 Poster: A snowHead
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Thanks for the answer ozboy, but that requires walking up the hill. I normally start at Linga even to ski super Châtel, which I'll definitely be doing for the rest of the half term hols to avoid the hordes.
Linga means walking down the hill to the bus or skiing the field in front of the apartment to the bus when there's enough snow.
So it's a toss up between queues at Linga or waking up the hill or taking two buses (#3 then 2).
Too much info, I know. 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Skiid chatel yesterday. Was hoping to do Morgins today (where we are staying) but the visibility looks horrendous from the village and on the webcams. Might head to chapelle d'abondance as it looks better visibility there. Does d'abondance get busy as it's a smaller run area?
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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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I've never seen it busy, but the recent snow and PlJ access issues due to rockfall might change that.
I might see you there. You'll recognise us as we're the only other people you'll see. 
Visibility is due to clear a bit during the day.
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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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Arrived Champery last night after 10hrs from Caen. Could anyone advise how long might expect loops to take and if it's possible to complete a loop at the moment say Champery, morgins,chatel, avoriaz, Les corsets? Is cut off of lifts back to Champery a real risk this week!?
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@noodlehat, I think it’s hard to predict how weather and more snowfalls will affect the upper lifts and connections this week. Just take it by the day and keep an eye on an “risk of closure” signs that are normally (but not always) put up at the lifts.
It took us 10 hours to drive to Châtel from Reims yesterday, left at 7am, and it’s the worst we have experienced.
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| LemiTheBoarder wrote: |
| Skiid chatel yesterday. Was hoping to do Morgins today (where we are staying) but the visibility looks horrendous from the village and on the webcams. Might head to chapelle d'abondance as it looks better visibility there. Does d'abondance get busy as it's a smaller run area? |
We headed out early from Avoriaz and have been above the cloud all morning so far. Currently on Les Combes, towards Chatel, but haven’t had a queue of more than 4 people in front of us yet and it’s glorious sunshine up here. I think there are a lot of people having a slow morning, but that’s fine for us.
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| noodlehat wrote: |
| Arrived Champery last night after 10hrs from Caen. Could anyone advise how long might expect loops to take and if it's possible to complete a loop at the moment say Champery, morgins,chatel, avoriaz, Les corsets? Is cut off of lifts back to Champery a real risk this week!? |
Don't we all love skiing in corsets?
Anyway, I would expect no particular delays this week, I mean maybe lift queues at the prime suspect lifts round Avoriaz, it's a busy week after all, but no, I can't see any reason why you'd be at risk of being unable to return to Champéry.
As for doing a loop, well that depends on you, and of course the specific rout you take. I could probably get all the way round going anti-clockwise from Morgins in significantly less than three hours, but would be pretty boring and include a lot of time sitting on lifts and taking the home run directly back from Mossettes. Maybe two hours at a push.
On the other hand going the opposite direction involves more lifts on the Swiss side, and if I wanted to, say, ski Avoriaz Fornet and down to Prodains, then add a couple of extra runs on the Super Chatel side I could easily be looking at a five hour route.
As for the drive, I had some Dutch guests finally arrive about eight last night, having left at the crack of dawn. Had taken them fifteen hours to get here 
Last edited by After all it is free  on Sun 15-02-26 9:56; edited 1 time in total
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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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@noodlehat, as Ozboy says, watch out for lift closures but otherwise that loop is perfectly do-able. You don’t have to go through Avoriaz to get Chatel-Les Crosets, Prolays and French Mosettes or Lechere and Cases lifts from Lindarets get you to the ridge above Les Crosets. If you keep moving and no queues I reckon 4-5 hours.
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@snoozeboy, with the rerouted 3 bus it will come up Bechigne so you could hop on near your place and off in the Church square. Still a short hike to Super Chatel gondola though!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@snoozeboy, took us 50 mins to queue for Super Châtel. Tomorrow we will try bus to Vonnes and TS PDS to get up. Ski area looks gorgeous this morning.
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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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We didn’t head down to Linga, so can’t say what it was like down there, but we went down to Pre La Joux twice and the most people we were queueing behind for Pierre Longue was two people. Still haven’t had more than 4 people ahead of us in a lift queue all day so far.
