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ESF - good for off-piste?
 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead

Didn't realise ESF did gnarly off-piste. Never skied with them myself, but I saw a small ESF party head towards Mickey's Ears Couloir in Tignes last season with no back packs on but hopefully with transceivers. They disappeared by the time we climbed up and dropped in.

Any Snowhead ski with them off-piste before and what is their approach to safety?
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person

Kit Wong,
Probably depends on the ESF but I have had excellent guiding bu UIAGM guides with ESF Monetier in Serre Che who took safety very seriously.
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ski holidays
 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?

Feb 2005 in Tignes. Snow conditions, no recent snowfalls, all the easy to access off-piste was heavily skiied and resembled bumpy and rutted piste. The Ski Club got an ESF guide for a half-day.

At the meeting point, near the Aeroski base, the ESF man taked about possibilities and said maybe Mickey's Ears, but first another area to see the group's capabilities. I do not remember any discussion of safety issues or any checks of safety equipment. I rather suspect I was the only one with transceiver, shovel and probe. Most of the group did not have a backpack, the ESF man did have one. Went up Palafour, turn right at its top and down off piste back towards Palafour base. Do not know the name of the area, but looking right from the chair there is a large face a few hundred metrea away. It appears to have a snow covered pond at the bottom, at least there is a very flat area ajdacent to what appears to be a avalanche barrier. There is a huge wall that is too regular to be natural and has its open end is away from the chair lift. We skied across the flat and climbed the wall.

Clearly the group did not meet Mickey's high standards, so we did Palafour and Grattalou and then joind the queue climbing up to the big Chardonnet couloir. Normally this makes a nice run down but that day many previous skiers had packed it down so it was soft and bumpy but not big mogols.
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 You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.

I have skied with an ESF Mountain Guide in Les Arcs. Very serious guy...very good skier, unlike me Embarassed We were all kitted out with Ortovox, and skill level assessment and briefing were lengthy.
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Kit Wong, within the ESF equip in La Rosiere are a number of mountain guides, Simon Atkinson the deputy director is a keen ski tourer.
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 You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.

I think we just got unlucky but the worst ever 2 hrs for paid instruction/off piste guiding was with an ESF instructor in the 3 valleys. The friend I went with worked in Geneva at the time and he was most apologetic - it was a farce. If I did it again with ESF I'd make sure we got a proper off-piste guide/instructor.
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

Adrian, Mickey's Ears is not a difficult couloir. Once you get passed the steep entry(I believe there are 2)......


...the rest, is relatively straightforward. Within the capabilities of most intermediates as long as they don't get freaked out at the top.


DB, it can be a bit hit and miss even with 'proper' off-piste guides. Last guide I used in Tignes handed out transceivers(I had one already), but failed to check that they were transmitting or that the guide's transmitter could receive, before setting out.
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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!

Kit Wong, nice photos, is that a freind of yours? Have seen Mickey's Ears from way below but never skiied it. On your original question, a few years ago I skiied with an ESF teacher from Courcheval and another from Meribel. In both cases in the ESF's Ski Decoverte" (ski discovery) programme. We went to some interesting off piste areas in the 3V. Had about 5 days over 3 holidays and I do not recall having any transceivers in the group. Several people had rucksacs but they were for carrying lunch.

The ESF site for Val d'Isere has http://www.esfvaldisere.com/UKhorspiste.php offering off piste guiding.
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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.

Quote:

Kit Wong, nice photos, is that a freind of yours?
Looks like I'll have to try better with the disguise next time Cool
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 Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads

When I first saw the pics I thought it was a ghost or the ready-brek kid. Madeye-Smiley
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 snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

That just looks sooo nice. *Whines like a lost puppy*
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 Darky
Darky
Guest
That ugly figure is ruining a nice photograph!

Scarpa, rolling eyes Stop....

And you keep ya own damn choccy biccys! hehhee

wink
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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

Darky wrote:
That ugly figure is ruining a nice photograph!

Scarpa, rolling eyes Stop....

And you keep ya own damn choccy biccys! hehhee

wink



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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.

Never used ESF for off-piste, always gone for UIAGM who I've always been impressed with. Even if their skiing isn't the hottest, hottest, it is bomb-proof and their mountain craft inspires confidence.
Can't imagine a poor ESF skier though, but whether they would be the choice for off-piste, I'm not sure.
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

Many ESFs have high mountain guides working for them. Lots of them that I know are qualified both as guides and nationals so do whatever comes along. As long as the ESF taking you is a guide I don't see any problem. You should always ask about safety devices if you're going anywhere dodgy! don't be shy!!!
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