Henry's blog

ANENA needs YOU! French Association for Snow & Avalanche Study needs help on study of off-piste skiers & borders

Submitted by Henry on 16 May, 2012 - 14:40

 

The ANENA  is doing a study on modern day off-piste skiing and snowboarding. They are looking for people between 10 and 30 to interview. People are asked a series of general questions on riding off-piste.

The research is for a thesis conducted by Mathilde who currently works at the ANENA and is doing a graduate degree.

Still nice snow in N. French Alps if you're happy walking

Submitted by Henry on 15 May, 2012 - 18:40
There's still nice snow for skiing and snoboarding in the Northern French Alps if you're happy walking like Kieran (owner of Tignes Spirit) and Co. here below on their way to the Refuge de Prariond.
 
Reports are that they had some great skiing/boarding yesterday and today.
Kieran (owner of Tignes Spirit) and Co. here on their way to the refuge de prari

Avalanche Confirms Exit Strategy

Submitted by Henry on 29 April, 2012 - 16:50
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The quicker route under the rocks before Andreas changed direction (two members of the group next to old debris - click on photo below for an enlarged image)

 

After one night in the Refuge de Fond des Fours near Val d'Isère, France, we decided to exit from our planned "Intro Hut Tour" yesterday due to very difficult off-piste skiing conditions, avalanche danger (both factors due to unseasonably high nighttime temperatures that resulted in little to no re-freeze of the snowpack) and a rainy weather forecast for this morning along with galeforce winds.

While the skiing conditions produced more than
The quicker route under the rocks before changing direction with two members of
The muddy detour
Then the natural avalanche occured where we would have been traversing - photo t

Intro Hut Tour Day 1 Warmup

Submitted by Henry on 26 April, 2012 - 15:44
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Good start to our intro Hut Tour today in better conditions than anticipated. We did a little bit of walking and a lot of skiing and found some good 'spring powder' up high in Fornet that was firm, but more than just skiable.

The snowpack seems like it is settling more and the weather is looking better for the next three days that we will be out on the mountain aside from the fact it is supposed to get v warm during the days..., but it is almost May afterall.  

Full report after we get back on Sunday

Sarah gets off-piste skier of the day - relaxed but aggressive!
.. and the snow was firm 'spring powder' but very nice

Avalanche Danger Rating Down to 3 in Savoie and Haute Savoie

Submitted by Henry on 25 April, 2012 - 19:12

The avalanche danger rating is at 3 tomorrow above 2300 m (rating of 2 below that) in Savoie. Haute Savoie has similar ratings and Isère has kept their ratings at 4 as the day goes on (3 earlier in the day in most areas).

Warnings of the most acute instability is on North facing slopes which is consistent with the various reports of accidental avalanches in these departments that make up the Northern French Alps. However, all slopes will be suspect as the day goes on and the unseasonably warm temps hit the snowpack.

HIGH AVALANCHE RATING remains in all of Savoie & most of Isère above 2300m for tomorrow

Submitted by Henry on 24 April, 2012 - 15:35
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It has been a real return to winter over the last week or ten days (see photos here of today). However, starting tomorrow, sunny spring weather will return at least until Saturday.

The avalanche danger rating is up to 4 'HIGH' for tomorrow in all of Savoie & most of Isère above 2300 m. See avalanche bulletins below for: 

Great powder skiing in the snowfalls today
Looks like winter but this is April 24 at 1850 m la Daille, Val d'Isère!

HIGH AVALANCHE RISK (in most of Savoie & Isère above 2500 m) & Accidental Avalanches in Espace Killy Today

Submitted by Henry on 23 April, 2012 - 17:03

 

It's starting to get unstable, especially on North facing slopes, and it's snowing again (20 cm for tomorrow). 

For a summary of one of the avalanches triggered, see Wayne's Blog post from today 'It's not over 'till it's over' click here (the Sachette where this occured is at approx 2600 m; North Facing; and there was another accidental trigger in the same area by ski tourers that I think was also without consequence - just a serious wake-up call.

Powder on the Piste April 22nd

Submitted by Henry on 22 April, 2012 - 17:36
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Nice Turns on and the piste this morning in Val d'Isère and Tignes. For more photos featuring Dave's intro to off-piste skiing click this link

Ride Hard ! Ride Safe

Henry

It just keeps on snowing..

Submitted by Henry on 21 April, 2012 - 19:18

 

.. and it's supposed to keep going on and off at least until Wednesday in most of the N. French Alps (most of the time down to 1500 m)..

It's still snowing hard in Val d'Isère

Submitted by Henry on 19 April, 2012 - 17:08

 

Still snowing hard in Val d'Isère. We could easily get more than 40 cm of fresh snow for tomorrow morning. 

Avalanche rating is at 3 for just about all of the N French Alps for tomorrow.

from my flat at 1850 m a few mins ago
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