 Poster: A snowHead
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Just seen over on Facebook that they have some new automated luggage storage lockers in Plagne Centre next to Tourism Office - nice idea which may hopefully expand out across some other villages too.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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And here are the tariffs
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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?
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Thanks for sharing @chopkins13, I had wondered about left luggage options so this is very useful indeed. No guarantee of course that vacant lockers will be available when I need them but better than them not existing.
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Anyone got an idea what the road up from Aime to Belle Plagne is like today (Sat) - chains needed I presume ? Or OK with Winter tyres ?
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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eblunt, I'm not there just now so this is largely conjecture.
It is snowing, but nothing out of the ordinary. (see webcams)
There is nothing on the "bush telegraph" to suggest there are any problems on the road.
Certainly the N90 down in the valley is clear: https://www.webcams-dir.centre-est.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/index.php?secteur=6
It is very rare for Winter Tyres to not be enough. I have never had to resort to chains in 15 years of driving with winter tyres up and down around La Plagne.
I reckon you'll be fine.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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It was tough getting down at 5am yesterday but glad we left so early seeing various posts about traffic yesterday. How did the journey up go?
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it took us 4 hours to get from outside Albertville to Moutier last evening ...the tailback must have been enormous ..I believe the gym's were open in Moutier for refugees ....the sun is shining this morning ...we are recovering after a 12 hour drive from Lux !
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| DaveD wrote: |
| it took us 4 hours to get from outside Albertville to Moutier last evening ...the tailback must have been enormous ..I believe the gym's were open in Moutier for refugees ....the sun is shining this morning ...we are recovering after a 12 hour drive from Lux ! |
Similarly recovering after a 5hr drive from GVA to Les
Coches - and a horrendous GVA experience too - arrived in resort abut 2230 after an 0430 start in Aberdeen. No idea what the issue was on the N90 but 2.5hrs stuck between Albertville and Moutiers. There was heavy traffic queueing to go up to Morzine (I think) and the LaPlagne turning was equally bad - luckily we could miss those.
There was some snow on the N90 but not enough for the tailbacks we encountered. Think that maybe the roads up to the various resorts were so busy that they switched on the traffic lights just before one of the tunnels to “manage” the flow. Altho police and ambulance came past so may have been something else.
Still, here now and a gorgeous (if freezing!) first day!
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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.
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Has anyone done the journey from Plagne 2100 to Geneva today pls?
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@thehighlandcowboy, I did find out tat a heavy vehicle had gone off the road at about 4:30 and that started it off...they had "traffic calming lights "on about 4 k from Moutier ..there was no holdups after that towards Bourg but there were still queues towards the 3 valleys at Moutier and that was at 10pm
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Question for the Paradiski regulars: Les Coches at the end of March/Easter, how does it fare in terms of piste accessibility? Thinking of staying there (Residence Backgammon), looks like you need to get a few lifts to get into the main bowl above Plagne centre but the blues above Les Coches will probably be where our beginners spend their first day at the least
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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.
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@Specialman, I stayed in Les Coches once and am not a fan of it. We have stayed in Plagne Soleil and Plagne centre in the past year and I think either of those would be a much better base as they are high and central to the La Plagne ski area.
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Or Belle Plagne if you can find somewhere that meets your needs. Good for beginners and enough greens and easy blues to keep them busy.
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You know it makes sense.
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@snowymum, that’s kind of my thinking - I really enjoyed Belle Plagne and Villages on previous trips. we’re running out of options for accommodation that fit our group/budget, so just trying to explore all the less obvious options.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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@Specialman, what are your other options?
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Poster: A snowHead
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There are a few in Vallandry also, but we’d really hoped for Les Arcs but we were too slow. Unfortunately we’re a group of 8 and the budget isn’t massive so just been going by what Sunweb has to offer (we like the simplicity of Sunweb with the lift passes thrown in)
It might be that we end up taking two separate apartments, but that’s a backup plan.
Paradiski isn’t the only area we’re looking at but I do like the idea of revisiting; it’s got the altitude and aspect for a late March trip and for a mixed group it has that good mix of posted and snowparks
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Specialman, stayed in Les Coches 14 times.
