Val d'Isere/Tignes, Jan. 7-15, 2023

[Sbooker]

^^^^
We’re now on the hill. Kids are very very excited. We’re watching the groomers do their thing from our lounge room. The building we’re in is true ski in and out.

We’ll watch the weather over the next week. Instead of being concerned about no snow I’m worried these kids are going to struggle with visibility because of the snowy forecast. I’m hoping they cope well.

 

[ChrisC]

Don't know where you are exactly staying in Tignes - Val Claret? Le Lavachet? - but if you can make it to the summit of Toviere, the Daille sector in Val d'Isere has more traditional tree-lined runs for storm days, a new gondola, and the original La Folie Douce.

La Folie Douce is part restaurant, cabaret show, Cirque du Soleil performance and eventual apres-ski techno dance party. This is perhaps the only place that can rival some of the St. Anton bars like Msoswirt and Krazy Kangaroo. The Folie Douce empire now extends to every major French ski resort., but it's a lot more than Austria's apres-ski of massive beers and drunken sing-alongs. Pre 2/3 pm things are more performances then the table dancing starts by late afternoon.

It's a little more high energy/exciting than a USA apres-ski of a Classic Rock/Grateful Dead/Phish cover band plus microbrews that you find at Jackson's Mangy Moose, Telluride's Gorrono, etc.

There are 2 other sectors of Val d'Isere that allow some tree skiing / definition: Solaise and Laisinant. You can always take the valley shuttle -versus high altitude connections.

 

[Sbooker]

Don't know where you are exactly staying in Tignes - Val Claret? Le Lavachet? - but if you can make it to the summit of Toviere, the Daille sector in Val d'Isere has more traditional tree-lined runs for storm days, a new gondola, and the original La Folie Douce.

La Folie Douce is part restaurant, cabaret show, Cirque du Soleil performance and eventual apres-ski techno dance party. This is perhaps the only place that can rival some of the St. Anton bars like Msoswirt and Krazy Kangaroo. The Folie Douce empire now extends to every major French ski resort., but it's a lot more than Austria's apres-ski of massive beers and drunken sing-alongs. Pre 2/3 pm things are more performances then the table dancing starts by late afternoon.

It's a little more high energy/exciting than a USA apres-ski of a Classic Rock/Grateful Dead/Phish cover band plus microbrews that you find at Jackson's Mangy Moose, Telluride's Gorrono, etc.

View attachment 33197

There are 2 other sectors of Val d'Isere that allow some tree skiing / definition: Solaise and Laisinant. You can always take the valley shuttle -versus high altitude connections.
View attachment 33199

We’re in Le Lac.
Give me the micro brews and Grateful Dead cover band at the Mangy Moose over techno music any day. But I’m sure we’ll check it out. (I stick to a ‘no beers before 5pm’ rule so I won’t be doing much table dancing).

 

[Tony Crocker]

Val d'Isere, April 8, 2018:

One of the reasons I liked staying in Val d'Isere is that it didn't matter where on that side you end your day, as the free bus runs every 5 minutes from Le Fornet to La Daille. It's not clear what public transit there is between La Daille and any of the Tignes base areas. From Le Lac it's one lift to get over to La Daille but two to get back.

 

[ChrisC]

One of the reasons I liked staying in Val d'Isere is that it didn't matter where on that side you end your day, as the free bus runs every 5 minutes from Le Fornet to La Daille.

The Val d'Isere bus system is very good. I almost had a heart attack in 2018 when our guide directed us to the bus from Val d'Isere center to Le Fornet. However, it was quick and saved us a bunch of connection time and got us to Val d'Isere's best off piste: 3-4k vertical 1. Col Pers and 2. Grand Vallon. So more powder runs.

There seems to be a paid shuttle between Tignes-Val'd'Isere: La Daille to Tignes 1800.

You should definitely check out one sector in Tignes if these storms come in as forecasted: La Sache.

It's a pisted, controlled area, but Tignes cut direct service to it this season only before a new HS lift goes in for 03/04. Should remain untracked for days.

