P10

Tuesday, 13 November, 2007

Drought worries southern ski resorts

The mayor of Gap in the Hautes-Alpes has introduced water restrictions. From today it will be illegal to water gardens, wash cars or to fill private swimming pools. The mayor has asked everyone in the area to make an effort. The restrictions will be reviewed on the 2nd of December. The region has been suffering from a drought for some time with little rain over the last few months. Many reservoirs are lack water and there are worries that the shortage may have a knock on effect on the ability of ski resorts to make snow.

Posted by davidof at 06:33 PM
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Sunday, 11 November, 2007

Dynafit Se7en Summit Ski and Vertical ST binding

A review of the Dynafit Se7en Summits Touring Ski. We spent a weekend on this ski, equipped with the Dynafit Vertical ST binding (and not another manufacturer as we say in the video!). The glacier up at les Deux Alpes provided some testing conditions of hard snow and ice and we really liked the ski.

Posted by davidof at 05:20 PM
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Avalanche starters get year ski ban

The 19th of January 2006 was a particularly bad day in what was a particularly bad year. Meteo France had issued avalanche warnings after 50cm of fresh snow, accompanied by moderate to strong winds, formed slabs on north to east facing slopes. The avalanche risk was high (4/5) over much of the French Alps but the temptation of so much fresh snow was too much for many off-piste skiers. The result, by the end of the day five had been killed in avalanches and there were many less serious incidents across the region.

avalanche 19 jan

Posted by davidof at 03:35 PM
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Saturday, 10 November, 2007

A weekend with the Dynafit Zzero 4

Last week we spent a couple of days on the new Dynafit Zzero 4 C-MF boot, no touring, just skiing and walking and overall we came away with a favourable impression of this stiff ski touring boot.

Posted by davidof at 10:45 AM
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Friday, 09 November, 2007

Environmentalists take aim at snowmobilers

Yesterday saw the opening legal shots in a long standing dispute between the refuge Napoleon on the Col d’Izoard and the group SOS environment. The court case is in the Gap criminal court. The refuge is being prosecuted unter the French Mountain Law for using a motor vehicle on a highway normally closed to traffic due to snow cover.

stop snowmobiling
Image: Mountain Wilderness Italy

Posted by davidof at 12:37 AM
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Tuesday, 06 November, 2007

Tarentaise ski monopoly imposes “roaming charges”

The Espace Olympique comprises the ski resorts that participated in the 1992 Albertville games. One of the advantages of the Espace to users was that holders of 6 day or more passes could try out some of the other domains. The rules were never entirely clear but if you had your lift pass and receipt and had some wheels you could be centrally based and ski around the other areas searching for the best snow and off-piste. We’ve used the pass when skiing with guides to do a virtual safari of the area.

espace olympique

Posted by davidof at 11:33 AM
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Monday, 05 November, 2007

Mondial du ski 2007 Trip Report

Posted by davidof at 08:30 PM
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Saturday, 03 November, 2007

Pyrenean Glaciers melting away

This summer the ice fall of the Petit Vignemale has been disintegrating. It is the last in the Pyrenees and it illustrates the spectacular retreat of the regions glaciers over the last century. In the same range this summer the ice in the couloir du Clot de la Hount has also melted. A classic mixed ice and rock route on the north face of the Vignemale, the couloir de Gaube has also dried out.

glacier d'Ossoue
Glacier d’Ossoue

Posted by davidof at 06:47 PM
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Friday, 02 November, 2007

The Keys to the Espace Killy

This is the “must have” Christmas presents for off-piste skiing fans. The Tarentaise based high mountain guide, Didier Givois, has published the third of his “Keys” books, this time covering l’Espace Killy. Over some 240 pages filled with breathtaking photographs Didier takes us on a journey unlocking a hundred of the best descents that the area has to offer. Even if you thought you’d been there and done that you will discover some hidden gems.

les cles de espace killy
Piste Perdu/Hidden Valley