Has anyone tried a courier like ‘deliveries to the alps’ to ship their skis/snowboards/bikes etc from the UK to the Alps rather than be at the mercy of airline excess(ive) baggage costs etc?

Many thanks! :-)

@nedrapier! 8)

Wow! … and another wow!

Thanks for taking the time to write & post – really enjoyed your ‘vignette’ with some amazing photos – especially the last sunset one! :D

as well as a lot of classic runs which require climbing or abseils to access them

– yeah – I’ve done quite a few of them with Neil, (and some of the guides he had working with him a few years ago) … some of them are pretty ‘exposed’ for sure!

I was hoping to get on the McNab ‘Steep & Deep’ course this year as I really fancy the ENSA couloir etc, but I dithered and missed out as the places filled up really quick. :-(

Very best of luck with the EMS stevomcd! :-)

Distance 5,338.0 km (3,316.87 mi)
Time 284h 6m
Elev Gain 114,544 m (375,800 ft)
Rides 159

BTW – if anyone is interested in what it takes to become a High Mountain Guide then Neil McNab (the author of the Snowboard book GrahamS mentioned earlier) wrote an interesting article a while ago:

http://www.mcnabsnowboarding.com/advice/page/81

Andy Cave (climber & author) likened the UIAGM/IFMHA qualification to a PhD …

Not sure what you’re getting at here, but it is completely normal for a fully-qualified ski/snowboard instructor

Sorry stevomcd, I did start to try and list what my understanding is regarding the different instructor/guide qualifications (ISTD, EMS, ISIA, UIAGM/IFMHA and probably a few more) and what the distinctions are regarding off-piste instruction/guiding are but it got convoluted and verbose* … my comment regarding Evo2 & ESF was more in line with off-piste terrain like the Vallee Blanche.

I guess that this highlights again the fact that the term off-piste is very broad and I’m sure there are loads of grey areas.

The point I was trying to get across was that the French in particular are very keen on people having the requisite qualifications for the level of instruction/guiding they are providing. I know it’s possibly semantics but jambalaya’s comment was:

Numerous companies and the official ski schools offer off piste guiding

I was trying to point out that off-piste guiding requires an appropriately qualified guide [and by inference off-piste instruction requires and appropriately qualified instructor]

* told you it was verbose! :-)

the helmet argument will always trump anything in a media storm like this, as it’s the easy way out.

Sadly CFH I think you’re right … reminds me of last year when the media stirred up a storm over Wiggo’s helmet comments …

A quick look at some of the imagery used by the bigger and smaller stores selling ski kit in the UK, though, shows that the zeitgeist is all about shredding the gnat and getting off piste these days

Couldn’t agree more – but then this is an industry struggling at the moment (although some reports maintain that it’s bottomed out Linky)

Either way the industry is keen to use the ‘Extreme’ images of winter hobbies to promote it as a ‘lifestyle’ choice – case in point nedrapier … dontcha just wanna grab yourself a Ford! ;-)

Also occurs to me that whilst CFH’s Daily Telepgraph article makes some interesting points from the perspective of ski guide Thomas Weller, there is no mention of the requisite skill and equipment required for off-piste skiing … on the contrary the emphasis of the article is regarding helmets and the fact that ‘only around 40 per cent of skiers opt to wear one.’

Interesting piece in the paper today about the fact that skis and kit are now marketed as being more gnaaar, and so people feel that they can just hop off to the steep and deep stuff without a care.

exactly CFH – a little sensational but the article possibly summarises what I’ve been trying to articulate (only slightly more succinctly)

lol @ “les bouffeurs de neige” though … gotta love those French turns of phrase!

I think the other issue is that for many of us we only get away for one or maybe two weeks a year. And we might only get a chance at good off-piste for a few days of that. So spending thousands on avalanche gear and training courses, plus doing regular rescue drills etc, can seem a bit disproportionate and OTT

I think you’ve possibly hit the nail on the head there GrahamS! Appreciate your honesty and candidness.

It occurs to me that this is a relatively new phenomenon – but one that also occurs in other areas of ‘The Great Outdoors’ with more people heading out without the basic kit or skills – much to the chagrin of various mountain rescue teams. It doesn’t happen (at least as far as I’m aware) with activities like sailing etc – I guess the perceived danger of drowning is drilled into us from a young age, whereas the danger of avalanches etc aren’t.

