Who's going skiing and where? 23-24

[CivicDuties]

The_Doc said:

CivicDuties said:

Friend of a friend in my town has died a couple of weeks ago in a ski incident. Father of 3 teenagers.

Take care out there.

Edited by CivicDuties on Wednesday 13th March 15:01

That's terrible.
How did this happen?
Off piste?
Guided?
I've skied for 38 yrs and never really seen anything dangerous. Although I have been caught in a few true white-outs, and I'm talking hallucinating in the white and crawling to the piste poles at the side.

Off piste and fell apparently.

[HotJambalaya]

right, last minute trip happening in a week, havent been (boarding) in a good 10 years...

Dug my board out of the store room and the tip is messed up, so looks like I'll be renting one.

sudden rush since I cant find the majority of my gear.

Any decent and not wildly expensive goggle recommendations? Long socks?

I'll have to pick up a semi decent jacket too, but I'll probably spend a little more on that because I'm sort of thinking that I'll try getting back into it more from next season.

[Trash_panda]

HotJambalaya said:

right, last minute trip happening in a week, havent been (boarding) in a good 10 years...

Dug my board out of the store room and the tip is messed up, so looks like I'll be renting one.

sudden rush since I cant find the majority of my gear.

Any decent and not wildly expensive goggle recommendations? Long socks?

I'll have to pick up a semi decent jacket too, but I'll probably spend a little more on that because I'm sort of thinking that I'll try getting back into it more from next season.

For this weather, just get yourself an m65 jacket from amazon/mili surplus. It'll be around 0 to + degrees when you go. If you intended to closer to winter then you'll need something thicker.

In this weather, I just ski in mountain bike armour and a hockey top over it. If it's snowy, I'll put the m65 (urban camo naturally) over and everything is golden. I'm sure some will recommend some expensive jacket/shell but you don't really need it. For Japan I've got a jacket that zips into my trousers to create a onesie

[oddman]

The_Doc said:

CivicDuties said:

Friend of a friend in my town has died a couple of weeks ago in a ski incident. Father of 3 teenagers.

Take care out there.

Edited by CivicDuties on Wednesday 13th March 15:01

That's terrible.
How did this happen?
Off piste?
Guided?
I've skied for 38 yrs and never really seen anything dangerous. Although I have been caught in a few true white-outs, and I'm talking hallucinating in the white and crawling to the piste poles at the side.

Expect referring to death on 'Swiss Wall' discussed upthread.

[eeLee]

CivicDuties said:

Friend of a friend in my town has died a couple of weeks ago in a ski incident. Father of 3 teenagers.

Take care out there.

Edited by CivicDuties on Wednesday 13th March 15:01

There is someone I know who woke up/was found on a slope with a split helmet. He doesn't know, three weeks later, what happened to him.

He's undergoing MRI after MRI to find out what might have happened. He's a good skier so he and his family thinks collision but it could be anything. Having seen an obese Polish guy having a cardiac massage some years ago, being 100% fit and well on the slopes is massively important.

Given the number of helicopter recoveries I have seen this season on a daily basis, accidents appear to be more common and worse than ever.

I am returning to Kitzbühel tomorrow as they had a top-up. Above 1200m is reasonable, above 1600m is nice as it is still very cold.

[The_Doc]

eeLee said:

Given the number of helicopter recoveries I have seen this season on a daily basis, accidents appear to be more common and worse than ever.

The scientist in me would argue with this, although I do see that you said "appears to be"

A. What's the denominator? Are there just more people skiing? In which case if there are 3times as many people skiing but twice the accidents, then it's safer.
B. Everything is reported globally with an emphasis on the gory bad news, so if something bad happens, the whole world finds out 9 minutes later.
C. Safety equipment use has gone up hugely. Twenty years ago nobody wore a helmet, and I mean nobody.
D. What's the hypothesis for more accidents? People are weaker? Gravity stronger? Mountains steeper?
E. More helicopters to rescue people = more visible incidents.

Viz: "There's loads more sexual crime/abduction /violence now"
-when the data says it was worse in the 1970/80s

Wouldn't everyone be happier if bad news wasn't so widely reported?

Sorry, work analytical mode off.

Edited by The_Doc on Wednesday 13th March 20:51

[oddman]

eeLee said:

He's undergoing MRI after MRI to find out what might have happened. He's a good skier so he and his family thinks collision but it could be anything.

Blimey. MRI technology has improved since I was ordering them. Do his doctors expect it to replay the moments leading to his crash?

In re danger. I think the older and more experienced you get, the more you 'see' risk and as our perception of hazards and dangers (and judgment of the 'reckless' behvaiours of others) increases it probably gives the impression of the mountains becoming more dangerous (there's an analogy with driving here) when in fact little has changed.

The description of a guide reported upthread by a witness to the aftermath of the Swiss Wall death was 'poor decision making'. Risk analysis and decision making are way more important than skiing ability in re avoiding accidents.

