This session develops interpretation of Meteo- France forecasts for the region, including the haute montagne and avalanche forecasts. 

• This will include translations and opportunity to create a dictionary of regularly used words and phrases.
• An insight how Laurent and his team at Météo France compile the forecasts using computing and local observations and knowledge
• A short snowshoe trip to a specifically identified area by Laurent to dig snow pits and analyse the snowpack in detail
• Special emphasis will be drawn to “hidden” weak layers frequently missed and understanding of why missed and the importance of identifying
• A staged scenario, with Laurent observing to feedback on methodology used by piste security in Haute Savoie region and latest techniques
• Opportunity for Q&A session with Laurent

The course will commence in a restaurant (TBC) at the top of the Bettex, for Laurent to present the technical and theory, followed by a short drink/snack break before heading onto the mountain for the practical side of the day. Please bring packed lunches and drinks for the mountain session as we will not return to the café until the end of the day for debrief.

In line with French COVID regulations everyone attending must have a valid Pass Sanitaire and carry personal ID. To that extent everyone must be double vaccinated or in possession of a recent covid test to obtain the pass sanitaire. The lifts nor café will allow entry without a valid pass sanitaire and ID. Masks will also need to be worn in indoor areas, lifts and designated public spaces in line with COVID regulations. Please note these regulations may change nearer the time.

The workshop will be provided by Laurent Valbert who is a leading meteorologist at Météo France, based in the Chamonix office. His expertise is in meteorology and snow science and is qualified as “prévisionniste météorologue et nivologue” in France. Further he is a Pisteur Secouriste. Laurent regularly lectures and teaches at ENSA, trains PGHM and French military, alongside private individuals and corporations. In his spare time, Laurent is also a ski instructor, paragliding instructor and yachtmaster. Laurent is bilingual and the session will be delivered in English, along with his translations of his forecasts with key words and phrases. Laurent has vast experience in his field and highly networked in the region for delivering the avalanche bulletins using a team of piste security for live data, his own live data observations in the field to supplement and verify the numerical modelling. Outside of the Chamonix Valley, Laurent is an expedition forecaster for many events and record attempts including sailing, parapenting and arctic expeditions for weather routing.

Please bring the usual Kit an IML would expect to carry for winter including:

Appropriate warm clothing for a mountain training day

Snowshoes and poles

Transceiver, probe, shovel

Notebook and pen

Mask and Sanitiser

Pass Sanitaire and ID. (Checks will be made at entry to telecabine and café)

Packed lunch

Exact money in Euros for the day plus any spending money for café (35 EUR for BAIML members and 55 EUR for non members).

Please make sure you arrive at the telecabine in good time to be at the top café for 10 am.

All bookings directly to Samantha Evans via email adventuresammie@gmail.com.

Start

04/01/2022 10:00

End

04/01/2022 16:00

Total Days

1

Maximum Bookings

12

Bookings

11

Venue

Bettex Telecabine

Town

Saint-Gervais-les-Bains

County

Haute-Savoie

Postcode

74170

Country

France

Latitude

45.89015

Longitude

6.70741

Name

BAIML

Phone

01690 720272

Email