General
Wednesday, 30 July, 2008
New off piste operator for Chamonix in 2008/9
If you were wondering how to start or improve you off piste skiing skills or get into backcountry skiing you may be interested to know that the British Alpine Ski School based in Chamonix is launching a programme of off piste, backcountry and performance courses for next winter. The courses will be run in partnership with other local providers.
• (0) Comments • Read More... •
Tuesday, 01 July, 2008
Retrospective on the 2007-2008 ski season
2007-2008 was a comeback year for French ski resorts which posted a record turnover of 1.2 billion euros. More than 20% up on 2007 and even up in real terms on the previous best 2006 season. However with even high altitude resorts like Val Thorens covered by 50% artificial snow cover what was the season like for real skiing?
November snow
• (0) Comments • Read More... •
Monday, 09 June, 2008
DBO
I was apprehensive when Bruno called. I knew him from Grenoble ski touring circles and wondered if I would be up to the mark. I needn’t have worried. Passionate about the mountains he was relaxed and friendly. Our destination was la Grande Chible and maybe the Pointe d’Emy. 1500 meters of ski touring so early in the season was asking a lot of me but I was pleased to be out in the mountains in pleasant company. For Bruno this would be a walk in the park.
Adieu Bruno (DBO)
• (1) Comments • Read More... •
Monday, 21 April, 2008
Gavarnie cut off by monster avalanche
The only access road to the Pyrenean ski resort of Gavarnie has been blocked by an enormous snow slide. A motorist travelling down from the resort was surprised by a slow moving avalanche late yesterday afternoon. The slide is some 15 meters deep and 150 meters wide. The local authorities have had to ask neighbouring areas to send equipment to help clear the blockage.
• (3) Comments • Read More... •
Thursday, 27 March, 2008
Salomon on strike, Look wants to buy Rossignol
The Salomon factory at Rumilly is at a standstill for a third day today. The workers are claming an increase of 150 euros per month. Salomon is planning on moving ski production from France to Austria. Meanwhile Dominique Bergin, the head of Look International, a French cycle sport company, is preparing a bid for Rossignol with the idea of keeping production in France.
• (1) Comments • Read More... •
Friday, 21 March, 2008
Four climbers killed by Pyrenees avalanche
Four climbers, described as “very experienced”, have been killed after falling on the Pic du Midi. It appears the group triggered a small snow slide as they were climbing towards the summit on a 45-50° slope. The climbers were at 2700 meters on the west side of the mountain in the top section of the couloir de Chiroulet.
• (3) Comments • Read More... •
Saturday, 01 March, 2008
International Ski School loses trademark case
Ski schools in France are a litigious bunch. Last year we reported that the independent ski instructors union, the SIMS, was suing the ESF for misrepresentation for using the French flag in their publicity. Now it is the ESI’s turn to be on the receiving end of a court judgment.
• (0) Comments • Read More... •
Thursday, 21 February, 2008
Melting glaciers worry the UN
The fact that Europe’s glaciers are shrinking is no longer news to anyone who goes skiing. A little over a century ago a Gap based botanist noticed changes in the flora on the terminal moraines in the Alps and published a prescient article entitled: “Are these indications of a coming change in climate?”. In the 50s and 60s the French Alpine Club’s house Magazine “Montagne” also published a series of articles on the shrinking glaciers that ski mountaineers had noticed. Now a report presented today in Monaco by the PNUE (Programme des Nations Unies pour l’environnement) shows just how serious the shrinkage has been.
• (0) Comments • Read More... •
Monday, 18 February, 2008
Smog blankets Alps
The long period of high pressure has resulted in a smog cloud settling on the French and Swiss alps below 800 meters altitude. The pollution alert reached 9/10 (bad) on Saturday as thousands of tourists crossed the region heading for the ski resorts. The French love of diesel cars doesn’t help matters. However road transport is not the only culprit. The fine particle cloud is also the result of domestic heating and industrial emissions such as waste incineration.
Smog in the Arve valley yesterday
• (5) Comments • Read More... •
Wednesday, 13 February, 2008
Alps snow holding up despite record temperatures
Meteo France is reporting that snow cover is good in the Alps and Corsica, but only above 1500 meters. However the Pyrenees is suffering from a second year of poor snow with cover only starting from 1300 to 1500 meters on north faces and 1800 meters on southern slopes.
• (2) Comments • Read More... •
Members
Log-inRegister
About PisteHors
Advertise
F.A.Q.
Updates
Comments
Trip Reports
Ski Search
Hiking
Last 12 Issues
Atom
MyYahooNews Categories
Recent Forum Posts
Were to buy approach skis??? - 21/08/2008 03:04 pmNearly 100 deaths in the Alps this summer - 19/08/2008 12:04 pm
August snow in Tignes - 20/08/2008 04:12 am
Stéphane Bozon promoted - 08/08/2008 08:56 pm
Get Ready for Winter!!! - 07/08/2008 07:39 am
Stats
Total Entries: 829Total Comments: 894
Total Members: 2360