Poster: A snowHead
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Who can tell me why I took this photo in particular; who and why?
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Is there yellow snow...and you were the culprit ?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Apparently Tony Blair is in town.
@Steve Angus, was your photo showing his bodyguards casing La Daille before he arrived?
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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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Apparently Tony Blair is in town.
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What's his snowHead moniker?
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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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bar shaker wrote: |
Apparently Tony Blair is in town. |
Apparently there were WMD in Iraq #justsaying
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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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GeorgeVII - yes you're right its the army skinning up. It happens a fair amount especially at this time of the year... skin up with a massive pack on your back (full of bricks probably) then ski down, then back up again... all the while whilst the officers in charge split into two groups, one lot at the top enjoying a nice picnic and drinks and the others at the bottom doing the same... making sure everyone arrives and departs! (Perhaps not in those conditions yesterday though!)
PeakyB - ha ha
bar shaker - yes you are right and I also saw Lizzie Yarnold today too!
Another grey day
Despite the start of the day and a chance of some sunshine it certainly didnt turn out that way! For most of the day the light was flat, the wind was pretty punchy from the south and snowflakes were falling.
I met my team at the normal meet time but things were slightly different today as a second family had arrived to stay with 'my' family and so there was a mix of members of the team. However it was a little confusing trying to keep on top of what exactly was happening but we got there. I had the 'girls' team initially although we dropped a couple of the girls off initially and then we had to pop back down to the bottom to meet the others but they ended up being very late back so lunch turned into a very long affair indeed!
Alas lunch at the Sun Bar was about 2 hours long however I did take a double take at one point when I thought I saw Lizzie Yarnold walk past (the GB double Skeleton Gold medalist from the last couple of games)... indeed it turned out that a friend of a friend was indeed talking to her earlier in the day in town and it is her. Just out here on holiday with her husband!
In other celebrity spots in town this week Tony Blair is definitely here in town although I am not sure whereabouts he is actually staying though. No sightings so far I dont think!
https://www.pscp.tv/w/1OwGWEnvlbQxQ
My periscope from today.
The afternoon the weather had rapidly worsened and we attempted to head up to the Madelaine which we did but only for a couple - it was just too miserable really and so windy. No one was feeling the love so we skied back down and called it a day!
I headed to Blue Note for a few family drinks and it was a nice couple of hours before taking a takeaway and heading home!
Sorry not the most interesting of updates I am afraid!
Passed the 500 hours of teaching mark today so just under 100 hours to go this season!
TTFN
It was another grey and snowy day out there again!
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Surely that can't be an Easter fools joke!
Well it really must be the only time I will ever say that the 1st April was one of the best powder morning turns of the season... well for a while anyway! We woke up this morning and it was grey, windy and not very inviting but there was the prospect that it was supposed to break up. So I had my team of a husband and wife (and long time clients of TDC and very au fait with Val d'Isere off piste) and I got the heads up that there was going to be a delayed opening of the Fornet area whilst PIDA took place! So I opted instead for a trip up the Bellevarde side. We really couldnt see a thing for most of the first hour... opening up on the Verte then off the Borsat. It was clear that with the winds continually shifting and the temps bouncing around we could and should expect everything snow wise but all in all we got some nice lines... next up was the Grand Pre and boy was the snow off the sides of the pistes up there AWESOME... I mean seriously good. We ended up doing about 4 laps - each time taking a slightly different route but each time getting some impressive light snow. It had snowed about another 20cm of fresh snow up top overnight so that on top of what had fallen the past week meant there were some areas of snow about 60cm deep... in fact there were areas when you could almost come to a stop it was so deep. And you know what the weather started to clear up... we had another great lap under pisteurs couloir and WOW - just WOW...
https://www.facebook.com/steve.angus/videos/10160246926380416/
Anyway after that and with timing running out I thought we might get lucky and ski the Cairn - hmmm it was not the best choice as the snow was not nearly as good as I thought it was going to be... wind compacted and all over the place. Ironically it was better lower down and by this stage the sun was starting to really take hold therefore we ended up doing a Spring slope back to the Face to finish with - talk about 4 seasons in one mornings worth of skiing!
I treated myself to lunch at the gourmandine but I think they really overcharged me for what I had and then they were so busy that they forgot to get me my change and I couldnt be bothered to chase them up for the 2 euros or whatever it was!
