Poster: A snowHead
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Many years ago, whilst descending from Saulire towards Courchevel, the guys I was with made a sudden left turn into some trees. A moment later we were standing on the edge of what they called the hidden or hanging couloir. Right in the middle between pistes and hidden in trees. You stood at the side and to your right was a gap between two rocks about 1.5m wide - too narrow to go through sideways. The only option was to jump down onto the track and shoot between the two rocks. It immediately opened out and you could control your descent. After a short but somewhat exhilarating descent, you suddenly pitched out onto a piste and had to turn right to go down to Courchevel 1800, 1850, I have no recollection which.
I've been back and looked for this hanging / hidden couloir but never found it.
I promise I was sober and had taken no hallucinatory drugs or even smoked weed at the time.
Does anyone know of the existence of this cute well-hidden gem?
Cheers
Huggie Duggie
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Do you mean from Saulire? There aren't many trees coming down from Saulire.
I did a season in Courchevel and spent most of my time off piste and I can't place anything quite as dramatic as you describe. I wonder if it is actually somewhere between 1850 and 1650 dropping down into the valley between. Could just about be over towards La Tania.
Think you are going to have to narrow down the area a bit
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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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I also did a couple of seasons in Courchevel and don't remember anything like you describe. I can't imagine it being on the descent from Saulire to Courchevel because as @jedster says, there are very few trees.
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I appreciate that there are not many trees above pralong, but as I remember, from the altiport @ 2007m down there are lots of trees, though the slope is mainly to the right (looking down) which would not be right.
I looked for it about 5 years ago but couldn't find it
The fact that it was hard to find and that it was thirty years ago when I last skied it makes it all the more difficult to find any information.
However - it was there and I skied it with a group and would love to know if anyone else has been down it?
Have a GREAT day
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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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dougski wrote: |
I appreciate that there are not many trees above pralong, but as I remember, from the altiport @ 2007m down there are lots of trees, though the slope is mainly to the right (looking down) which would not be right.
I looked for it about 5 years ago but couldn't find it
The fact that it was hard to find and that it was thirty years ago when I last skied it makes it all the more difficult to find any information.
However - it was there and I skied it with a group and would love to know if anyone else has been down it?
Have a GREAT day |
I'm a bit hazy on the exact topography but that area that drops off piste between 1800 and 1650 is near the Altiport. I think I've dropped in from the 1650 side down steep gulleys but nothing quite as dramatic as you describe. I'm sorry it was a LONG time ago.
If I were you I'd get hold of FATMAPS and explore virtually
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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I did a couple of seasons in Courchevel and think I've done this one too, or something similar we called Hidden Valley. Short and steep decent onto a track - it was on the 1650 side of the valley between 1650 and Altiport. (Almost due east of Altiport on the map). My route sounds like Jedsters route.
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Not confused with the "Piste Perdue" in Val d'Isere?
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@pam w, no trees at entrace to piste perdue
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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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fifiskis wrote: |
I did a couple of seasons in Courchevel and think I've done this one too, or something similar we called Hidden Valley. Short and steep decent onto a track - it was on the 1650 side of the valley between 1650 and Altiport. (Almost due east of Altiport on the map). My route sounds like Jedsters route. |
That's the one
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surely offpisteskiing will know this?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@8611, initial description doesn't fit with anything, but the hidden valley is probably the best guess from the description - various entries of varying width and steepness, and it spits you out onto Roc Mugnier...
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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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You know it makes sense.
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Piste Perdue is almost flat but great fun. Very different from the "exhilarating" route described, where the start is tight and then opens out. There is a somewhat comparable canyon to the Piste Perdue on the left side of the Marmolada glacier.
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