Clearly there are a number of reasons why we like it. Two of the major ones #1 - tree skiing in bad weather and #2 proximity to the VE / sitting in between La Plagne and Les Arcs.
#1 doesn't apply if going late season and #2 only applies if you intend to split 50/50 and use the whole domain.
To get to La Plagne central area is 3 lifts. It's no hardship but unnecessary later season if you are going to be spending most of your time in the core of the La Plagne domain.
I've never stayed in Backgammon but most of the residences are much of a muchness.
Feel free to PM any specific questions.
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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?
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@Specialman, If the choice is between Les Coches and Vallandry I think Vallandry could be a better option for your beginners as there are nice wide runs at the top of that area.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@snowymum, Vallandry seems to be popular.
Thoughts on Champagny as a base? Have only been over there in the depths of January but not in Spring.By end of March I'm guessing no substantial snow in resort - and probability to require downlift - but it offers decent access to the main La Plagne bowl and the runs off the back of Grand Rochette. Main obstacle I see is ensuring we're back over the ridge in time to get back to resort.
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Post by boredsurfin reminds to be careful out there. Lots of tempting new snow but Avalanche risk 4/5 = avalanches likely.
As for Champagny, it's a delightful village with a quick gondola straight up to good skiing. I'm sure skichampuk will be along soon to give more info.
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@Specialman, Champagny likely to have no snow at village level by late March and little chance of being able to ski back to village (there’s only a black or red and both challenging and actually rarely open). Champagny slopes all South facing too so get very slushy at end of day in spring. If you can, based on your requirements, I would stick to Belle Plagne, Plagne Soleil, Plagne Village, Plagne Centre, Plagne 1800 or Aime 2000. Montalbert could be good with its modern and fast Gondola, but again will likely be little snow at village level by end of March. The La Plagne webcams have a ‘roll back’ feature where you can go back in time which can be helpful to gauge.
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@Jonpim, @boredsurfin, Sad news indeed, heard some news about it last night.
British skier in his 50s skiing off-piste in the Verdons Sud sector of Champagny which has been closed off for the last two days due to high avalanche risk.
This was one of six deaths caused by avalanches in the Savoie region this weekend.
Condolences to anybody impacted by this.
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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.
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@Specialman, I've stayed in Champagny once (pre-kids).
As mentioned above nice village, will likely require downloading. Depends how important those are to you.
I guess it tells you something I haven't stayed there since.
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@specialman - I still think Vallandry is your best option of the places you've mentioned (including those on the other thread)
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Question for the hive mind - is it still possible to carry enough speed coming down Petite Rochette and hit Belle Plagne? The piste map suggests perhaps not but I always thought you could get to the cross roads at the top of the stade and carry enough to hit the Belle Plagne piste?
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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.
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@chopkins13, never needed to do it but from my memory of the landscape (was there at Christmas) I reckon you can get across.
Only question is why you need/want to...
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| Layne wrote: |
@Specialman, stayed in Les Coches 14 times.
Clearly there are a number of reasons why we like it. Two of the major ones #1 - tree skiing in bad weather and #2 proximity to the VE / sitting in between La Plagne and Les Arcs.
#1 doesn't apply if going late season and #2 only applies if you intend to split 50/50 and use the whole domain.
To get to La Plagne central area is 3 lifts. It's no hardship but unnecessary later season if you are going to be spending most of your time in the core of the La Plagne domain.
I've never stayed in Backgammon but most of the residences are much of a muchness.
Feel free to PM any specific questions. |
+1
Also stayed in Les Coches dozens of times for all of the above reasons but i wouldn't go at either end of the season, it's too low. The other advantage it has is being very easy if you're driving, lots of free parking and its very accessible even if its been dumping it down. We also like being about to drop in Aim or Bourg on Chalet night off.
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You know it makes sense.
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@Layne, Thanks - the need may arise to get back to pick kids up from Ski School in Belle Plagne at Feb Half Term - if we're over Plagne Centre side, Bergerie gets rammed so considering quicker ways to get back to collect the little skiers!
