Anyone got any thoughts on how to handle it?
Go ... enjoy yourself - you will have a fantastic trip. I'm sure there will be still be plenty of stuff to ride up high - despite the poor conditions in Fernie I still rode loads and had tired legs at the end of every day ... you just have to adapt to the conditions.
Like surfing, if you had to wait for perfect conditions you would never get in the water. You might just have to be creative - forget about ticking off loads of runs, just find a good spot and do laps; hitting all the features, lips, drops, rollers and jumps on the way down!
Day tickets are sometimes refunded if 'you don't like the conditions' after an hour. Check the small print when buying/signing the waiver - have you bought tickets in advance?
Insurance for 'piste closure' normally means that the entire resort is closed down (i.e. no lifts at all running) - this is unlikely in Whistler/Blackcomb
Well, I hate to say it, but it looks like there's fresh due in just before I arrive in Montana!
This is super cool;
[img] 
[/img]
The hotel on Main Street has a blue light that comes on when there's fresh snow up the hill!
Also, has anyone skied with a Garmin? Am pondering taking mine with me to track the days fun and games. Fun way to see just how much shreddage I've got through, or pointless frippery?
Great snow early today in the Pyrenees. Avalanche risk still high, five walkers two of whom we know took a ride in an avalanche yesterday walking up the closed road. All survived.
Graham S - In 2000 we went to Lake Tahoe. In the fortnight not a flake of snow fell. It was positively bare at the base of some pistes.
2003 we went to Fernie. Again in the fortnight not a flake.
Also on several Alps holidays and one in Spain, bare patches and wrecked bases from lack of snow.
In all of these we still had a brilliant time.
You'll be fine.
Also, has anyone skied with a Garmin? Am pondering taking mine with me to track the days fun and games. Fun way to see just how much shreddage I've got through, or pointless frippery?
Yes I have.
Yes it is.
And yes again.
Yes I have.Yes it is.
And yes again.
😆
*Packs Garmin*
Also, has anyone skied with a Garmin? Am pondering taking mine with me to track the days fun and games. Fun way to see just how much shreddage I've got through, or pointless frippery?
I will be next time.
BUT you might want to have a look at this too - [url= https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/ski-tracks-gps-track-recorder/id365724094?mt=8 ]SKI TRACKS - GPS TRACK RECORDER[/url]
I just want a system that gives me these kinds of stats / maps from a track I upload that I've recorded on my Garmin.
@GrahamS - there was loads of powder out in Slovakia last week 😀
Dan says hi btw.
Harreydan
Feb28 is still French kids ski holiday week. So France might be busy in the big resorts.
Pyrennes have had some good snofalls so far this year.
I would be looking at Austria or Italy for that week myself.
SKier not boarder so no idea on wheres good or not .
Feb28 is still French kids ski holiday week. So France might be busy in the big resorts.
Serre Che has been reporting some good snow recently, so might be worth a look across the border in Italy in the Via Lattea resorts.
Anybody in Andorra/been very recently and can give feedback on conditions? Off there on Sunday for a week, first time there...
I'm in arinsal at the minute been here since the 16th. Snow on piste is in pretty good shape considering there hasn't been much snow this season. Nothing off piste.
Thanks for the tips guys, hadn't realised that was still holiday time in France so will check out Austria and Italy, and will bear the Pyrenees in mind too. Got a new board to try out so pretty keen to go somewhere 🙂
Despite the fact that I went riding in Squamish today, it's not all the bad. The stuff lower than red and green chair is slushy but the pistes are all fine. It's just the ungroomed bowls and tree runs that are suffering a bit, but the higher up stuff isn't as bad. You'll still have a great time. And if you realy get fed up head to squamish and hire bikes for the day. I met two skiers who'd done that and they were having a great time.
Looks like there is a big big dump coming to the Alps next week !
Ooh the forecast I'm choosing to believe for Dienten reckons 40cm tue/wed! Might have to swap my skis for a snowboard!! 😀
Might have to swap my skis for a snowboard!!
Wash your mouth out with soap!
WTF were you doing with skis in the first place?
Hareydan - it's the last week of the French holidays, so won't be a big deal. Paris is back to school...
Double post! Might as well use the edit to suggest to sui that there is loads of good snow to be had in Cham if you know where to look - maybe check out my friend Paul at horsemouthsnowboarding.com if you're in need of someone to help you find the goods!
* looks at Cairngorm forecast AGAIN 🙁
* looks at flights to MUC or GVA from Scotland 😀
Hareydan - Member
Thanks for the tips guys, hadn't realised that was still holiday time in France so will check out Austria and Italy, and will bear the Pyrenees in mind too. Got a new board to try out so pretty keen to go somewhere
I was in St Anton last week. Loads of snow and sunny too. It's still looking good
Bergfex.com is a useful website for checking snow depths, webcam & forecasts etc
* looks at flights to MUC or GVA from Scotland
😆
That reminds me, I was chatting to some folk about the whole 'travel from south east England to ski in Scotland' thing.
Turns out there's quite a few Dundonians that don't even bother and just Ski overseas.
Too much waiting for the stars to align where there is decent snow, winds below 60mph, and an access road that isn't rammed and stationary seemed to be the general reason.
I realise I was mega lucky with conditions but I had a fantastic day up at Cairngorm the other week. Think really you need a part-time/flexible/self-employed job to take advantage.
steveomcd - I've had one snowboard trip this year and I'm going with my family this time who are all skiers so I thought I'd join in. If I'm sticking to the piste I'm quite happy on skiis.
