J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by admin

bandit wrote:Here is an example of the viz today :lol:

That looks pretty clear... :lol:

Had a brilliant day out in Les Carroz today.

Been precipitating most of the day, visibility has been somewhat challenging at times, and the upper links (to Flaine and Samoens) were shut due to wind...

...so we played in, around and through the trees and under the lifts above Les Carroz. Snow got better and better all day and a good 30cm of fresh came down this afternoon. The poor vis kept the crowds away and the pistes were almost as empty as the forests.

Expecting more snow tonight and a clearer day tomorrow; pictures to follow. And now a cold beer calls... :thumbup:

The past week has been one of the calmest in the European Alps for a while - with clear and generally cool weather prevailing. Nonetheless, a number of Austrian resorts have had decent snowfall this past week, snow depths at altitude remain impressive in much of Austria, France and Switzerland and there are still some 50 resorts reporting high level bases of 3 metres or more.

The drought appears to have broken in the USA now, with Utah and Colorado ski areas reporting heavy snow at times. More is expected over the next few days with extreme weather warnings indicating the imminent arrival of a series of snow storms through those states and more.

European Weather and Snow This Coming Week

Yet more snow is forecast for the next few days in The Alps, with particular attention focussed on the North and East regions. Snow will start to fall today (Thursday), coming into most of the affected area by early evening.

Indications are that temperatures will rise initially, possibly taking the snow line above 1,500 metres (rain below) for a short time in places. Into Friday evening and through Saturday, however, the temperature (and snow line) will fall as it continues to snow. Localized accumulations could, once again, be significant - exceeding half a metre and maybe approaching a metre in some Eastern (Austrian) resorts over the next three days.

Avalanche Risk

The snow pack in many areas remains weakly bonded, despite recent consolidation, and French, Swiss and Austrian authorities have all warned of a continuing risk of "full depth" avalanches with the existing snow. The forecast fresh snow will raise risk levels further, so please take heed of local advice and be aware that the risk of avalanche may increase significantly in the course of a day of snowfall.

HugoB wrote:It seems it worth the long trip.

Your timing could hardly be better Hugo! Fresh snow expected over the next few days too... :thumbup:

The Verbier Ride - scheduled for this coming weekend - has had to be postponed due to forecast snow.

Ride Freesport wrote:
VERBIER RIDE 12 - Rescheduled due to bad weather this weekend

Yet more snow is forecast for Verbier this weekend and unfortunately it will make it impossible for the Verbier Ride 12 Slopeslyle event to take place. The effort, energy and time that goes into constructing a Slopestyle course is immense and there will not be enough time to re-construct the course after the new snowfall on Saturday or Sunday.

The weather and conditions for the athletes need to be good for them to ride safely and show their level of skiing. Snowfall and poor visibility would have made it dangerous and not allowed them to show their true level of riding.

We will try to reschedule the event for later in the season and will keep you posted as to what will be possible. For the latest up to date information on the Ride Freesport events please 'Like' the Facebook page at the following link: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ride-Freesport/

Thanks to all 45 riders that inscribed to the event this week. Sorry if this has caused you any inconvenience. All of us at Ride Freesport hope you enjoy the fresh powder this weekend and look forward to seeing you later in the season!

All the best,

The Team - Ride Freesport

OldAndy wrote:Iceman has been there this week and you will have to look out for holes in the piste where he has fallen after his fabled Guinness lunches.

:lol:
He may be in one right now, as he hasn't posted for nearly 24 hours... 8)

Brucie wrote:Tony hears lots of things. He's a taxi driver!!!

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

A cabbie wrote:...I 'ad that Snow God chap in me cab just the other day...

OldAndy wrote:Mark Warner (tour operator not mate!) in the Berangere in Les Deux Alpes.

We had an excellent week there a couple of years ago - got a good last-minute deal too and would certainly go back.

OldAndy wrote:Rumour has it that the off-piste is quite good but from what I could see it is either well hidden

It is both (good and well-hidden). We had the benefit of someone with us who knows it very well and there are numerous not-at-all-obvious pitches accessible by short diversions off the pistes.

Some of the best of it is "hidden in plain sight" but definitely worth getting a guide for a day if you go back; we were still finding powder in the shadows after a week of blue skies. :wink:

Tony_H wrote:Look out later this week, rain forecast across Austrian up to 2000m

Where have you seen that Tony? Most of the Austrian forecasts I'm looking at are showing precipitation from Thursday with snow starting at around 1500-1600m but coming down the mountain rapidly - to low levels overnight and then through Friday (and Saturday in places).

Subject to change, of course, but Thursday night onwards looks like decent snow across much of the Alps (North and West looking best for quantities right now).

2 sleeps! 8)