I'll be back in the Maurienne this Saturday, staying in VC, and visiting Bonneval. It's looking like it will continue snowing sporadically, and I will attempt to post a conditions report each day. I'll also be heading over to Val Thorens the next weekend via Orelle if I'm not too knackered......I crushed 6 vertebrae 3 years ago in the summer after my last visit, and having recovered from that I broke ribs and possibly one of the vertebrae again in the following January playing silly bugs, so I'm not quite the average skier I once was!
But I'm really looking forward to getting back out there.
Anyone else heading that way?
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
I wish, planning a two week trip to The Maurienne Valley for next year. Have missed a few years due to various things. Keep us posted on how good it is.
Last edited by Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person on Wed 11-01-23 12:18; edited 1 time in total
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?
I'm heading out the same week. Conditions starting to improve. Forecast for more snow to come as well.
I'm heading out the same week. Conditions starting to improve. Forecast for more snow to come as well.
First holiday in 3 years looking forward to it.
Have a great time, same gap for me, might see you on the slopes.....old codger with yellow ski jacket
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
I’m in the Maurienne this week… conditions are improving but not great, Bonneval, Val Cenis etc all got way less snow than the Vanoise massif off Monday/Tuesday’s snowfall.
Hi, have you noticed any good day ski bus options from the valley to the resorts during weekends or mid week. I'm looking to maybe go from 21st and probably will have a couple of free days to pick a few extra resorts. There seem to be good lift pass deals on Saturday's but no good way to use them without a car. Do people seem to hitchhike or lift share? Best option I've seen is probably the Aussois to La Norma bus that passes through the valley? Otherwise the larger resorts of Val Cenis and Valloire might be doable but the bus times aren't great and I assume you can't wear your boots etc. making it more fiddly. Les Sybelles and Grand Domaine probably will be the longer stay or left for another time. Orelle also an option but that doesn't seem good either without a car.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Not due at VC until 1st week in April, but will certainly follow the thread with interest.
After all it is free
After all it is free
Millom wrote:
Hi, have you noticed any good day ski bus options from the valley to the resorts during weekends or mid week. I'm looking to maybe go from 21st and probably will have a couple of free days to pick a few extra resorts. There seem to be good lift pass deals on Saturday's but no good way to use them without a car. Do people seem to hitchhike or lift share? Best option I've seen is probably the Aussois to La Norma bus that passes through the valley? Otherwise the larger resorts of Val Cenis and Valloire might be doable but the bus times aren't great and I assume you can't wear your boots etc. making it more fiddly. Les Sybelles and Grand Domaine probably will be the longer stay or left for another time. Orelle also an option but that doesn't seem good either without a car.
I do know the four big ones (GD, Sybelles, GTh, VC) and of course the 3V quite well, but none of the other ones. It's worth noting, that in spite their own statements saying otherwise, the first three are in real measured piste kilometers very similar to each other. 117km (GD) - 145km (Sybelles). For comparison, 3V comes in at 520km. When it comes to either piste or off-piste skiing I would rank them GD>Sybelles>GTh. Skitouring is something else, as is VC. It's noticeably smaller, all north-facing, connected only by the bottom and has less snow. On the other hand, both villages are very nice and the surrounding landscape is most stunning.
As to your question about hitchhiking, outside week-ends - especially saturdays - there is not a ton of people going up the mountain; not remotely comparable with 2Alpes, 7Laux or Chamrousse. But there is some kind of bussing going on and Orelle got a train station. However, visiting various resorts without a car would loose you a lot of time imho.
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Tristero wrote:
Millom wrote:
Hi, have you noticed any good day ski bus options from the valley to the resorts during weekends or mid week. I'm looking to maybe go from 21st and probably will have a couple of free days to pick a few extra resorts. There seem to be good lift pass deals on Saturday's but no good way to use them without a car. Do people seem to hitchhike or lift share? Best option I've seen is probably the Aussois to La Norma bus that passes through the valley? Otherwise the larger resorts of Val Cenis and Valloire might be doable but the bus times aren't great and I assume you can't wear your boots etc. making it more fiddly. Les Sybelles and Grand Domaine probably will be the longer stay or left for another time. Orelle also an option but that doesn't seem good either without a car.