The afternoon was a group of 4 siblings / partners and again the plan was to search out the very best conditions for off piste. So after a couple of testers (me checking their ability level out basically) off the Madelaine and the bus stop (which was in excellent condition it must be said) we headed up top for a trip over the Col... fortunately a) being a Sunday (not many groups / lessons in general about) and b) some cloud lingering about meant the Col was deserted! We found some lovely (and a small area of awful snow I must be honest about too!) snow and it was a lovely trip... they were over the moon. What made it even better was that we saw a couple of Chamois in the gorge - lovely!
Back at home and with the cousin still here it was carnage - toys everywhere amongst other things! Anyway it took a while to sort it out and get the kids bathed and into bed but somehow I got a 10 minute window to do my periscope!
https://www.pscp.tv/w/1OdKrZgPympKX
In other news and I am 100% sure it is NOT an April fools joke amazingly... the town council have decided that due to the amount of snow that has fallen this Winter it has become dangerous for the chimneys and the fire risk of snow stacked up against the tops of the flumes... so from next year onwards everyone has to have their chimneys raised by a metre from next Winter onwards... it will affect 3500 chimneys in the resort apparently.... goodness knows how this is actually going to be implemented in practice?!!!?
Anyway I think that is all for now!
TTFN
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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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Fish for supper tonight, Steve?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Now what is 'wrong' with this photo?
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Person standing in 'firing line' on piste, rather than safely out of way?
More great pics from you over the Bank Hol weekend Steve, thanks
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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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Someone appears to be building a freestyle park, or at least some kickers at the bottom of Le Face. Have seen an evening freestyle event there once, so I guess something similar?
That slide looks almost directly behind where we stopped last year, sort of opposite the UCPA?
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@Steve Angus, we've had the same at Ouillette and have come to the conclusion that the fur rug covered seats are for decorative purposes only. The Datcha hot choc beats it hands down, anyway.
What's wrong? The display ramps aren't fenced off from above and aren't supervised?
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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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Didn't spot that cabin, good one. Hopefully back to see the Skadi again next year.
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Poster: A snowHead
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@Steve Angus, a mate and I have Gav L for Sat and Sun, for some ski lessons this weekend.
The weather looks perfect... a dusting of fresh snow on Thursday (like it needs a top up) and then solid sun and light winds until Monday afternoon. Perfect spring skiing conditions.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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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Which lift?......... Mont Blanc?
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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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I am never a fan of the way Europe can't seem to sort out a lift line and it is one of my MAJOR bugbears of skiing in Europe. I truly believe (having spent hours and hours and hours of my life on lifts in this country) that if lift lines were properly organised and 99% of seats etc filed up that there would be NO lift lines anywhere at all! Come on Val d'Isere you are really really letting yourself down.
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Couldn't agree more. Although lift queues here in Les Arcs aren't usually an issue, when there are big queues it really bugs me to see so many seats going up empty. Why spend so much on fancy lifts and then not make sure they're used properly?
Last edited by Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do. on Wed 4-04-18 20:05; edited 1 time in total
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Steve - I agree with you about the failure to manage lift queues at Marmottes. It is very annoying also that some skiers insist on leaving seats empty so that they can sit with their friends. It was good to see you this afternoon on Solaise just before the sun came out and we had a happy hour making fresh tracks.
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Which lift... Glacier express?
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lift, Borsat. The other bit, there's a Gazex that hasn't been fired with fresh snow and a piste beneath???
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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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The European resorts could learn a lot from the USA about queue managements, they actively encourage people to come forward to fill 1/2 spaces on chairlifts.
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queuing in Whistler very polite and disciplined, but it needed to be, cos sadly there was too much of it. They got the ski school kids on very well.
EK benefits from a massive lift system, but the lifties etc need to put a bit more effort in to fill the chairs etc at busy times. Customer service etc. Sometimes the customers don't help though........
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I think the lift is Fresse up from Tignes.
Regarding the question, I reckon it's the fact that a green piste has a chain host for grooming. Nothing like a steep green for beginners
Still can't believe Spring hasn't really started yet.
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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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Fantastic skiing today after more snow overnight and during the morning. Powder superb up high. Blue skies in the afternoon.
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Lift: Pyramides chair on Fornet?
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You know it makes sense.