Getting the kit and skills needn’t cost the earth though … what price your life or the life of a love one?

The alternative is that fatalities increase and a knee-jerk reaction results in backcountry access being restricted for everyone. Similar restrictions have been muted when fatalities of climbers & mountaineers increase.

Be safe out there folks!!

@jambalaya – apologies, i guess we’re using the same word with different meanings. Scouting and evaluating a run or piste and then declaring it open or closed constitutes ‘patrolled’ in my book. Sorry for any confusion.

@flux – if possible, avoid taking a backpack when riding in resort. Not only can they throw you off-balance when riding but they can be awkward for you and your fellow passengers on the chair lifts! Don’t risk spoiling your important first snowboard holiday! Plenty of places to re-hydrate in resort! :-)

Off-piste guiding should be with a UIAGM or similar – look at the fuss the french have made about the qualification requirements for mtb guides in the alps! ESF and Evolution2 will only take someone off-piste with a qualified guide. The guide will evaluate the conditions on behalf of the clients.

Itineraries are just ungroomed pistes surely? If they are subject to closure, then they are patrolled and evaluated and therefore don’t really constitute ‘off-piste’ orthe type of terrain I’m referring to since it’s clearly marked. For example the run from the Lognan down the glacier de rognon at grand montet and the runs off the youla and arp in courmayeur are closed when conditions are poor.

What i was trying to ascertain was how do folks evaluate conditions for terrain that falls between a run defined on a map/with poles etc and the backcountry … this seems to be the grey area where a number of these incidents occur! :-(

if it is outside patrolled piste then my understanding is that they no longer have any duty of care, responsibility for your safety or any legal obligation to rescue you

That’s my understanding also GrahamS, but I guess the point [that I’m clearly struggling to make] is regarding the distinction between piste/off-piste and safe/dangerous from the perspective of many ‘winter sports enthusiasts’ …

It’s apparent from reading threads like this and other media coverage etc that many people have a somewhat ‘cavalier’ attitude to off-piste safety – GrahamS – you mentioned this being very much the case in Slovenia.

I’m incredible risk averse when it comes to slack/back & sides and having done various courses over the years, I will study the avalanche report/weather forecast/snow-pack etc before making an informed decision and will often be with a guide if heading into the backcountry proper …

… but I’ve just had what alcoholics refer to as a ‘moment of clarity’:

… for the majority of winter ‘sports’ enthusiast heading to the Alps etc – hitting up the easy access off-piste freshies has become a modern right of passage, but few are perhaps aware of the potential dangers since I can’t for the life of me recall how these are communicated in Europe with the exception of the yellow & black & chequered flag system. How many Brits are au fait with this?

Is there a presumption in Europe that anyone venturing past the piste markers is ‘self determined’?

I’m heading to the Alps for a couple of weeks in March so I’ve made a mental note to try and discover the answer to my question.

Still wonder why there’s not been more effort made to get a real clip in binding for boarderists. There must be some way to make it work

There is such a thing CFH – it’s the hard-boot binding/interface used for laying down big Euro-carves!

… for most people the soft-boot plus ‘strap’ binding is ideal but it relies on the boot & binding working together for performance, support and control of the board. Soft(ish) boots alone with a binding interface on the sole will never be able to provide the same level.

Each year something new comes along that is supposed to transform your ride e.g. last year the big thing was removing high-backs etc to give a more ‘surf inspired’ feel such as the ‘NOW Snowboard’ binding. This year seems to be about offering stiffer highbacks for control on steeper descents etc … go figure :-)

A few mates who go regularly have said that ski’s these days are a lot more fun for the novice

As GrahamS mentions, skiing technology has ‘borrowed’ from snowboarding – with the result that a novice skier can get more ‘mileage’ in a relatively short period of time – whereas the novice snowboarder will be nursing bruised knees & butt-cheeks … 8O

Plus these things are often cyclical … the early generations of snowboarders are now getting on a bit, and thankfully the brash ‘punk’ image has given way to a more considered approach with the likes of Travis Rice (Art of Flight) & Jeremy Jones (Further, Higher & Deeper) documenting the search for the ultimate [snowboard] descent.

If there’s a ‘between the poles’ policy in place, then it doesn’t really matter where the lifts are, surely? Just ski within the poles.

Sorry to be a dog with a bone on this subject but how is this policy communicated? (Other than looking for the avalanche flag).

