is the menu for it.




But they have caught up with the times by installing phone charging points etc

So it was a very early start this morning getting Clare out the door and then on my own me getting the kids out the door. Clare drove to Bourg and then lift shared with a friend and her husband to Chambery for the funeral.... sounds like it was tough one (as to expected). I personally spent much of the day thinking about the sad events going on down there.

So with the kids off to school I got ready and met my off piste team for their intro session and we had some fun looping the Tommeuse and finding some nice pockets of powder. A few falls were had by the group but generally it was pretty successful.

My lunchtime slot was focused on moguls and again it was a great session with some focuses to take away. More later in the week.

The last session of the day and the temps were really dropping off so I wanted to keep them warm. We got some red runs, blue runs and a trip to La Daille in and I opened the Fontaine Froide for the first time this season too... not in perfect condition but it was OK! There was some really decent changes and good work working on edge control as well as pressure control... so nice to see some changes!

I got home and caught up with Clare who had found it all a little too much bless before heading into town to collect Olivia from her gym class and Ben from swimming...

In local news Val d'Isere finally seems to be catching up with the environmental drive that is sweeping the world... they have replaced two of the train rouge busses this year for electric versions... I went on one the other day - very spacious too and massive double opening doors meaning it should be a lot easier to get in and out of.

Anyway ive finally caught up this evening and need an early night.

TTFN

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 snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
@Steve Angus,

The prices on that menu are a bit blurry, probably my eyes watering because everything is so pricey. I don't think I'll be stopping there.

I wonder if the electric buses are the same ones they used when the World Champs were in town. There were few issues with them if my recollections are correct.
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 And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
@Steve Angus, love the way on that menu they have Frogs Legs under the fish heading. Surely there could have been an amphibian section put in!Laughing
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 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
beeryletcher wrote:
@Steve Angus, love the way on that menu they have Frogs Legs under the fish heading. Surely there could have been an amphibian section put in!Laughing

Could be from the liberal definition of 'fish' by the Catholic Church for fasting days?
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Steve, sending belated condolences for the loss of your mum. Sorry I’ve not been on here for ages. Thoughts are with you.

It’s also lovely to see the return of the daily updates, hope you all have a great season.
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
welshflyer - sorry re blur! No idea re buses sorry!
HoneyBunny - thank you on both counts.

Shattered

When I went to bed last night I had a slightly sore throat and I also had tooth ache but little did I know that by 3am the pain woke me up. I think seeing the dentist the other day she irritated my gums at the back but the pain comes and go. Anyway a paracetamol in the middle of the night settled the pain but unfortunately mentally I was then wide awake in the middle of the night. So what im saying is that after another busy day on the hill and with the bad nights sleep last night im REALLY shattered tonight - doh!

Anyway Clare and I were both working this morning so it was all systems go this morning getting the kids out then door and then us. However with the sun shining it was not too tough heading out. It was cold though!

Anyway with a mix private and group lessons it was a lot of laps of blue and red runs all day! The freestyle lesson was a lot of fun and there were also some amazing changes when we touched on carving with the group lesson!

I didnt get my timings right unfortunately which meant my morning break didnt really happen unfortunately! But anyway ce la vie.

The snow conditions on the piste are somewhat variable and they are making snow like crazy. The areas of high traffic are getting pretty scrapped and stoney in places.... whereas lesser travelled areas are fine. The amount of terrain that is open is pretty decent though! Off piste options are not too bad if you head for the gullys etc but miss them and its pretty horrid off piste and rocks abound etc. Be warned!

After work I headed home and took part in a school meeting / training session online whilst Clare went to collect the kids!

So tomorrow is my last session on Snowheads before I start some more multi day bookings. I really must get some rest tonight and I have a long list of stuff still to get done so must dash.

TTFN

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 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead


A good send off

I had a better nights sleep last night and with the sun shining this morning it was time for action. Being a Wednesday Clare was heading out the door to get the kids to club / Ben a lesson nice and early so there was lots to sort early doors!

So I headed up to meet my first lesson of the day which was the freestyle team again and today we worked on skiing the steeps and there were some nice changes made so it was a productive lesson. By the time the sun was getting going it made the temps nice and warm. The pistes continue to be a mix of hard pack and in some places pretty thin but in other cases the conditions are really very good! A decent amount of the resort are open now in terms of terrain so things are getting better and better out there on the whole. However high traffic areas are thin in many places. It does mean there are some icy pistes out there. Hopefully the expected snowfall this Friday and into the weeknd could change things.