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Panthiaz car park looks full from my apartment.
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You know it makes sense.
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La chapelle was as busy as I've ever seen it, but still acceptable.
Queued for 15 mins at super Châtel, then lifts to la chapelle were pretty quiet.
Coming back to super Châtel at 11am was horrible. 30' at tour de don, another 20 at chermeu. Super Châtel is rammed.
Dear Mayor of Châtel, you've allowed too many building permits, whilst forgetting to spend on infrastructure.
On the bright side, at least we have a new convention centre. Wtf?
Last edited by You know it makes sense. on Sun 15-02-26 13:21; edited 1 time in total
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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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I wonder if the issues with the road to Pre La Joux and perceived issues with clouds have led to most people in Chatel staying on the Super Chatel side, as I honestly don’t think I’ve ever seen queues this quiet at half term as I have today. When we got to the top of Les Combes this morning, it looked like Chatel was blanketed by cloud, whereas above it was clear as day. Were spent the morning around that area and we’re now back over in Lindarets and the clouds have lowered over the past half hour or so, but I would have assumed it would be swamped today and it really hasn’t been.
Last edited by Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name: on Sun 15-02-26 13:23; edited 1 time in total
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Poster: A snowHead
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| porkpiefox wrote: |
| I wonder if the issues with the road to Pre La Joux and perceived issues with clouds have led to most people in Chatel to stay on the Super Chatel side, as I honestly don’t think I’ve ever seen queues this quiet at half term as I have today. When we got to the top of Les Combes this morning, it looked like Chatel was blanketed by cloud, whereas above it was clear as day. Were spent the morning around that area and we’re now back over in Lindarets and the clouds have lowered over the past half hour or so, but I would have assumed it would be swamped today and it really hasn’t been. |
I think supply to plj would have been limited by buses, whereas any normal peak Sunday there's a queue from plj going back to thonon.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| snoozeboy wrote: |
| porkpiefox wrote: |
| I wonder if the issues with the road to Pre La Joux and perceived issues with clouds have led to most people in Chatel to stay on the Super Chatel side, as I honestly don’t think I’ve ever seen queues this quiet at half term as I have today. When we got to the top of Les Combes this morning, it looked like Chatel was blanketed by cloud, whereas above it was clear as day. Were spent the morning around that area and we’re now back over in Lindarets and the clouds have lowered over the past half hour or so, but I would have assumed it would be swamped today and it really hasn’t been. |
I think supply to plj would have been limited by buses, whereas any normal peak Sunday there's a queue from plj going back to thonon. |
Yeah makes sense. It definitely feels like we’ve benefited on the Avoriaz side though, as far as we can see, in terms of traffic and lift queues.
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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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I guess all those from Thonon Geneva and Lausanne who favour Chatel for a Sunday ski would have gone elsewhere having heard of the PLJ issues and plenty of those in Chatel would not have kept up with the alternative PLJ Transport options so just went to Super Chatel or Linga or stayed in bed.
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This all sounds terrible. I decided not to bother with Chalet Neuf this morning, just stayed on the Swiss side. Glorious snow, fresh tracks were made, varying visibility, but some sun at times, zero lift queues.
Pretty much as I would expect, TBH. 
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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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| porkpiefox wrote: |
| We didn’t head down to Linga, so can’t say what it was like down there, but we went down to Pre La Joux twice and the most people we were queueing behind for Pierre Longue was two people. Still haven’t had more than 4 people ahead of us in a lift queue all day so far. |
I got the bus from the Church at around 8:40 this morning, bus was busy but not uncomfortably so, got to Linga by 9 and the new chariflift was working well. few mins only, not enough to really note or care. Big improvement on the Old Gondola. New lift is fast also!
Pre la Joux / Linga / Plaine Dranse were all great. Didn't come across any major queing (few mins at most on the odd one, but mostly straight through and onto lifts, Pierre Longue and Pre la Joux no lines at all), pistes busier than I'm used to (have not skied half term for many years so hard to compare), but nowhere near as bad as I expected. I noticed the snowploughs were clearing the whole PLJ car park area, I did wonder if a reopening is planned soon or why would they bother?
