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From departures you head to car rental, carry straight on through out of the building in broadly the same direction for a bit and you there.
They identify which flight to which check in desk by using a sticker.
sounds like they're shipping you out as cargo 😉
Cattle would be the better description.
I'm better than this you Swiss barstads.
This has nothing to do with the price of the flights, no sirree nothing at all.
I took a train from Zurich to the airport on Tuesday. It was late.
Lying barstewards.
Geneva airport terminal two.The illusion of Swiss precision and efficiency ruined.
Yep, it very much resembled the old Lagos terminal, felt quite let down by it - my illusions of Swiss precision and order shattered...
Yep.Steep and deep.
No shit, must be about a Grade II winter climb!
Some more accessible bits of La Grave:
Off to Sauze D'oulx first thing tomorrow, woop woop - group of 16 of us (some of whom I know)! Don't think we will get much if any fresh snow but it looks ok. I'll probably mostly burn some groomers on my skis ( 😉 ), maybe build some jumps (and have a practice with skins/touring stuff).
Working out OK then?Have you ridden the NE face of the Courtes since then?
Aye, working out not so bad (he says getting back from another day driving to Geneva and back!).
Still haven't ridden Les Courtes - in fact, I haven't ridden Chamonix since I moved here. Need to rectify that!
Hmm... yeah La Grave looks a bit scary. 😯
A French guide showed up at the Neilson welcome meeting bit in Les Deux Alpes to take bookings for guided trips into La Grave - but Neilson were [i]very[/i] cagey about defining what kind of skill level it was suitable for or giving any real details about it. Plus I seem to recall it was something like 150 euro, which seemed pricey for basically one long (guided) run top to bottom. But I've no idea how much these things usually cost?
Maybe next time.
Looks like someone has found a good use for drones on snow. Just needs [i]a bit[/i] more power to haul me around:
Off to Sauze D'oulx first thing tomorrow
Sure I've said it before, but just in case;
Pizza at Orso Bianco, up at Sportinia
Steak at The Village, by the Clotes lift, IIRC.
Lyon airport was quite the let-down this morning. Landed 0930. Didn't exit rental car park till 1215. 😡
Clear road up though so we were in Reberty by 3.30ish with a couple of stops. Sat looking out at quite a few inches of fresh powder for first day tomorrow with a few more inches to come by morning. 😀
quite a few inches of fresh powder for first day tomorrow with a few more inches to come by morning
Waist deep! Awesome!
😉
happy tracks tomorrow.
pics up by tea time or you're for the high jump.
forecast for tonight/Sunday in Morzine is for a foot, with a further dusting on Wednesday after I land. Can't wait!
got to be said, the BRS>GVA>MORZ journey is so very easy,
Arrive BRS, 8:30 for breakie
flight departs 10:15
lands GVA 1pm (12pm UK)
Transfer leaves by 2pm
at the flat by 3:30.
So not a huge amount in it compared to a Lyon route.
Waist deep! Awesome!
snork.
Weather is going to be INTERESTING over the next few days. INTERESTING is not (necessarily) the same as AWESOME. But it could be. See you on the flipside!
snork.
Much more snow and he'll need a snorkle.
🙂
waist
Would have thought that would be a touchy subject for you two.
I'm enjoying this. Keep going boys.
Lying in bed in Les Coches. It's pissing down outside.
Hopefully that means it's snowing a bit further up the hill 😆
You are a long way down the hill though, what are the winds like?
Ok, it can stop snowing now. Waist deep I could take, but we're approaching shoulders now. Any more, and that snorkel joke won't seem so funny. 😀
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Nice DD, have fun
Yes deadlydarcy!
Superb DD 😀
No wind down here PM. I'm a bit hot!
You lucky f....., DD!
First lift to last call!
but Neilson were very cagey about defining what kind of skill level it was suitable for or giving any real details about it
As I think we discussed in a previous years thread (when stevomcd made some astute observations I seem to remember) it is sometimes very difficult to determine someone's level of ability based on their own self assessment ...
I'm sure we've all heard the 'bar bores' banging on about how 'by the second day I was basically skiing/boarding all the black runs yah!' ...
@deadlydarcy Looks like the snow base is starting to shape up nicely! 😉
Plus I seem to recall it was something like 150 euro, which seemed pricey for basically one long (guided) run top to bottom
Price for 'guiding' can be dependent on what you are doing and where you are going, i.e. is it just 'off-piste instruction' or travel over glaciated terrain? If it's the former then relevant instructor qualifications (especially in France) will suffice - If it's the latter then the guide should be IFMGA (or equivalent) which means a higher daily rate.
Anyone have experience with treating PTSD?
Anyone have experience with treating PTSD?
apparently you should drink one 'snowball' now, and another one in a half hour ... if that doesn't work, consider doing a season ...
Back from a sunny week in Serre Chevalier.
Its good and worth a trip out side of French school holidays.
