Val d'Isere - 09-16/02/2019
Flight Gatwick to Chambery and coach transfer with Crystal Ski to Auberge Hubert. I had selected the early (07:25) flight in the expectation that this would allow me a half day skiing. I had forgotten how awful Chambery airport was. In the event I managed 1 (very expensive) run before the lifts closed at 5pm. My room was little more than a box with an en-suite shower and toilet - but it did have a good view, the food was excellent and the staff friendly - and it was only a short walk to the central Val d'Isere Olympic and Solaise lifts.
Sun 10th was overcast and skiing conditions generally good. I travelled to Tignes Breviere and back. Favourite run - Sache
Mon 11th was cold with poor visibility and increasing now fall. I stayed around the Solaise lift and retired early - Favourite run - Piste S
Tue 12th fresh deep snow and blue sky - great fun but hard work and several tumbles - travelled to Le Fornet - Favourite run - Foret
Wed 13th snow remains good, sky still blue - travelled to Grand Motte glacier and Val Claret - Favourite run - Col de Ves
Thur 14th set out to see how many black runs I could do in one day. DId Trolles, Saches, Silene, Aiguille Percee, Guerlain Chicherit, Pramecou, Epaule de Charvet, Piste S and Rhone Alps - but it as warming up and snow conditions became heavier mixed with ice - I though 9 was not a bad haul though
Fri 15th really too warm today with temperatures reaching 13 deg C and hoverflies flying around the mountain restaurants. I kept mostly high - visited Rocher du Charvet and had 3 runs down the expert Boarder Cross which was great fun; made my way over to Val Claret to do Col de Ves again - back into Val d'Isere to do Marmottons - a long black I had difficulty with on Tuesday but completed far more expertly today. Then noticed that the steep mogul run from Teleski 3000 was opened (it had been closed until now) and did that before a final descent of Piste S
Mon 11th was cold with poor visibility and increasing now fall. I stayed around the Solaise lift and retired early - Favourite run - Piste S
Tue 12th fresh deep snow and blue sky - great fun but hard work and several tumbles - travelled to Le Fornet - Favourite run - Foret
Wed 13th snow remains good, sky still blue - travelled to Grand Motte glacier and Val Claret - Favourite run - Col de Ves
Thur 14th set out to see how many black runs I could do in one day. DId Trolles, Saches, Silene, Aiguille Percee, Guerlain Chicherit, Pramecou, Epaule de Charvet, Piste S and Rhone Alps - but it as warming up and snow conditions became heavier mixed with ice - I though 9 was not a bad haul though
Fri 15th really too warm today with temperatures reaching 13 deg C and hoverflies flying around the mountain restaurants. I kept mostly high - visited Rocher du Charvet and had 3 runs down the expert Boarder Cross which was great fun; made my way over to Val Claret to do Col de Ves again - back into Val d'Isere to do Marmottons - a long black I had difficulty with on Tuesday but completed far more expertly today. Then noticed that the steep mogul run from Teleski 3000 was opened (it had been closed until now) and did that before a final descent of Piste S
Wildlife:
Alpine Chough were seen around the village and in the mountains every day Alpine accentor seen once, Snow Finch twice and Nutcracker twice. Chamois footprints only. |
For the first 5 days I used the Crystal Ski app to plot my skiing. It seemed to have some blind spots but the result was as follows:
Sun 10th: 41km (24.2km on skis, 16.8km on lifts); max speed 54km/h; descent 6531m Mon 11th: 28.7km (16km on skis, 12.7km on lifts); max speed 49km/h; descent 4686m Tue 12th: 48km (26.4km on skis, 21.6km on lifts); max speed 69km/h; descent 7002m Wed 13th: 47.3km (25.5km on skis, 21.8km on lifts); max speed 58km/h; descent 7124m Thur 14th: 55.8km (31.1km on skis, 24.7km on lifts); max speed 69km/h; descent 8207m Fri 15th - I switched to Snoww App which didn't record distance on lifts 36.2km on skis; max speed 69km/h; descent 6560m |