 Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Russeh - thanks.... but yes as chocksaway says in return for a pass for the season we have to do a number of days community service... things we can do include (but are not limited to) working on the World Cup... so thats why invariably we all end doing at least one day a season.
jacknottm - thanks - good idea - ill see what I can do!
Sneachta2013 - yea I think we will get something but its not a traditional depressional front that is for sure... it is more what we call locally a 'retour d'est' whereby it is localised weather along the Italian border and the snow that falls could be quite deep up on the Fornet glacier but as 'locally' as possible even in Val d'Isere town itself there could be little to nothing. I hope I am wrong but I dont think it is going to 'change' the current situation too much. However get up high and stay high and there should be enough for everyone OR if you are feeling energetic go for a LONG skin off piste and you'll get some tracks somewhere!
chocksaway - yea you have some great analysis going on... I am pretty stretched with work commitments and a young family too but like to try my best.... interestingly enough I am a qualified secondary school Geography teacher and certainly spent plenty of time learning how to interpret synopic weather charts AND my late father was a commerical pilot for 40 odd years so guess looking at the weather is in my bones a little too!!!! (chocksaway - he worked on 'autoland' and CATIII testing back in the 70's!!!! - you'll know what I mean by that)
HoneyBunny and chocksaway - thanks - think your directions and advise pretty much covers it all there.
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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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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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We're out here again in Val d'Isere for the 5th time (1st trip was a terrific stay in Steve's old letting apartment and the week of the exciting filming for his TV show debut!).
Lovely sunny day today and the conditions are pretty decent. We skied the same time last year and there is definitely more snow high up this time. Pistes are pretty quiet although I imagine it will all change with the slightly odd Tuesday to Tuesday changeover this year. Wednesday could be a busy day.
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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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@Steve Angus, Thanks Steve, living through the pioneering days like your Dad must have been quite something, that's when pilots really earned their crust, today's may be just a little pampered 
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I saw this in the UK National Press:
"If you’re heading for Val d’Isere, you’re in for a treat. It’s currently enjoying the best start to a season in at least 25 years, with piste conditions nothing short of superb — some of the best in Europe right now.
Five metres of snow fell here in just 36 hours. Other resorts with good cover are Tignes, Val Thorens, Serre Chevalier, Val Cenis and Montgenevre"
Did 5 metres of snow really fall in 36 hours recently?
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I saw this in the UK National Press:
"If you’re heading for Val d’Isere, you’re in for a treat. It’s currently enjoying the best start to a season in at least 25 years, with piste conditions nothing short of superb — some of the best in Europe right now.
Five metres of snow fell here in just 36 hours. Other resorts with good cover are Tignes, Val Thorens, Serre Chevalier, Val Cenis and Montgenevre"
Did 5 metres of snow really fall in 36 hours recently?
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| Red Leon wrote: |
I saw this in the UK National Press:
"If you’re heading for Val d’Isere, you’re in for a treat. It’s currently enjoying the best start to a season in at least 25 years, with piste conditions nothing short of superb — some of the best in Europe right now.
Five metres of snow fell here in just 36 hours. Other resorts with good cover are Tignes, Val Thorens, Serre Chevalier, Val Cenis and Montgenevre"
Did 5 metres of snow really fall in 36 hours recently? |
UK National Press? Not The Daily Mail was it? Also no, 5 metres of snow have not recently fallen.
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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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| Minion1980 wrote: |
| Red Leon wrote: |
I saw this in the UK National Press:
"If you’re heading for Val d’Isere, you’re in for a treat. It’s currently enjoying the best start to a season in at least 25 years, with piste conditions nothing short of superb — some of the best in Europe right now.
Five metres of snow fell here in just 36 hours. Other resorts with good cover are Tignes, Val Thorens, Serre Chevalier, Val Cenis and Montgenevre"
Did 5 metres of snow really fall in 36 hours recently? |
UK National Press? Not The Daily Mail was it? Also no, 5 metres of snow have not recently fallen. |
Thanks - I assumed I would have heard about the ensuing chaos on SnowHeads had it been true.
BTW, does it matter which paper it was in?? Is a journalist's error / fabrication less worthy of mention if it's published in the Observer or Grauniad than in the Sun or the Mail?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I took a wild stab at The Mail, I would advise against believing anything you read in that rag.
