@joffy69, another (same?) ancient piste map.......
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
@Weathercam, fingers crossed, looking good
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?
Yes, I suppose so, though the red is also marked on google maps, so it must have been pretty official (grande alpe 1, running down the torrent de peytavin)
@joffy69, the Grande Alpe bubble lift running alongside was also dismantled several years ago. I think the piste was called Chalets, and it was there on some of my early visits to SC (probably pre-2006). A bit of detective work suggests the Foret chair lift replaced the drags in 2005.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Well all that lovely snow forecast for today and mid-week has gone
So we'll probably end up with another dribble tonight and on into the early hours.
I'm very leant over this morning after the first thrash (birthday) of the season in the Equilibre, I knew I'd end up in a mess when Johan offered me a genepi as soon as I walked in
So I might well take the e-bike out and see what it's like up the hill, will report back.
Decided on riding the e-mtb up to the Aravet at circa 2,000m and as I suspected quite a bit of traffic had been up there, that said was still a bit technical at times with Ullr on the leash pulling me as he tried to dive off the side after a scent.
I did take him off the leash and then he scarpered off after something and was gone a long time as I heard him barking, and then paranoia set in, as it was a Sunday and there was a good chance of hunters out and about!
So when he finally showed up, just as I started tracking him on the GPS Tractive app, he went back on the leash!
From around 1850m near the hamlet of Goudissard which you ski pass if you make the mistake of taking the long green all the way back down, the snow was a little deeper and up at the Aravet it was not too bad, and parked up was one Polaris 4x4 and a big 4x4 so I suspect hunters!
The last km of the trail passes the garage for the piste bashers on the Marteau and there the piste runs close to the bend and I could see that there the snow canon had been doing their thing with big mounds of snow, and once up at the Aravet more of the same.
They had been bashing the piste and moving snow around a fair bit.
So big question is how much will we see tonight and into the early hours?
If there's 10cm + I could be tempted to go back up there again tomorrow but would need some traffic to bash down the trail before going up on the bike.
Descent was a little tricky and technical in the snow and Ullr, off the leash was ripping it up, with the occasional foray into the forest.
And zoomed in
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
The good news, is that we had 18cm on the terrace last evening
Was very heavy as we walked up from friends last evening circa 22:30 but the clearer air has sucked some of that moisture out.
Also with the better speeds of the recently installed broadband here, have been able to increase the resolution of the Cam feed, and I think now you have the ability to view full screen and zoom which you might not have had before?
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.
@ChrisP71, brilliant stuff, hadn't seen that before, it's placed up high at the dump (decheterie) just outside Monetier, in front is the range used in biathlon, with the XC piste in the foreground, and one of those huts is a swanky new WC the other is an XC check-point.
And @Lovetoski123, temps can go either way, think I said earlier around Dec 29th last year was raining for a few days, but on the whole, December / January is far colder than February. The snow-fall before this one with the cold temps on N facing slopes, on the trees looked as fresh as the day it fell, which was nigh on 5 days ago, and I think it was like that before that snow-fall ?
That said, the snow was consolidating fast (getting heavy) as the temps rose, and the forecast was/is for some light rain, but hopefully, we'll escape that, as temps are now lower than forecast currently.
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
We had quite a leisurely start, almost unheard of for a BlueBird powder day, but I had a cunning plan if a particular lift was closed, as that would mean that there would be very few people in a certain sector.
We still can't quite believe how amazing it was, we had 11 descent in conditions like this in the video, whilst from atop the Crete we could see it getting tracked out everywhere else. We even packed skins, if necessary to get to terrain that was inaccessible by lift but there was no need to use them.
Absolutely fantastic @Weathercam, I hope that's the start of a great season and doggo makes a full and fast recovery!!
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
That looks great. Nice to see the snow has arrived. Where abouts was that section of off piste? Was it an avi risk 4 day yesterday - presumably the relatively shallow gradient is the key thing keeping that safe?
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
@milzibkit, sorry we've signed an NDC
And yes, it was Risk 4 yesterday and we stuck to mellow terrain, but you could still hear mini whooomps in the trees.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Looking like another dump in the progress, see it on the DumpCam live now.
Yesterday had a very pleasant piste ski, and slopes were nigh on deserted, though maybe that could have been due to the uber cold temps -16 up at Bachas.
Outlook the looking more settled, but the good news was that yesterday evening the bashers seemed to be working on the pistes here coming back into resort, probably preparing a base for today's snow and the season really kicking off from this weekend.
Edit having written the above it's stopped snowing, and even worse, it never started again
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?
The last couple of evenings piste bashers have been active, preparing the pistes into resort here for this weekend, when it all really kicks off.
Hopefully in an hour or so I'll find out the state of the cross-country pistes, just hope yesterday's brief spell of rain has not caused too much damage as I doubt that they would have pisted it again.
