Like we mentioned, we are aware of the potentially unstable snowpack and dangerous conditions affecting off-piste skiing that are being reported in the media. The base is still thin down to about 1600m, with the recent snowfall covering boulders and providing fresh cover in the majority of the ski areas in France.
In Valgrisenche, we have skied in excellent deep powder all week. The snow line is beautiful and our clients (and employees!) have made fresh tracks in top-notch conditions on all of our trips. The glaciers allow us to take long, uninterrupted runs, and there’s plenty of room for our helis to pick us up at the end of a ski-filled day! At the moment, our descents are measuring around 1800 vertical metres, and those are sure to increase with the snowfall we’re currently receiving.
Early next week, some of the VHS staff are flying to one of our other heliski areas, Courmeyeur, to get a first-hand look at the conditions and assess the stability of the snow. Our plan is to start taking trips to Courmeyeur next week, with the hope generic propecia no prescription that the snowpack will be more stable due to more snow, since this area is considerably more steep than Valgrisenche. If our high standards are met, we can’t wait to get our clients out there!
To get a visual of what the conditions are like, check out photographer Louisa Russell’s images from a heliski trip with Val Heliski clients last week: http://www.louisathruthelens.com/val-heli-ski.html. This is one of her photos, featuring a VHS client enjoying the perfect conditions in Valgrisenche:
In the meantime, we’re prudently selecting our heliski areas according to the highest safety standards, and we require our clients to wear fully equipped ABS packs, complete with a transceiver, probe, and shovel. Experience tells us which slopes are the most stable for the appropriate weather, and we are sticking to descents with a low gradient for the time being. The moderate temperatures have been lovely to ski in, and the abundance of light, fluffy powder is amazing. Next week is set to be an epic heliski week when we have two areas open for business. Stay tuned for more updates as the week progresses!
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