How do the skiing public know whether they should stick to between the poles or are fine and dandy to go rip up the freshies?

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/27/alps-avalanches-dead-injured-france-switzerland

“Ski authorities throughout the Alps said it was imperative that skiers kept to the marked slopes”

This would seem to indicate that only marked slopes are deemed patrolled & safe in Europe [when snowpack stability is in doubt] – therefore you leave the piste at your own risk and should therefore have the relevant equipment & knowledge.

I wonder how many people hit up the side/slack country without any understanding of the current conditions … :-(

@jambalaya – so if I’m understanding this correctly, more and more European resorts are ‘opening up’ ski areas along the lines of North American resorts which are fully contained within a patrolled ‘resort boundary’?

In which case, surely the lift company is liable/responsible for the sad death in Serre Chevalier?

My interest in this is over concern regarding the ‘freedom’ of access into the backcountry and insurance premiums.

The past few years has seen a marked increase in the number of people heading ‘off-piste’ with resultant media interest in subsequent tragedies as each season unfolds.

Will this lead to restrictions in backcountry access I wonder? A few years ago some Italian resorts tried to make it compulsory to have a qualified guide if heading off-piste, but subsequently overturned this.

Insurance premiums (particularly for snowboarding due to the lower perceived survival rate in an avalanche) for backcountry cover are also increasing – I was quoted over £900 the year before last!

CFH, interesting! Thanks for the clarification. :-)

I guess the ‘brut de neige’ areas fall into the same classification as the Italian ‘itineraries’ ?

i.e. they are a defined route and included on the piste map irrespective of whether they’ve been groomed. This does imply that they’ve been patrolled/ski-cut/deemed safe though doesn’t it?

What I’m trying to understand is whether the lift company in Serre Chevalier are likely to be liable in some way for not ‘closing’ the run under the lift – French law has previously been very aggressive in this manner e.g. the Montroc avalanche in 1999 and the Mayor of Chamonix subsequently being found guilty of second-degree murder.

Isn’t the French definition of ‘domaine skiable’ restricted to maintained/patrolled pistes? i.e. a defined route on the slope marked by poles?

Or have I misunderstood the interpretation?

The ability to rescue a buried victim alive IS (to a degree)within group control IF everyone is trained and prepared.

Spot on Spin!! – interesting to note that partner rescue was significant in a number of the recent Alps avalanches – the woman rescued at Celliers only suffered mild hypothermia.

you can adjust flow binding backs to lock-out with more forward lean

@olddog – loads of people swear by Flow bindings and vive la différence for sure, but they also (rightly or wrongly) have had a reputation for impeding progression and performance.

I only suggested they *might* be contributing to the sensation of heel lift as this was a common observation a few years ago – riders changing to ankle & toe strap style bindings reported an immediate improvement in ‘control’ and the ability to ‘foot-pedal’.

btw – Dr_UpGrade … just realised you’re riding Flow bindings … these might be contributing to the sensation of heel-lift as Flows are notorious for being ‘comfortable’ [aka snowboard ‘slippers’] but lacking in ‘performance’ since they don’t lockdown the boot into the binding – which is required for any kind of responsive riding.

Might be worth trying another set of bindings with straps and highbacks so you can adjust your forward lean …

2nd hand Burton Missions (or similar) would be ideal …

Very sad news about the deaths in the Alps. :-(

A number of them very close to the pistes which only goes to highlight the inherent risk in ‘easy-access’ slack-country … especially this early in the season. :-(

@Dr_UpGrade – you’ve done well making a pair of snowboard boots last 10years!

Mine generally only last a couple of seasons before they ‘pack-down’ :-(

You could try the old ‘add-a-custom-insole’ trick on top of your existing insole in order to fill the foot space caused by the liner packing down!

It might buy you some time whilst you search for a suitable replacement boot!

@ l_ache … your suggested/proposed colour scheme will work fine I reckon

… and has the advantage of being visible on any photographs of you throwing down some moves etc and also in flat light situations (unlike the grey/black/grey/black ‘colorway’ (sic) that I’ve been rocking for years!!)

Just as long as you avoid the ‘rucksack in resort*’ faux pas you’ll be fine! :-)

* permitted if you are using the lifts to gain height before heading into the backcountry but superfluous when cruising the groomers (and also dangerous & annoying for other chair users)

Very easy to stray from perceived ‘safe’ slack/sidecountry into a ‘terrain trap’ etc. 8O

And you never know if someone is going to traverse above you puting you in the firing line.