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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| chopkins13 wrote: |
Question for the hive mind - is it still possible to carry enough speed coming down Petite Rochette and hit Belle Plagne? The piste map suggests perhaps not but I always thought you could get to the cross roads at the top of the stade and carry enough to hit the Belle Plagne piste?
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I’m in Les Coches this week and will try to have a look!
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Poster: A snowHead
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@thehighlandcowboy, Thanks!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@chopkins13, OpenSnowMap suggests yes
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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?
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| chopkins13 wrote: |
Question for the hive mind - is it still possible to carry enough speed coming down Petite Rochette and hit Belle Plagne? The piste map suggests perhaps not but I always thought you could get to the cross roads at the top of the stade and carry enough to hit the Belle Plagne piste?
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Yes, or at least you could (not sure how the new RDM mid station will affect it). You don’t even need a lot of speed. Did it with my daughter, who was seven at the time and in a state of constant snowplough. Maybe a small yomp at the very end if you are going slowly, I can’t remember.
The trick is to make sure you get on to Ours at the top. Miss it and you’re back to Bellecote or up the drag. Top of Ours is a flattish track so you may need to pole or skate a bit if the snow is heavy. From memory you have to get yourself across on to Belle Plagne (the run) before you miss the BP turning? Might require a traverse between the pistes? But I have a hunch you might be able to cut across, as you say.
Out the week after next, so can scope and confirm.
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@denfinella, Thanks, not come across OpenSnowMap before - looks interesting!
@padsmith, Thanks - yes I think based on OpenSnowMap it looks like as long as you can get round the back of the mid-station of the new gondola then you should be able to pick up the right piste to drop across and down in to Belle Plagne
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| Russeh wrote: |
| Also stayed in Les Coches dozens of times for all of the above reasons but i wouldn't go at either end of the season, it's too low. |
Too low for what?
It's just a base. You can stay low or go high. Links are open from first to last day of the season because of the aspect, snow cannons and the need to keep the links to VE open.
We only ski at either end of the season.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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| chopkins13 wrote: |
| @Layne, Thanks - the need may arise to get back to pick kids up from Ski School in Belle Plagne at Feb Half Term - if we're over Plagne Centre side, Bergerie gets rammed so considering quicker ways to get back to collect the little skiers! |
Ah, so you are thinking Grand Rochette and get all the way over with no other lift?
Might still be as quick to ski fast into Bellecote and get the old gondola up to Belle. Although at HT you may be playing skittles with the other punters on the slopes.
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@Layne, yes that's the thinking - avoid Bergerie lift queues which are regularly 20 mins when trying to get back for ski school finishing time, and instead take Grand Rochette using single rider queue and then a nice ski back to Belle Plagne - would give us more time on the (IMO) 'quieter side' above Montalbert before needing to head back over to Belle Plagne. Feb half term would be my last choice if we didn't have kids 
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| Layne wrote: |
| Russeh wrote: |
| Also stayed in Les Coches dozens of times for all of the above reasons but i wouldn't go at either end of the season, it's too low. |
Too low for what?
It's just a base. You can stay low or go high. Links are open from first to last day of the season because of the aspect, snow cannons and the need to keep the links to VE open.
We only ski at either end of the season. |
Very true. Out of coincidence I’m in les coches next week. Don’t think show coverage is going to be an issue though 
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@chopkins13, based on last year, when the building itslf was largely complete, there is no problem getting around the mid-station onto that piste. (It wuld be a bit daft if you couldn't).
I wouldn't be 100% confident about OpenSnowMap in general, as I suspect that (like OpenStreetMap) anyone can edit it. Based on the piste map the official top of the Belle Plagne piste probably follows the mapped track that starts between the 2 buildings. But the area is just a large plateau, and the slalom piste fence is usually only at the top of the slope, so fairly sure you can get across it, perhaps with a bit of poling.
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@chopkins13, As an alternative get on the new bubble at the mid-station up to Roche de Mio and come back via le Tunnel?
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