J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by dobby

Mind you, been snowing in Hemsedal the last couple of days.....snow down to about 50-100m above the main lift

People don't half moan when it gets a bit chopped up though.....

Think I agree with VerbierSkiBum on this one. Just do it. Yes, the viz is pants. Yes, the piste prep ain't great. But you are on a mountain in winter. And there's a few inches of powder on top of the pisted run, you have two planks on your feet, you are not at work and won't it feel good once you've got down this run in sub-optimal conditions?

I think Bedrock Barney is right. I was keeping an eye on lift opening in Hemsedal last year and not much was open before Christmas. I'd agree that you'd be better going to an alpine resort.

I understand that because glaciers move so much you cannot get the anchorage needed for chair lifts. PS the glacier runs at LDA are great for blatting down (that's a technical term). Also, Signal run (steepish but wide blue that forms a sort of bowl, I suppose) is usually open until July (according to Easiski blog of years gone by)

It'll be v interesting to see how they go about designing the piste. It'll need to have some width merely to stop it turning into another desmoisselles or whatever the green piste is called. And the slope is quite steep so some switching back and forth will be needed unless they move a serious amount of earth. I think I'll either take the red, Valentin or the lift.

The new VTT map for this summer on LDA's website shows an off-limits area labelled "construction of new home return piste" or something similar. I then asked on Snowheads and someone on there provided confirmation and some moe details.

Apparently it's on the cards, looking at this year's VTT map and according to Easiski. It's going to take 2 summers and 1 winter and will cost €13m. Ouch! Hope it's worth it.