With only a month until the first lifts open, I thought it was time to get this thread up and running. Plus freezing levels are dropping down to 1150m over the next 36 hours, and there's a strong chance of at least a dusting of snow (and maybe a bit more in the higher resorts). Hopefully we'll get a few posts from Patch updating us on conditions.
There's been quite a bit of development since the last season ended - lots of new lifts and pistes across Courcheval, La Tania, Meribel and Val Thorens. A link attached below which details all of the changes.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Handy Turnip wrote:
Cheers conkerpow, great photo.
Indeed, and welcome to sHs conkerpow
Nice 1st post.
Its usually advisable not to have your email address as a username - avoids it being picked up and spammed
NB: edited to remove aforementioned email address!
Last edited by Then you can post your own questions or snow reports... on Fri 24-10-14 12:21; edited 1 time in total
After all it is free
After all it is free
I know it will all melt in the next couple of days, but it does remind me that the season is not too far away. Hoping my week in 3v will be good this year
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
Cacciatore wrote:
Handy Turnip wrote:
Cheers conkerpow@gmail.com, great photo.
Indeed, and welcome to sHs conkerpow@gmail.com
Nice 1st post.
Its usually advisable not to have your email address as a username - avoids it being picked up and spammed
Oops thanks !!, didn't meant to do that!
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Here is how Meribel looked this morning!
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Niiice
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
Looking at the webcams, it looks like all the lovely snow has aready melted away. However, temperatures are forecast to drop at the start of next week, down to -11 in VT on Tuesday night. Might be a dusting of snow around that time too. Fingers crossed (but not legs obviously, as they're too busy doing a snow dance!)
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
@Handy Turnip, still three weeks before VT opens. Plenty of time yet
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Haha... Very true @chrisb, I'm not even travelling out to VT until March so I've definitely no need to worry. With summer over, all my focus turns to skiing and I love the build up to the first big dump. I'm like a kid before Christmas!
As an aside, snowforecast is forecasting 17cm next Mon/Tues in VT...
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
@Handy Turnip, you are just like me then, watching for the first proper VT snow, and then seeing the snow line hopefully getting closer to La Tania for me.
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Nice to know there's someone else, @chrisb! Looks like next Wednesday might see the first decent snowfall of the season - 53cm forecast for VT and 24cm forecast for Courchevel. Although knowing snowforecast that'll all changed by tomorrow!
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Heading to les menuires in late December from Kenya. Hopefully will have more snow than our mountains.
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Welcome to snow heads @Theluji!! Everything should be looking nice and white by late December - first dump due to Val Thorens next week, and with temperatures dropping this should be the first lot that will stick for the season.
Eek, I'd better start buying some Christmas pressies...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Guys, if I go to Val T in Dec 1st and assuming there is no lucky dump of fresh snow. Will I be able to ski, at least at the top? (glacier?)
Any experience to share?
After all it is free
After all it is free
48 sleeps till I'm in La Tania
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
Less than 3 weeks until I'm in VT, woohoo!
@ernestbornain, I was up there about 3 years ago learning to ski on something like the 30th November, and although the mountains were very brown and lacking snow (very poor start I was told), they had plenty of pistes prepared. VT have invested heavily in snow-making equipment, so there will be plenty to ski on-piste at least. I wouldn't worry - unless you're chasing extensive offpiste, but early Dec isn't great for that anywhere.
They don't actually offer glacier skiing at all, unless maybe with a guide later in the season, in VT - lots of crevasses I've been told.
Edit: and likely it will be much better than that with plenty of natural snow
Check out this video from opening weekend last year and you'll see plenty of snow!
Last edited by You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net. on Tue 4-11-14 16:29; edited 1 time in total
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
I'll be there beginning of December as well. The great thing about VT is that you know that any snow that falls from early November onwards is likely to stay. In response to ernestbornin then early December should be fine.
As other said the chances are there will be some snow between now and then. They have just started the snow conons and will be piling snow up underneath them for the next 3 weeks to snow plough it all across the pistes before the season opens in a couple of weeks.
The only thing you might find early on is that the links to the other valleys aren't operational and that only the 'main' pistes are open.
They tend to open the main pistes in November and gradually extend them through December.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Snow forecast down to 2000-ish in the next 24 hours, but its still very very early days... don't panic Captain Mainwaring!
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
@emwmarine, As long as there's plenty by the 20th December Brian!
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
@collym125,
Just keep watching the webcams from now on Colin
I'll give you a full report when I get there!
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Val Thorens looking all white - with another 8cm due during the rest of the day.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Baaaaahhhhhh go on the snow!
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Looking good for VT, 20th December and I will be there!
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Looks great .I am about to book a four day ski trip in jan staying in Brides and need to make the most of it . Is it wise to get a lift pass for the three valleys or just stick to Meribel ?
I dont know how jointed the valleys are so that we get back to Brides on the last lift . I need a plan for each day but dont know the area well enough to do so , Any help and advice will be greatly
appreciated .
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
@blockhead, if you are comfortable cruising around on blues then I'd recommend the full 3vs pass. For sure there is enough skiing to keep you busy in the Meribel valley but if you've gone to the effort and expense to ski one of the worlds largest lift linked areas why not make the most of it
Shouldn't be too busy for you in Jan, let us know what sort of runs you like and we can give some recommendations or use the search facility, lots of 3vs advise on here......
@blockhead, yes I would say get a 3v pass as well. Being in the middle valley will allow you to go either way each day
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Thank you for the advice I am early intermediate skier the kids (23 and 20) are expert skiers i would say so nothing beyond reds for me . The initial plan being that we arrive midday is to ski Meribel and then the following days to ski the other valleys without getting stuck and missing the last lift down to Brides. Any pointers which must do runs and which lifts to take from Meribel and back .
I would get daily extensions to the wider 3vs depending on the weather. If the weather is harsh then the links between the vallees are closed.
You might want to spend the first day or so exploring the Meribel valley and then if the weather is reasonable extend for a couple of days to the wider 3vs. You can just go into one of the ski lift offices to extend your passes.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Good thinking thank you for that
After all it is free
After all it is free
The snow cannons are on in VT topping up the snow fall. They must be confident that what fell will now stay for opening on 22nd Nov
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
chrisb wrote:
The snow cannons are on in VT topping up the snow fall. They must be confident that what fell will now stay for opening on 22nd Nov
They usually switch on about now even if there are warm patches predicted. I'm not an expert, so this is only what I have observed when I have been out there is time of year. They switch them on when it is cold enough for them to work and they pile sodding great big piles of snow underneath each of the snow cannons. Even it it gets warm during the day these big piles stay.
Then a couple of days before the mid november opening they then snowlough the great big piles across all the pistes. I can't remember if it was the year before last, or even the one before that one, but for the first week or so all there was to ski on was the artificially prepared pistes and everything else was brown. Then on 1st week of december was a dump to end all dumps and they didn't need to use the canons again, other than to freshen up the pistes occasionally.
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Some reasonable snowfall over the last couple of days. Temperatures are much colder now, after a very mild autumn so far. Snow line looks to be at around 1900m. More expected above 2000m over the weekend and into next week. Most everyone has switched tyres now for the season
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