I do know the four big ones (GD, Sybelles, GTh, VC) and of course the 3V quite well, but none of the other ones. It's worth noting, that in spite their own statements saying otherwise, the first three are in real measured piste kilometers very similar to each other. 117km (GD) - 145km (Sybelles). For comparison, 3V comes in at 520km. When it comes to either piste or off-piste skiing I would rank them GD>Sybelles>GTh. Skitouring is something else, as is VC. It's noticeably smaller, all north-facing, connected only by the bottom and has less snow. On the other hand, both villages are very nice and the surrounding landscape is most stunning.
As to your question about hitchhiking, outside week-ends - especially saturdays - there is not a ton of people going up the mountain; not remotely comparable with 2Alpes, 7Laux or Chamrousse. But there is some kind of bussing going on and Orelle got a train station. However, visiting various resorts without a car would loose you a lot of time imho.
Interesting that you think GD is the best of them. There is a good offer for next week that I'm considering. Piste length is a funny thing as resorts use different methods to calculate (and some not accurately). There is the report from the German guy that gives them to a consistent measurement which is quite interesting.
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Snowing hard here this morning, no bare patches, some exposed slopes a bit hard. Upper forest in Termingnon best snow so far and completely empty. Lower half hard and crusty.
I'll check tonight, but val cenis is all at valley floor so no need for buses. The linked other resorts of Haute Maurienne are all linked by bus which I think used to be free with the big pass.
Lanslevillard sector busier than normal and great conditions considering, apart from visibility.
Broken spine holding up well!!!
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
@cstreat, glad the back is holding up so far.
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.
@SHAP, thanks. Day two was hard on the legs and back as I've wasted alot of muscle from my two accidents. Plenty of snow due tomorrow too, but Termingnon was thawing this evening when we went to our favourite restaurant, Sabot de Venus, which had sadly changed hands and was a shadow of its former self. Still, we've found a gem of a replacement tucked away in Landsvillard, L'Estanco.
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
Hope you all enjoy it is Maurienne. I've now booked Grand Massif (Morillon) so this area will have to wait (maybe when I have my car with me).
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
14cm overnight and this morning, clearing to sunshine in the afternoon. Good above the tree line, but the runs back through woods were quickly depleted back to hard icy base. Still, there were quiet relatively untouched pistes to be found and it was quite empty.. A good session over lunchtime for me with legs coming back
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
I arrive in Les Sybelles Thursday morning for 5 days of alternative snowy fun.
It's looking good and cold for the time I'm there!
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
ciderinsport wrote:
I arrive in Les Sybelles Thursday morning for 5 days of alternative snowy fun.
It's looking good and cold for the time I'm there!
Hi Cider. Are you staying with Mark and Martina again?
Conditions are great at the moment and the sun is due to come out so you should have a very pleasant few days.
I know you're fat biking but have fun anyway
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Ed_sec wrote:
ciderinsport wrote:
I arrive in Les Sybelles Thursday morning for 5 days of alternative snowy fun.
It's looking good and cold for the time I'm there!
Hi Cider. Are you staying with Mark and Martina again?
Conditions are great at the moment and the sun is due to come out so you should have a very pleasant few days.
I know you're fat biking but have fun anyway
Hi Ed
Yep, couldn't resist their hospitality! I've got a couple of weeks in ADH in March for skiing - best of both worlds in my view!
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?
Great sunny day in Termingnon sector yesterday, but some slopes across VC are becoming quite crusty due to the low temperatures. Plenty of snow and still some untracked off piste. Returns to villages still have an icy base which appears by afternoon.
Off to Bonneval sur Arc today.
Dreading journey home as elderly car in limp mode!
@cstreat, Termingnon certainly looks worth visiting (apart from the drags at the top)
Given I'm not there until Easter, not sure I'll need to worry about low temps and crusty slopes so much.
Hows the back been holding up?
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyone been out recently? Has the off piste been pretty hammered by the wind? We just finished a few days in the Milky Way and are heading to Cham, but wondering if tomorrow would be worth a day at Valfrejus or La Norma. Thanks!
If conditions have even a slight tendency towards icy then I would give La Norma a swerve. The middle of the mountain (near the picnic room) sees a lot of traffic and can quickly get unpleasant. Valfrejus has plenty of options but if you have any ski bum tendencies (or even aspirations) then I’d recommend a look at Les Karellis. It’s a hidden gem.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
altis wrote:
If conditions have even a slight tendency towards icy then I would give La Norma a swerve. The middle of the mountain (near the picnic room) sees a lot of traffic and can quickly get unpleasant. Valfrejus has plenty of options but if you have any ski bum tendencies (or even aspirations) then I’d recommend a look at Les Karellis. It’s a hidden gem.
Sounds like our kind of place! Are the off piste conditions good there right now?