We stayed in Chantemerle, but to be honest any of the upper 3 villages all access good skiing quickly. Briancon abit run down and industrial, but would serve a purpose if self catering or self drive holidaying.
we went with Rocketski who specialie in school trips and had a basic hotel 150m from the main lift and Luc Aplhand piste. Very easy and simple although the british ary ski team were training and using the Luc Alphand piste and chair so a very small queue appeared around 0900 only.
Almost evry run was open wit good snow cover . The off piste and slack country access is incredible. So many areas are a traverse away , and tree lined that in snow the resort must transform. I can imagine all the tourists sat in hotel foyers praying for the snow to stop whilst all the locals are out proper having it in the powder. We didnt see one single snow flake fall out the sky. . . .
Took my Shoguns and 130/100/120 isnt neccessary for crunchy crud off piste or groomed runs so skied on my Streetrace carvers mostly. Skied every run , went end to end and back one day which didnt take too long at all.
Lift pass gets you 1 day in Moontgenevre , and its 9Eu on the bus, with no changes , so did that on one day. Liked that area as well but a few runs shut as Team GB and the Gb youth developement squad had booked the run. Some of the links were shut in MG meaning there was some travelling to get around and the snow wasnt as good as SC.
Ate in hotel all but 1 night , food OK but let down by stone cold plates. Tried the Estable restaurant on the chef night offf and was impressed by the food in there. Alot of it and very nice , espcially the salads.
Different feel to the other big french resorts , you sem to be treated as aperson rather then a comodity; there to be expolited . No seriously difficult runs , some older cranky lifts and a bottle neck on the return link from Villenerve to Chantermarle that is a pain (chair to button )
we dont stop for lunch , just carry biking food with us so cant comment on restaurants , but the beers we did have were reasonable on the mountain.
Really want to go back when there is some fresh powder as it has such huge potential, the Vallons bowl is a safe area to go , although it is above the tree line
Hi DD, heading out to Reberty on Saturday so any pics, reviews, tips etc will be lapped up. Loving the first photo! Think we are staying in same row of Chalets.
Loads of snow last night at Brevent, only one lift open with big queues and horizontal snow and blown ice, not nice. Will hopefully get a good half day in tomorrow morning before leaving. Rain down in Chamonix.
Cheers for the restaurant tips CFH. DD send some of that snow over here, you won't be able to handle it. 🙂
Sunny and warm and barely any snow down in the resort in Sauze but most stuff open - looking forward to some nice Spring conditions!
Some good snow overnight here in Avoriaz - roughly 5" judging by what was on our balcony.
First day skiing after 9 years so I was always going to be rubbish but I've had a great first day. It's somewhat damp out there but the snow on the pistes seems good. Visibility isn't great though in the open - very flat light too. Windy high up too and they seem to have closed the highest lifts/pistes.
An interesting day. I've never skied in conditions like this (ie rain) before! Wet low down, no vis up high so half the mountain was closed. We popped over the valley to Vallandry for a couple of runs and some amazing French onion soup in Le Rilax. Very enjoyable day but looking forward to getting high tomorrow!
Very enjoyable day but looking forward to getting high tomorrow!
Hey, whatever helps you relax! Not sure it'll help your skiing tho!
IGMC
Anyone been watching The Jump? I have it on +1. Interesting enough as Jnr is skiing in Kuhtai where it's filmed with school in 2 weeks time, snowing fairly well there at the mo.
Bikeverbier posted a rather worrying picture today, out biking at 1100m surrounded by grassy fields
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Pretty damn snowy* in my garden at 900m!
*Snow, ice, slush, muddy gunge. Whichever variety you like, my garden has it...
The snow is still great in Avoriaz even though it was really mild today. Cutting into some deep moguls on a couple of pistes higher up around Fornet where loads of people have headed. Bit of a nightmare for me but that's because I'm rubbish 🙄
Mostly excellent though 🙂
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Fun day yesterday. Around 12" of new in 24 hrs.
great news. Im on the plane tomorrow morning, will be up at avoriaz on wednesday.
D, pm me if you get a chance and we me get a chance for a beer, M
Conditions not great in Sauze. Afternoon slush was fun in the sun though and I got to try out my touring setup. It's pretty bare in general though - links to Sestriere etc shut. Gonna check out Montgenevre by minibus I think.
Decent dump is forecast for the day we leave apparently! Enjoy your pow. 😐
Grum .
skied Montgenevre last Thursday. It wasnt great , some linking runs were shut already . Some porridge early afternoon on the south facing slopes. There are some very long chairs to get you up and away from the town, they arent the fastest. The GB developemnt lad we were talking with reckoned that MG had the best snow in the area ( via Lattea).
Best area was south of the town , heading away on a funny chair/cabin combo lift
Thanks STM that's good info.
Not that anyone needs to know this... a funny chair/cabin combo lift is known as a Telemix.
