 Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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A bit of a shock this morning as I moved the curtain with the big toe - there were bluebirds over the grey cliffs of Chardonnet - not the clouds I had been expecting. So it was a Double Glacier Day with some fantastic piste skiing in an almost empty resort. Many thanks to SAF Helos and the Val D'I Pisteurs for providing entertainment during coffee at Le Signal - they were practising winching in and out of the chopper (brings back memories of a cold north sea!).
The amount of snow we have had this year is clearly demonstrated at the top of the Motte - the stairs of the platform are completely covered - it is now quite a climb up. Also they were working on the top pylon of the Champagny (drag or T Bar ??) which is almost buried up to the runners.
It has now clouded over - perhaps there will be some snow.
For those flying tomorrow - no snags with the weather.
All the above tinged with sadness at the news of the guy that ended it all last night by jumping to his death from the Dam.
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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?
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Guys, out of interest, for those in resort over Easter, how busy was it? I've never been to Tignes/Val, but it's on the list of areas I want to get to next. Only issue is as the other half is a teacher, we're restricted to either Xmas/NYE, Feb, or Easter. How busy was it over the last week - many queues for lifts/busy pistes?
Cheers
Ol
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| chocksaway wrote: |
All the above tinged with sadness at the news of the guy that ended it all last night by jumping to his death from the Dam. |
oh no, that's terrible 
Doesn't bear thinking about.
RIP to him, only 21 as well.
Last edited by You need to Login to know who's really who. on Sun 7-04-13 13:50; edited 1 time in total
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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maidstone98, No queues this week as the French kids only had Monday on hol. Even during the really busy weeks of Xmas/NY and Feb the queues are not that bad unless bad weather closes the higher lifts.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Very foggy this morning (the Brev webcam looked like it had a bag over its head). Slowly cleared through the day - its now more like a spring afternoon with much dripping and warm sun. In fact the biggest danger at the mo is icicles falling off buildings. Never mind on piste transceivers - a Bob The Builder Yellow hat would be appropriate safety equipment!
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We are back out next Sunday for 5 days. Unless there is a record thaw I think we will have great skiing. But will everything still be open if the resort is quieting down. It seems a lot of cost to keep so many lifts running if there are not many skiers. I am not worried about the snow, but more about if all the lifts will be running
Cheers
Smag
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Smag, The French late spring school hols start next week - we will have to see if they go to the beach or the pistes. No sign of any lifts closing yet - I will let you know if I find anything out. There may be closures where there is some duplication (eg the Funiculaire will run but not Lanches).
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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.
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We are stopping in boisses so hoping to be able to get to le lac without using the bus. As long as we can avoid the bus then we will be happy chappies.chocksaway,
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Quote: |
| If you are after a last minute bargain try Ski Olympic & Tignes Chalet company |
Or PM me for a late season bargain in our Val Claret apartment  .....
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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.
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You know it makes sense.
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You would not think it's April the 9th!
The snow this season is incredible, I can't believe how white the mountains still are. Normally by now the days are hot, sunny and slushy!
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Wow looks like a November/December morning out there!
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Poster: A snowHead
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Looks like we have picked the right year to try April skiing for the first time. If the forecast is right, then it warms up on Sunday as we arrive. Fingers crossed for some sun for mon - Friday next week. And also fingers crossed that we can ski in and out of Boisse.
I am also on the look out for a new ski jacket, so any tips on where to get the best end of season sales?
Cheers
Smag
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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End of season sales in the resort that is.
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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?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| Quote: |
| And also fingers crossed that we can ski in and out of Boisse.......Not a problem at the moment |
And has never been a problem on our Mayday weekend trips in the last six years or so! In fact we've always managed to ski down to Les Brevieres (sometimes in total mush/waterskiing) at that time  .
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Wednesday 10 April. After a few clouds early in the morning the sky turned blue and slowly became warmer. Time to go and visit Espace Killy again!
A group of us headed up to 'Tignes Les Brevieres' from Les Arcs quite early in the morning. As we went up the first gondola the sun was starting to shine and the fresh snow looked great. This was going to be a good day!!