At lunchtime I enjoyed the sun down in Tignes and then got a message to say the lunchtime lesson had been cancelled. Bit of a shame for them but it did mean I was able to join the resort tribute ski for Joe event. So about 100 of us assembled and headed for ski around in his honour. The plan was to do that then head to the pub but with only an hour to spare I was able to join Clare and Ben and ski the first part. It was jolly emotional to say the least but I was so happy to see SOOOOO many people make the effort to honour him!

Anyway with that over (it sounds like it got messy later on so glad I could go back to work!) I was back teaching and it was time for the off piste group. I managed to find a decent amount of powder which I was pleased about in a couple of my favourite staches. Seeing he improvement of the team was satisfying thats for sure!

And that brings my PsB teaching to an end for this year. Since I will not be able to make the EoSB this year that will be my only SH's teaching for this year.

After work I had a quick change of clothes and then it was off out to undertake my annual SAF heli training so can offer Bonneval etc heli trips. It was the usual and to be honest I am now glad to be back home and chilling.

One more decent nights sleep and with my toothache getting better I should be almost 100% again tomorrow.

TTFN

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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
@Steve Angus,
Quote:

A good send off


What an uplifting photo, wonderful tribute and hopefully of some comfort to Joe's family and friends.
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 Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
PeakyB - thanks... certainly is.

Ski hard!

This morning the sun was once again shining but with the kids on the bus Clare and I both headed out to our respective lessons. Luckily I slept better last night but this first week of the season has been full on thats for sure.

So I headed up and met my team of navy ski instructors (some have civvy street qualifications and some have military quals) and we headed off. I thought that checking out Solaise for the first time this season would be a sensible move so thats where we headed first up! It was lovely and quiet and the snow was superb (definitely recommend heading that way if you are in town). It was a really positive few hours up Solaise and we worked through fundamental elements and short turns and as a refresher (for the two days) it was a really good start. It was excellent to see some serious thinking and critical analysis going on.

Lunch was the usual great value Marmottes before we then did some carving work and more personal performance!

I was (still am) quite tired after all that. This evening we have had a friends daughter to stay as her mum has had to head off on business for a couple of nights so were helping her out.... that means it has been a more energetic this evening so it will be nice to get to bed.

Anyway thats about it for tonight.

TTFN


Found this online - amazing to have seen that dam built eh!

There are a LOT of army in town at the moment... filling the bars up and the slopes.
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Quote:
Found this online - amazing to have seen that dam built eh!
The outdoor photo exhibition that was at Le Lac in the summer was absolutely tragic. The drowning of the original village was vehemently opposed, with some going as far as acts of sabotage. Ultimately, some families refused to leave until flood water was lapping into their houses.

Mrs MA and I can never view the dam in the same way again Sad




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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
mountainaddict - yes that exhibition was awesome wasnt it - quite something!!!!!!

White out but a top one

All seemed to go OK with the sleepover for Olivia helping her friends mum out and we only had to start the day a little earlier than normal to make sure everything was sorted on time. Finally got out the door on time and as the friend was not booked on the school bus it made sense for me to take all 3 kids on the bus to school....

Meanwhile when I first opened the curtains it was apparent that it hadn't snowed at all overnight but that soon changed about 0700 as big fat flakes started falling out the sky. So by the time I left the kids at school there was already about 5cm of snow on the ground and that was only to get more and more!

My team were fired up with their off piste gear and we were off. Even opening up with a lap or two down the Fontaine Froid piste was encouraging ... the only real issue was visibility - the light was flat - really flat... occasionally just about OK and often impossible to see more than the hand in front of your face! Anyway we battled some lovely snow and head off the sides of the Verte piste as well as the cut through back to Fontaine Froide off piste and then a few options under Grand Prix. Whilst the snow got better and better and deeper and deeper the visibility didnt really. The actual snow quality was pretty good but it was quite wet!

Lunchtime was nice to warm up and get rid of some snow that had accumulated in every orifice.... After lunch it was more of the same although we did a few moguls too but we saved the best to last when we did a descent or two around the Tichot and Grattalu areas - it was epic knee deep powder by now. By the time we got to the Folie and I dropped them off for a beer I was more than shattered and I think they were too!

The end of a couple of really good days with some good skiers!

When I finally got home and peeled my boots off my feet (gosh that has never felt better) it was so nice to have a sit down. Ben and I chilled whilst Clare took Olivia up to the bib draw for the World Cup tomorrow which I was not complaining about.