[CivicDuties]

oddman said:

The_Doc said:

CivicDuties said:

Friend of a friend in my town has died a couple of weeks ago in a ski incident. Father of 3 teenagers.

Take care out there.

Edited by CivicDuties on Wednesday 13th March 15:01

That's terrible.
How did this happen?
Off piste?
Guided?
I've skied for 38 yrs and never really seen anything dangerous. Although I have been caught in a few true white-outs, and I'm talking hallucinating in the white and crawling to the piste poles at the side.

Expect referring to death on 'Swiss Wall' discussed upthread.

Not that guy. Similar age, off piste accident, but completely unreported in the press - can't find a single story, even in local websites. Which is odd. Maybe his family asked for it not to be published, I don't know them personally. But for any DHOTY merchants, his name was Simon and he lived in Berkshire. Several of my mates knew him and attended the funeral.

[//j17]

The_Doc said:

eeLee said:

Given the number of helicopter recoveries I have seen this season on a daily basis, accidents appear to be more common and worse than ever.

The scientist in me would argue with this, although I do see that you said "appears to be"

A. What's the denominator? Are there just more people skiing? In which case if there are 3times as many people skiing but twice the accidents, then it's safer.
B. Everything is reported globally with an emphasis on the gory bad news, so if something bad happens, the whole world finds out 9 minutes later.
C. Safety equipment use has gone up hugely. Twenty years ago nobody wore a helmet, and I mean nobody.
D. What's the hypothesis for more accidents? People are weaker? Gravity stronger? Mountains steeper?
E. More helicopters to rescue people = more visible incidents.

I would also say I've seen a lot more accidents/helicopters around the (Alpine) slopes this season and while only anecdotal rather than statistical evidence I'd guess it's down to the most obvious option you missed off your list:

F. Are snow conditions generally different/unusual this year?

To which the answer is "Yes". This year has seen very low levels of snowfall and positive daytime temperatures most of the season. This has resulted in a thin snowpack and piste that start very hard and icy in the mornings, becoming "spring slush" in the afternoons. These are perfect for catching out beginners and intermediates, and even a lot of advanced skiers. On ice it doesn't take much to lose and edge and either injure yourself in the ensuing fall or cause a collision that injures someone. Likewise slush mogal fields can be tricky to navigate, with snow that can randomly go from slick to sticky and back again, and while less painful to fall on than ice easier to twist knees. That's on piste but things are no better off piste either (my guide had me skiing across grass on one run!). Thin snow means more rocks closer to the surface to stop a ski or land on in a fall.

[malks222]

looks like easyjet winter flights for 24/25 season go on sale next thursday (21st)

[Mr E]

We are going. Very late. Very cheap. 2 alps (so at least high).

Totally expecting spring slush and potentially a walking holiday.

[mikeiow]

Mr E said:

We are going. Very late. Very cheap. 2 alps (so at least high).

Totally expecting spring slush and potentially a walking holiday.

Arcs 1800 here…& yes, afternoon was rather warm and slushy today.
We have another 3 weeks….need the temps to fall

[Trash_panda]

If anyone wants a last minute trip to val disere ucpa with half time ski lessons drop me a pm as can do massive discount this Saturday

Also is the person who is the brewer on here the same person who wrote/writes for fall line?

[Whoozit]

Chamonix report. First day at Grand Montets. Good snow cover mid mountain up. Ski out is being maintained however isn't anything to write home about. Best runs were on shadowed bowls or overnight blown in snow. Softened spring snow from top of Bochard by around 2pm. Weather staying warm for the next two days.

[timlongs]

Trash_panda said:

If anyone wants a last minute trip to val disere ucpa with half time ski lessons drop me a pm as can do massive discount this Saturday

Also is the person who is the brewer on here the same person who wrote/writes for fall line?

Can't say I've ever wrote for fall line, but I did used to sell UCPA holidays!

[EdJ]

I keep checking the weather forecast in the French Alps and it is remaining stubbornly warm for the next 10 days. A little depressing.

[Mr E]

EdJ said:

I keep checking the weather forecast in the French Alps and it is remaining stubbornly warm for the next 10 days. A little depressing.

Bum

[//j17]

EdJ said:

I keep checking the weather forecast in the French Alps and it is remaining stubbornly warm for the next 10 days. A little depressing.

Hardly news. That's something I think you could have posted almost any way since Noverber 2023!

[mikeiow]

EdJ said:

I keep checking the weather forecast in the French Alps and it is remaining stubbornly warm for the next 10 days. A little depressing.

Well: Les Arcs Snow-Forecast still shows around zero, with a little snow forecast, so keep the faith!

Got very slushy the last couple of days. We have had a cracking first week: our pals head back tomorrow & we have a week to relax on our own before another joins us…..it’ll be touch and go how much snow he gets to ski on

[EdJ]

//j17 said:

Hardly news. That's something I think you could have posted almost any way since Noverber 2023!

I know, sorry. But I keep checking this thread in case someone can post anything that makes me feel better. And the post after your one did just that!