 Poster: A snowHead
|
La Plagne's Bellecote gondola system, which was seriously damaged by a fire on 5 August, will be rebuilt for this winter if the operators are successful with the weather and work schedule. This lift is vital to the economy of the resort since it accesses the highest (glacial) skiing.
The challenge facing the resort is formidable. One station was completely destroyed. The cable melted under the heat of the fire, breaking and dragging down five cabins, one of which was destroyed in its fall. One pylon was destroyed, and two heads of pylons must be replaced.
To complete the reconstruction a team of 30, working seven days a week, is being deployed on the mountain and will live on site with full accommodation and facilities.
This report on the ifyouski.com site.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
You've got to admire the committment (required by need) to make this happen. The logistics are something else.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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 main need for replacement of this end section of the old gondola is that it gives access to some good off piste routes. (The glacier itself is so small it is of little interest except for summer training - and it hasn't opened for the last couple of years in summer AFAIK.)
I can't figure out how they've achieved 'road access' but that, combined with temporarily accommodating the workers on site, is no doubt the key to success for this prompt repair. Sometimes I suppose it's good to have a large organisation like CDA involved who can get on with things quickly - knowing they can sort out insurance and finance to cover the costs.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
kuwait_ian, you know it's not all that small? When we were skiing there last summer in July there were two or race clubs and about ten tourists -perhaps thirty to forty people in all. Ample room, no queues, perfect for people wanting to combine a mountain holiday with a few mornings on the slopes, a mix of shallow to steep blues. Good training ground for all abilities.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
PG, yes it's adequate for summer training, when open. The runs on it are blue on the piste map but are quite steep and if bumpy are more red IMO.
The point I was really trying to make is that the glacier is of little or no interest in the winter. In fact LP rarely opened it in winter on my visits in 2002, 3 & 4.
But there are long guided runs (which I've never done - way above my level) from up there which are a valuable part of LP's domaine for the advanced sliders. Good news that it should be available for the 2005/6 season. According to the IYS article, 300,000 use the lift each season. More popular than I thought - given that it's quite often not running.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Maybe someone should tell them im coming- they'd soon pull their finger out then!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Nadenoodlee wrote: |
| Maybe someone should tell them im coming- they'd soon pull their finger out then! |
er, perhaps you should reconsider that statement.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
marc gledhill, Maybe you should get laid and stop picking out the naughty things in innocent statements. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Yes please, I'll have two (save one for later) 
Grow up. Why?
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
Construction workers have been battling all autumn to get the Bellecote gondola rebuilt after the fire, and it's been a formidable challenge.
PisteHors.com reports - here - on the progress, and prospects of reopening the lift by Christmas.
According to their report the 30 workers have been housed in a temporary high-altitude camp of 8 temporary buildings, hurriedly installed and equipped to provide 24-hour facilities.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