 

[Tony Crocker]

We skied off piste once with guides and once on our own in ChrisC's circled area in 2018. Have any of those lifts from Brevieres to above Tignes 2,100 been removed?

Brevieres is at 1,550 and probably has zero base after the rain and heat wave. I'd be very cautious about any off piste below 2,000 or so.

 

[ChrisC]

We skied off piste once with guides and once on our own in ChrisC's circled area in 2018. Have any of those lifts from Brevieres to above Tignes 2,100 been removed?

Brevieres is at 1,550 and probably has zero base after the rain and heat wave. I'd be very cautious about any off piste below 2,000 or so.

Yeah....there is a retreat from Sache piste / off-piste zone higher at about the 2000m mark. Nothing is really gained below it - mostly just bumps.

Thay are in the process of replacing all the lifts in that area, and randomly this year they are going without a key lift in the mix that would allowyou to lap Sache zone - likely preserving the snow up high.
( Digression: Like Telluride requiring 4 lifts to ski the Chair 9 runs until lift replacement No update on progress from the resort - but they have opened the runs)


Here was the layout in 2017/18: Just 2 lifts to do Sache laps. Note the bail-out piste at about 2000m to Tignes 1800.

Now with almost all the lifts updated. And the key but very long Marais lift missing:

Anyways the far corners of the Val d'Isere/Tignes complex offer some of the best off-piste: big verticals and few skiers in massive zones.


This is a very good guide for Sbooker - if he got the gear and snow stabilized. Maybe join a guided group. But all these freeride areas are classics and mostly a low expert/high intermediate pitch.

I would be comfortable skiing all these zones - perhaps even solo - or teaming up with skiers.

 

[Sbooker]

We skied off piste once with guides and once on our own in ChrisC's circled area in 2018. Have any of those lifts from Brevieres to above Tignes 2,100 been removed?

Brevieres is at 1,550 and probably has zero base after the rain and heat wave. I'd be very cautious about any off piste below 2,000 or so.

I don’t know to be honest. I’m with a guided group today so I’ll see where they take us.
My skiing ability in flat light is even more compromised than usual. I really hope I don’t hamstring the group. I’ll bail out if that’s the case.

 

[ChrisC]

I don’t know to be honest. I’m with a guided group today so I’ll see where they take us.
My skiing ability in flat light is even more compromised than usual. I really hope I don’t hamstring the group. I’ll bail out if that’s the case.

Very curious to where they took you on a storm day in Tignes. That inside knowledge would be valuable, since the most common advice is stay inside.

Although base areas look fine for intro snowboarding lessons. It can be a bruising first day as Tony noted. I abandoned my snowboard carrer quickly, and took up telemarking in the 90s.

Just looking at some webcams late PM:

 

[Sbooker]

The snowboarders are doing well. My kids picked up where they left off. The other two are progressing nicely. The can move down the slope well and turn and stop at will. I think they’ll be moving quite quickly by Thursday or Friday.

I had a fantastic morning. Didn’t get many photos. My legs are trashed. Phillipe took us on the Tignes side. In the areas below the Palafour lift down toward Les Boisses.

 

[ChrisC]

Looks good for below 2000m to Tignes 1800/Les Boisses. Visibility is not bad either! I'd say you got a win.

Probably smart not to risk travel to Val d'Isere. I think there is only one bus at 6 pm back if the links go down.

 

[Sbooker]

Another great day today in Tignes. I think the cool kids call it ‘bluebird powder’. Again not much time for photos as I was concentrating on keeping up.

Above was a south facing slope with inconsistent snow. Off the Toviere area.

Above was much nicer. Over toward the Val D’Isere side. Near the Tommueses lift.

I got this one from a distance. The shaded area just left of mid picture. Phillipe said that sector is Aguille Chardonnet area. I’ve taken the pic from the Grand Huit lift. We accessed it from the Grattalu lift.

The snowboarders are doing great. My lad did quite a few black runs some of which were not groomed. My daughter is going quickly down the groomed reds. Lily and Jye are not going quite as quick and are having the odd crash but are confident on the blues and cautious on the reds.

