 Poster: A snowHead
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| altis wrote: |
When we passed by on the way to Val Cenis this morning there still looked to be a lot of work to do but when we came back through Modane at about 4pm there were lots of big wigs and police at the station. A little later there was a huge motorcade coming up the hill. Seems like a big event.
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Philippe Tabarot, the transport minister and the prefect. A bit of a no mark but his dad was senior in the OAS - you know the guys who contracted The Jackal to kill de Gaulle. So a colourful background.
The more minor the official, the bigger the motorcade.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Above the Refuge des Evettes heading for the Col de Disgrace - 3300m.
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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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A rather hurty foot today (I’ll spare you the photo) so instead of skiing we walked up Sur le Poignt (opposite the Fort du Telegraph) where we could look down onto the entrance to the new Ambin tunnel.
This will take the new high speed rail line between Lyon and Turin and is expected to be completed in 2032.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mont_d'Ambin_Base_Tunnel
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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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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Cool view down the valley there @altis, as I like that area and usually take some little obscure deviation to add to appreciation when visiting.
Has a mix of industrial, scale, beauty and history. We once stopped around a side street in Modane next to huge rail facility and extensive engine shed infrastructure, which my son appreciated. Also up to the old rail tunnel entrance above that and now closed.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@ski3, we have with us a book about the Mont Cenis railway which, for a few years around 1870, carried passengers and freight between here (St Michel) and Susa OVER the Mont Cenis pass. Near the top of the Buffa drag in Val Cenis is a restaurant where, given half a chance, the woman will tell you all about it.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21026744-mont-cenis-fell-railway
Rather more up to date, there is a new ride at La Norma which they are calling a luge on rails. It’s a sort of helter-skelter that runs from the car park by the resort all the way down to the main road and back up again. Must have cost a fortune to build.
https://normaloops.fr/
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Ooh, there's quite a detailed account on the "wik" about it too. Didn’t realise that was there. Have been to the pass skiing and wondered about quite extensive buildings there too.
It could account for at least some of L'Escargot green run too in climbing up to pass altitude as that seems to fit not only typical gradient stated, but some radius too on what is a road in summer.
Very interesting history, and much detail on the "goggle" maps too. A brilliant area to explore.
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| ski3 wrote: |
Ooh, there's quite a detailed account on the "wik" about it too. Didn’t realise that was there. Have been to the pass skiing and wondered about quite extensive buildings there too.
It could account for at least some of L'Escargot green run too in climbing up to pass altitude as that seems to fit not only typical gradient stated, but some radius too on what is a road in summer.
Very interesting history, and much detail on the "goggle" maps too. A brilliant area to explore. |
Yes, it’s a great area for exploring whether it be skiing, walking/hiking or cycling. Lots of interesting areas to see with a fair bit of history.
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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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Had a fine day today just up the hill in Valloire. My foot is still quite hurty after two days of skinning in new boots and on new footbeds. We needed somewhere with plenty of baby slopes and Valloire fits the bill admirably. We even managed to get a space in the car park right next to the lift which saved a lot of walking.
The corduroy was rattley and painful at first but that soon softened. We’ve never really got on with Valloire/Valmeinier before - perhaps because it was busy with all types of skiers. But this time, although busier than we’ve been used to in other places this holiday, it was relatively quiet. By the afternoon we were having great fun pushing damp sugar about.
There were plenty of groups having lessons even this late in the season. It’s probably a good place to learn.
Question: how do you know when you’re getting your free day with Skiogrande?
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Question: how do you know when you’re getting your free day with Skiogrande?[/quote]
When the cards were ordered there should have been an online account set up which you can log into. You get 10 points for every day you ski and when you reach 70 points the next time you use the card it’s a free day. If you’re able to log into go to ma fidelite and then consulter mes points to see what points have accumulated.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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We should get to 70 points today and plan to go to Orelle on Saturday to get the best benefit from our free day. Of course, if we get it wrong then Saturday is the worst day to pick Orelle.
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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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Just got to the Maurienne this afternoon and planning our free days and cheap Saturday skiing
Hoping Karellis is open tomorrow
Heard SFL isn’t
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@altis, Did anywhere get slushy? Did you take the ski road back to town or the one to valmeiner gorge? Thinking of going late march next year as I can get free digs, but downloading in a gondola is a deal breaker. What is saved in digs is spent in transfers
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You know it makes sense.
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@wavester, Les Karellis closes today, whereas SFL closed yesterday.
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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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@altis, let us know how it worked out? 
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Poster: A snowHead
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@denfinella, I’ll be able to tell you tomorrow when the facture comes in.
The Skiogrande site definitely says you have to accumulate 80 points. We were on 70 this morning so didn’t risk it and went back to Val Cenis instead.
We arrived quite late and the big car park opposite Vieux Moulin was already full so we parked a little further away over the bridge in a car park that was quite dusty, whipped up by the strong wind. In fact, the weather was much worse than we expected - very dark and threatening rain.
We mooched about a bit then headed into the Ranova for nice hot chocolates. It’s just down from the top of the Arcelle chair and highly recommend. Looks like good food at reasonable prices and a very friendly and welcoming atmosphere. Then we ambled back to the nice Salle Hors Sac at the top of the Vieux Moulin for packed lunch.
We determined that we should try to get to the quirky bar near the top of Ramasse so headed up Solert and Met. It was particularly cold and windy at the top and then the traverse round to the col was closed. Not to be thwarted, we then tried to get to the bottom of Ramasse. As we descended the snow got softer but, fortunately, there hadn’t been much traffic so much of it was quite pleasant. Eventually, our luck ran out towards the bottom of Madeline where the snow ran out altogether and we had to walk down the Col du Mont Cenis road to the lift.
At the top it was windy again but a dog sled team was still dragging a punter about. The bar was shut, as was the Mont Cenis drag (although it was running for some reason). There was a pedestrian who’d come up to try the bar but that was about it. The place was deserted so we headed back through the slush to the Ranova again for vins chaud in the sunshine on the balcony but watching clouds billowing over the col. Then a slow and leisurely cruise back to the van to call it a day for this year.
Tomorrow we are tidying and eating some of our remaining meat and dairy ready to depart on Monday.
Other things to note:
A number of the lifts are shut for the rest of the season - such as it is. In particular, the Arcellines chair because it’s run out of snow at the entrance.
The Frejus tunnel is closed overnight on the 14/15 April.
There is a new Camping Car Park in Bessans open in winter with EHU (handy for those with children into biathlon)
https://www.campingcarpark.com/en_GB/motor-home/auvergne-rhone-alpes/savoie/bessans
There’s another camping/caravaning site with EHU in Lanslevillard near the Haute Cenis lift.
https://camping-valcenis-savoie.com/
I forgot the most important detail: The road is closed between Orelle and Modane, I think, for the work around another tunnel entrance. You have to use the Peage instead but it’s free for cars. On the RN there’s also a stream of tippers going back and forth carrying rock to the works below St Michel pictured above. Fortunately, this is only on weekdays and it’s quite out there at the moment.
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Sun 13-04-25 9:25; edited 1 time in total
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Gored, everywhere is hard and icy first thing = okay if you like that sort of thing. The transition to soft and slushy takes place quickly now. The trick then is to find somewhere with little traffic to push it into lumps. Valloire was particularly good for this with many well patted slopes that had seen virtually no one. Once softened, they were great for practicing getting the pressure on early, bending the outside ski and really cranking the short turns.
We did ski all the way to the bottom down Lutins at lunchtime. It wasn’t desperate but the last pitch was sufficiently lumpy for us to choose to download on the Brive gondola at the end of the day. Valloire is probably a good choice for a late season trip. Certainly better tha Val Cenis.
Off piste is the same. Too hard and painful first thing but later can be fine if you can find the right place. Too much traffic and the going gets lumpy and heavy with a good deal of effort required. Find somewhere untracked and it can be great but beware the pockets of snow that just melt away beneath you leaving your skis buried. One time when this happened and I was thrown forwards, one of my heels released but I kept pushing my skis forwards and was able to clip back in again without stopping. Most of the time I just ended in a heap.
Last edited by Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person on Sun 13-04-25 9:35; edited 1 time in total
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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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@denfinella, yes, we got our free day yesterday (as @andmelffion said).
Use the card for 7 days (70 points) and the eighth is free.
The Skiogrande card gives 50% discount at most resorts on a Saturday but not at Orelle (which is also the most expensive anyway). That’s why it’s best to use your free day there.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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FAQ
didn't realise the "direction" of different factions within that sentiment and referendum surrounding independence of Algeria.
but inspection revealed the new facilities are of composting type, but with a child size bore down through and away to remote composting, worked well but can see the obvious size concern in relation to the child vs bore 
we did tell my daughter that she would likely come out somewhere in the village after "Fluming" down there if she were to slip.