J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by admin

Heavy rain in Cypress, and snow in Whistler!

The latest storm to hit Whistler Blackcomb has dumped 70 centimetres (28 inches) in 24 hours at the weekend, immersing the resort in deep winter conditions. Although the heavy snow and high winds prevented a number of lifts from opening until conditions improved.

Other resorts in British Columbia have also been reporting big snowfalls.

"Even with all the snow this year, this latest storm was one of the most intense we've dealt with in a long time," said Doug MacFarlane, Whistler Blackcomb's mountain manager. "Ski Patrol has been conducting extensive avalanche control work, and Operations crews have been working throughout the night and day digging out. For those guests who endured the storm, the rewards were plentiful as there were many fresh tracks to be had."

The snow base is on the verge of reaching three metres or 9.8 feet. With the 2010 Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games now less than a month away, the resort is primed ready to welcome the world to its snowy slopes.
Courtesy of and © Snow24 plc

CairnGorm Mountain in Scotland was closed for the past week as staff attempted to 'dig the resort out from, 'too much snow.' The lower part of the ski area re-opened on Monday 18th January and staff are now working to re-open the upper half.

Over the past decade CairnGorm and other Scottish ski areas have more often been forced to close their ski slopes because of too little snow, rather than too much, but CairnGorm has received nearly two metres of snow on its upper slopes in the past month and strong winds caused drifts up to five metres deep which buried the resort's access road and parts of the funicular railway, as well as causing a high avalanche risk.

This winter has had one of the best starts for 30 years according to some reports in terms of snow conditions and visitor numbers, with more than 30,000 skiers and boarders reported to have visited CairnGorm so far this season.

Courtesy of and © Snow24 plc

LOCK UP YOUR HUSBANDS, IT'S THE SANTA ÁGUEDA PARTY IN FORMIGAL!

Could you handle the hoards of partying women who will hit the bars of Formigal to celebrate Santa Águeda?

If you think you're hard enough, make a beeline for the Spanish Pyrenees on Friday 5th February where the partying is sure to continue until the small hours.

But beware, unsuspecting men, on this one night of the year, the ladies have the right to relieve you of your shirt. And anything else that takes their fancy!

This annual party, celebrated in villages throughout Spain, is in honour of the early Christian martyr, Santa Águeda (or Saint Agatha) who was cruelly tortured and eventually put to death, but not before both her breasts were brutally cut off.

Somewhere along the annals of history Santa Águeda's stoic Christian beliefs and high moral values of virginity and chastity have been replaced by a more hedonistic attitude, but she still represents strong women. And as a final honour to her sacrifice, desserts served on the night of the 5th February are two round cakes with cherries on top.

For more information on how to join the Santa Águeda party in Formigal and get 2-for-1 lift passes contact Crystal, Neilson, Thomson, Igluski.com, Ifyouski.com, Ski World, Ski Tracer, Zenith Holidays and J2Ski.com. Flights to Formigal from London Gatwick can be booked through Satellite Travel.

For further information and photos contact Catherine Dolan on cdolan@aramon.es or call 0034 675 834 066.

Catherine Dolan
Aramon Press UK

[this Post is useless without pictures... watch this space, Admin...]

NEW! Shared Helicopter Airport Transfers - Pay by the seat, Not by the helicopter!

Whitetracks Helicopters specialise in helicopter airport transfers to and from all the major airports, not so major airfields and ski resorts across the French Alps, Switzerland, Italy and Austria as well as transfer flights to/from all the airports and cities such as Nice, Cannes and Monaco in the French Riveria.

Whitetracks Helicopters have created a shared helicopter service that will both maximise your opportunities in resort and be kind on your pocket. With the ability to book individual seats instead of what would normally be the booking of the whole 'Private' helicopter. A shared helicopter transfer will save you an amazing amount of money, which can't be bad in the current economic climate.

To see the currently available transfers - see Shared Helicopter Transfer Listings

Whether purchased as a gift for someone or even a treat for yourself, a shared helicopter transfer is ideal for individuals, couples or small groups of three. Three passengers sharing with one or two other passengers will save nearly 1000 euros on the cost of a private helicopter. These savings are greater increased when a couple or an individual who does not mind sharing, jumps in with other people.

A helicopter transfer provides an exciting and pictorial 'sightseeing trip' … Imagine the stunning views of the French Alps from the air a truly amazing, thrilling and exhilarating panoramic birds eye view of the mountains as you are whisked at over 200km/h to your destination. A breathtaking experience guaranteed and quite clearly the perfect start or finale to a perfect ski holiday. A must do experience for everyone!

Whitetracks Helicopters organise helicopter transfers from all the airports within the Northern Alps area; Geneva, Chambery, Grenoble (St Geoirs) and Lyon (St Exupery). For this reason Whitetracks Helicopters will be organising shared helicopter transfers from all these airports to any French ski resort.



Whitetracks Helicopters work with all the different helicopter companies across the French alps, Switzerland, Italy, and Austria. This allows Whitetracks Helicopters to bring you not only; the widest choice of the different types of helicopters available; small, comfortable, single engine or large, luxurious and twin! but also allows Whitetracks Helicopters to provide our clients with the least expensive helicopter transfer for the type of helicopter that they - you! have ultimately decided to travel in.

With the 2010 Olympics less than a month away, Vancouver is seeing unseasonable warm weather and has already broken the January rainfall average of 139mm.

Vancouver International Airport saw a record high of 13.4 C on Tuesday, beating the old 1981 record of 12C, and more than double the 6C average.

The warm air and heavy rain are causing problems for some outdoor Olympic Venues, particularly Cypress Mountain, which has now closed to the public two weeks earlier than planned in order to prepare for Olympic events in less than a month when it is due to host the Freestyle Skiing and Snowboard Halfpipe events.

Whistler to the north is receiving more snow, having already accumulated more than 8 metres since opening in November. Current base depths at mid-mountain are more than 2.5 metres (over eight feet).

Olympic officials have stressed that the Vancouver rainfall is not a problem and a scenario that they have planned for for many years. They say the venues will be able to operate next month.

The Olympics begin on February 12th.

www.vancouver2010.com

Courtesy of and © Snow24 plc

Salski wrote:Fab photos......in my fantasy world (which I frequently visit) this is where I live! :D

This is where I used to live! Well, at the feet of the Jura... and it is stunning. I miss it. :cry:

IIRC Lac de Joux is where we once went cycling - on the lake one February. One of the local village shops had welded up some simple frames, bolted a mountain bike on either end and you could hire the resulting 2-seat contraption to ride on the ice. Bizarre and brilliant.

Super photos Ise. Very evocative. :thumbup: Love the shots over the Geneva fog to the Alps beyond. The day I left, I drove up to Col de la Faucille and stopped to catch that view; fog and all. 8)

ise wrote:I'm looking for a insulting outer layer

Is that like a ski jacket with Tourette's? :wink: