Panda – The La Tania Baby Blog #babysnowretreat

Hello!

I’m Panda, the youngest resident of La Tania and this is my first winter season. Since the snow has started falling and all the people have arrived I’ve had so much fun. I like exploring the centre of La Tania as there are no noisy cars. All the adults walk or ski around and mummy sometimes pulls me through town on my sledge.

There are some nice gentle slopes so sometimes I get to slide on my own. Weeeeeeee……

I’ve seen other babies on push along sledges like these (available for SkiSet 5 Euros a day) and I’m going to ask mummy for a go, or maybe daddy as I have him wrapped around my little finger 😉

I’ve been told that when I’m bigger I’ll be able to practice skiing all on my own on the nursery slope in La Tania. It’s free to use and mummy and daddy can sit and enjoy a hot chocolate at one of the local bars within view of the slope while I’m going up and down.

Love and cuddles,

Panda xx
#babysnowretreat

PRECAUTIONARY RECALL OF ORTOVOX S1+ AVALANCHE TRANSCEIVERS

From ORTOVOX:
Individual feedback after search training and intensive follow-up inspections have shown that in very rare cases, a disturbance can occur in the transmission function in the ORTOVOX S1+ avalanche transceiver. The reason for this is the possible failure of a component.
In order to eliminate any risk for our customers, we have decided on a precautionary recall so that the affected component can be replaced. The S1+ devices affected by the recall may no longer be used without the required component being replaced.
This precautionary recall applies exclusively to the ORTOVOX S1+ model of avalanche transceiver. All other ORTOVOX avalanche transceivers are unaffected. Its predecessor, the ORTOVOX S1, is likewise unaffected.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The safety of our customers has been our highest priority for 35 years. ORTOVOX has been selling the S1+, an innovative product for alpine emergencies, since October 2011. The intuitive search concept provides beginners with simple support and professionals with valuable help, even during complex search assignments.
Despite our comprehensive quality control measures, we have now discovered a scenario that has never occurred before in our QA processes.
Our examinations have shown that in rare cases, a component can fail after an indeterminate period of use. Until now this error could not be detected when installing components, despite 100% comprehensive quality control.

SOLUTION
The component can only be replaced at the ORTOVOX service point. All necessary information about the recall can be found on our website:

http://www.ortovox.com/recall-s1plus

In addition to our website, you can also contact us at recall@ortovox.com and on +49-89-66674-215

Around 10cm of fresh snow at Bouc Blanc overnight

Looking like up to 10cm of snow overnight at Bouc Blanc restaurant terrace level. Could be heavy though until a bit higher up where snow is likely to be lighter and deeper.

Rain lower down overnight making things look very soggy although the main Folyeres run down to resort still has good cover. Snow / Rain level today set to fluctuate but generally forecast to be around 1600m and then rising tomight.

Currently snowing heavily at 07:30 Monday Morning down to resort level.

On a more positive note things are set to get much colder by Wednesday (rain could turn to snow down to resort level larer on Tuesday) so snow cannons will be able to operate lower down and there’s a good chance of snow around the Easter weekend as a low pressure system looks likely to dominate.

This should lead to some classic Spring snow conditions and pistes hard first thing then softening up through the day. Timing and aspect key to the best runs.

Expect off piste avalanche risk to rise with this new snow – several incidents recently so be aware,

What’s On This Week in La Tania W/B 29 March 2915

It’s Mexican Night on Tuesday – bottle of Tequila for the best tache!

Purely Belter of a day, weather coming in tomorrow

Stunning blue sky day in La Tania (NOT a Bluebird, that’s only for powder days – check wiki) this morning and cold enough for snow cannons down to resort level overnight. Thanks to Jon at Three Valleys Transfers for the pic.

The 16th Annual La Tania Saisonnaire Awards 2015 – VOTE NOW!

XSCAPE 3 Valleys Charity Day Radio Meribel Advert

The XSCAPE 3 Valleys Charity Day is on Wednesday 8 April 2015 in Meribel Village.

Listen to the Radio Meribel Charity Day Advert – Get Yourselves Out Here!!!

Snow down to resort level (just)

Not quite a complete powder day but remember some first lifts opening delayed today for regional elections. Will be around 09:30. 

Looking like 10cm of fresh at the Bouc Blanc terrace at the top of the La Tania Gondola – maybe more (and lighter high up). 

Snow did come down lower than forecast and just about made it to resort level. Ski Lodge terrace left out just in case… And a little snow stuck to the tables.

So not quite a return to Winter but looking a bit refreshed and forecast for more snow continues to look good for this week. Possibility of decent snowfall to low levels starting Wed/Thu remains on many models.

La Tania Snow Report – Update on conditions

Since the video snow report on Thursday where Folyeres and other North facing slopes remained fairly firm until the end of the day, Friday saw a cloudy almost humid day and slopes slower down did deteriorate.

On Saturday morning even with the World Cup still taking place in Meribel and some access lift opening early there weren’t many people about and Jean Blanc, Lanches and Bouc Blanc were all in surprisingly good shape (and had been groomed which is key too).

By the afternoon the slopes on the Meribel side had cut up a lot and as visibility became very poor up we headed back to La Tania (remember the 3 Valleys always has orange tipped piste markers to the skiers right hand side for use in really poor visibility). Snow was falling to about 1700m when we packed up but rain at resort level became quite heavy for the rest of the afternoon. The Bouc Blanc terrace is at least white again so could be some decent skiing high up tomorrow.

The Bouc Blanc piste down to the La Tania gondola station was still good even at 3pm but the red run below the Bouc Blanc chair (Moretta Blanche) and the bottom drag lift have now closed. Folyeres was still holding quite firm in the rain and at least no bare patches appearing there.

On the positive side it does look like there is a fair bit of new snow high up – although probably heavy below 2000m – and increasingly likely that the prolonged spell of warm weather is coming to an end and some below average temperatures are forecast from the middle of next week with more fresh snow lower down.

Folyeres at noon today

Finally, a reminder that lifts open half an hour later (from 09:30) tomorrow (Sunday 22/3) due to regional elections and there’s lots going on including the Meribel Piste Bash Festival and Ronnie Loves Music event. Bring Your Sisters play a one-off at the Ronnie on Monday and with Norman Jay on Wednesday plus The Dominos and the excellent Ska Wars on Friday it’s a busy week!

Skiing World Cup – Early Lift Openings