Went to Super Chatel at lunchtime to pick up son from Ski School and ski a few runs together - totally different story. Manic, long wait for the Conche Chairlift and on the drags. Restaurants overloaded. Wife reported a 45 minute wait for the Gondola for lesson drop off (I've some brownie points to win back on that one!). Hoping the message gets out a bit more that PLJ is open by bus and that Linga connection is coping well to get people away from Super Chatel who probably dont want to be be on the beginner area anyway.
Snow was excellent everywhere.
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I think tomorrow we will bus to Vonnes and take the TS PDS to Super Châtel. We mostly did runs off Morclan and Onnaz today and do not have to queue at all. The off piste fields at Onnaz were really good. Long lunch at L’Escale who has completely changed the menu to “fancy”. No more burgers or mountain food other than fondue.
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Ended up skiing chapelle this morning. Chairlift from the bottom was absolutely dead but the queue for passes was massive. Up at the top the La Combe drag lift was very busy, mainly because of ski schools of around 15 kids. But the runs were pretty quiet if you went on the right ones. And the other lifts were quiet. Did some decent skiing there.
In the afternoon we came back to Morgins and did a few blues and reds. Queued for no longer than a couple of minutes there. Was going to head over Le Corbeau tomorrow to Chatel but if it's as busy as it sounds today I might not bother. Depends on how heavy the snow will be too.
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Heavy snow and lots of avalanche control activity this morning..Can anyone point me in the right direction to see what will be open this morning?
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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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| LemiTheBoarder wrote: |
Ended up skiing chapelle this morning. Chairlift from the bottom was absolutely dead but the queue for passes was massive. Up at the top the La Combe drag lift was very busy, mainly because of ski schools of around 15 kids. But the runs were pretty quiet if you went on the right ones. And the other lifts were quiet. Did some decent skiing there.
In the afternoon we came back to Morgins and did a few blues and reds. Queued for no longer than a couple of minutes there. Was going to head over Le Corbeau tomorrow to Chatel but if it's as busy as it sounds today I might not bother. Depends on how heavy the snow will be too. |
It'll be quieter than yesterday, partly because it's no longer Sunday, partly because it's dumping snow and low Vis.
The problem with super chatel is that the lifts are slow and it generally doesn't have the capacity to put eleventy squillion skiers on the piste, which is a good thing from a safety point of view.
For a "beginner area" though, it has some great reds and blacks off morclan, some of the best in the PDS , imo.
I'll be seeking trees this morning. So may well head there again, or bottom of linga if it's not closed for bloody competition.
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| pmercer wrote: |
| Heavy snow and lots of avalanche control activity this morning..Can anyone point me in the right direction to see what will be open this morning? |
Depends where you're starting from, old chap.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Ozboy wrote: |
| I think tomorrow we will bus to Vonnes and take the TS PDS to Super Châtel. We mostly did runs off Morclan and Onnaz today and do not have to queue at all. The off piste fields at Onnaz were really good. Long lunch at L’Escale who has completely changed the menu to “fancy”. No more burgers or mountain food other than fondue. |
Fancy can be fine, but the bigger question is, was it any good? They haven't seemed to have done much fancy with the interior, when I took a look the other day.
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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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| snoozeboy wrote: |
| LemiTheBoarder wrote: |
Ended up skiing chapelle this morning. Chairlift from the bottom was absolutely dead but the queue for passes was massive. Up at the top the La Combe drag lift was very busy, mainly because of ski schools of around 15 kids. But the runs were pretty quiet if you went on the right ones. And the other lifts were quiet. Did some decent skiing there.
In the afternoon we came back to Morgins and did a few blues and reds. Queued for no longer than a couple of minutes there. Was going to head over Le Corbeau tomorrow to Chatel but if it's as busy as it sounds today I might not bother. Depends on how heavy the snow will be too. |
It'll be quieter than yesterday, partly because it's no longer Sunday, partly because it's dumping snow and low Vis.
The problem with super chatel is that the lifts are slow and it generally doesn't have the capacity to put eleventy squillion skiers on the piste, which is a good thing from a safety point of view.
For a "beginner area" though, it has some great reds and blacks off morclan, some of the best in the PDS , imo.
