Here in Serre Che we have rain pretty well every day since Friday with the FL coming down from around 2,600 to circa 1,900m along with strong winds at altitude.
Yesterday took the dogs for a walk whilst there was a break from the rain and sending the dogs all over the place with one of those ball throwers that lets you catapult it far further than you could throw.
Four or so hours later Kiki the mother went lame pretty bad, which seemed bizarre for it to take so long, or maybe she heard us talking about the possibility of a ski tour should conditions be good and decided to pull a sickie
The morning started off cloudy, at the top of the valley (Lautaret end) it was enveloped in low dense cloud, so that ruled out going up that way. Our next option should the weather clear would be to see how far we could drive up the Granon road.
Cloud slowly dissipated and we slowly got our gear together which for the first sortie of the season is always a major faff, new batteries in transceivers, changing FirstAid kit from a tropical one to a mountain one and a whole load of other kit to get together.
As the cloud can be so localised we still could not be sure until we were near the Granon turn off.
Last couple of km road was a tad gnarly and you do get paranoid about getting stuck all the way up there, so have to be sensible and turn around and park up rather than trying to drive another 300m in ever-deepening snow.
We parked up at 2,136m and then skinned up the snow-covered road till we turned off and headed up the mountain.
Snow was very deep in places where it was blown into gulleys and heavy to skin through, the better option was to skin up exposed ridges where there was not too much snow but was very cold with a strong wind blowing.
After 45 mins Beanie was having issues with the cold and deep snow with snow building up in balls in her nether regions and her face, so I tried with her around my neck but that was none too successful so she ended up in the backpack!
Ski down was not as good as one had hoped, but hey I'm being really fussy, if it were not for Beanie we probably would have gone for the summit and had a better steeper ski, but also those first turns in a varied windblown pack and with a dog in the backpack I think one could be excused for being a tad cautious
So pics
And a photo of where we parked up, by the time we got back down a lot of snow had melted and we were very much in the sun, which can be an issue as people drive up thinking road is clear and they turn a bend into shadow and suddenly they find themselves in axle-deep snow.
And the Granon road is one of the steepest in France at well over 10%.
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Mon 6-01-20 16:41; edited 6 times in total
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Fab
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?
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
fantastic.....that's really living life to the max!!!!!!!!!!.................one day rodney
After all it is free
After all it is free
@Weathercam, amazing pics. What's in your FirstAid Winter Pack? I should make one as well...
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
Great stuff Weathercam - I have hiked with a dog in my pack (worn out paw pads on a very long, very rocky route...) but never skied with one
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Excellent work. Bet pup goes straight for the backpack next time!
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
stunning photos, that scenery just takes your breathe away ( along with the cold) You guys sure are living the dream ! Keep up with the posts - make all envious.
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.
@Weathercam, Great pics. Love that doggy, cute as buttons.
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
@Weathercam, fab pics. Hope beanie is feeling better
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
That's a proper doggy-bag, thanks for sharing.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
@Weathercam, Your doggo has better ski trips than me. great piccies.
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Great pics, especially those with the dog in the pack. Hope she thawed out OK
I love seeing your trip reports but you are way more adventurous then I could ever be - I would be too worried about what might go wrong up there! Does anyone else know where you have gone when you go out like this or are you completely on your own (I realise there are two of you but still..)?
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
brilliant photos
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?
Nice photos. At the start of last week I biked across the tops from Granon to Croix du Toulouse overlooking Briancon. Dry and sunny then.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Yesterday we went exploring to see what conditions were like, and how far we could drive up one of our favourite valleys for a planned ski tour for today.
We opted for one of our more usual spring ski tour routes as it did not look too wind affected and the snow line was not too bad a hike to get to, plus we could drive all the way to the start of the climb something we can never do normally.
We were quite encouraged by the snow yesterday as temps have not been above zero so it was still really light, and it was more of the same today as we climbed up, and not at all wind affected.
Both dogs were with us as you can see, and there were no issues as the snow was not too deep plus when the powder is so light it's not an issue for them.
Apart from the dogs and the OH a friend joined us who will be 70 soon, he only really started ski touring last year, so was a great effort by him.
Have to say the snow was superb and we all agreed that you just felt like you were skiing really well as it was so easy and the terrain is so much fun.
I should add that we call this place Telly Tubby Land with the rolling grassy hills, great for limited snow cover!
And some idiot managed to ski all the way back down to the van
After all it is free
After all it is free
Look great!!
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.
I really enjoy your posts. You guys really are living the life!
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
brilliant
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Hotdogger..... makes one insanely jealous doesn t it......
Oh well one day.....
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.
Weathercam,
That looks brilliant! Great to see the doggies enjoying themselves as well!
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
Very cool, beautiful rolling hills. 70 year old rookie. Love it.
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Yesterday we ski toured in resort and above 1,800m powder was deep, and I was struggling breaking trail, for the Rando Chiens coming back down they did have some difficulty when leaving the skin track, and then once back on it discovered that it was way better
@Weathercam, i want to be your neighbour in a few more years...
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
After nigh on 100cms of snow fell yesterday, which as temps were just above zero was a tad heavy, overnight was a clear sky and is so often the way the snow fairies worked hard overnight and into the early hours to transform it into nigh on JapPow.
Twas only a short tour as going was hard in the deep snow, plus tad concerned as to how the dogs would find it, but as you can see they were fired up
Love the way you got Mrs Weathercam to break trail..........20m? Mrs Dodger refuses point blank in fresh snow or is that period....!
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?
@Weathercam, how does the clear night skies affect the snow/piste quality in December to April nights, vs cloudy skies?
I remember reading smth related to more fluffy snow?
With the high pressure and lack of fresh snow and the recent strong winds we've been waiting for Spring Snow conditions which the Jacks are far better suited for.
The actual climb they loved as a week ago on the same climb I saw a family of wild boar so there were loads of scents about.
In the video, you can see Beanie accelerating after me as I let the skis go a little once I'd sussed the snow-pack
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
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