 Poster: A snowHead
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Hello
I thought I posted this yesterday but it seems not. I wondered if any snowheads might be able to help me with a last minute Christmas present wobble!
We are staying in Plan Peisey in March with Esprit Ski (Chalet Hermine) with my parents-in-law. We have agreed to pay for a course of lessons with New Generation for my father-in-law for a combined Christmas/birthday present. I had been assuming without really thinking about it that because Vallandry and Plan Peisey are fairly close together, it would be fine for him to have lessons with New Generation. But the lessons start at the meeting point in Vallandry at 9.15, so I suddenly wondered whether it would be do-able.
I emailed New Generation through the form on their website and they said that it is about a 10 minute walk from Plan Peisey to the meeting point. Can anyone with local knowledge please confirm whether that sounds about right? In ski boots? And is there a bus that my father-in-law could get instead if he didn't fancy the 10 minute warm-up in ski boots?
Alternatively, is it realistic to get the lift up and ski down for a 9.15 start (in early March)?
Thanks very much in advance for any help.
Natalie
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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NatalieG, can't help, but sympathise with the dilemma. BUT if your father in law is a beginner I would not contemplate a 10 minute walk in ski boots before his lesson. If that seemed unavoidable maybe he could walk in ordinary boots, with one of you to help carry all the bits and to take his walking boots in your backpack during the day. Otherwise he is likely to be knackered and sore before he begins.
And if he does end up walking in ski boots, make sure he has cat tracks or similar.
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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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Hi pam w. He's not a beginner (I'm booking him in for their Level 4 lessons) and he's not unfit, but I agree it sounds a bit of a schlep. If there is no bus and skiing over is feasible, I suspect one of us might escort him up the lift and back down the first day just so he's not rushing on his own in an unfamiliar resort.
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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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NatalieG, we went to Plan Peisey two years ago and regularly walked to Vallandry in the evening for a bar / stroll. From an orientation point of view you access Vallandry and Plan Pleisey from a round about, ones 100 yds on the left the other 100yds on the right. From where we were stopping it was probably less than 10 minutes (we were just next to the Vanoise Express) and this was just about on the level. You wouldn't be able to go up the lift and ski down in time for 09:15. Not sure about busses.
I wouldn't have thought it was a huge problem - hope this helps.
We're off there again on 4th Jan so I might add a bit more after that 
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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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Thanks stevew, that does sound reassuring.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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NatalieG, if he's not a beginner that's far easier, and I would have thought he could readily ski with a backpack holding his walking boots and it'll be well worth it for top quality lessons. In decent footwear a 10 minute walk is a nice warm-up.
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The free busses run from 9 am going from plan peisey down to vallandry cinema (near leift) and take 5 mins.
There is an earlier bus at 8:30 that goes to the office de tourisme, but that still leaves a 2 min walk up to the lift but that's more than doable in skiboots.
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NatalieG, perhaps after Day 1 the nice instructor(s) from New Gen would arrange to meet your father in law up the mountain? They would almost certainly be catching the Vallandry 74 chairlift up soon after their 9.15am meeting time. The Peisey 61 chairlift, the nearest to Chalet Hermine, deposits you in the same general area as the Vallandry 74. That would make for a much easier start to the day with less faffing around. The area just below those two chairlift tops is very open, so unless visibility very poor it's easy to see the whole area. Instructors have usually swapped mobile phone numbers with customers on day one, for communication in case of delays, escape attempts, etc.
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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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Thanks tuxpoo and intermediate, I think we will go ahead and book and between the buses and (hopefully) a bit of flexibility about meeting points after the first morning, I'm sure it will work itself out. Thanks all.
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| intermediate wrote: |
| NatalieG, perhaps after Day 1 the nice instructor(s) from New Gen would arrange to meet your father in law up the mountain? They would almost certainly be catching the Vallandry 74 chairlift up soon after their 9.15am meeting time. The Peisey 61 chairlift, the nearest to Chalet Hermine, deposits you in the same general area as the Vallandry 74. That would make for a much easier start to the day with less faffing around. The area just below those two chairlift tops is very open, so unless visibility very poor it's easy to see the whole area. Instructors have usually swapped mobile phone numbers with customers on day one, for communication in case of delays, escape attempts, etc. |
I've done exactly this with new gen - day 1 took the bus and met the insturctor at the meeting point. Day 2 (and all points afterwards) agreed to meet at the entrance to the 2300 lift which is equi-distant between the Vallandry & Peisey lifts.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Thanks bertie bassett, but after all that they have moved the lessons to an 11.30am start time - should be no problem getting there by then (although I imagine it will still be a bit easier to meet up the mountain after the first day if they'll allow it).
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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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The later time also has the benefits of any ice having usually softened up by then and pistes getting gradually quieter after 12, as most people stop for lunch.
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