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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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| chocksaway wrote: |
@HoneyBunny, For Triffolet ski down the line of the 'semolina 'poma as you describe above but turn left over the bridge. Triffolet is the other side of the stream (or Vallée Pardue). However, it is often mogulled and there is no snow making so spends most of the time closed (but it is the exit for most of the lower part of the Familial Off piste area). |
Ohhh so you go the same way! I think I've gone past where you turn onto it many times but it's always been closed.
| harvsurrey wrote: |
@honeybunny Ali you have given me a new bit to find  you would think I should know that
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Good luck, it's a nice quiet little way down.
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You know it makes sense.
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| HoneyBunny wrote: |
| chocksaway wrote: |
@HoneyBunny, For Triffolet ski down the line of the 'semolina 'poma as you describe above but turn left over the bridge. Triffolet is the other side of the stream (or Vallée Pardue). However, it is often mogulled and there is no snow making so spends most of the time closed (but it is the exit for most of the lower part of the Familial Off piste area). |
Ohhh so you go the same way! I think I've gone past where you turn onto it many times but it's always been closed.
| harvsurrey wrote: |
@honeybunny Ali you have given me a new bit to find you would think I should know that
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Good luck, it's a nice quiet little way down. |
Another route to Triffolet is via the 'Hidden Valley'.
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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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bedrock barney - trip down memory lane!!!!!! Yes the pistes are in good shape eh! The changeover day situation is very interchangeable from tour op to tour op... they are all over the place and doing different things therefore I dont think there is a going to be clear start days for peoples weeks etc until about the first week in January!!!!
chocksaway - yup sure was I guess - he started flying in WWII so saw a huge development in aviation that was for sure!
As for the...
| Quote: |
If you’re heading for Val d’Isere, you’re in for a treat. It’s currently enjoying the best start to a season in at least 25 years, with piste conditions nothing short of superb — some of the best in Europe right now.
Five metres of snow fell here in just 36 hours. Other resorts with good cover are Tignes, Val Thorens, Serre Chevalier, Val Cenis and Montgenevre |
... I dont really care about where it was but I just dont know where they get it from...
The 'best start to a season in at least 25 years'..... ummmmmm NO definately NO but certainly not the worst either!
Piste conditions are generally pretty good (up high) but I think 'superb' is big word to use!
'Some of the best in Europe right now' - yes probably (although that could all change in the next 24 hours - who knows!)
'Five metres in 36 hours' - I can assure you that that is almost impossible anywhere anytime and if it were true there would not be amazing conditions as it would be too dangerous to even go outside let alone up the hill and experience it.... a couple metres in 36 hours is good going anywhere anytime!
All I can say is that it is rather 'sensationalist' in this case! BUT AT LEAST THEY ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT IT BEING 100% GREEN OR ANYTHING
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Howling gale out there this morning. Much windier than the official figures on the Val d'Isere website. Not sure we'll be skiing much today 
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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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| Kenzie wrote: |
Another route to Triffolet is via the 'Hidden Valley'. |
Vallee Perdu needs quite a lot more snow!! It would be a long walk at the moment.
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It's fairly rare I think for the Piste Perdue to open before Christmas.
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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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bar shaker and Peter S
yes and yes it does need a lot of snow and there would not be too much fun to be had down there at the moment. I cant think of a Winter when pre Xmas opening has happened no!
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Warmer - much warmer
Well if 2 days ago it was baltic and blowing a gale today was almost the complete opposite - it was still cloudy and the odd snowflake around but it was around or just over zero degrees and no wind around - magic!
