 brian
brian
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All, GrahamN's hotel suggestion looks fine: sauna, jacuzzi, 4 course meals included at €56 pppn, an in depth wine list and the malts have got to swing it 
http://www.hotel-edelweiss.com/
I'd rather share to keep costs down (single rooms are €20 pppn suppl), especially as it looks like I'll be hiring a car for one.
I found an e-mail address for Francois Pinatel, shall I drop him a line and see if he's free ?
David Murdoch, are you and Sophie thinking 1st weekend or 2nd ?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Quote: |
| Only 2 trips sorted for definite. Need to remedy that |
Quite. Now this is in place, I can think about what else. I'm probably going to try and get a week in St Anton with Snoworks in Jan, and probably another sneaky weekend early Feb (probably Cham again). So I hope not to need much of a warm up. Then just need to plan in another tour of some variety, and probably the EoSB...and maybe squeeze in another week somewhere? Decisions decisions. BTW - to try and give you guys some idea of my level, last year I was pretty happy on the Lac and Banane couloirs; I didn't get to look at Triffides, but from what I've heard about it I doubt I'm quite up to that.
So now we've pretty much all taken the first plunge, what do we want to do about the guide situation. JT and I will need to think a little more carefully about what to do for the tail end of the week as hiring a guide every day just between the two of us - unless anyone else fancies coming out for the 2nd half of the week - is going to work out a bit pricey.
DM - have you managed to talk to Grumpy yet (or did you let her sleep in all weekend) and got any idea on if/when you're going to be around?
But we're a full complement for Sat-Mon. Do we:
a) do it ESC-style and follow Arno as primus inter pares (albeit some some of us may be not quite as pares as the rest of you)?
b) check out Charlotte's radical man
c) try for Arno's regular
d) go for someone else
e) put off a decision until too late to do anything else than pick up someone on the day .
As he's the one who knows the area best I'm happy to take Arno's steer on this one. I would think his offer of a) for the Saturday would suite me fine - I've done the classics, and also some around the back of the Sarenne in ADH with a guide, but never pay quite enough attention to really know where I am when being guided  . Any preferences for the remaining two days? Any thoughts on how you want to play your last day, Brian?
Arno, it's also way to early to have to think about it, but since we're getting excited, do you think touring gear is an advantage for getting to interesting places there? It wasn't obvious to me that it was last year. It's actually not an issue for me as I use a touring setup for pretty much all my on-snow skiing, but maybe something to think about when thinking about what gear to bring/hire?
[Add]
Brian - the room I was in there last year actually had a double bed and two singles, so depending on how friendly we want to be (no I'm not suggesting 4 in such an arrangement ), it might work out quite reasonable. Can't remember if the prices are different for 3 sharing or 2. Actually, given there're 5 of us definite so far, a 3 and a 2 may work out.
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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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brian, I think edelweiss makes a lot of sense. I've only eaten there (which was good) but it seemed about right in terms of comfort and price. Happy to share rooms. Since it's in La Grave it makes hiring kit on the first morning a bit more straightforward. There are a couple of decent kit shops in LG.
I'm more than happy to go with Francois if he's free. As has been said, he's a real character and a great skier.
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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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GrahamN, good question. My skis have touring bindings on them and I'll probably chuck in skins just in case.
For La Grave, there is loads of stuff you can do without skins. Also it's one of the few places where you can hire decent skis with touring bindings without too much difficulty.
In ADH, skins can be handy both to get to places at the top of the resort and to get back up to the Col du Sarenne if you don't want to use a taxi. However, they are not essential at all. At the top, you're only talking about 20mins - better on skins if there is no track but not a big problem. At the bottom, you can just traverse it or walk. Again, it's 20-30mins so not a biggie
Guide-wise, I'm not too bothered. From my point of view, Francois would be fun for a change
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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I'll be hiring skis, almost for sure.... Anyone got any links for a shop or two. K2's, Dynastar that sort of thing.
GrahamN,
If we can all get into the Edelweiss, sounds great
I'd prefer downhill, but if there is a must do, which involves a little trek, then its seems rude not to...
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As for my other trips....
I'l be looking to get away to Engelberg as soon as the glacier fills in...so maybe the 1st good storms in Jan...this will be a lightnig break over 4 days or so... I have a good local contact and there is always the Stockli shop that HAS to be done...
and then I want to go down to BSM late in the season and have a look at the NF... Maybe a mini meet there as I think there are a a few  seasoning there...or as good as.
Anything else will be last last minute, I think....
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brian
brian
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Ok, I've e-mailed Edelweiss checking price/avail. for the following,
Fri 23rd - 1 twin, 1 triple B&B
Sat, Sun 24-25, 1 twin, 1 triple HB
Mon 26 - 1 triple HB
Tues 27 - Sat 3 - 1 twin HB
DM can check for a double when he checks in.
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brian
brian
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GrahamN, I intend to be on the road by 2pm on the Tuesday for a 5.50pm flight unless someone knows something terrible about Grenoble traffic ?
So I'm up for another guided half day if that fits in with you and JT, otherwise I'll probably mosey up to L2A and have a look around (never seen it in winter).
I'll mail Francois and see if he's free at all.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I'm on for a bed Fri/Sat/Sun as suggested.
