 Poster: A snowHead
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When we finished our week in La Grave last year, the six of us all agreed we were coming back. Who knew we would get one of the best weeks of the season…
It all started beautifully:
In the first gondola, our guide, Pierre, told us we would start slowly. Then at the top, he said “when it’s good it’s good, let’s do something steep”. So here we are on our first run, entering Triffide 0.5:
Good thing that La Grave is flat:
Then again, in the afternoon we played in La Voute. The rappel:
Richard enjoys his run:
Then it snowed and some of us were happy:
…and it snowed more in the night…
Leading to stuff like this:
Me:
Arno:
irbis:
(there’s a lot more where those came from)
We did small stuff such as Les Freaux (first tracks):
Or Chirouze left - first tracks all the way down:
Arno starting:
Or - why the hell not? - a whole day all alone skiing the Face Sud (after skinning up along the closed draglift), then skinning up towards Glacier de la Selle, and then skiing down to St Christophe:
though we managed to make it look busy:
Vicky and Irbis:
I think we fell in love with Pierre. We definitely look up to him:
He likes us too:
Gives us climbing tips:
Saves us good lunch spots:
And when he can’t stand us anymore he just steps on the gas pedal and faces the mountain alone:
As the temperature rose and the sun came up, we went on the catwalk:
“What the Well-Dressed Gentleman is wearing”
…skied down this couloir to Pierre’s house in Villar d’Arene:
(photo by irbis)
…once had to turn back due to an unexpectedly loaded slope…this led to the worst crust we’ve ever skied (note Arno’s technique in the background):
On the last day we toured to Dome du Monetier and then skied back down to Monetier, not before having to unexpectedly rappel one more time:
But it was worth it…
Arnaud (not Arno!) at sunset:
Thanks to Arno, irbis, Arnaud, Richard and Vicky, and of course to Pierre, for an amazing week. Guys, you should also post some of the pics you took!
I also should add something. The snowpack for a good part of this season and for that particular week has been dodgy in many areas of the Alps (although apparently not quite as bad in La Grave). Pierre is an extremely experienced guide and discusses extensively with us his choice of lines, the reasons why, the mitigating factors and our own strategy to reduce risks and cope with them. He also turned around twice when judging the risk to be too high, even though that meant skiing in much poorer (but safe) conditions once - of course none of us complained. We did some great lines but we always felt that a lot of thought went into the choice, and that we were not just taking blind risks.
I leave you with some scenic photos:
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Fantastic shots - thanks for posting.
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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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Love the photos and captions. Thanks for sharing!
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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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It's a special place right enough, you are a jammy b$*&$%d to have such good snow conditions. Great report and photographs, thank you for sharing.
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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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Very much enjoyed looking at your great pics. Thanks.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@horizon, great pics and stories. You struck gold with conditions!
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Wow. Just wow. Thank you. 
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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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Excellent, fab photos - thanks for sharing 
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As off piste virgin I look at pictures in amusement, horror and envy - all at the same time
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Beautiful! Thank you for sharing!! What a brilliant week
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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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Thanks for sharing!
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Great stuff. Thanks for sharing.
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You know it makes sense.
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Great report and photos, thank-you so much.
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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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Love that
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Poster: A snowHead
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Do you have contact details for "Pierre"?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Superb 👏. Thanks
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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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Great pics/report on one of the finest places on earth
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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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Great photo's, keeping it wild 
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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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@horizon, you were scoring the best week of the season according to the guide I was with at the same time you were in La Grave.
It's been 20 years now since I first skied/boarded with him in LG.
And he was in on/off contact with his family who live in La Grave so he was getting first hand accounts of the conditions, and he had to be diplomatic to his clients (us) when telling us and not instill FOMO*
That said we too had a fantastic week way down Sarf overlooking the Mediterranean, with comments from the team such as "best ever"...
*FOMO "Fear of missing out"
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Thanks everyone, glad to see that the report is appreciated. And yes @Grandma Sunshine, I am a jammy b$*&$%d!
@galpinos, it's Pierre Rizzardo. I'll PM you his email.
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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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@horizon, Now if you could just bring those conditions to the EoSB 
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Great report and pics.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Good report.
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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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Stunning, will have to head back there soon.
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FAQ