Our first run was back down near the chair on untracked powder. Soft although it was a bit slippy. Made a note that we needed to take care today. (I am pleased we are all equipped for off piste skiing to help us stay safe.) However still an excellent start!
Here are the details of the routes we took today in order from start to finish.
1) Back up the Aiguille Rouge Chair and down the off piste to Tignes Lac. A nice top surface, but cruddy underneath where the sun had cooked it earlier in the week.
2) Up the Aeroski gondola and down 'La Familiale' and then the lower section of 'Vallee Perdue' (missing the small hole you have to go down) arriving at the Funival. Some good untracked soft snow higher up and well skied in the gully, but always fun!
3) From the top, down 'La Spatule' taking the easier exit and back up top again. Soft powder in the sheltered areas and amongst the trees. Even space for a few fresh tracks.
4) Across all the pistes to Borsat Chair including the small park area for the kids (we need one of these in Les Arcs) then all the way down from the 'Cretes du Genepy' to Val Claret crossing the piste and continuing down the valley.Not bad snow the whole way although well tracked in some places.Time for a late lunch.
5) After lunch. Up the Lanches chair and down the easy exit from the 'Telegraph Couloir' ridge entrance back to Val Claret. Mixed snow in the high valley with room for a few fresh tracks then onto the face which was also very mixed and well skied.
6) A fast ski across to the bottom of the Aiguille Percee Chair going down the side of the Chardonnet off piste area and the descent to the Aiguille Percee chair from the top of the Grand Huit chair. Room for a few fresh tracks on reasonable soft snow in the sheltered area.
7) We arrived just to late for the Aiguille Percee chair (we watched from half way down as they closed the lift, very annoying) so could not get up to finish on the 'Vallon de la Sache' as we had planned. Instead we headed down to the Chaudannes chair and finally back to Tignes Les Brevieres. The little bit of off piste I tried was well skied, but the piste was in great condition and at after 5pm empty, but for a few late skiers like us. Even the pisteur passed us on his way home as we went down the mountain to the car park by the Gondola station.
An excellent day in the sun. The pistes where we skied around 'Tignes' and over to 'La Daille' were in excellent condition after the recent fresh snowfall. The off piste gave us very mixed skiing and although more tracked than the last time I was in Val d'Isere, we still found some untracked areas. Plus some challenging skiing with soft, light and fluffy snow in many places. With more snow on the way. We shall be back again before the end of the season.
If you are interested in seeing what conditions were like today. Take a look in the Val d'Isere and Tignes 2013 Album a little later.
https://www.facebook.com/LesArcsWinter/photos_albums
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| mountainaddict wrote: |
| Quote: |
| And also fingers crossed that we can ski in and out of Boisse.......Not a problem at the moment |
And has never been a problem on our Mayday weekend trips in the last six years or so! In fact we've always managed to ski down to Les Brevieres (sometimes in total mush/waterskiing) at that time . |
Yep I've been going to Tignes last 2 weeks of April since April 2008 except last season and have never been disappointed, even April 2011 when Prince William got married wasn't *that* bad and that was pants compared to usual.
Can't wait to get out there on 20th as it appears to be a super duper snow season this year.
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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.
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So it sounds like we will be able to ski down from boisse to brev and get the gondola up and ski down to le lac. That is a bonus as we don't have to take a bus before we start skiing.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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chocksaway, yes I have used the Boisse gondola a few times, but I just like the run down to brev as a little loosener to start the day. Also I hope to ski down sashe and get the 4 man back to Boisse
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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.
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| mountainaddict wrote: |
Do you happen to know the pre-July glacier closing/opening dates? And when it re-opens in the autumn? |
Summer opening dates 6th July to 4th August 2013.
I believe winter opening is the end of September 2013. I did get an email confirming winter dates but have deleted it. Do you not get updates from Tignes as you are a owner?
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You know it makes sense.
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This is what Stewart was referring to. From the Mairie. Apologies for the quick google translation but time to go out skiing 
GLACIER LA GRANDE MOTTE: Decrease the period of operation of ski summer and autumn.