If you go, from just above the car park, there’s a little 2-man chair that’s free and takes you up to the front de neige where you can get your pass. From there, I’d recommend you head left and warm up in the most southerly bowl. Once you are ready to come back, you can head even further south, off piste down the valley and back into Albanne. Then head for the bowl at the northern side of the resort. Finally, finish in the middle bowl which has endless of piste options.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
Hi, does anyone know if you can hire touring skis/skins in Val Cenis?
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.
@davidof, levitating... Impressive
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
SHAP wrote:
@davidof, levitating... Impressive
avoiding the manky snow - hover skis !
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Presumably your day in VC ? @davidof, how did you find it to visit that area ?
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
ski3 wrote:
Presumably your day in VC ? @davidof, how did you find it to visit that area ?
It was a good tip, thanks. The snow on the shaded pistes was very hard last Thursday - it was actually better skiing off piste where the snow was chalky. On the few south facing slopes it was slush in the afternoon - which I don't mind and pretty tracked off piste but it hadn't snowed for 3 weeks. We started in Termignon. No queues. Nice wide pistes and those which had some sun were wonderful to ski. The reds are proper reds and there is a good amount of vertical with an efficient lift system.
Very pretty area and lifts are not that visible.
Problem with the lift pass in Termignon - we recharged online ok but it didn't work. The lifty claimed the "pass is full" but as it is just an RFID and the information is stored in their computers I don't understand how this can be. 40 minutes to sort out. Not good customer service.
Heading out to Lanslebourg-VC later in March.
Hope there's a bit more snow as my daughter has limited experience and not skied for 5 years or more. Happy to receive any pointers on areas to focus on or avoid.
Still trying to decide whether to take my own skis or just hire for 4 days. There's not much in it, cost-wise, but I'm a bit wary of renting and paying top dollar for mediocre kit.
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?
Conditions acceptable in Val Cenis is today, this is just some really obvious touring above the Plan Cardinal lift, pistes in nice condition as well
20 second video of the same zone, so far a big fan of val cenis, we have a mixed ability group and there is good terrain for everyone, probably not for the dedicated mile munchers. Nice long runs, not too busy
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Ace!
Another option for you: from the top of Met, negotiate the rail around the viewing platform and then head towards the lake. Return along the road to the col. South facing though, so pick your hour.
For some steeps, again from the top of Met, head straight back under the wire down the drop and then keep left under the cliff. The drop usually has good powder as the prospect of making a fool of yourself in full view of the lift keeps many away.
Also a few gullies to be found off the Nunda run - but don't go past the fence!
For more mellow off piste we really like area next to the Mont Cenis drag from the col.
For the piste skiers I'd recommend a visit to the area high above Termignon - Grand Coin and Lac lifts. There's usually good snow and little traffic. There's some nice between the pistes stuff too.
For refreshments I'd recommend the bar with the rotating floor at the bottom of the Grand Coin, the big bar/restaurant on the col itself near the top of the Buffa drag and the one half way down the Solert run - to the left with all the flags outside.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
rambotion wrote:
…so far a big fan of val cenis, it we have a mixed ability group and there is good terrain for everyone, probably not for the dedicated mile munchers. Nice long runs, not too busy
Glad to hear. My daughter and I are also a “mixed ability group” & one of the reasons I chose VC for our trip in a couple of weeks is the large number of greens and blues as it’s some time since she has skied.
@altis Good info. Thanks. The bar with the rotating floor intrigues me. Definitely worth a visit & happy to receive any other hints and recommendations either on piste or in the village (staying in Lanslebourg).
Thank you
After all it is free
After all it is free
altis wrote:
the big bar/restaurant on the col itself near the top of the Buffa drag
Is it possible to get to this without using the Goulet red run?
Cheers
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
@SHAP, you can but I think you'll have to walk a bit.
Goulet is probably my least favourite run there. It's often hard and scratchy and the off piste around there is very wind-blown and hard too.
Possibly the best alternative is to bear left off the lower end of the red, Fort - or even the blue, Mont Cenis and see how far you can make it along the road where you'll see plenty of people, and sometimes dogs with sleds. The bar is tucked out of sight just over the rise.
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
@altis, Ok cool. It was mainly for my kids sake really. I'm not a fan of scratchy and hard, but I'm able to ski it, but my kids probably won't. Seems like a good place to start the long green, but also seems odd that you need a tricky red to get to it. I'll scope it for the kids later during our week and see how it is, and how they progress.
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Poster: A snowHead