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GeorgeVII - nope
Alastair - my sentiment exactly
Jehu - you too... yes the weather was very strange wasnt it! As for today - yup good day!
moosepig - nope
endoman - nope; Gasex - where? - as to the other points... yup food for thought!
kitenski - yup exactly. Over the years teaching in USA / Canada and the southern hemisphere where it is all managed it is so much more efficient!
sno trax - we have a winner on both counts - you got it! Well done.
retsil - nope
A lovely day
We woke up to another snowstorm this morning... heavy snow and pretty strong winds! There was a pretty strong breeze too!
Anyway it was a good 20cm of fresh (and pretty light) powder out there so I suppose it counts as yet another powder day - the 3 millionth one of the season - ha ha!
I met my team and I decided that it would be best to head the Tignes direction once more with them. The snow was lovely and light and plenty of it and the kids loved their first few turns in pow!
Hot choc break was once again at Planks in Tignes and they do a good trade in there! Well worth a visit - its in Val Claret just up from the slopes near the Aspen burger place!
By late morning the sun was starting to come out and it was getting warm! I took lunch outside at the Sun Bar and it was lovely there!
I had a slight problem with the brakes on my skis as one of them had basically broken away but some DIY at lunchtime and I got them fixed up ready for the afternoon with my team. They were on form and the sun was coming out too so we had a really good afternoon and some good changes are starting to appear in their skiing which is great to see! Bring it on!
So with only about a week before I head off for the End of Season bash over in Val Thorens I thought id let you all know of my plans for my broadcasts etc going forward. I shall be doing them for on periscope for another week along with this written blog... so next Friday will be the last of the season. After that then it will be an update about once a month!
Forgot to take my photo today - so this photo from Radio Val will have to do - it gives you an idea as to what it was like today and so does my periscope from today too!
https://www.pscp.tv/w/1gqxvpbelgBGB
As I mentioned yesterday I have been pushing my Twitter post I put up whereby I essentially criticised the resort for the poor form running the Marmottes lift line yesterday... essentially I just want the resort to realise that it should buck up their ideas a little... so far with re-tweets etc the message has gotten in front of something like a potential 150k people!!! All good! Please if you do get a chance please re-tweet for me please!
Don't think anything else to report from today!
TTFN
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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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My Gasex was the chain point for the cat! Idiot! I'll have to look out for those, cos I've never noticed them before, or clearly thought they were something else.
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Poster: A snowHead
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If you fancy a bit of fun, the Step Up event is going on under Thomeusses lift today. Starts at 11am.
Ramps, BBQ, hilarity and all to raise funds for protecting eagles.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Which green run was that?
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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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@snow_mac, Top of Fresse lift, head pretty much dead ahead as you get off the chair, then over the ridge down towards the green under the Borsat chair. It's a very short section but quite steep. I think the run itself is called Fresse or Col De Fresse. The lifts you can see on the right of the photo are Borsat (near) and Marmottes (far). Unless I've got it wrong again
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Lift line management? In France? Bof. Je m'en fous.
And yet, dear French lift operators, lift queue management offers a USP to bring in the punters.
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Big rock avalanche today at 4.30ish at La Daille distracted the queue for the bus. Mrs Jehu nearly failed to join me and her skis already on the bus.
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Hi Steve, you didn’t mention in your periscope about traffic for this weekend. Any ideas how busy it is expected to be?
Thanks
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rocky79 - sorry forgot... its supposed to be pretty OK actually - some short delays but nothing too serious by the looks of thins!
Jehu - really wow! Was in town when that happened!
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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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Gonna be short and sweet
Im gonna be very quick this evening as I didnt sleep very well last night; then had a VERY early wake up call from our little Ben who is slightly under the weather and all that comes with that as a little baby; then on top of all that I have felt slightly under the weather too. So it will be quick this evening.
You might have noticed that I didnt do my periscope today either... never stopped all day and with Clare at home on her own all day with the little ones I needed to do my bit when I got home too! Apologies!
Anyway I thought I would utilise an OLD PHOTO from about 7 years back I think it was.... taken on this day. The weather was similar today as when this photo was taken all those years back BUT crucially there is a hell of a lot more snow about this year when you look down the valley! Anyway this was NOT today I re-mention (but could of been if you get my drift).
The French 'Red Arrows' did a fly past on the first day of the Scara race in Val on this day in 2011!