Tomorrow I am not teaching but will take Olivia to watch the ski race and then much of the day will be spent getting the Christmas tree up / maybe watching an Xmas movie etc

The snow has cleared up a little this evening but the situation on the hill will be much more improved from tomorrow onwards!

TTFN


Visibility - what visibility

Some of the team with me

Study the price list for evacuations carefully - not a cheap thing a rescue!
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As @honeybunny said great to have the daily updates back it feels winter has arrived.
I actually saw Val in summer for the first time as we drove up and over on our way to Italy in our Van ( slept in the carpark over in Val Cien that night )
We are looking forward to being back from next weekend staying in our usual La Toviere thanks to my mates at Neilson Holidays .
We are heading over in our van so may have to have a night in the Van in La Daille if we arrive Sunday.

The exceiting bit is for once we are free to go where we like after we leave Val on the 26th ...... and are going to experience vanlife skiing ! If only for another 10 days into the new year .
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Hi Steve - thanks for posting a selfie! Now I know what colour you are wearing this season and may be able to spot you. I can't believe it is 5 years since my wife and I had a refresher lesson with you. We're heading out with the whole family next Saturday, so will be on the lookout. Peter & Cathy, Bristol
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
Val D looks lovely for the slalom today.

Eurosport 2
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
harvsurrey - its lovely in the Summer eh!!!!! How exciting the freedom of van life - love it!
Hamlet - a ha a little clue as to what I really look like! haha! Glad you have happy memories!
GreenDay - GS you mean - SL tomorrow.

A welcome rest day

Ive been looking forward to literally catching my breath for the first time this season! Normally you go from 0 to 50 to 100 over the first couple of weeks of the season but this year it has been 0 to 1000000 in one go. Phew

Anyway it was a small lie in until 0715 this morning (so an extra 30 mins in bed) but then the rush to get Ben to his ski lesson whilst Olivia and I pottered about and then headed up to watch the first run of the GS at 0930. Luckily being part of the Club des Sports Olivia had a couple of arm bands to get us into the spectator zone which is quite cool! Anyway we had a good view, the weather was improving and the race was on. Olivia wanted to see some friends but in the mass of people there it was only right at the end that she saw someone. Oh and then there was the queue for the free candy floss and she patiently queued before some of the bigger kids pushed in so she got annoyed and lost her place - doh!

Anyway lunchtime was a chilled family affair before we had family downtime of putting the Xmas decor up / kids doing some homework / watching the ski racing on tv and plenty of other bits too! Later we had an old friend around for a cuppa and some cake so all in all a very chilled and nice afternoon!

As mentioned before the weather had gotten better and better as the day progressed and the resort looked awesome. The crowds that had flooded into town for the day (the slopes dont get any busier for the World Cup) will have had a great time.

This evening the weather moved in a little as we all headed into the centre of town to watch the prize giving from todays race and the bib draw for tomorrows. It was quite fun with lots of music and cheerleaders and the rest of it.... was fun as all the kids got to create guards of honour for the athletes as they came to get their bib numbers etc and lots of high fixes with them too. Pretty darn good.

And now it was home to watch the footie and get the kids into bed.... tomorrow Clare and I are both working as the kids go to kids club. Im starting a weeklong booking with a family all day everyday so who knows what it'll be like - could be anything really but looking at the phone number it will be an Australian family.

TTFN


Mani Feller come on down!


Ready to roll!
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@Steve Angus,

Is the Parking P5 in La Da is there an entry barrier that's Low ?

Cret indoor is full and the van is a whisker under 2.1m ,
Daille indoor is 1.9 so defo a no no.

Can't believe all the carparks are full !!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
harvsurrey wrote:
@Steve Angus,

Is the Parking P5 in La Da is there an entry barrier that's Low ?

Cret indoor is full and the van is a whisker under 2.1m ,
Daille indoor is 1.9 so defo a no no.

Can't believe all the carparks are full !!


The outdoor parking has a 2m height limit thing yes. Yes our van is about 2.05m high so goes in cret as doesn’t fit underground in La Daille itself. Parking nightmare this year. Indeed. Sorry.
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 And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
Hummmmm

We are 2.08 and a smidge but depends on how loaded it is because it has a pop top.

Cret indoor shows no availability which surprised me as its a) out of the way and b) not normally full Christmas week

New year maybe .

