French Alps Beta

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11-25-2005, 01:30 AM
davidof

French Alps Beta

Finally, it has arrived. 30cm delivered fresh to a French mountain near you and even snow down to valley floor level to keep the gapers in their driveways. Across the valley there is already the monotonous thud of blasting like a 155mm taking out insurgent positions at Falujah.

http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/7781/snow1kg.th.jpg

But before you head out to earn your turns think about what lies beneath-

http://pistehors.com/backcountry/wik...che-Conditions

Hah and the locals thought I was mad spending yesterday afternoon fitting the M+S tires. Who's sorry now? Nothing like skinning your knuckles off on a cold wintner morning trying to put chains on your car.
11-25-2005, 01:41 AM
Idris

I sure got some funny looks driving across France on snow tires that some garage couldn't sell to brits. - Now they don't look so silly with a thick blanket of snow and sleeping plough drivers in Chamonix.
11-25-2005, 02:45 AM
davidof

Quote:

Originally Posted by Idris

Now they don't look so silly with a thick blanket of snow and sleeping plough drivers in Chamonix.

Your guys didn't get out of bed either then? Here in the Gresivaudan the A41 autoroute has not been ploughed or gritted this morning. Watch the news tonight for scenes of misery.

Still snowing hard here, we might get 50cm if we are good.
11-25-2005, 03:05 AM
ulty_guy

nice to have you back davidof! keep up the good work with the site.
11-25-2005, 03:10 AM
Meathelmet

Quote:

Originally Posted by ulty_guy

nice to have you back davidof! keep up the good work with the site.

Seconded!

Lot of good reading and info on your site.
Have a good season there.
11-25-2005, 03:14 AM
bad_roo

Do you figure Alpe d'Huez will be looking good for the 7th December? Taking what you've observed about avy danger into consideration of course.
11-25-2005, 04:25 AM
davidof

Quote:

Originally Posted by bad_roo

Do you figure Alpe d'Huez will be looking good for the 7th December? Taking what you've observed about avy danger into consideration of course.

There is supposed to be more snow from Monday on and off throughout the week. Today should lay down a nice base which we are lacking so I reckon it could be okay on the 7th. I'm off to Val d'espair next weekend but will be looking to do a tour this weekend but nothing serious - some low angled mid-mountain stuff.

We may actually be going from famine to feast! Lets hope it stays coldish in December. How long are you staying at l'alpe d'Huez?
11-25-2005, 05:34 AM
bad_roo

I just pulled the trigger on some accommodation I had lined up in Axams. We're on the snow chasing tip and although Alpe d'Huez looks like it'll get its pistes in OK shape, I can see the off-piste still being coreshot city. New Year should be good but this early we'd be clouting rocks left right and centre.
11-25-2005, 08:47 AM
ulty_guy

badroo has become the iceman of europe!
11-25-2005, 08:54 AM
supercastor

This morning I woke up too early (6.50, well ahead of the alarm clock). Call it a premonition. Couldn't stay in bed so I went to the baker round the street, had enough bread but I went anyway, bought croissants for the roommates, just to hear the "scrounch" of the snowpack beneath my feet.

Snow in grenoble 1 month before christmas... I feel gooood. So good.

:)
11-25-2005, 10:07 AM
davidof

Quote:

Originally Posted by supercastor

This morning I woke up too early (6.50, well ahead of the alarm clock). Call it a premonition. Couldn't stay in bed so I went to the baker round the street, had enough bread but I went anyway, bought croissants for the roommates, just to hear the "scrounch" of the snowpack beneath my feet.

Hey Mr Beaver I didn't know you were in GreGre permanently now. I will have to catch up with you sometime in the mountains, do you do any of this backcountry stuff?

The 7Laux looks good from my window - they are opening a lift or two tomorrow I hear but I will probably do something in the Chartreuse:-
http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/2752/pod1ig.th.jpg