Anyway I was down at La Daille in good time this morning to meet my lesson and fitted in my periscope first up:
https://www.periscope.tv/SteveAngusSnow/1PlJQEgjrNZJE?autoplay&t=1
So within about a second of finishing this broadcast my client came around the corner so the timing worked out perfectly! A nice retired lady but who had not been to Val before and I dont think she was really prepared for either the terrain that we have here or the physicality of it. Anyway she had skied a little before but not for a few years... so we headed up the funival (about the only option you have really meeting there) and proceeded to walk down the stairs next to the Olympique lift.... no sooner had we got down there than she discovered that her bindings had not been set up for her (at all!). This one of the problems of trying to cut corners financially too much... as she had hired from a mobile service who are based in Tignes... one of her party who had organised it all decided that it would be the best way of doing things. But what this meant was that the skis (yes they were nice and new) could not be skied on with adjustments. The problem then is that she does not know how to adjust her skis, I do though, but very often the small print in insurance (travel and ski insurance with the renting company) so we are left with a dilema - do I adjust them or do we cancel the lesson.... so with the understanding that she is basically no longer covered by her own insurance she agreed to let me adjust them for her. It is crazy really as people that work in rental shops often do not have any special training as such!
Anyway I adjusted the length of the bindings and the DIN release settings as both were way too long / easy release and had obviously not been touched at all when the mobile service arrived at their chalet from Tignes last night!
So we finally got going and headed off down the Verte and little by little we got there despite a couple of falls... However by the time we got to the Marmottes lift she was shattered so we took the lift back to the top then downloaded to the Sun Bar so she could grab a coffee and then called it a day! It also meant that she could see where we would be meeting for the lesson on Friday and also where she could jump on the Solaise Express to get up to the magic carpet as I think that would be a better place for her to practice!
So that was my morning.
This afternoon I am catching up with a few things and then have a meeting with the bank manager in about an hours time and that will be followed with the arrival of Clares father and step mother so we are heading out for dinner together. Inbetween all that Clare has a French lesson and I need to collect Olivia from creche and take her to Rize Cafe as Father Xmas is making an appearance later - phew it is going to be busy!
TTFN
High overcast conditions but not much else to it weatherwise.... the previous dump only gave about 20cms along the Italian border - in the rest of the resort / Alps - nothing that I know of!
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Hey Steve - it was me that said a quick hello at the bottom of the Marmottes lift yesterday/day before? (addled brain).
Nice day out there today - some interesting piste conditions with the odd deeper patch of wind blown snow on the pistes catching a few people out.
Last day for me tomorrow unfortunately but due to be clear so looking forward to it.
Cheers,
Dave.
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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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nemesys - ah ha that links up in my mind.... not always aware of who is saying hi to me as it does happen relatively often. Anyway glad you had a nice holiday!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Quote: |
High overcast conditions but not much else to it weatherwise.... the previous dump only gave about 20cms along the Italian border - in the rest of the resort / Alps - nothing that I know of! |
Just back from 6 days off piste skiing in EK, and plenty of fresh tracks if you have the right guide and are happy to climb
Highlights: skin up to the tunnel for fantastic first day untracked descent. Good skiing to be had at Col Pers, Grand Vallon, Vallonet.
Untracked descent of a variation of Couloir des Ves. 2 laps of couloir Petite Balme on Tuesday, and Wednesday was a full on powder day at Le Fornet, snowing most of the morning, with great runs in the forest and then Signal bowl and working our way up to the glacier as the lifts opened through the morning. We skied to exhaustion until 3pm then mad dash to Geneva to make the 8.45 flight!
It's hard to think of anywhere that regularly has such good conditions pre-Xmas. I book this same week every year and the EK always delivers!
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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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inspark - well I am so glad you had a wonderful trip... I keep telling people that conditions are pretty good all things considered and yes there is fresh out there - you just have walk and know where to go. Mountain guides that especially breathe the off piste and nothing but can usually contruct a group to venture a long way from the pistes but I like to think we are not too bad (as instructors) too. But either way as long as you stay safe and enjoy yourself then who cares!
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Have the STVI made a mistake with the design of new Solaise bubble? Was using for the first time yesterday, it wasn't busy but it was chaotic. Trying to get 10 sets of kit into external racks with a moving bubble was apparently a big ask, especially when they put the single slot (on each side) for boards on the bubble side meaning the ski slots are rendered inoperable. Designing for putting skis/boards inside as per the Olympic, Toviere, Boisse bubbles would seem far more sensible. Perhaps the poor loves in the Bogner suits are incapable of holding onto skis for 10 mins.
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You know it makes sense.