For those that know the valley, yesterday we ski toured up above the hamlet of Freyssinet, above Les Guibertes, on the South side, the snow was a bit sparse where the sun had been active along with a bit of a crust, plus the weather started to close in, so not great, but the day was memorable for the group of roe deer we encountered.
I've seen whole families of boar up there in the past, and their trails & tracks from one tree to another, but no signs of them this time around, alas I think the feckin hunters might be to blame!
That piste map on previous page brings back memories - I worked in Monetier season 2003/04 - getting across towards Briancon and back was an absolute mission, and the Pre du Bois drag from just below Frejus to top of Casse du Boeuf was vicious! That map would have been accurate at 2004, and probably a few seasons afterwards.
So much easier now with the new chairs (although a bit less.. rustic...) We're not due out until April but once the snow starts to fall I'm always tempted to jump out for a weekend. Enjoy!
Just back from XC up past Le Casset and it was trying to snow as I started, but the return leg was snowing, and then by Les Guibertes viz was difficult, and steamed up glasses & heavy snow-fall resulted in a nice wipe-out into the soft snow as I was trying to negotiate a bend
So coming down hard now see it on the DumpCam
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Decided against the lycra today as it was forecast to dump, went up around 12:00 once it was in full swing, 25cm and counting, it'll be fantastic up there once there's some viz!!!
After all it is free
After all it is free
Well don't think I've witnessed since I've been here in our apartment (Marc 2013) such a dump!
We're almost running out of room to clear the snow on the terrace and garden to make some room for the dogs and for us to get out.
Not too sure how much will be open today, meeting @KenX, up at Monetier at 09:15 once I dig the van out, but it is in the parking below us which is a lot clearer.
Worry is, the forecast has temps rising to +3 and already the snow is heavy here.
Going to finally be a great base though!
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.
Woot woot
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
@Weathercam, what was the forecast?
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Our car park this morning
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.
Hells Bells wrote:
Our car park this morning
Certainly looks like a right dump
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
@Red Leon,
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
leggyblonde wrote:
@Weathercam, what was the forecast?
WePowder said 40cm. Looks about right
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
@BobinCH, @leggyblonde, I'd say about your average snowboarder's crotch judging by how they were attempting to hike
Fantastic ski, stuff I haven't done for nigh on three years!
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Not too shabby a day, though somehow all the vid of @KenX, went South
Always a more detailed weather forecast and conditions report on our
Weather Blog page
But has to be superb up the hill this weekend, the big question is where to go tomorrow afternoon?
For those that don't read the Off-Piste section and the Ski Touring for Wallies thread. This is what we did today following on from yesterday's antics
Pretty nice sortie today, as avy risk still 4/5 opted for two laps (550m each) in one of our favourite sectors, rather than a big climb into more exposed terrain.
That said we followed a track rather than breaking trail, and it went all over the place, into some very questionable terrain, which fortunately had already gone in the last day or two.
The descent(s) were very sweet, and I gave the GoPro 360 to a visiting Swede, and the smile on his face says it all
Looks amazing. Sadly won’t be in SC this year with son in Tignes for season
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Quick update, even though temps are +4 and we've had some drizzle / light rain, don't fret if coming out soon, it's nowhere near as bad as what's been happening in the Northern Alps evidently speaking to a mate in Chamonix today where it's been pouring down for the past 36hrs.
There is more rain in the forecast, Thursday into Friday and then next week look like classic spring conditions with a lot of sunshine.
There's circa 50cm in the valley and whilst consolidating fast, and with the probable rain, the pistes should be in fine condition.
So best piste skiing tactics will be to get first lifts and do the Manchester
We're doing first lifts tomorrow as somebody has finally, after around five years of pontificating bought some GS Race type skis
Up early for the first lifts, as tomorrow looks like another non-starter, with the FL almost as high as the resort.
What is of concern is the biblical amount of rain in the forecast for the back end of next week, the 30th.
And that was exactly the same as a year ago as I was driving to Lyon to get the OH and next week it will be Turin.
I've also looked at other resorts in the French Alps and it's the same
Just hope as ever that the nearer we get so it will disappear?
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Weathercam wrote:
We're doing first lifts tomorrow as somebody has finally, after around five years of pontificating bought some GS Race type skis
After all it is free
After all it is free
@BobinCH, my thoughts exactly
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.
KenX wrote:
@BobinCH, my thoughts exactly
He’s surely dangerous enough waving his GoPro lightsaber around in the backcountry. Now he’s going to be doing it at high speed down the middle of the piste
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
@BobinCH, @KenX, OOCOF *
Just back from first tracks./ first lifts on lovely corduroy pistes on my new S Race GS 10s.
And ironically they opened the Eychauda drag and saw a group scoring lovely untracked lines after traversing all the way to the end.
Now sitting outside Chalet du Lac nice soup & sandwich.
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
