The view from............ Val d'Isere and the Espace Killy

A snowHead

@Rob_Quads, hi I was i tignes 2005 one our party sweet talked the lift attendant into riding down tommeusses everyday and meet for lunch at the follie

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

@red 27, many in Val will be chucking at that. Mrs Bell isn't exactly universally popular round these parts, for a few reasons.

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Update

I’m DJing at Le Palet, Tignes tomorrow afternoon (13th) and the 22nd (my birthday!). Come and say hi if you are local.

Massive congrats to Olivia!!

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@Frosty the Snowman - quite! ....and thank you. Toofy Grin

/ Dr John - if you know you know! Kenzie - thank you - exactly!!!! A SS feature - now there's an idea.

In all seriousness it shows lack of planning - you can see the correct entrance from the lift... so tells me and should tell the client he's winging it. I personally dont really have any beef with him (in fact I sent him the photo last night and we had a chuckle about it as he confirmed it was a silly mistake!) but someone was caught in a slide about 10m further along from there a few weeks back so it does have consequences and tbh one of my biggest gripes in this industry is that there are some of us that are in it because we WANT to teach, we live to teach, its been our life for a long time and I have always wanted to do this job since I was a young kid... others 'fall' into the job (not necessarily Brits by the way) and its not a great look! Right soap box has been put away! Haha

Darn cloud

It was surprisingly cloudy first thing this morning but cold. After the kids were off on the school bus I got myself ready for the morning lesson which was someone I have skied with before a couple of years back for some off piste. I struggled to the meet point with 4 packs and transceivers - hot and sweaty lugging all that and my skis and backpack to the meet point! Anyway we got all kitted up and the plan was north and high to get the best snow and based on my experiences yesterday. The main issue though was the cloud - it was thick and from mid mountain upwards which is where we wanted to ski. However at least it was coming and going a little!

We set off but immediately atop Solaise it was thick as mud up there with clouds so I decided on a Bus Stop off Mattis and then some piste technique before the meadows at the bottom of Laisenant. It wasnt too bad at all actually. Anyway I was going to do a Tete Arollay but unfortunately it was way too socked in when we got up. We skied some piste and did technique then attempted to go higher and ultimately got to the top of Grand Vallon and decided to go in... luckily it cleared up somewhat when we were in there and enjoyed the ski. It was pretty good! Choppy somewhat but nice.

We then decided to go even higher to see if we could get something up on the Pays Desert or something but again it was way too socked in up there so we just skied under the Cascades chair which was nice.

I was home for lunch and I had a productive afternoon before getting ready for the evening activity which was the final Vie Val d'Is avalanche safety talk of the season I was due to give. This one was slightly different as had a practical element to it and we went outside and played with the transceivers. Anyway 2 hours later it was all done!

Meanwhile Olivia had a friend around for the evening so when I got back she was just leaving so got the kids sorted and into bed.

The weather tomorrow should be glorious it really should be but we have Clares uncles (both of them) coming up for a ski tomorrow so Clare and the kids will have a ski with them in the morning whilst I work and then we will all meet for lunch.

TTFN

Vis was not great eh!

hmmmmmm

Packs at the ready!

After all it is free

@Steve Angus,[b]

Maybe you can guide him down the Hahnenkamm if you're such a great judge of the right line?

He's one of our greatest ever skiers - you child-mind rich kids down blue slopes. Let that sink in

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Well for some reason I seem to have not been in here for ages , but great to see the usual suspects are still alive and well.

I have tended to catch @Steve Angus, on his various video feeds and actually not been to Val D since our big van tour of christmas 22 as I was in hospital last christmas.

Looking forward to being out this weekend though for once not staying in La Daille so maybe won't spot Mr A on the bus Very Happy

You know it makes sense.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

A snowHead

Heading out on the 23rd, arriving late at night that day.

A snowHead

@franga, over a pint in the Petite Danois perhaps, not on a public forum.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Good luck tomorrow @Steve Angus, with Bonneval. You've struck it lucky with the weather. Hope snow conditions are good for you and the group has some good skiing. We're expecting photos...!

