 Poster: A snowHead
|
|
We’ve had a few sparse sprinklings of snow up high this Autumn so far, but the forecast for the next day or two is reasonable snow to a relatively low level, my season pass has been renewed, winter tyres on, snow chains are in the boot, and in a month time we should be skiing. It’s time to start up the Pyrenees 22/23 thread!
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
|
|
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.
|
@luigi, yes I noticed that. Nice to see. Hopefully, it comes to fruition.
I’m about to go out for a walk so will try to get a photo or two.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mostly melted now but nice to see.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Looking good! Is that the slopes above El Tarter, the big X? That still looks pretty white, are they already firing the snow cannons up there?
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
| hammerite wrote: |
| winter tyres on, snow chains are in the boot |
I don't want to divert the thread too far, but noticed your comment.
We're looking to rent a car from BCN, which don't seem to have winter equipment, and driving up to Encamp. What is the legal requirement in Andorra and how is it enforced?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@luigi, yes it’s above El Tarter. No snow cannons running yet that’s just from Friday’s snow. They won’t run them for a while. It’s a waste as temps are still pretty high here most of the time.
If you’re in a car not registered in Andorra, you need to have winter equipment (chains or socks). Enforcement is patchy I suspect. But if the weather is bad, the police pull over every foreign car and force them to put chains or socks on. Probably a fine if you don’t have them but I don’t know for sure. I really only need to have winter tyres on my Andorran registered car by law, but I have to go up a 4km/400m climb to get to work so I’ve got them just in case.
Are you staying in Encamp? It’s where I live.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
| hammerite wrote: |
Are you staying in Encamp? It’s where I live. |
Sent you a PM 
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
@luigi, did Barcelona Soldeu last year, with lots of good tips from the very generous @hammerite
Couldn't get snow tyres on rental out of Barcelona, don't think car had chains either so bought snow socks in one of the petrol stations in Andorra town. There's a few as the road climbs up past the town with a big selection of tyres and snow socks. Prior to that there was only one small climb into snow and one petrol station with a limited selection.
If you've not done before you check the code on the side of the tyre and buy chains or socks to match. Highly recommend the socks, very easy to put on.
The logjam that followed into Soldeu and the crazy Andorran civilians in the souped up off road vehicles pulling people out were a sight to behold!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 8611 wrote: |
@luigi, did Barcelona Soldeu last year, with lots of good tips from the very generous @hammerite
Couldn't get snow tyres on rental out of Barcelona, don't think car had chains either so bought snow socks in one of the petrol stations in Andorra town. There's a few as the road climbs up past the town with a big selection of tyres and snow socks. Prior to that there was only one small climb into snow and one petrol station with a limited selection.
If you've not done before you check the code on the side of the tyre and buy chains or socks to match. Highly recommend the socks, very easy to put on.
The logjam that followed into Soldeu and the crazy Andorran civilians in the souped up off road vehicles pulling people out were a sight to behold! |
I was thinking they would sell them somewhere along the way. Can you remember roughly how much they were?
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
I think maybe 30 or 40 euro. I kept them and use them at home (on a different sized tyre  ) to make short journeys into the mountains for the few inches we get
No real solution, in terms of buying them cheaper online in advance, as you won't know what your rental tyre size is
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
@luigi, I was shopping around for something earlier and noticed the stacks of snow chains being sold in the supermarkets. They should be easy enough to get hold of if you pass when the supermarkets are open (9-9 usually). The garages do sell a reasonable range too most close at 10pm but there’s a couple of 24hr ones. The only other possible problem is if you end up with a more obscure tyre size.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
As a general rule only**... How snowsure on average is Grandvalira at end of Dec?
** I know its a "how long is a piece of string?" question
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
@adithorp, I’ve not lived here long enough to give you a definitive personal answer, but I know people who have been instructors here for 20+ years and on the whole they say that it’s fine for the end of December. Like anywhere there can be blips in what would be the norm.
There are a lot of north/west facing slopes and snow making is generally pretty good too if needed. It does need to cool down a bit for the snow making capabilities to be useful, but up above 2,000m it looks like temps are heading in the right direction now. Snow is forecast for the weekend too.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
| hammerite wrote: |
| Snow is forecast for the weekend too. |
Woohoo!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
@hammerite, thanks. Booked now for El Tartar, boxing day through NewYear, so we'll see. Fingers crossed it's good and if its terrible, there's always mountain biking... know any good bike hire shops? 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@adithorp, I was there pre Christmas last year, around 11th December, it was grand (albeit I went because there was a big dump forecast). Like I suspect every major resort in the Alps now they've snow making so really absent an extended period of unseasonal high pressure preventing their operation I can't see it not being good. And that is probably as likely to happen elsewhere as it is there. So its kind of sky falling on your head type worry.