 

[jamesdeluxe]

@Sbooker hits paydirt. Quite a change from how things looked ten days ago!

Tony, can you break out these posts/pix into a separate TR?

 

[ChrisC]

@Sbooker hits paydirt. Quite a change from how things looked ten days ago!

Tony, can you break out these posts/pix into a separate TR?

Where are you going to put these pics? Alps Weather (I hope no one is getting caught up in this mess)

Another great day today in Tignes. I think the cool kids call it ‘bluebird powder’. Again not much time for photos as I was concentrating on keeping up.

Looks amazing! You just can't go too wrong skiing at Val d'Isere/Tignes. Snow, terrain, and altitude are why Val/Tignes (and St. Anton/Arlberg) are my Euro favorites!

 

[ChrisC]

I got this one from a distance. The shaded area just left of mid picture. Phillipe said that sector is Aguille Chardonnay area. I’ve taken the pic from the Grand Huit lift. We accessed it from the Grattalu lift.

Looks like your guide had you in a more challenging couloir ...very good. Assume he was asking you to ski one-by-one for stability issues at the steeper top?

 

[Sbooker]

Looks like your guide had you in a more challenging couloir ...very good. Assume who was asking you to ski one-by-one for stability issues at the steeper top?

View attachment 33277

Yes. One by one. I’m a relative novice at this and when he asked us to practice the motion of going to pull the airbag lever “just in case” I was quite nervous. I was out of my depth to be honest.

 

[ChrisC]

Yes. One by one. I’m a relative novice at this and when he asked us to practice the motion of going to pull the airbag lever “just in case” I was quite nervous. I was out of my depth to be honest.

Glad you stayed safe out there today! Not everyone did in Tignes... This guy Henry has excellent reports regarding Val/Tignes off-piste.

Off Piste Skiing | Snowboarding | Ski Instructor | Avalanche Training

Henry’s Avalanche Talk (HAT) is a team of ski professionals who provide training and essential information for skiers who want to go off piste, but are held back by fear of the unknown. We help you stay safe and have more fun.

henrysavalanchetalk.com

Lots of close calls today in Tignes and Val d'Isere 10th January 2023 - Henry's Avalanche Talk

Lots of close calls today in Val d'Isere and Tignes. Here is a video of one of them with some explanation

henrysavalanchetalk.com

 

[ChrisC]

Yes. One by one. I’m a relative novice at this and when he asked us to practice the motion of going to pull the airbag lever “just in case” I was quite nervous. I was out of my depth to be honest.

Keep going.

I always have my airbag lever in or out incorrectly 60% of the time. Do you know how many snowcats/helis I could crash?! It's a little not cool, but I get unfocused.

Can I ask what guide operation you are using?

My last guide company in Val d'Isere dissolved - TopSki. Have my girl's name....see if I can give her direct business. Your pics are what Europe is all about for me! Wrote Alpine Experience today to book what's possible....

 

[Tony Crocker]

In 2018 we had two days with Alpine Experience and two with iSKI. I recall hearing about that "Henry" avalanche website while we were there.

After wandering around farther south, I'm sorely tempted by these reports to spend a few days in Val d'Isere on the way back to Geneva at the end of our trip.

 

[Sbooker]

Keep going.

I always have my airbag lever in or out incorrectly 60% of the time. Do you know how many snowcats/helis I could crash?! It's a little not cool, but I get unfocused.

Can I ask what guide operation you are using?

My last guide company in Val d'Isere dissolved - TopSki. Have my girl's name....see if I can give her direct business. Your pics are what Europe is all about for me! Wrote Alpine Experience today to book what's possible....

I was booked with Oxygene but they cancelled due to lack of participants????
So I tried Snoworks and they were booked out. A English fellow I skied with (on piste) back in March gave me Phillips’s name. He’s with ESF. I know they get a bum rap sometimes but he’s been fantastic. (I’m getting French lessons for free each morning when I’m with him).