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@Frosty the Snowman, I think the spare part is being forged at Beamish, can you pop up there and deliver it, won’t go in my hand baggage on Monday. wink

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Thanks everyone... DOH!

Frosty the Snowman - afraid no idea no.
bobski62 - shall try and thanks! Just hoping snow not frozen solid and will have softened up somewhat - we shall see!

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Glorious sunshine and company

The day being a Wednesday was not too intense as the kids and Clare were heading out for a ski and I was on piste so only needed to get to the meeting point. The sun was shining but overnight drop in temps made it feel cold first thing as to be expected.

The am session was with the lovely couple from Essex and we spent the lesson working on steeper slopes and the big one today was getting them down the Arcelle. The Arcelle is such an interesting piste... especially at this time of the year. In any other resort in the world I reckon it would be a black because of the last stretch down to the bottom! Anyway the bottom is often either scraped or really soft and slushy especially in Spring afternoons followed by a hard freeze overnight! However with the cloud cover yesterday I hoped it would not have gone through a mega freeze cycle and in all fairness it hadn't BUT it was nowhere near as soft at 1000 as I had hoped! Anyway they handled it well and apart from a couple of wobbles they got to the bottom - mission accomplished! Still plenty of work to do on their technique but they are getting there!

We then moved onto carving and did plenty of work on the madeline as the gradient there is perfect for that sort of thing - nice.

It was a lovely fun morning!

At lunchtime I met up with Clare and the kids and Clares two uncles who were up for the day... one of them has a holiday house in Annecy and the other brother was visiting so they came up for a days skiing. It was a lot of fun! We blasted around in the sun and skied everything and anything... nice being essentially off duty and just skiing for myself! Its so very rare that I do that.... a real treat. We took lunch at Marmottes and then did some more blasting around for another couple of hours.... it was quite fun having Ben and at other times Olivia follow me around.... I was skiing at about 85-90% of my capacity id say and a real pleasure having them hot on my tail!

We finally finished up and the kids and I with Clare headed home whilst the others get back in their car Annecy bound! Back at home the kids chilled, there was some homework done, Ben played outside with a friend for an hour and generally it was some down time. Clare headed to the AGM of the Club des Sports whilst I got the kids to bed and had something to eat before a quick online ski school meeting I needed to attend!

So im going to get an early night as tomorrow is Bonneval day. I think I have everything lined up and we are ready to roll! My only concern (as always) is hoping the skin in is easy enough and then that the snow is not too baked from today or overly soft (not likely but hopefully softened just right - we shall see).

Anyway TTFN

Spring is definately here!

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Thanks to everyone who came and said Hi. I’m back on the 22nd.

After all it is free

Arriving in Val D'Isere Saturday with youngest (adult) son and looking forward to a great week's skiing/snowboarding. This will be my first time back in l'espace Killy in over 25 years (used to go pre-kids and since been skiing with them in Andorra). Not skied in March weather before, normally ski in January to mid Feb. I'm looking for a good itinery to break us in gently on our first day (Sunday) on the on the pistes. I'm trying to work out an itinery that would follow the sun (in view of possible spring conditions) and am trying to work out which slopes/runs face east, south, west and north (son is competent skier but has moved onto boarding now having done about 4 weeks previously). Would welcome any suggestions/recommendations.

Is it best to purchase a lift-pass online or in person at the lift-station in Val D'Isere. Not sure what queues are like at this time of year. We arrive sometime on Saturday afternoon arriving via Grenoble Airport (hopefully flight and transfer goes well!!).

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I understand that LE GEM ALTIGLISS CHALLENGE - The Student Ski World Cup is being held in Val D'Isere between 16 - 23 March. Anyone know if this will knock-out many ski runs/lifts in in the area next week?

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You know it makes sense.

Arriving Saturday, can’t wait! I’ve recharged last year’s lift pass online so I hope it’s worked.

Looks like we might be in for a murky few days but hopefully we’ll get some sunshine too.

