Archive for December, 2009
TME 26/12/09
Saturday, December 26th, 2009Editors’ Letter
Saturday, December 26th, 2009Well, by the time you’re reading this Christmas will have been and gone and all sights will be on New Year’s. Kind of strange for us writing it, as we have gone to press before Christmas.
Pimps and Hoes has passed by though, with some very good, and some particularly bad eye candy. Just hope no-one is thinking of heading into politics as there are some rather damning pictures floating around. The snow has also arrived and the mountain is looking a lot more like it should but make sure you check on the avalanche reports as there’s been a fair bit of movement out there.
We have taken the leg work out of New Year’s eve for you as the main article this week is about various ways to spend your New Year while in Val. With a fair variety on offer I’m sure you’ll find the party for you.
So it’s just time to wish you all a Happy New Year from all at TME. Sure we’ll be seeing some of you out and about on New Years Eve. Have fun people.
MB HD
The Snowpack Report
Saturday, December 26th, 2009New Snow for the Holidays, but watch out for instability! It’s great to get new snow and there’s some really nice turns to be had out there. We’ve been out there every day enjoying it no matter how cold, windy or cloudy it’s been.
Snow stability
Aside from sniffing out the best snow, my main goal at the moment is to stay away from the many unstable areas. Most of these unstable areas are on steep slopes (or slopes exposed to steep slopes) facing North-East;
to North; to North-West. That’s not to say that everything else is totally stable though; so my advice for the moment is to either know what you’re doing off-piste (even if you’re going off piste right next to the groomed, secured piste) or go with someone who really understands how to have fun and be safe out there.
Here’s why: there’s a weak layer that is sitting under that new snow in many places at the moment. I, and all of my ‘off-piste friends and colleagues’, are very concerned about this layer (Wayne Watson from Alpine Experience put it simply, “..the base is rotten!”). We’re concerned because it can collapse with the weight of just one skier – that collapse can then release a slab avalanche under a person’s feet or even on a steeper slope above them. Météo France is warning about this too.
Tip of the Week
Most avalanche accidents happen within view of a lift or a run. When you are up on the mountain, the local authorities (the ski patrol or ‘pisteurs’) are only responsible for making the
groomed pistes secure. Once you leave these secured runs, even if you go just right next to them,
you’re no longer in a secured area. I would never tell anyone not to go off piste; I’m off piste every day. However, it is a good idea to know that when you shoot off next to the piste to get some nice turns in, you’re in an unsecured area and you should be prepared and thinking about what you’re doing. I’ve seen too many accidents right next to the piste – so remember: once you leave the secured pistes, your safety is your own responsibility.
Have Fun and Be Safe!