How long can you park in the bit by the garage ?( the no barrier bit )
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 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
I really am surprised its full for Xmas week I really am.... perhaps wiggle the dates or times you never know. Parking over by the bottom funi - now that is a lottery indeed! Some people try and get in over by the Spar over the road from here but you need to be in town early doors to get one of those slots!
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
I am going to wing it and see what I find .
Like you say I can't believe it's full but it's what SAGS says , and Magalie at the Tov had emailed me to say the same

Maybe some issue with tge website booking system as it says all carparks are full and we both know that's unlikely to be true.

There is always dropping it down in Brev
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
The driest but COLDEST

With Clare and I both working she was able to get the kids to kids club whilst I got to the meeting point but the day took some planning to get sorted and the kids ready!

The thermometer was showing minus a LOT brrr but with the layers on I could manage. I met my new booking for the week a lovely young Australian family and my colleague was to have the older girl and I had the middle and they were finding a third instructor last minute for the youngest daughter. Anyway we headed up and had a nice warm up on the Madelaine area and since it was all their first time here there is a lot of terrain to show them! A quick hot choc break at the Datcha - wow they have doubled the size of the outside area and decking and also added a new snack cabin too... most impressed.

We met up with the rest of the family and also their Australian friends (who ironically have a son at Apex that I taught Maths too during lockdown back in 2020 / 2021) at the Sun Bar for a slap up lunch but had to be quick as they had booked tickets to the VIP area at the foot of the Face for the race! Now getting in there was pretty darn cool actually! Dave Ryding didnt have the best of the 2nd runs of his life and without the home favourite Clement Noel in the 2nd round either it was bets off. But what a great race and some awesome performances! Quite a cool treat - so thanks to them and thank goodness they are such massive ski racing fans! Awesome!

After all that E and I headed for some more skiing so I showed her around the Bellevarde side.... it was a nice couple of hours but the cold got to her once again so we had another hot choc break to warm up! Without naming establishments prices are going even more off the scale as 2 hot chocs with cream and a plate of chips (she was still hungry) at €27 - wow that is just bonkers eh!

Anyway we finished a little earlier to escape the cold and with clare tieing up the lose ends getting the kids from club etc and then between us bath and bedtime routine it is nice to be warm this evening!

Tomorrow will be more of the same (without the ski race of course) and for most of the rest of this week as it is a 7 day booking so really looking forward to developing her to the max!

TTFN

P.S. Currently -21c out there and will get colder overnight - brrrr! More clothes needed tomorrow.


Not too bad a view eh!

Just PERFECT snow and conditions were awesome but jolly cold!

Datcha terrace and snack hut MUCH bigger!

Somewhat chilly up there!
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 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
harvsurrey.....

similar issue last week, albeit i only want to visit for the day from Ste Foy........tourist office replied as below

Dear Mr Chapman,

If your car is higher than 2.20 , you must park in la Daille in the open area, when you will reach the fence you can press a button and someone will lift the bar for you to let you in.

We appreciate your interest in our resort. Do not hesitate to contact us should you need further details.
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
@stefoy4me

Cheers that's really helpful ,
I know the 2m will be to stop people parking up and sleeping in vans .
Weird thing is the carparks showing full.

Is there anywhere to park up Sunday night in Ste Foy ,I only ever drive through the village on the way up to Val but its ( the village rather than ski resort ) always looks pretty and I fancy an overnight and a meal in the village .
The diesel heater will keep us warm overnight and park4night is showing a couple of spots .

Albeit first winter trip in the van .
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 Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Getting high before the bad weather

It was go, go, go this morning getting the kids out the door but hey Monday mornings are like that.

The meeting point was satisfactorily busy this morning so the Winter season really is in full swing now thats for sure!

I met my family and we headed off. It certainly was no warmer thats for sure than yesterday and early doors is always chilly. So we headed up the Bellevarde and had a nice ski about but she needed a warm up pretty early so by 1000 we were already drinking hot chocolates in the Bellevarde!

The plan had been to get over to Tignes for lunch at The Corner so off we set. We had a really good ski about actually and little by little we got warmer! The pistes were in amazing condition they really were so it was a great morning ski.

We met the rest of the family as planned at The Corner for lunch and luckily we all managed to get sat inside. It was awesome as always.

With full stomachs my little girl made a request that we go up on the funival so off we went. I noticed that they were not running as often as they normally would (cost savings probably) and then the cable car was running on slow speed too (again probably cost savings as there was not really any wind). Also due to lack of snow (I guess) when you get up the funicular you only have the option of heading up the cable car as there is no skiing from the Panoramique at the moment!!!!

