President of the UIAGM killed by crevasse fall Quiksilver to dump Rossignol? Savoie ski resorts commit “ecological suicide” Retrospective on the 2006-2007 ski season Transmontagne goes bust Avalanche Risk in French Mountains It’s not climate change, stupid! Owning a French mountain property: a risky business

Sunday, 29 July, 2007

President of the UIAGM killed by crevasse fall

Some sad news has reached us today from our colleagues at Kairn.com. Savoyard guide Claude Rey, president of the International Mountain Guides association (UIAGM) has died after falling into a crevasse yesterday. We have discussed mountain safety with Claude in the past, most recently at a conference held in Grenoble this winter.

Posted by davidof at 06:12 PM
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Friday, 27 July, 2007

Quiksilver to dump Rossignol?

Marriages between stars often have the habit of being short lived, especially when there are cultural differences. When both parties are forced to issue a press release denying a split in the face of persistent rumours you can be almost sure there is something afoot. The marriage between the pretty young Australian-American Quiksilver (ZQK/NYSE) and the waning French beau, Rossignol looked difficult from the beginning. Commentators said that Quiksilver had paid too high a dowry and that the pair would have trouble deciding where to set up home.

Posted by davidof at 06:57 PM
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Tuesday, 24 July, 2007

Savoie ski resorts commit “ecological suicide”

Member of parliament for the Savoie and former minister, Herve Gaymard has accused ski areas in the Savoie of committing “ecological suicide”. Gaymard, former president of the ANENA (National Association for the Study of Snow and Avalanches), says that the valley has to “stop the headlong over development of ski resorts.” The battle is over water and the players include local farmers, permanent residents, ski resorts and the EDF, the Government run electric company. Along with other local representatives he has called “for a global approach to water management”. Already residents of some towns in the area have suffered from water shortages during the winter.

maurienne snow making

Posted by davidof at 12:56 PM
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Wednesday, 11 July, 2007

Retrospective on the 2006-2007 ski season

It would all have worked out fine if it hadn’t been for those pesky journalists - to paraphrase the comments of a spokesman for the Compagnie des Alpes (CdA). According to the CdA’s quarterly financial report the admittedly poor snow conditions got mixed up with the story about global warming and it was this that frightened skiers away from the slopes. The spin doctors even claim that the season was better than average above 2000 meters. Once again we are sifting through 12 months of weather data in an effort to find the truth behind the 2006-2007 ski season. Our primary focus is on off-piste and ski touring not on snow that comes out of the end of a canon.

July Powder
Fresh Powder in July

Posted by davidof at 04:16 PM
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Tuesday, 10 July, 2007

Transmontagne goes bust

It is possible to dismiss the closure of the ski resorts of Abondance and Céüze as isolated incidents. Too small to survive in today’s climate. However news that the Transmontagne group has stopped paying bills has been like a cold July shower for businesses and workers in the Alps. Transmontagne has become a specialist in managing mid-mountain ski domains including the 1968 Olympic resort of Chamrousse as well as Superdévoluy, la Joue du Loup, le Queyras, Pra-Loup, Valfréjus, le Lioran and Bardonecchia. In addition to running ski lifts the group has interests in property and shops and is developing resorts in China and Eastern Europe. However it is best known for running the spectacular Dubaï snowdome.

chamrousse bachat boulou
New Transmontagne apartments at Chamrousse

Posted by davidof at 10:45 AM
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Avalanche Risk in French Mountains

July looks set to break new temperature records today. Unlike the previous 12 months this one will be for the coldest day on record. The cold weather has also brought fresh snow, high winds and avalanches. Last week a Polish group were hit by a snow slide on the Italian side of Mont-Blanc killing three. 20-30cm of new snow had fallen in the Alps and Pyrenees above 2200 meters and today new snow is expected from 1900 meters.

mont blanc

Posted by davidof at 09:31 AM
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Wednesday, 04 July, 2007

It’s not climate change, stupid!

The director of les 7 Laux has bit back at media reports that climate change caused the closure of Abondance and Céüze. In the case of Céüze, although lifts were silent ski tourers were able to climb to the top of the bowl until Easter. He sees the problem more as a poorly positioned and marketed product that hasn’t responded to changing clientelle.

Grand Cerf les 7 Laux telemix
The future: high altitude skiing accessed by telecabines

Posted by redac at 11:11 AM
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Sunday, 01 July, 2007

Owning a French mountain property: a risky business

What liabilities, if any, are incumbent on the owner of a French property who is about to let it out or sell it? Thanks to a recent change to the wording of articles L. 125-5 and R. 125-23 to R. 125-27 of the environmental code, the tenant’s or buyer’s position has now been substantially improved thanks to the duty of information package ( ”information acquéreur locataire” ).

avalanche chalet