Enjoy I'm jealous!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
lol, whoops I've jinxed him now so!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hello hello hello and welcome to another year of Pyrenean snow watching!
A look at the webcams shows a few inches of dusting in Andorra at the moment; the good news is that it’s cold at the moment (even down here near Barcelona) and a decent snowfall (30-40cm) is forecast for Monday and Tuesday. Then a mild thaw before getting colder again.
Will it be enough snow for the traditional season opener holiday of la purísima (6-8 Dec - where seemingly the entire nation of Spain clogs the roads into mountains)? We’ll see. This year the bank holidays fall on the Tuesday and Thursday, which is good as it should mean that traffic will be more spread out over the week.
I’m currently planning to head up for a couple of days that week. Not sure the off-piste will be up to much but hopefully the groomers will be in reasonable shape!
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
|
|
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.
|
Definitely looking a lot whiter on the cams after the snow in Andorra this week...
https://www.bergfex.com/grandvalira/webcams/
I like this site, they keep an archive of webcam still shots, so you can toggle back through previous days and see the snow arriving and cannons firing
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
@luigi, I’ve become a dab hand with Google Translate! Annoyingly, they’re teasing us still as to whether Arcalís will be open this weekend - still none the wiser. I have, however, downgraded my football viewing plans just in case the area is open. A quiet few beers watching rather than a mad one.
And yes, the snow was coming along nicely, but we had a fair bit of rain on Tuesday afternoon and it’s impacted what had fallen previously. It’s been mild-ish since too. That should change tomorrow with a bit of snow which again will probably go with some warm temps over the weekend. Thankfully, it looks like next week should be cold with a bit of snow here and there - but probably more importantly the ability to keep the snow cannons running for longer.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
| hammerite wrote: |
@luigi, I’ve become a dab hand with Google Translate! Annoyingly, they’re teasing us still as to whether Arcalís will be open this weekend - still none the wiser. I have, however, downgraded my football viewing plans just in case the area is open. A quiet few beers watching rather than a mad one.
And yes, the snow was coming along nicely, but we had a fair bit of rain on Tuesday afternoon and it’s impacted what had fallen previously. It’s been mild-ish since too. That should change tomorrow with a bit of snow which again will probably go with some warm temps over the weekend. Thankfully, it looks like next week should be cold with a bit of snow here and there - but probably more importantly the ability to keep the snow cannons running for longer. |
One my friends when skimo at Arcalis this past Saturday. His verdict. Enough snow to get up, but still pretty dodgy coming down.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
| luigi wrote: |
Any opinions on whether bringing all Andorra ski areas under one liftpass is a positive move for skiers or not??  |
IMHO Yes.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
Is the brining together a good thing? I like the huge area but adult pass this year is around 300euro (Access via Pas). That is similar to 3Valleys.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
@ysb33r, yeah, didn’t bother trying to get out but then they decided not to risk opening the lifts anyway.
The snow yesterday and today should make a big difference plus the cold temps for most of this week should mean the cannons can run for a good proportion.
@earl, I don’t think it was much less than that last season anyway for Grandvalira.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
Arcalís opens tomorrow a whole day earlier than planned.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Switching it up with a season pass for Grandvalira rather than Baqueira.
Looking forward to skiing more of the other areas in Andorra now included on the pass.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First day out today. Skied Soldeu and El Tarter because they’ve not opened the lifts to link over to Grau Roig/Pas yet. Not many pistes open but what was open was enjoyable. Snow was patchy in a few places and it started to get a bit stoney on the Gall de Bosc near the bottom.
It was snowing when we finished in Soldeu and was still snowing when we left at about 7pm.
Tomorrow Encamp, Grau and Pas. The lift company are saying that they’ll not open much more until later in the week.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
Decent bit of snow last night and this morning. Probably about 10-15cm in places. As usual though when it snows in Andorra there was a decent breeze so there were still plenty of wind blown pistes today and probably still not enough down to make off piste worthwhile.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hi all. We are branching out to Formigal this year, in 2 weeks time. Webcams are certainly showing things getting whiter. That doesn’t show depth though. And I was curious that I haven’t seen any snow cannon working, I thought they would be loading up for an early Dec opening.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