The conclusion: the glacier is in bad shape
Summer 1956: 30 to 80m of ice on the Grande Motte. The bottom of the glacier was at the top of the crag above the Combe.
September 1976: we went skiing on the glacier. Races and even bumps. There was also almost a glacier in the arrival of Panoramic!
October 1986: the bottom has already melted terribly. The snow is in short supply.
Summer 1992: The snow is still here, not in large quantities .... The first precursor phenomenon of accelerated melting emerged: the first rocks around the Panoramic appear.
Summer 2003: year of the heatwave in France. The glacier will lose volume over 3m thick ice.
Summer 2005: in June, at 8am, full dodger is already on the summer ski area ....
Summer 2007: the trend is worrying confirmed the disappearance of the track plan.
Summer 2011: the glacier has lost more than 20m in thickness in 10 years (the sector Leisse). Tignes recorded its lowest winter snowfall in 30 years (2.63 m). The track will be closed Leisse all summer. Yet this June 1, Tignes wakes under 40 cm of snow in resort! The glacier is closed earlier than expected for security issues.
August 2, 2012: the arrival of the funicular, 3000 meters above sea level, it is 8 degrees ....
"Glaciers are memorials of climate change. They react particularly strongly and rapidly to global climate change. The desire is to preserve the municipal environmental capital. 7 to 8m of snow are needed to form ice around 1m, depending upon the density of the snowfall "reminds us Trinquier Arnaud, Director of Ski Tignes.
"One of the specificities of the glacier is that it is, since 1963, in two protected areas: the Vanoise National Park and Reserve Tignes Champagny. A position which makes it very complicated extending or modifying the area occupied by the ski area. "
An inevitable development: question of the future
What should we do? Close our glacier as did Sölden in Austria in 2004?
"The Grande Motte glacier is at a turning point in its history and forces us to think about his future. We must find a new life ... The possibilities are fun now reduced. Keep glacier as part of the tourist offer summer with short-term development of new activities on the Grande Motte is a major challenge for the municipality. "Zaragoza says Olivier, Mayor of Tignes.
Thus, the changes will be in the future:
In late winter the mountains of the Grande Motte closes one week after the scheduled Espace Killy.
In summer open chairlifts Lanches (or funicular) and Vanoise from mid-June (ie one week earlier than previously) to open the massive Grande Motte from 6 July this year, up 4 August.
August 10 to September 1, 2013, the massive will open to pedestrians (funicular and cable only).
In the autumn the glacier opening mid-October and other mass along Tignes Val d'Isere late November or early December.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Webcams look divine today. Looking forward to getting out there next week.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Chucking it down in Val D'Isere too. Had to have another beer in the hope that it stops before we walk back for dinner. Been a great week, not least for the powder and trees mornings with the ESF as the only token Brit in otherwise all French groups. Valerie knows where to go!
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| Quote: |
stewart woodward wrote:
chocksaway,
Quote:
Its now snowing again
It's dumping it down
It certainly is!
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Sorry I was in the pub - 3 demis = 3-4 inches of snow.
PS Some of the UK airport forecasts have been amended to show much thicker mist - wouldn't be surprised to see some fog tomorrow in the UK - should still not affect take offs
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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This is all sounding fantastic , April in tignes never disappoints 
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Webcams are looking simply stunning today, I'd love to be up on that glacier *sigh*
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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.
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FAQ
Some pals who are out there just now have only been posting FB pics of tree skiing from what I've seen, so assume they might have been at le Fornet. I'm lucky to have already skied 25 days so far this season, some of them in really shocking conditions so I'm ready to be fairly philosophical about whatever I find and not seek out pointless stuff for the hell of it. 
Tomorrow could be a powder day high up. Although it is now windy in the village with guts up to 80k forecast up top tonight might also be a busy morning for the pisteurs. We ventured as low as La Daille today (the lure of La Rosée Blanche) where there was still big fluffy flakes so no snags with Boisses this weekend me thinks. Vis ranged from not great to blimey who turned the lights out - so popped out for a look round the sales.