Snow-forecast now claiming 70-odd cm on Tuesday, another 30cm on Wednesday, then the sun to come out at the end of the week! Not sure I quite believe that but it's looking good. Will definitely have to get back on a board if there's loads of powder.
Flying in to Sea-Tac over the Cascades, there was plenty of snow up high. Lower down look sparse. Pretty mild in Seattle as well, for the time of year.
Off to check Montana webcams now!
Pyrennes looking like getting a very good covering over the next 5 days .
Really want to go away 8th March , but being billy no mates have no one to go with . Time to advertise on snowheads again .
Have a great trip CFH! 😉
Thanks! Sadly it's mainly a work trip with a couple of days skiing tagged on, but today is Saturday, I've just woken up and there's a light dusting outside! Hopefully more up the hill.
Big Sky was reporting 3-5" and well below zero c
Looking like that here in town.
Ah, Big Sky, spent a day boarding there about 15 years ago, fantastic memories 😀
Well, this time next week I'll be sitting in Alpe d'Huez, hopefully watching the snow fall as I prepare for a week on my new board, can't wait 🙂
Quite
Envious
Just done 2 days on cairngorm. Kids (10 & 8 ) gone from very slow pizza & chips to route 1 down the Ciste Fairway with mrsj unable to keep up 😆
Plenty of exuberents on t-trays keeping things interesting as I cajoled mini me 1 down the Gun Barrel and comedy falling in the fresh powder by one of the snow cannons before a bit of Après Ski in La Taverna. Marvellous. I may have to bore you with a video once I've pulled the clips together!
And [i]Have a great trip CFH![/i] +1
Mind if I leave this here?
About 5” or so fell overnight, and it was still snowing hard on the way up Bridger Canyon. Traffic was busy-ish, but pretty chilled pace.
Some pretty big queues, sorry “lines” forming up first thing! Was fairly quick to clear, thankfully.
[img] 
[/img]
Spent much of the morning cruising through glorious Cold Smoke in the treeline over on the Alpine Lift side of the hill. Had originally thought I’d just go and find some easy pistes to get my legs back together, but the treeline was just too appealing! Cold Smoke is the local name for their stunningly fluffy powder.
[img] 
[/img]
[img] 
[/img]
Then over towards the other side for a play on Pierre’s Knob (Stop that at the back! It’s the name of a lift you filthy depraved, etc)
[img] 
[/img]
Up at the top there is The Ridge. In bounds, extreme terrain. Some of the gullies, chutes and drops looked astonishing. Accessed by the Bridger Lift and then a bootpack up to the top. Off to the left of the photo were some ace blues (More like European reds, IMHO) that were fluffy, wind blown snow and great fun.
Nooskool skis on oldskool chairlift!
[img] 
[/img]
Salomon Q98 with Marker Griffons. Boots are model’s own 😉 Skis have stupidly light tips (You might even be able to make out the honeycomb in this pic) and fat enough for floatiness. There weren’t really any groomers to speak of, bar a few road-like sections, so not sure on that.
It was REALLY crowded in the afternoon.
[img] 
[/img]
Back to the hotel via Five Guys (Excellent fast food!)
[img] 
[/img]
And stopped off at the Bozeman Coop to pick up some recovery fluids.
[img] 
[/img]
See that boxed bottle of Guinness at the bottom there? $33. Yes, thirty three whole dollars! Or £21.50ish in real money. Needless to say, it stayed on the shelf! Sam Smiths seems very popular over here, which I suppose is a good thing!
Finally, in case you’re wondering what sort of town Bozeman is, not only do people have “Ted Nugent for President” bumper stickers, but there’s this;
[img] 
[/img]
And, I’m going back for more tomorrow! Which is nice.
[url]
a little edit of a road trip I did at the end of January 😛
Nick - where was that then? Were you using a chest mount or head mount? I can't decide which to use yet?
Nice, Nick! Although leaving the windlip unslashed at 1:40, how could you!? 🙂
Really like seeing where other people are going , good stuff all.
Also I'm liking those conditions Nick looks rad.
I'm sitting on a bus on my way to Norway for a week, just cruising past the old Saab Headquarters. Wet and grey here but soon should be up in the Scandinavian Alps 🙂
Have a good week @howsyourdad
Good day today at Dienten-am-Hochkonig - not amazing viz higher up but great snow pretty much everywhere. No off-piste fun to be had just yet.
Lots of sun forecast for tomorrow so planning to do the 'konigstour' across the whole lift pass area.
Skiing is coming on pretty well - still have to remind myself that you can turn these skis with much less effort than the ones I learned to ski on!
What's all this @bollocks?
enter The White Room!!
You called? 😉
Anyone get caught in the hellish traffic chaos around chambery yesterday?
Combination of French holidays starting, huge dump of snow, and several closed motorways between chambery and Lyon meant it took us 25 hours to drive back to Calais from val thorens. we were saying it needed a dump of snow but they could have waited until wed got out of the valley! 👿
Thanks Ned! not me in front, I was filming - also difficult to slash those things backside unless your Terje!
All done with a helmet mount.
My legs ache. Blistering sunshine all day. First lift to last call.
Those Salomons were rubbish on groomers. Changed for some Nordica Wildfires, which were much better.
I have pizza and beer.
La vie est belle.