Hope to bump into you Steve, I’m looking forward to getting back on skis again.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

@Tangoman69, It’s never too much of an issue. The only thing they tend to close sometimes is the boarder cross next to Grand Pre.

A snowHead

A snowHead

@HoneyBunny,

Thought it was just me who may be rusty.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

bar shaker - nice work
Tangoman69 - there are a million and one different options BUT what I would say is you know where north is in these parts as Mont Blanc is basically due north - so spot that and off you go! Lift passes - if you can do online but if not then not a disaster doing in town! And no GEM AltiGliss wont make any / much difference at all.
Bergmeister - thank you.
HoneyBunny - welcome back. Weather should be OK. See you on the slopes!

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Nice snow

Well ill photobomb todays update. We had a good day although it did have its moment.

With the kids off to school I got ready for the days trip to Bonneval and bussed it direct to Fornet.

The sun was shining and it was game on. We did the multiple lifts up to get to the top of the Val glacier. It was not too hot was set to get there!

There were about 4 or 5 guided groups heading in a similar direction and the high skin track looked like it would come in on the first (and harder to enter) mini col. It would also need a boot pack the last bit too! I decided to simply follow the crowd and go the same way but boy you can imagine about 20 people over the course of a few mins in an area about the size of your average bedroom trying to get skins off and put away, buckle up etc.

Anyway the snow (we were apprehensive it would be too crusty or stiff before we started the climb in the first place but it wasnt) was actually nice powder and very skiable. We didnt have the best start with a couple of falls (partly kit errors of not clipping in properly etc on pins - doh) etc. Doh! I was slightly worried initially but we got into our rhythm.

The snow was lovely on the east and north facing slopes as we descended - check out my instagram feed vid! By the time we were heading south it was getting hot and the snow heavier and by midday and with lower altitudes an awful lot heavier etc. We finally hit the bottom of the valley and the push / traverse back towards Ecot and then Bonneval was easy enough.

We arrived for lunch in Bonneval at 1330 and we were very hot and sweaty thats for sure.

Lunch was steak and chips washed down with a pint for €25 which ill happily take... and the half day lift passes were a decent €25 too.

Anyway we finished lunch and did the 3 lifts needed to get up to the DZ for the chopper. I think the pilot had assumed I would 100% be ready for 1515 as I had just finished the briefing when he came into sight - phew we were luckily ready!

The chopper ride back was stunning as is always the case. We could see amongst other things 1000 vertical metres over the Col d'Iseran the Materhorn in the distance but all the way down towards the Frejus tunnel. Lots of other stunning views.

After all that excitement I popped to the office to drop something off and then headed home...

In only a couple hours (Olivia was off at gymnastics class) I had a quick shower and refresh and got ready to head back into town. Ben came home from school and didnt feel 100% so he is sleeping in my bed and ill be in his shortly! I then headed into town as there was a talk from a climate scientist all about the worlds issues in relation to the ski industry - interesting and scary in tandem. So just got back, eaten, written this and bed time now.

Tomorrow I am working in the morning and then off in the afternoon.

Photos of today now.

TTFN

Chamois spotting to start the day

Yours truly about to drop in

Off we go 'off the back'

Untouched

Admiring our handwork!

Stunning

I can see the Matterhorn from here - very top left in the distance and the valley we skied down underneath us.

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After all it is free

@HoneyBunny,

We can try being like the tin man in a variety of bars

Best I start packing

Hmmm...having a debate with my son. We normally have snow holidays in January. Would he be better off snowboarding or skiing in the snow/weather conditions being forecast in Val D'Isere over the next week? He "hung up" his skis about 3 ski holidays ago now (so has since done about 4 weeks on a board).

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@Tangoman69, forecast is for high temperatures and no new snow. Means the pistes will be great in the morning, slushing up in the afternoon. To my mind that leans towards skiing, but it’s whatever you more comfortable using in the two different snow conditions.

Help!!

The view from............ Val d'Isere and the Espace Killy

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