Our day in Val d'Isere!!

Our day in Val d'Isere!! Part One.

Today (21 March) we left early and went to Val d'Isere. The weather was good with the sun pushing through although at times the high clouds did make it feel a little cold with the wind blowing. The snow was holding up well in all the places we went. Either powder, soft snow, chalky snow or spring snow. Managed to be on almost the first cable car up when it opened from Fornet. What a great day.

Here are the seven routes we managed to complete. Quite a long day, but well worth the effort.

Route One, Col Pers. By taking a different route to those just setting off from the Col we managed to have first tracks the whole way down the Col Pers from the top of the Col to the river valley and then first through the river valley and back to the Fornet Cable car. Very nice!

Route Two, Cugnai. Although well tracked the snow was soft and fun to ski. We managed to find a little fresh snow under the cliffs and in the side valley.

Route Three. Les Marmottes. From the skiers left of the Solaise down through the cliffs and large snow fields and then into Val d'Isere. Spring snow conditions and not to soft yet. There were a number of large avalanche fields to avoid, but otherwise a very good ski.

Route Four, The Tour de Charvet. Always worth a ski. From the easy entrance at the top of the Grand Pre chair we went over the back and around some large avalanches on more spring snow to reach the river valley and then down the river and back to the Manchet Chair.

Route Five, Le Grand Vallon. Another route I enjoy. All the way from the top of the Signal tow down to the valley and across to the Fornet Cable car. Although well tracked the snow in the top half was soft and easy to ski. Lower down it became more spring like, but till good fun. The gullies are well worth the effort.

Route Six, The shoulder of the Petit Signal. From the top of the Signal tow again, this time going left and along the ridge and then down through the cliffs to return to the Pyramides chair. Good soft snow sometimes untracked at the top. Then spring snow as we went lower, but always good to ride.

Route Seven, Les Vallonnets. What a great way to finish a good day on the mountain. By getting the Signal tow again, we traversed to the east and then over the small cornice and through the various small depressions and snow fields to reach the bridge at the exit of the Col Pers route down in the valley floor and back to the Fornet cable car. Even quite late in the day the snow here was in good condition and it was possible to still find some untracked patches.

A long day, but great fun and next time we will try to complete as many routes as we can in a day on the Tignes side.

Pics of all the routes will be posted in the March 2012 Album Two of my Les Arcs Winter facebook page as soon as I have time. Enjoy!!

http://www.facebook.com/LesArcsWinter

Our day in Val d'Isere Part TWO.

Today (Wed 4 April) we went up to Val d'Isere and after getting our ski passes sorted out headed straight up to the top of the Grand Pre Chair and over the back into the off piste Tour du Charvet route. Reasonable spring snow the whole way down and the river bed route was fun as long as you avoided the waterfall.

Then up and over to the Fornet Glacier area, but decided the conditions were not great for the Col Pers off piste route (poor vis), so headed to the Signal and down the gully to the bottom of the cablecar and a nice lunch. Again good spring snow and plenty of cover although you had to take care not to ski into any of the holes that are starting to open.

After lunch across to the new 'obstacle area' beside the 'Verte' piste which the kids had a race down, then into the Piste Perdu and through the mouse hole. Despite a few sections which had to be climbed down or walked across, we made it to the bottom and onto the last 100m of the OK piste to the cablecar.

Back up again for a drink at La Folie Douce and all the way down the 'OK' piste back to the car. A fun day and well worth the effort of the drive up the valley to use the free ski pass you get with the Paradiski Area Pass. Tomorrow weather permitting we are off to the Three Valleys.