 Poster: A snowHead
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Trip report of our visit to the Three Valleys Ski area!!
Had an excellent day over in the Three Valley Ski area up in the Val Thorens and Orelle Valley.
Having finally got away just after 8am we reached Val Thorens just after the lifts had opened and hit the slopes by about 9.30am. Heading straight up to the top of Cime Caron we went off the back with a blue sky and some nice spring snow down the Vallon du Lou. Well tracked but with a few places where we could still put down some fresh tracks.
Then back up to the Col du Rosael and down off piste to the bottom of the Peyron chair. Up top and down through the cliffs onto the Glacier du Bouchet in the fourth valley. Had a nice picnic then carried on down. Once more it was soft spring conditions most of the way with hard crusty crud starting to melt lower down.
Back up to the Col du Rosael and off piste down to the bottom of the Grand Fond lift on chalky snow most of the way through the cliffs. Back up and this time skiers right off piste down to the new Thorens Gondola. From the top, again skiers right down through yet more cliffs and onto the meadows before reaching the Moriane Chair.
Up the chair to the top of the Glacier du Thorens. Managed to put some more fresh tracks in the spring snow on the glacier before going all the way down to the Funitel Peclet.
Up to the top of another Glacier one last time and then off piste once more all the way back into Val Thorens taking in as many untracked areas and soft spring snow as possible on the way down. Finally reaching the car park below Val Thorens again around 5.30pm.
Quite a fun day. Covered all the high spots and low points of the Val Thorens ski area and found plenty of good spring snow, although unless you hike, it was not that easy to find untracked areas although we did manage to ski a few. The piste we crossed were all in good condition with firm hard packed snow and a few boiler plate areas in the morning. Most areas in the sun were warming up nicely and making it much easier to ski in the afternoon. The off piste was in a very similar condition and so by starting low and moving higher as the day progressed we managed to have good snow most of the day.
Anyone thinking of heading out to val Thorens is in for a good time as there is plenty of snow and although busy on piste, the off piste areas were still quite empty. We shall be back again before the end of the season.
The pics of the trip to the Three Valleys will be in the March 2012 Album Two of my Les Arcs Winter facebook page.
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Wed 4-04-12 23:10; edited 2 times 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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Our day in Val d'Isere!!
We left early and went to Val d'Isere. The weather was good with the sun pushing through although at times the high clouds did make it feel a little cold with the wind blowing. The snow was holding up well in all the places we went. Either powder, soft snow, chalky snow or spring snow. Managed to be on almost the first cable car up when it opened from Fornet. What a great day.
Here are the seven routes we managed to complete. Quite a long day, but well worth the effort.
Route One, Col Pers. By taking a different route to those just setting off from the Col we managed to have first tracks the whole way down the Col Pers from the top of the Col to the river valley and then first through the river valley and back to the Fornet Cable car. Very nice!
Route Two, Cugnai. Although well tracked the snow was soft and fun to ski. We managed to find a little fresh snow under the cliffs and in the side valley.
Route Three. Les Marmottes. From the skiers left of the Solaise down through the cliffs and large snow fields and then into Val d'Isere. Spring snow conditions and not to soft yet. There were a number of large avalanche fields to avoid, but otherwise a very good ski.
Route Four, The Tour de Charvet. Always worth a ski. From the easy entrance at the top of the Grand Pre chair we went over the back and around some large avalanches on more spring snow to reach the river valley and then down the river and back to the Manchet Chair.
Route Five, Le Grand Vallon. Another route I enjoy. All the way from the top of the Signal tow down to the valley and across to the Fornet Cable car. Although well tracked the snow in the top half was soft and easy to ski. Lower down it became more spring like, but till good fun. The gullies are well worth the effort.
Route Six, The shoulder of the Petit Signal. From the top of the Signal tow again, this time going left and along the ridge and then down through the cliffs to return to the Pyramides chair. Good soft snow sometimes untracked at the top. Then spring snow as we went lower, but always good to ride.
Route Seven, Les Vallonnets. What a great way to finish a good day on the mountain. By getting the Signal tow again, we traversed to the east and then over the small cornice and through the various small depressions and snow fields to reach the bridge at the exit of the Col Pers route down in the valley floor and back to the Fornet cable car. Even quite late in the day the snow here was in good condition and it was possible to still find some untracked patches.
A long day, but great fun and next time we will try to complete as many routes as we can in a day on the Tignes side.
Pics of all the routes will be posted in the March 2012 Album Two of my Les Arcs Winter facebook page as soon as I have time. Enjoy!!
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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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Our Second Day in val d'Isere.
Today we went up to Val d'Isere and after getting our ski passes sorted out headed straight up to the top of the Grand Pre Chair and over the back into the off piste Tour du Charvet route. Reasonable spring snow the whole way down and the river bed route was fun as long as you avoided the waterfall.
Then up and over to the Fornet Glacier area, but decided the conditions were not great for the Col... Pers off piste route (poor vis), so headed to the Signal and down the gully to the bottom of the cablecar and a nice lunch. Again good spring snow and plenty of cover although you had to take care not to ski into any of the holes that are starting to open.
After lunch across to the new 'obstacle area' beside the 'Verte' piste which the kids had a race down, then into the Piste Perdu and through the mouse hole. Despite a few sections which had to be climbed down or walked across, we made it to the bottom and onto the last 100m of the OK piste to the cablecar.
Back up again for a drink at La Folie Douce and all the way down the 'OK' piste back to the car. A fun day and well worth the effort of the drive up the valley to use the free ski pass you get with the Paradiski Area Pass. Tomorrow weather permitting we are off to the Three Valleys.
For anyone with the Paradiski Area pass, it is well worth the effort to visit the other ski areas that are free with your pass. You can hire a car from SuperU in Bourg quite easily. Just go to the 'Customer Service' desk inside and ask for the details. You can also reserve a car by phone or online. Have fun!
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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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| snowcrazy wrote: |
| Our Second Day in val d'Isere. ...so headed to the Signal and down the gully to the bottom of the cablecar and a nice lunch.... |
Where did you eat lunch... was it good .. ? Were there many in your group today?
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