Savoie
News from the Savoie ski areas
Tuesday, 01 January, 2008
Happy anniversary le Corbier
The Savoie ski resort of Le Corbier opened its doors 40 years ago last weekend but the gestation of the resort was not an altogether happy affair and would lead to the ruin of a family. Unlike many promoters Christian Guerin was not a rich industrialist or banker. He had made his money playing in Jazz bands in Paris chic St Germain des Pres district but the arrival of “anglo-saxon” pop had left him without work. A chance meeting with Maurice Michaud, the government official in charge of development ski resorts, would change his life.
St Germain des Neiges
• (0) Comments • Read More... •
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.
Piste Perdu/Hidden Valley
• (3) Comments • Read More... •
Tuesday, 19 June, 2007
Val Thorens Tarps Glacier
Local ski instructor Philippe Martin summed up the problem “This map, it is 20 years old, you see all these areas marked as glaciers, come back this summer and you will see they are gone”. Val Thorens may be the highest ski resort in Europe but even its lofty summits and twinkling glaciers are suffering from the changing climate. The resort is fighting back. From the spring of 2008 the Savoie resort, on the edge of the Vanoise National Park, plans to cover part of its glacier with a giant tarpaulin.
Glaciers at Val Thorens, snow covered, but for how long?
• (2) Comments • Read More... •
Wednesday, 14 February, 2007
Spanish practices in mountain rescue
British skiers have long complained about sharp practices by ski resort rescue services: holding skis hostage, asking for credit cards from injured skiers, haggling over ski insurance unless it is the Carre Neige policy sold with the lift pass. First a recap on why you need insurance. If you are ski touring outside of ski domains the rescue is handled by the emergency services including specialist police units (PGHM, PGM, CRS) and fire brigade (GRIMP, GREP) backed up by the helicopters of the sSécurité Civile. The tab is picked up by the French tax payer. You will still need insurance to cover hospital costs as the French state system, and hence other European systems, only cover around 75% of hospital bills.
• (5) Comments • Read More... •
Tuesday, 13 February, 2007
Three deaths in avalanches
An off-piste skier has been killed by an avalanche at Tignes around midday in the Grattalu sector of Val Claret. The avalanche occurred at 2,150 meters altitude in a sector between two open ski runs. The 41 year old French skier was not wearing an avalanche beacon and the poor visibility made it hard for the rescue services to localize the slide.
• (4) Comments • Read More... •
Friday, 09 February, 2007
Val d’Isere On and Off the Piste
This five minute film introduces the ski resort of Val d’Isère and takes views on a descent of the Vallons de la Sache in the company of UIAGM guide Pietro Barigazzi from Alpine Experience. The Sache is in the linked Tignes resort, part of l’Espace Killy. The domain offers 300km of marked ski runs and numerous off-piste and touring routes.
• (0) Comments • Read More... •
Thursday, 11 January, 2007
Guided group in Val d’Isère avalanche
A group with a ski instructor were hit by an avalanche while skiing off-piste yesterday in Val d’Isère. The accident occurred close to the open ski runs in the Manchet sector. The group were at 2700 meters altitude.
• (3) Comments • Read More... •
Friday, 05 January, 2007
Piste Patrollers hit by avalanche at Tignes
Two off-duty members of the Tignes piste patrol have been injured, one seriously, by an avalanche shortly after midday today. One of the men, a Tignard, was trapped under the snow for half an hour. He was taken to hospital in a severe state of hypothermia; his body temperature was 28°C. Reports are that the large slide occured under the Petit Col in the Chardonnet Bowl close to the Aiguille Percee.
• (24) Comments • Read More... •
Wednesday, 03 January, 2007
Off piste snowboarder killed at les Arcs
A seventeen year old snowboarder was found dead yesterday at 16h30 by the ski patrol at les Arcs in the Savoie. The young man, who came from the nearby Ain department had been buried by a fresh snow avalanche. He is the first avalanche fatality in France this season. The avalanche risk was 3 (Considerable) on a scale of 5 below 2200 meters, 4 (high) at altitude.
Les Dailles, Arc 2000 sector
• (3) Comments • Read More... •
Monday, 01 January, 2007
Val d’Isere for sale?
The rumour has been doing the rounds over Christmas. The Blas family are looking for a cool half Billion euros for the Sofival which controls the ski lifts of Val d’Isère, La Rosière, Valmorel and Avoriaz. The main name in the frame is the Compagnie des Alpes (CdA) which already run 8 of the 12 top French ski resorts including nearby Tignes, la Plagne and les Arcs.
• (5) 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
broken megarides - 08/05/2008 12:51 pmMay 2008 Snow Conditions - 05/05/2008 05:36 pm
Review. Gecko Skins from MP Sports. - 30/04/2008 10:55 am
Patrol of the Belledonne - 30/04/2008 12:18 am
Lubner and Whittier, Alaskan Terrain Report - 29/04/2008 09:53 pm
Stats
Total Entries: 817Total Comments: 875
Total Members: 2311