 Poster: A snowHead
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Is it worth doing or is it a bit contrived and more trouble than enjoyment ?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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There's a whole lot of traversing.....
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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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Yes, certainly worth doing, especially if you ski well enough to do the North face of Bellecote down the classic route (assuming it is safe to do, that day). Normally lots of people do it and they divide you into groups of similar standard, or you can make up a group yourself, if there are enough of you.
You need to start early and take sandwitches to eat on the way, or you won't get round in time and will miss out on the other best descent round the back of the Aiguille Rouge (Les Arcs) at the end of the trip. (Or if you don't ski so well, or the avalanche danger is high, you might anyway do a variant of the black Villaroger run).
Yes, there is quite a lot of time spent traversing along one side of a valley and skating down a track (but it is remote and beautiful and no problem). Less enjoyably quite a lot of time is taken crossing La Plagne on fairly uninteresting pistes and long lifts and there are two short minibus rides. But there are some stunning descents and you spend a lot of time very far from any piste and any resort in wild landscapes. Last time I did it (I've done it twice - but some time ago) an American in my group said it was the best days skiing of his life (despite really bad, old snow), which in my view very much overstates it. But yes, it is worth doing, especially if you have had limited experience of more adventurous skiing with guides away from it all.
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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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I have tried it twice but unfortunately both times we missed out on the runs off the back of the Auiguille Rouge because we ran out of time.
You do need a pretty strong group to do the classic route. When I did it also, the ski schools were taking a number of groups all on the same day and on the first long traverses, they insisted people were so spread out because of avalanche risk, that it took some time to get everybody across, particularly as one or two groups were very slow. They do take people with limited off piste experience which can lead to things slowing down. I seem to recall both times were on a Thursday.
My advice would be to see if you can get a guide to take you on a day when there are fewer groups on the route. That way you will have more chance of completing the whole thing.
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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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Well worth doing. The Tignes - Champagny section does have alot of traversing, but your well away from any resort - great views onto N Face of Grande Casse & the Aiguille/Pointes de L'Epena/Grande Gliere etc. Any day which features a descent on the Bellecote North Face is a good day... and there's a great little caf at the bottom to have a quick drink while waiting for the bus to Peisey-Nancroix.
My advice would be not to do it with EV2 though - big groups, charging all over the place, trashing the X-country track at Champagny ("Respect the Mountain" yeah right).
It is a big day though - needs a strong group to finish with an off-piste down to Villaroger...
As mentioned above early in the week will be quieter than later.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Yes, good advice, richjp. If you don't have to wait for slower groups you will have a better time and get to do the full tour. Alpine Experience guides often take clients on the tour and will put you in a group of similar standard if there are too few of you to make a group
Last edited by You'll need to Register first of course. on Fri 15-08-08 14:40; edited 1 time in total
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Do you end up skiing in both Tignes & Paradiski areas? If so do you need to by a day ticket for each - seems like it would be expensive....
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snowsparkle2, yes. I can't remember how they deal with that.
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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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snowsparkle2, If you have an espace killy 6 day pass you get a free day in paradiski.
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Sorry a bit dim here - can someone describe, or show a map of the route from start to finish.... I recognise the La Plagne and Arcs bits, but its been a while since I skied Tignes, so not sure how the two connect.
Ta
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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offpisteskiing, and vica versa
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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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Make your way to Val Claret (perhaps from Val d'Isere, perhaps from Tignes) and take the right hand lifts to the Col du Palet and go over the top - continuing a long way down the right side of the valley till you finally hit a cross country skiing track which you follow for a mile or two. You reach a restaurant at the end of a tiny road and take a minibus a short way to the back (south) of the La Plagne area at the Champagny lift. Cross La Plagne to the top of Bellecote. traverse left, and go over the edge (north face) down to les Lanches where you catch another minibus to the lifts at Peisey. Cross Les Arcs ski area and, depending on time and ski ability ski down the back of the Aiguille Rouge from the Grand Col to Villaroger (or the piste or off piste from Aiguille Rouge summit). Minibus/bus back up to Val / Tignes.
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You know it makes sense.
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offpisteskiing, sorry to divert, but with those offers for a days skiing in Paradiski with the Espace Killey lift pass is it 6 days skiing in EK and then 1 day in Paradiski or is it 5 days in EK and then the 6th day is Paradiski. Cheers.
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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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| snowball wrote: |
| Make your way to Val Claret (perhaps from Val d'Isere, perhaps from Tignes) and take the right hand lifts to the Col du Palet and go over the top |
From Tignes Val Claret take the Tichot lift and then the Col du Palet drag lift(This is the left hand lift). This is the Col from where most people start.
It's a great day out and beside great skiing you might be lucky to see lots of wild animals.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Christopher, it's usually 6 days in total in terms of lift pass - if you go to Paradiski, you only get 5 days in ES
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| nbt wrote: |
| Christopher, it's usually 6 days in total in terms of lift pass - if you go to Paradiski, you only get 5 days in ES |
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Do you end up skiing in both Tignes & Paradiski areas? If so do you need to by a day ticket for each - seems like it would be expensive....
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Does that means doing the tour would use up 2 of those 6 days (1 for Tignes and 1 for Paradiseski) or just 5?
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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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dsoutar, It's a crackin' Summer scramble 
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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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| abc wrote: |
Does that means doing the tour would use up 2 of those 6 days (1 for Tignes and 1 for Paradiseski) or just 5? |
Did you mean "or just 1"?
It is too long since I did it, I can't remember. Anyone?
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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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If the above is the Tarentaise Tour, what is the route from Tignes to Champagny called?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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If you see my description of the route a bit up the page you will see that Champagny is about a third of the way round.
Last edited by You'll need to Register first of course. on Thu 10-09-09 12:05; edited 1 time in total
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snowball, oops 
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| Quote: |
abc wrote:
Does that means doing the tour would use up 2 of those 6 days (1 for Tignes and 1 for Paradiseski) or just 5?
Did you mean "or just 1"?
It is too long since I did it, I can't remember. Anyone?
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If you buy a 6 day EK pass, you can have a free day in Paradiski and Trois Vallees.
These can be the same days or different - it doesnt matter.
I have done this where we skied in 3V, EK and PS all in the same day - all for no extra charges.
You need to ensure that you take your ski pass paper receipt with you (don't lose it at start of week) - they punch holes in it, so they know that you have had your free day for that week in 3V or PS.
Just take your paper receipt and EK pass to a lift office in 3V or PS and ask for you free day pass - it is very simple and very quick.
Its called Espace Olympique (started in '92 Olympics year)
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FAQ