I'll be seeking trees this morning. So may well head there again, or bottom of linga if it's not closed for bloody competition. |
Cheers fella. We know Super Chatel well. We came 3 years ago when the wife and kids were all learning and spent our whole time in Super Chatel. We also went there Saturday just gone. Some of our favourite runs were the chalet neuf ones..Good shout re trees as it looks rough today. Although my weather app is saying the snow will stop in Chatel around 9. Think the visibility might still be poor though.
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| snoozeboy wrote: |
| Ozboy wrote: |
| I think tomorrow we will bus to Vonnes and take the TS PDS to Super Châtel. We mostly did runs off Morclan and Onnaz today and do not have to queue at all. The off piste fields at Onnaz were really good. Long lunch at L’Escale who has completely changed the menu to “fancy”. No more burgers or mountain food other than fondue. |
Fancy can be fine, but the bigger question is, was it any good? They haven't seemed to have done much fancy with the interior, when I took a look the other day. |
Mountain chef’s attempt at fine dining but not perfect and can’t really complain. They’ve removed some tables and added arm chairs etc.
Hopefully today’s weather will deter some of the punters. Lots of fresh moist snow accumulating on balcony at 1270m and extensive bombing since 6am.
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You know it makes sense.
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@LemiTheBoarder, Meteo Blue and Meteo Ski forecasting snow all day while Swiss Meteo (Morgins) reckons we are currently at the heaviest period of snowfall for the day and will start tapering off to lunchtime. Hopefully it will be quieter at SC. I hear busses to PLJ were quiet yesterday and that area was much quieter.
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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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Gfs saying snow til tomorrow evening, gradually getting colder.
...which is good because it was far too wet in the trees today.
Too many people, a lot of stuff closed for avalanche risk.
The amount of snow forecast will set up the rest of the season.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Ozboy wrote: |
| @LemiTheBoarder, Meteo Blue and Meteo Ski forecasting snow all day while Swiss Meteo (Morgins) reckons we are currently at the heaviest period of snowfall for the day and will start tapering off to lunchtime. Hopefully it will be quieter at SC. I hear busses to PLJ were quiet yesterday and that area was much quieter. |
Looking out the window it could be starting to ease off now, but not convinced just yet. Neighbour has finished clearing his driveway and the access road, I'm going to leave it for a but yet before I go out and do likewise.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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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Links back to Chatel via linga closed. - caused a pretty epic que for buses back from PLJ!! Snowed all day and still coming down. Pretty wet snow down in Chatel.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| pmercer wrote: |
| Links back to Chatel via linga closed. - caused a pretty epic que for buses back from PLJ!! Snowed all day and still coming down. Pretty wet snow down in Chatel. |
I got caught out by this. Got to the top of linga and the red run back down was closed. I needed to be back in Morgins and it was already 1. Had to ski over to pre la joux, took a wrong turn and came off too early on a run and had to get Queyset button lifts back up. 20 minutes wait at that button lifts. Finally got down to the the bottom (part of the green run closed so sending everybody down a red which was absolutely chaotic) of pre la joux and the lift for the bus was horrendous. Waiting nearly an hour. I got back to super chatel at 15:15. Up the Gondola no problem, down to Conche and another massive queue, 25 minutes wait. Eventually got up to Le Corbeau chairlift at 16:25, just in the nick of time. Got to day I spent more time queuing today than boarding, which is pretty rare. Not the most enjoyable day, conditions didn't help I know. Looks like snow all day tomorrow too.
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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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We had a similar wait for the bus, tomorrow I'll definitely be staying around SC.
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Unusual for Linga to be closed though the blue run bale-outs sometimes are. Must have been a lot of snow.
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| DJL wrote: |
| Unusual for Linga to be closed though the blue run bale-outs sometimes are. Must have been a lot of snow. |
Apparently because of avalanche risk
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The run down from the top was closed. It didn't look like they'd bashed the red slope above the top of the Linga lift.
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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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FAQ
looks to be clearing already in Morgins up the top but we're heading over to d'abondance anyway as the runs looks a bit easier for my wife, who can ski well but suffers with her joints a bit.