So it was a very successful afternoon in the end.... and not quite as cold as it had been in the morning. In fact looking at how the temps have changed I can see my weather station telling me now it is -10 out there... this time last night it was -20 out there.... so things are getting a little warmer thankfully! The weather is supposed to change and it will be snowy from tomorrow onwards for a few days so it could be quite some weather coming our way!

I had about an hour at home when I got back from skiing before heading to collect Olivia from her gym lesson whilst Clare went and got Ben from his swimming lesson.... Mondays are always busy!

So there we go another day done and dusted! Some nice photos below from today.

TTFN


Thought this overview map in the hallway of the Tignes funicular was pretty cool.

Can't for the life of me remember this was today but looks nice eh!
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Quite surprising

When we all came off the mountain yesterday it was a case of clear skies, lots of layers and time for a warm up! However by the time I finally went to bed last night the snowflakes were gliding out the sky so I thought we might have a freshen up out there. However when I heard the snow clearers going at crack of dawn this am outside the bedroom window I new there was going to be a decent acccumulation! Well it was actually very impressive!

With the kids on the bus and with an adjustment of layering I headed off... Clare wasnt teaching today so she had a long list of admin that she wanted to get done. I met my team in Snow Square and they had all traded their piste for off piste skis (no comment!) and given the fact that it looked like we had about 20cm of fresh snow in town there could be a lot more up top. However the vis was less than ideal but I was surprised there was no queue at all for the Solaise so off we went. I new that most people would head Bellevarde way anyway!

We were one of the first up there and there must have been 30cm+ up top and it was light powder.... just a pity couldnt really see it. However knowing that now there is enough snow to smooth the lumps and bumps on the piste it shouldn't be an issue. Anyway we had a few amazing laps (she is soooo good for a 6 year old) on Madeleine in knee (thigh / waist for her) deep snow.... it was awesome. Then a couple of laps on the Glacier Express before stopping for hot choc at Ouillettee etc. So it was jolly good. After the break we decided to ski down the Solaise which by now was largely moguls but again she performed admirably. Luckily the weather was starting to give a little (certainly lower down) so that helped.

We skied to Marmottess and had a well deserved lunch - lots of hungry mouths to feed in there thats for sure! After lunch we managed to get a couple of more laps of skiing in on ever increasingly bumpy slopes before skiing to La Daille and busing home. She was tired by the end thats for sure but good on her.

So with her safely back at her hotel I was able to get home and get some admin done (kids are doing Judo class after school today so a quiet house) and get this written up for the day. Must pop back out soon to get Olivia from Judo though!

Weather wise the temps have risen somewhat and should stay up there and the snowy conditions will drift in and out. All in all a very positive start to the season and things are looking good for the festive period now.

TTFN



Vis was somewhat variable up there. But snow was awesome!
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Missing and closed pistes

It was rather grey and unwelcoming out there this morning but it was certainly warm. There hadn't really been any fresh snow overnight but apparently they carried out a PIDA this morning. Didnt hear it personally though.

Anyway kids were off to kids club (not skiing today) so Clare with her later start took them. I headed up to meet my team and despite the grey skies / clouds and threat of snow we headed up. It actually turned out to be much worse up there than it might have looked from below and thats saying something. Anyway we made the most of it and had a great ski about but planned to stay quite low. Of course getting over to Tignes you need to head up Tommeuse or go via Borsat so Tommeuse was the choice. I decided on a change of route to the recent normal and headed down the piste towards the Combe Folle piste start but when we got there not only was there no markers / no permanent or temp ones, no ropes and nothing to indicate the piste was open or closed - most strange. So it was almost as if the Combe Folle piste had been forgotten about.... as I say with NOTHING to say it was open or closed or whatever had to really have a think about whether to head down there.... in the end the snow was lovely but hopefully they will sort the markings out.

Later in the morning we took a trip towards the Bosses area etc. Saw the new Aiguille Rouge lift.... see what people mean about the Myosatis piste 'missing' and with the new lift finishing in a new place it totally eradicates the need for that sector of the resort at the moment. Anyway the temps were rising and we headed to Brev for a lovely lunch at the L'Armailly. Always super down there.... amazing portions and great food... well worth the trip over the road when you are down there for sure!

By the time we got back to Val late in the afternoon it was rather wet and soggy... it wasnt really raining but it was not exact cold dry powder! A good day out making the most of the conditions.

After getting home I didnt have too much time to sort my things out before heading back into town to collect the kids from kids club whilst Clare went to a Club des Sport parents meeting. A busy couple hours sorting the kids out for bed etc and now its 'as you were'. Phew.

