J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by admin

Work crews in the Gstaad ski area are currently constructing a new quad chairlift and a new gondola, as well as more snowmaking of course, in order to offer an improved experience to skiers and boarders next winter.

The new Rougemont - La Videmanette gondola and the Chalberhöni - Vorderes Eggli high-speed quad chairlift as well as various new snow-making machines should be ready for use by December.

"If all goes according to plan, the region is about to take a quantum leap in terms of the comfort and quality available in the western sector." Said a company spokesperson.

The new chairlift is being built at a cost of 6.9 million Swiss francs and replaces an old lift built in the 1960s, but is just the first part of an eight year, 160 million Swiss franc investment plan for the area up to 2018.

The new lift's base station (1345m) will be located next to the base station of the Chalberhöni -Les Gouilles chairlift, with a new positioning improving access to both lifts.

The lift's top station will be at the highest point on the Middle Eggli (1673m) meaning all runs from the top can be reached easily.

""This represents a considerable improvement compared to the old lift," said project leader Samuel Matti.

Lift capacity will increase from 800 to a maximum of 1800 persons per hour.

Courtesy of and © Snow24 plc

Les Arcs has announced it is spending around 9.1 million Euros this summer on upgrading its slopes and improving safety ahead of next winter.

Four new lifts are being installed including a short new chairlift "du Parchey" in Plan Peisey, Peisey-Vallandry. This will link a new building expected for completion in winter 2011/2012 and form an easier connection between the lifts and a new children's playground. It will be 302m long, rise 107 vertical metres and have a capacity of 1500 people per hour.

Between Arcs 1600 and 1800 a new ski lift will serve the resort's famous Apocalypse Snow Park with the old Clair Blanc chairlift removed. The new lift will improve access to the park making it faster to do laps. It will be 730m long, rise 147 vertical metres and have a capacity of 1,200 people per hour

Other new lifts include l'Eterlou rope tow at Arc 2000 which will make it easier to get back to the resort from the Arcabulle chair and a covered moving walkway conveyor lift at the top of the "Olympic Games" hill which will be an easier lift for beginners to use.

Les Arcs will also add 5.2km more snow making cover to guarantee snow cover on the ridge between Arc 2000 and Arc 1600/Arc 1800 and doubling capacity for better production.

The resort has also published lift ticket prices for 2010-11. A six day adult Les Arcs pass will be 209 Euros, with the equivalent full Paradiski pass, including La Plagne's lifts and the Vanoise Express cable car between the two, available at 249 Euros.

Courtesy of and © Snow24 plc

I seem to remember that you've skied before (a bit!)... so Les Arcs every time.

I like Les Deux Alpes but Les Arcs has the more interesting skiing IMHO. And if you're driving then you've also got Tignes, Val d'Isere and Ste.Foy all within reach if you fancy a day somewhere different.

Which village in Les Arcs? Depends what you want... Disney/Luxury in 1950, quiet and quaint (but brilliant skiing) on the Villaroger side, trees down to Peisey and Vallandry, purpose-built in 1600 and 1800... or easy on your pocket by staying in Bourg and getting the funicular up each day.

Mike3000 wrote:Does anyone know how much of Val Claret is ski in ski out?

As Nelly says; probably most of it... if you pick your accommodation carefully you should be able to fall out of your window / balcony and just about slide down to the base of the lifts without waking up. Just remember to go to sleep in all your gear each night and you'll wake up on the lift! No time wasted. Perfect. 8)

The only caveat is if you've got a complete beginner in your group - it can be a little icy in the mornings.

Huge Investment Sees Austria's Hochkonig Ski Region Fully Lift Linked

Austria's Hochkonig ski region will at last be fully inter-connected by ski lifts this winter following a two year investment of more than 30 million Euros on new lifts which include a new cable car and three new six seater chairlifts. There will also be top to bottom upgrading of snowmaking and many other aspects of the ski region.

The Hochkonig pass encompasses the 150km of ski slopes, served by 33 lifts, above the villages of Maria Am, Hinterthal, Huintermoos, Bischofshoen, Muhlbach and Dienten in Salzburgerland. However there has always been a break in the circuit between Hintermoos and Hinterthal until now, but that will change next winter with the installation of a new 3.6 km long cable car connecting the two (previously this was the only part in the whole region that was not connected with a lift, and skiers had had to take the skibus.)

The new cable car is just part of the investment however which also sees three new six seater chairs added for this coming season and 2011-12 and many other improvements made across the region. 97% of the terrain now has snowmaking cover.

The newly connected Hintermoos ski area will be fully modernised and will see the old Hochmaislifts double chairlift and a T bar lift replaced with a six seater chairlift.

The improvements follow investments last year when the region built a new slope, a new reservoir, invested in new snow making machines, built a new "ski bridge" and replaced the old Schwarzeckalm lift . Now there is also a modern six seater chairlift with pull down weather protection hoods.

The spending doesn't end this season either. For winter 2011/2012 improvements planned above Dienten include the replacement of the old Bürglalm lift with another new six seater chairlift and the construction of a new Skicenter in Dienten with parking place, sports shop, ski rental, ski depot, service and café.
Courtesy of and © Snow24 plc

One of the most exciting projects in Europe this winter is the construction of a new cable car at Pejo in Italy, 25 years after the original lift ceased operating.

The new Pejo 3000 cable car dramatically increases by 600m (or 50%) back up to 1800m from the top of the new lift, at 3000m, down to the base of the slopes at 1200m. For the past two and a half decades the lifts have stopped at 2400m.

The new cable car, which can carry 100 people at a time and ascends 1000 vertical metres from its start point in the Tarlenta area at 2000m over a 4km length in less than six minutes will mean the re-opening of long-forgotten Val della Mite piste, one of the world's most beautifully and a descent of up to 8km (five miles) in length

Extensive groundwork has renewed and extended the old slope ready for the commissioning of the new lift, and plans are underway to create new slopes in the coming years.

Pejo is part of the Super Skirama Dolomiti Adamello Brenta ski area pass which covers nearly 400km (250 miles) of runs above about a dozen ski areas in the region.

www.valdisole.net

Hurrah! Nice one... sounds like you're sorted then.

Is this one for definite or do you have more irons?

colinstone wrote:Is there a case for using a "line abreast search"

Yes, there is, but...

colinstone wrote:Ladder searches are used when there is a shortage of searchers

You've answered your own question there; the life expectancy of someone buried is measured in minutes so a search can't wait and has to go with whoever is on the slope.

Large groups going off-piste are a big no-no (obvious problems keeping separation across suspect slopes, etc.) so search plans have to assume there are limited numbers of people available.

If you're "lucky" and an avalanche occurs on or near lift-served terrain (or within a few minutes flying time of a helipad!) then help may arrive more quickly and then you're into having a properly led search, etc.

I'm in no way an expert, but good sources of everything off-piste and avalanche-safety related are PisteHors and Henry's Avalanche Talks.