Death in La Plagne yesterday - apparently as a result of an icy piste. Very sad. 😥
Very sad and perhaps a warning to us all because whilst the Guardian article highlights the icy conditions the local reports highlight high speed (vive allure) as well as icy conditions.
qui avançait visiblement à vive allure, a brutalement quitté la piste.
One person dead and 2 others critically injured in Deux Alpes after sledging on an inflatable mattress! 🙁
On a happier note, anyone headed for 3V next week...this is happening today (30cm predicted) and temps set to stay cold for next few days...
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LD, drop me an email (in profile) with any questions.
Jeezus Deux Alpes are not having a good season this year 🙁
DD: good to see. How are those bindings working out for you?
Loving them Gee! Took a day of getting used to, but delighted with them now. They're nice and light and respond to my ponderous turns quickly enough anyway. 😀
Stepinandoutability is awesome and has shut up the skiers I've been with with the usual whinge about snowboarders taking ages to get strapped [s]on[/s] in. Currently taking a break from some high winds.
Nice! Good to hear, I might take a fresh look at Flows when it's time for me to replace my current bindings.
And wind schmind, get out there and tear it up for those of us stuck in an office not able to get away this year.
Me too when my old drakes fall apart.
Lots of fresh snow at lindarets bowl today. Cloud and snow coming and going now at lunchtime. Supposed to be a sunny day tomorrow. Mosette hopefully opening up if the winds have dropped, will be full of fresh up there.
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Might go and hire a new fangled board this avo for tomorrow, my 2000 Scott looks old-fashioned.
Stoner - wanna borrow a go on a Jones M'twin with Flows in March then?
Or can't you wait?
Nice photo by the way.
8)
Ooh that's an idea.
My current board is 160cm. At 193cm in my high heels how long a board should a piste basher be using these days?
Also, if I pinch Mrs stoners skis this week to go and do some practicing, is that a bad idea given they only come up to my neck?
Also, if I pinch Mrs stoners skis this week to go and do some practicing, is that a bad idea given they only come up to my neck?
No, short skies are easier to turn on esp in Moguls.
Lindarets, Prolays and in the murk to the left the new brochaux.
Ace fast new 6man. The Blue velvet piste off it is OK, but as a fast liaison back to Avoriaz from mosette and a route back to Lindarets for boarders to avoid the bottom of the mosette descent it's great.
Will be a well used MTB lift in summer too I reckon.
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Cheers flaps. So what's the point of long skis?
Longer skis are typically more stable at speed and will support your weight more in the soft.
Great. Diddy skis on the green runs for me next time the weather is icky.
Your call, but probably big - or same size as me probably at 184cm and 16st. I have a Flagship that's too much board for me really, but forgiving enough to get away with and stunningly good fun when it's soft and fresh, and a Mountain Twin which is just plain good fun. Both are about 160. But someone (Stevo?) was saying not to get hung up on length too much - flex and length in contact can be as much of an influence.
Skis? Who knows, some darksider will be along in a bit though.
Also, if I pinch Mrs stoners skis this week to go and do some practicing, is that a bad idea given they only come up to my neck?
Please tell me they're covered with pretty pink flower graphics!
OK I can't resist.
I've tried to not read this thread but failed.
Heading out to Val Thorens over half term. I was worried about the amount of snow but clearly not now.
counting down the hours left at work - 59 and counting
Just the lift passes to renew and daughter and I are all set...
CFH - I didn't really see Mrs Stoner as a pretty pink flowers sort of person when we met. Could be wrong of course.
Once again I hired skis this year and once again they gave me 175's despite me being 193cm. I have to say that they felt incredibly fast and stable. (Salomon 24hrs max)
You mean you haven't seen [i]those[/i] pictures, igm?
It wasn't me, I didn't touch anything, I wasn't even there and anyway you can't prove anything.
What pictures?
Heading out to Val Thorens over half term. I was worried about the amount of snow but clearly not now.
I really don't think you need to worry! 🙂
You two can be as nasty as you like. [b]I'm the one sitting in the apres ski bar[/b]so thhhhrrrrpppppp to the pair of you 😛
Good day today in Claviere. Bit of fresh snow and some sunshine - better/more snow than in Sauze and some good red runs with potential for hooning it down.
I'm 5'8 and 16 stone - I'm on 183cm skis which are technically probably a bit long but I'm getting on well with them. I'm no expert but IME longer skis react well to being pushed harder. At slow speeds they feel a bit unwieldy but they feel great going fast. Stable on harder snow too.
Oh dammit...I'll post when I can upload an image. 😡
[i]You two can be as nasty as you like. I'm the one sitting in the apres ski barso thhhhrrrrpppppp to the pair of you [/i]
I dunno you lot.....you're on holiday and you can't help doing what you do in the office!
You say that like I have an office....
You probably had friends with you Rockape.
You probably [s]had[/s] have friends [s]with you[/s] Rockape.
FTFY, DD.
I'm off to sulk.
And then move by bindings over to the powder board, because, you know, ACRES OF FRESH SNOW OFF THE SWISS WALLLL
Thhrrrprpppppp!