So the weather the next few days will be similar to today so much of nothing really.

TTFN


A little flat the light at times today!

Missing Myostis!

CRACKING lunch at l'Armailly

The new Aiguille Rouge lift comes right up outside Lo Soli resto now!

Another missing piste in Combe Follee!
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@Steve Angus,

Not being marked as a "closed piste" and without any piste markers would Combe Folle (or any other piste) be regarded as "off piste" in those circumstances?
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@welshflyer, Definitely. Under French law pistes have to be marked at specified distances with poles and numbered lollipops. No piste markers = off piste, and there may not have been any PIDA.
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
@Steve Angus,
Quote:

Must pop back out soon to get Olivia from Judo though!


That'll come in handy in the Christmas and mid February lift queues.
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@Steve Angus, The interactive piste map states that it is outside of the Combe Folle drag lift's operating period, presumably that starts next week for Christmas, and and that if they lift isn't open they probably feel that you can just use Crocus and and Johan Clarey on that side of Toviere. I would be very surprised if they got rid of it as a piste as it holds snow really nicely (and doesn't need/have snowmaking facilities?) and is a lovely piste. I would go as far to say that I reckon that it would justify a mid station on the Toviere Gondola so that people who didn't fancy the bottom of Johan Clarey could lap it more easily. Together with Paquerettes and the off piste between that and Combe Folle its a great section of mountain
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welshflyer wrote:
@Steve Angus,

Not being marked as a "closed piste" and without any piste markers would Combe Folle (or any other piste) be regarded as "off piste" in those circumstances?


100% yes. Its only a piste if marked and open as chocksaway says.

PeakyB - yes ill train her up - haha

rambotion - I agree i dont think it will go but it was more the fact that it wasnt marked at all or ropped off or anything - just as if it didnt exist... very strange! Anyway it is a lovely ski down there agreed!

Weather coming in again

So it was looking rather gloomy this morning but a little colder (a tad) than yesterday but nowhere near as cold as it was at the start of the week thats for sure. So Clare wasnt starting until 0930 so she was able to do the honours with the kids whilst I got ready!

Everyone was raring to go at the meeting point and I had planned to go Solaise and Fornet side for a change but the dad of my kid wanted to top up our cash float we had so said he'd do it on the Olympic lift up which stuffed that plan up. Anyway not to worry we had some nice runs up Bellevarde side before we decided to drop down into Tignes. Whilst we were doing some carving laps on the Grand Pre we bumped into a fair number of people we knew including my wife and her client... amongst others. One of the nice things about this job is the social aspect of it like that bumping into people you know!

We had a really good ski about and as usual the mornings she has more energy than later on in the day and certainly the afternoon! On the way to Loop in Lavachet we saw the masses of ENSA students with their bib numbers on having their free ski run from (almost) top of Piste Henri and down Yohan Clarey piste into Lavachet - quite a long way to 'rip' in one go with ENSA assessors every couple hundred metres with their clip boards noting scores down - all the time the students trying to avoid members of the public etc. Quite cool though when they whizz past you though... wonder what the pass rate was today!

So we met up with the Dad and had lunch at Loop - darn good portion sizes in their - walked out somewhat stuffed after my chicken wrap! Haha!

By early afternoon the weather was really moving in again - having been gloomy in the morning! It was now snowing hard so we were a little more cautious in the afternoon but still managed to have a really +ve ski about. At the top of the peaks it was quite windy and the snow accumulations got quite large quite quickly so there could be some decent snow accumulations by the morning up there!

I had noticed in the morning that they had managed to open a route down the front of Bellevarde! The top of the Face and then down the Joseray from about the Peau du Vache level was the route. So anyway I decided that she was ready for a trip down the front so we set off.... the snow was amazing and there was no-one about... id say the conditions were about as good as they get... the actual Face lower part itself on the other hand does look pretty nasty still - good luck when that opens!

Meanwhile Clare had been down the valley shopping so by the time I got back home there was half emptied shopping bags everywhere. So there was a mad rush after skiing to take the bins out / put the last of the shopping away / get the kids off the bus and park the car up in the underground parking again! It was all go!

With the kids in bed I can finally catch up on the days admin. One more day tomorrow on this booking for this week and then Saturday some time off before we enter the Xmas week! Blimey how come Xmas has come around already! Haha!


It was looking OK weather wise early doors...

Was still coming in by mid day...

... and was pretty socked in by the end of the day!


This should be quite easy but todays question: Where is this?

TTFN
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