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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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Ski lots - perhaps you could think that way but the lift has been designed to allow plenty of space inside to people to carry their gear inside. Lift manufacturers were finding that twin tip skis etc meant that putting skies on the outside safely and easily was tricky so rather than faff trying to get them outside all the time they would make the cabins more spacious to encourage people to bring skis inside should they wish. By making the loading speed of the cabins quicker (you noticed that the time is short to get the gear in the slots) it forces people to either wait for the next one or carry their gear inside apart from a few people who can get the stuff in the racks quickly. So they will have someone ushering people inside the cabins like they do on the Olympic which will get people on more efficiently so all in all it is actually intentional the design and speed of loading etc. As far as boards - I have loaded my board with the bindings facing both inside and outwards so it didnt affect the skis that could do in the rack?!?!?!!
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Poster: A snowHead
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Interesting - no indication when we used it that folk should take their kit inside, and nobody was in our bubble or the ones fore and aft. As switch-hitter myself, I was discussing with Mrs SL the possibility of sticking the board in with bindings facing away, but it would seem that is both awkward and counterintuitive. From that brief experience the design made for pushing and shoving and unnecessary unpleasantness. I recall that it took some years of experimenting for the folk staffing the Olympic to get the flow of humanity right, and even now some folk insist on creating a bouchon despite the cajoling of staff and their fellow travellers.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Ski lots, yes i agree. Convention says you put skis in the rack so it wouldn't occur to me to take kit inside
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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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Interesting.... the Toviere gondola in Tignes for eg isn't fitted with external racks and most cars fill up okay when it's busy without any intervention from the lift operators.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@Steve Angus,
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Compared to a year ago what is wrong with this photo - nothing to do with the snow by the way!
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Do you mean the old cable car to Solaise is no longer there??
Happy Christmas to you and all the family! 
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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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Ski lots and holidayloverxx - I agree they need to work on the efficiency of the lifties to get people loading properly and perhaps some signage would be a good idea (do people ever read signs when in holiday mode!!!!!) but yes it will get there hopefully!
intermediate - thanks - you too... and you are correct but also look closely further to the left of the picture and you will see the car sitting on the ground in the shade too! Not sure what will happen to that in due course but we shall see!
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Happy Christmas!
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Merry Christmas from a hot sunny Melbourne Australia 36.3 degrees Celsius !!
Love reading this blog
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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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@Steve Angus,
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look closely further to the left of the picture and you will see the car sitting on the ground in the shade too! Not sure what will happen to that in due course but we shall see!
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Oh yes, I can see it now! I hope that old Solaise cable car finds a new use. I think it put in about 40 years service. Maybe Jean Claude Killy himself was a regular?
I was fortunate to ride up in it on the last day it operated, 1 May.
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Phew its over!
Well firstly one and all 'Merry Xmas'.... what a day it has been.... in fact what a few days it has been!
So the day started early, really early as Olivia had us up feeling a little under the weather at about 3.30 but then went back to sleep thankfully!
By 8am Clare and I were wide awake but Olivia was still asleep which was a real treat!
As soon as she was awake it was chaos and her little face lit up when she saw what Father Christmas had brought her! She opened her stocking and played hapilly for an hour or so but it was clear that she was not feeling 100%. I prepared scrambled eggs for the family and that was a nice start to the day. However I came to empty the dishwasher and found that there was obviously a problem as nothing had been cleaned.... queue a mega cleaning of the filters etc but worse still Clare was frantically in need of things from the dishwasher so she could plough on with Xmas dinner preparations so yours truly ended up washing by hand the whole of the dishwasher.... we then found out that Olivia had a temperature and was not happy at all so we put her down for a rest.
I finally went to mums hotel to collect her then it was back to our flat.... some nibbles and thankfully Olivia woke up feeling a little refreshed! However there was still a LOT of work to be done on Xmas dinner and plenty of 'hosting' to do as Clares father, step mother and half brother all arrived!
Needless to say the last 6 hours has composed of much present opening, eating far too much and Olivia being somewhat under the weather!
However finally the day is at an end and the small fact of 14 days or thereabouts of a full work diary commences! eek!
So no Periscope again today sorry and I must head to bed now as I need to see mum away at about 0430 tomorrow!
So Merry Christmas one and all!
TTFN
Even though I wasnt up there myself I am sure that there were plenty of family scenes such as this up there!
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FAQ
