J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by andyhull

andyhull wrote:

From Meribel FB page. Nice.

I've just realised the chalet we're staying in in January is in that photo.

This was just above Tignes Le Lac, in sight of our hotel and several of our group. A little gully which was skied out, hundreds of people must have been down there. But sunny warm weather, it went as my mate skied in, he was left standing on bare earth as a couple of feet of snow slid away. I was lower down, but still up on the ridge as the slide went past. That's as close as I want to get. If I had gone first I'd have entered below the weak point.

From Meribel FB page. Nice.

I've already been as close to an avalanche as I ever want to be again.

offshore wrote:

AllyG wrote:

offshore wrote:What about skiing on a piste that has lots of fresh pow on it, surely this is just as dangerous as going off piste?

That's why they shut the pistes after a very heavy fall of snow sometimes. And then you can hear them blasting the snow, and sometimes the actual crash as the artificially created avalanche happens.

But very occasionally there is an avalanche on piste - presumably because someone made a mistake somewhere, or maybe because there is always an element of uncertainty about these things.

I have heard blasting before, and hvae come across a few closed piste's in my time, Must be for this reason!

A piste closure is more likely because of unsecured snow above the piste than on the piste itself. If they are blasting, they won't take a risk having a piste open below. Though I have heard of the odd occasion when an intentionally triggered slide has gone much further that predicted and it's covered a piste.

Off piste doesn't mean just powder, it's anything any from the pistes. Powder equals increased avalanche risk so the kit becomes essential. Experience off piste in safer, skied out conditions.
For beginners there is often no need to go off piste in powder conditions, I've skied in 3 feet of powder on blue runs on several occasions. Many hours of fun too just off the piste, bouncing along in the soft.
Like any part of skiing the way to learn is with professional instruction.

Can you back out of Col de Mines? From skiing it last Jan, from what remember you we're committed once you started he traverse.
To ski it in those conditions I'd consider too risky.

Snapzzz wrote:

andyhull wrote:I don't see a problem with that.

Really? If i waste a minute ski time i feel robbed!
You can sit in a bar when the lifts close.

btw, i signed up!

I don't see a problem with Ally doing that.