For Sat my vote is option a) for the classics etc. Then guiding Sun & Mon but I can go with the flow. Obviously we're just taking a punt at this stage as 7 months away conditions could be boilerplate or whiteout or anything in between.
I'm unlikely to be taking a touring set up unless I'm really confident with my tele by then but will have my own avy kit + harness if necessary.
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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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fatbob,
I assume they will be necessary...
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| JT wrote: |
fatbob,
I assume they will be necessary... |
Sorry meant the harness bit which I suspected could be on the cards anyway - rarely go anywhere without my avy kit.
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You know it makes sense.
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brian
brian
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Francois Pinatel's mailbox has overflowed. Copied the message to the guides' office and asked them to pass it on, no reply as yet.
Better news from Edelweiss who can fit in the famous 5 (Me, JT, GrahamN, Arno and fatbob). I'll pm the details.
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Poster: A snowHead
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brian,
Good news on the Edelweiss.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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brian, excellent. Should be a bit of a party there that week - as I suspected, it's one of the SCGB's weeks there as well (so the guide I was thinking of would have been taken by them anyway), but JT and I get an extra twoish days skiing over them  .
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brian
brian
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On 2nd thoughts, I'll shove the details in here, nobody else will still be reading
So they can do twin + triple or they have a big room with mezza that sleeps up to 6 (easily they allege).
Prices in € - twin/triple/room for 5
B&B (for Friday) - 40/38/35
HB - 56/52/49
Let me know what you'd prefer.
They want a deposit of €400. I can put that on a card and give you my bank details so you can transfer me the cash ? Or I guess we could give them separate details. Again, preferences please.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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brian,
Hold the booking in one name and then if all agreed that we book this now we can call them with the booking ref and settle individually.
Since Graham and I are there for the duration then it might be easier to put us in a twin... but I am easy... if anyone has a better idea
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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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brian, I will phone him for you and tell him to get his act together!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| GrahamN wrote: |
| brian, excellent. Should be a bit of a party there that week - as I suspected, it's one of the SCGB's weeks there as well (so the guide I was thinking of would have been taken by them anyway), but JT and I get an extra twoish days skiing over them . |
And the Eagles have an off piste week there scheduled to end on 24th. They've used the Edelweiss before so there could be quite a little party!
For rooms, sticking with the triple/twin combo seems to make more sense since JT and GrahamN are staying on but of it helps the hotel fit us all in, I don't mind.
JT's idea of all of us sorting out our own deposits works for me
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Twin + triple seems best to me. Depending on how they want to charge for triples the obvious thing to me would be to have JT/Me/Brian in a triple, and Arno/Fatbob in the twin, as they are leaving the day before Brian and that frees up a room earlier, rather than Brian tying a triple up on his tod for one night. Just as long as they charge the room as a twin (rather than 1.5 * triple) for the remainder of the week. We could of course move rooms part way through the week, but I don't really want to do that more than once.
Each sorting out our own deposits is fine if it works for them, or Brian's original plan's fine too. I suggest we split it pro rata per night: €15/night works out at €420 so that should do them.
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All ok for me - I'm happy in a twin or a triple with HB on the Sat & Sun. Happy to pay deposit direct or pay Brian as suggested.
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brian
brian
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Ok, I've asked for rooms as per what I said above:
Fri 23rd - 1 twin, 1 triple B&B
Sat, Sun 24-25, 1 twin, 1 triple HB
Mon 26 - 1 triple HB
Tues 27 - Sat 3 - 1 twin HB
... and if they're ok with separate deposits.
easiski, thanks
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brian,
Thats great, just let me know what name we are holding in and I will book/pay deposit.
Many thanks.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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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PM me too thanks.
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You know it makes sense.
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easiski,
Thanks Charlotte. Is this the guy that you recommended that we book...can't remember the name you gave.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Have we got a name holding the booking yet ??
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brian
brian
Guest
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JT, not had a response to my follow up e-mail, I'll call them tomorrow if there's no reply.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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brian, No problem...no hurry
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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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brian, Re-send your email to Francois with "Enseignement" as the title. he's cleared his inbox and is looking forward to hearing from you. However he cleared his inbox by deleting everything! 
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brian
brian
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easiski, thanks, I've done that.
I've also called Edelweiss, separate payment is fine but she wants to work out individual numbers for the deposits rather than just splitting the €400 equally.
So the booking is held under Russell, I'll let you know by pm what you need to pay when I get the numbers, I get the impression they're not in a hurry.
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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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brian,
Thats perfect, many thanks again...
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Blimey - flights, hotel and guide booked by August. This must be some kind of record for me!
Thanks for your efforts, brian.
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Arno,
Yep, me too, and it will be a long wait, I'll just have to keep an eye out for the snow
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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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Record for me too - I'd normally chew my own arm off before committing to anything this far out. Cue no snow in the Oisans for February - its kind of like calling last run isn't it?
Oh & thanks brian.
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brian
brian
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No problem and don't worry about the snow, apparently it's going to be a bumper snow year in La Grave, something to do with the gentianes 
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FAQ
wanting to hook up ski-wise from the Tuesday...although I haven't seen any posts lately about what they want to do...A mini SH meet sounds good to me..anytime that week
