 Poster: A snowHead
|
| GrahamN wrote: |
| ski, My fantasy skirun would be the top half of the VB and the bottom half of the Vallons de la Meije. |
 you mean the bit where you have to fight your way down a slushy path? ok, it's a more interesting slushy path than the one at the bottom of the VB, but it still has no place in a fantasy run of mine!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
|
|
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?
|
easiski,
There is no alternative to the arrete unless you go via Helbronner which might include a nice pitch into the classic VB path itself but thereafter it is a jaunt through the merging glaciers which whilst visually stunning doesn't hold much skiing appeal. IMV the best routes are the Envers and the like which means you will have to navigate the arrete. The conditions of which, of course, varies and crampons are a good idea or the guide might rope you. They bank the walk down the Italian so a fall is mostly a long slide although it is traversable if you want and the path isn't too crowded. It would be very hard to get into a position to fall down the French side IMV.
If you want to do it you will have to steel yourself for a roped up situation but plenty of people just walk through the channel in ski boots and the Guides dance around on top of the ridge without a care berateting people for being up there without sufficient equipment.
Its well worth doing but only you can say how much your vertigo will hamper you
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
easiski, Come over, your game is over-coming fear too? It's easy, swallow some of your own medicine! 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ski, Crowds? I'm outside the lift, playing table tennis with myself!
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
easiski, I hate ridges too. I don't suffer vertigo, just Paralysing Panic. My solution has been to get behind a lady with an attractive bum, and fix my eyes on it. Never look down. Keep walking. And concentrate on that rear bumper.
You might prefer a pert bloke bum, but the principle is the same. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I'm no way an expert and the last thing I want to do is walk down a snowy ridge in ski boots, carrying skis, roped to 6 other idiots with a sheer drop to Chamonix one one side but I did it 3 years ago and despite the route taken by the guide being a tough one (according to him and he did fall over a couple of times) it was well worth it. easiski, screw your courage to the sticking plate and give it a go. An awesome trip!
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
SMALLZOOKEEPER, that's a popular mis-conception. Vertigo has nothing to do with fear. It's an ear/balance thing that gets triggered off in certain places. Not always the same places, but for sure, somewhere like that arete. The point is that as you become dizzy, your legs shake and you feel sick (not always all 3, but I've been near to fainting once or twice), you do become much more likely to have a fall or slip as your balance is severely disturbed. I figure I could manage the path in the photo if I looked steadfastly at my feet and the snow wall but ....
Jonpim, But where to find one with all these lardy boys???
ski, Thanks - I get a bit woozy everytime I set off on the Vallons de la Meije - It just looks as if the whole world's dropping away from you!
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
If the only choice is from Helbronner then it is worth doing, its just that I would want to start from the midi and do one of those routes. Once you get to the path I maintain that the scenery is the thing as the skiing part has long gone
GrahamN, I've always thought the worst part about the ridge is the crowds, I've seen people ski it to avoid them.
Carrying seems a good idea and why did I expect Jonpim to mention pert bums... 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
Please, let's not get into a 'VB is better (or not) than LG' 
.......they're both wonderful 
! How much weight did you say you were going to lose, Charlotte?