So my am lesson started early as I bumped into them on the bus but alls good. We had a requests morning and did some lovely runs (some challenging) over in Tignes and via the Val park etc. Nice to see these guys again this year and looking forward to Easter next year when they are booked to come back once more!
Lunch was a quiet (saving my energies for the afternoon) one at the sun bar - sipping more than one energy drink! However my afternoon booking came in for lunch too about 30 mins through my lunch break so I was sort of back on duty from that moment onwards sitting and chatting with them which is fine by me on a normal day but I could have done with a little down time on this day of all days. Anyway we headed high (it was so warm and there had been no re-freeze to speak of overnight!) to the Val glacier and the place was deserted. It was a nice afternoon in the end but I am certainly glad to have some less energetic clients for the next day or so (i.e. not kids which keep you on your toes permanently - instead some adult chat and (hopefully) less constant supervision if you get my drift!!! ha ha!)
Anyway not much else to report although I am glad the kids are now all in bed and asleep as I am about to do the same although would LOVE to sit and watch the Masters on tv... gosh I just love watching that... its like watching a fantasy on your tv sets.... so far away (in more than one way) from the fair slopes of here in Val!
Right TTFN.... oh one last thing - looks like middle of Summer temps this evening... after being warm all day it clouded over late this afternoon which will mean that the 'heat' will stay in the valley tonight and I doubt we will get much / any freeze overnight.... with potential morning clouds tomorrow it could be a VERY tricky morning for the off piste session I have booked in tomorrow - all the powder is gone on the northern most of north facing slopes at altitude so I could be using a lot of imagination! Anyway I do have my first slot booked off (i.e. time off) in about 2 weeks tomorrow afternoon so can't wait... Clare is taking Olivia to a birthday party therefore with some luck Ben will sleep and I can do just the same!
TTFN
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A good sleep but not my finest
I slept pretty well last night so was feeling a little better this morning... but whilst I felt better I knew that it was going to be a tough one as I was off piste and conditions were going to prove (I knew this in advance to a large extent of course) tricky... in fact next to impossible! First issue was lack of freeze overnight so the snow would be cooked.... in fact the freezing level overnight was about 2800m which means the freeze would be light (at best at high altitudes and cooked below that! Second issue was lack of sunshine this morning and through the day in the end which meant that things at altitude would not soften up and finally there was a strong Foehn wind blowing.... option one for off piste was to stay 'low' and get soft snow but probably it would be way too cooked and soft to ski on OR way to firm and tracked out on north facing... option 2 was to go to the Val glacier and ski something like the Pays Desert whereby we might get some Spring far out wide... ultimately one of my colleagues went for option 1 and I went for option 2 - neither worked and we both aborted and ended up changing the lesson into on piste lessons! Arghhhh! The Pays Desert hadn't transformed neither was it supporting enough to ski it as a skiable crust which would have been quite pleasant actually and even north facing was wind compacted because of the Foehn. I was happy (in a perverse way) to see a ESF Mountain Guide and a Progression Instructor thinking the same things as myself and we were both watching each other to see if we had found pockets worth skiing. Ultimately it was game over and everyone was back on piste pretty quickly!
I fitted in my periscope:
https://www.pscp.tv/w/1zqKVrAPOQPKB
... on my way home and then had a very quiet afternoon at home - I even got a snooze in for an hour. Clare took Olivia for a birthday party so it was just me and Ben for the afternoon and we had a very quiet afternoon indeed!
It is good seeing the IPL cricket back on the screens and I shall be watching every shot (hopefully unless I start to feel under the weather a little) from the Masters in Augusta tonight - come on Rory! I just LOVE the Masters!
Late last night a huge slide came down above the Pont St Charles beyond the Fornet and it was videoed... just gives you an idea of the amount of snow that is coming down (and will continue to come down) at the moment and as the temps stay high etc (and possibly some rain tonight) we could see things like the whole of the East Face of the Charvet releasing... be cautious out there.
https://www.facebook.com/1130303713650017/videos/2508145799199128/
In fact due to the temperatures they closed the Face this afternoon about lunchtime as they are worried about slides down onto the piste from the chutes all around it!
Interesting clouds from the Foehn winds hovering around the Fornet this morning - over the course of the day and with more fronts moving in it clouded fully over! I doubt once again the temps will drop much below zero even at the top of the mountain tonight - I'm glad I am (supposed) to be on piste tomorrow.
Anyway TTFN
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