Without wishing to sound over dramatic I reckon beacon, pole & shovel (plus knowing how to use them) are required anytime you duck under the wire in Europe or head outside the resort boundary in North America.

mugsys_m8’s comments about the current snowpack instability in the Haute Savoie & Savoie areas shows just how thin the line can be …

Be safe out there folks!

Proposed to my wife the next day on Hintertux glacier

Better than proposing to someone else’s wife I guess! ;-)

though to be honest, I’ve never seen anyone use one there, including the people who were doing proper backcountry and hiking well out-of-bounds

GrahamS – do you mean ‘use’ or ‘wear’?

I’d really like to think that anybody heading back/slack-country would be wearing one + carrying shovel & probe.

I remember looking at Euthymol under a microscope at school in the ’80s – turned out that the abrasive material used was much larger than most toothpastes with the exception of smokers toothpaste and therefore wasn’t particularly tooth enamel friendly … I always like the taste though!! ;-)

I also got fed up with so-called ‘snowboard specific’ clothing, being too warm, falling to bits after only a few weeks use, wetting-out and then getting chilly etc so tend to stick to mountaineering / outdoor style clothing and ‘layer’ as the weather dictates.

Best buys in the past few years have been Howies merino underwear and NBL & Arc’teryx Alpha FL jacket

Yup nedrapier! – I’ve already voted for NONSTOP! :-)

Would be really good if they won!

Keith will be sorely missed at Biketreks I’m sure. Loved his recent articles in the magazine – they actually made me laugh out loud! 8)

All the best for the future!

+1 for the Tontine if you’re only staying one or two nights – if staying any longer then the http://www.thebikehouse.co.uk/%5B/url%5D is fantastic – really well thought out & everything you need for a bike trip to The Tweed Valley

How about we kick it off in July?

Sounds perfect – it’s bound to be snowing somewhere! :-)

If you want something…

Absolute agree 100% Ned – I did something very similar a few years ago! I had a year off work and did a winter season [also in Fernie] and I’ve spent a month there every year since (apart from this year) as well as trips to the Alps etc …

People have often said ..”Ooooh – you’re very ‘Lucky’ aren’t you – how do you manage to afford that!”

It’s all about choices, priorities and cutting your cloth accordingly. I drive an old car and live in a very small house. I made these choices so that I could do the hobbies and activities I love (and actually try and be reasonably competent at them – which sadly wasn’t possible [for me] with just one week a year on the snow)

Okay, so there’s a probably a degree of semantics here GrahamS, but as Ned points out – I’m still not sure what ‘Luck’ has to do with it. If you really want it …

And I’m not sure that age has much of a bearing on the situation either (although granted – having a young family comes with huge responsibility). I’m in my mid-forties now and still trying to make those ‘life-style’ choices that fund my addictions! :-)

I’m inclined to agree with the suggestions to drive part of the way – a 40 miles each way commute is pretty steep. When my commute was 40 miles (north of Sheffield) I drove to Wakefield and left the car in a quiet lay-by.
Don’t underestimate the chunk of time out of your day – my combined drive/ride commute added up to 3hrs and then there’s the showering twice a day etc

Good luck if you do it! 8)

very nice indeed Nedrapier! … very nice! 8)

Lowlights – only having 9 days on the snow this year (compared with 35+days each year for the past 5 yrs

Highlights – splitboard Touring in the Alps and staying in the Grnd St Bernard Hospice

@ Nedrapier – Hope you have/had a great trip to the Lyngen Alps – I loved it there last year!!

@ stevomcd – shame about the level 3 – good luck for next year!!

Any recommends for a decent jacket

I bought a Rapha Rain Jacket last week to do the Fred Whitton, based on the weather forcast and I’m so glad that I did – whilst I did get pretty chilly over Cold Fell and the run into Calder Bridge, my upper half was pretty dry depite the torrential driving rain [after 4 hours the jacket was still ‘beading’ nicely!]

Cup of hot tea and a cheese & jam sandwich and I was ready to hit Hardknott & Wrynose.

The Marshalls, the food stops and the locals were all fantastic – I’m really glad I did it despite the ‘challenging’ weather.

The accidents on the Whinlatter and Hardknott descents both looked pretty serious. I wish those involved a speedy recover and again, respect goes to those who attended the injured!