 Poster: A snowHead
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Can I use the tribu discount on early booking? It looks like it's not possible...
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I just used Tribu discount when booking a week in mid Jan.
I also tried to book the discount pass for Roc On Snow opening weekend (12-14 Dec) but that is not showing up as an option yet - I contacted the helpdesk and they said it goes on sale 8 Nov.
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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 saw at least one set of traces on Chavannes over the weekend - someone brave enough (because of the bleak skies) and way too eager (there's no under layer) got their skins out. Mmmmh... maybe next weekend if it survives.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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I went up Chavannes this morning for a quick skin. Was actually quite good, the dog also loved it!
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Am I allowed to get slightly excited now? 
I know it's way early but I can live in hope
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@AvoAndi, you can get excited as you like.
To a degree, you're only skiing on the top 2-3cms anyway.*
* this does not mean that Yorkshire can compete with e.g. Chamonix.
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Does anyone with insider info/a crystal ball know if Black Friday will return this year?
Buying for a group trip in mid Jan, the best deal would be if that old Black Friday mad discount came back, but last year bottled it and bought in early booking period instead (luckily!).
Thinking probably best to do the same this year, as if there is no Black Friday I’m then too late to benefit from early booking discount too!
Have I answered my own question here 
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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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@rachyrah I dont know the answer to your question but I recently bought lift passes for a family of 4 for mid Jan and got a 10% 'Tribu' discount.
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Can anyone confirm if Le Turche lift amd pistes in Les Gets is going to be open this season? Im looking at some accommodation in that area and don't fancy the inconvenience whe. It was closed like early season last year, plus we could get to the Pauka restaurant either!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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This morning's GFS run looks tasty for Avoriaz from the 17th ... temps at 850phA sliding towards freezing with reasonable levels of precipitation moving in. This is my snapshot view before @polo comes to rip it all apart with his views on vortices, stratospheres and the like  .
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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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| Randyp909 wrote: |
| Can anyone confirm if Le Turche lift amd pistes in Les Gets is going to be open this season? Im looking at some accommodation in that area and don't fancy the inconvenience whe. It was closed like early season last year, plus we could get to the Pauka restaurant either! |
I suggest you drop an email to Christelle at the La Grand Laniere (contact@lagrandelaniere.com) - she is the owner of both the hotel and the lift ... I think the drag was closed for the majority of last season but the blue down to the Perrieres chair (that takes you past the hotel terrace / bottom of the drag) was open ... so staying at the GL or anywhere else up there would still allow you to head to Perrieres first thing in the morning and ski back at the end of the day. The "issue" is the walk to the centre and back at night ... which to be honest I don't mind (it's a good leg stretcher after a meal and a few beers).
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@franga, well the strat vortex is looking fine, it's the azores area that's the problem...ECM much milder than GFS, and some other models are clearly moving the lows west again next week. Nothing nailed down yet but it's a wobble the wrong way overall.
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You know it makes sense.
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| franga wrote: |
| Randyp909 wrote: |
| Can anyone confirm if Le Turche lift amd pistes in Les Gets is going to be open this season? Im looking at some accommodation in that area and don't fancy the inconvenience whe. It was closed like early season last year, plus we could get to the Pauka restaurant either! |
I suggest you drop an email to Christelle at the La Grand Laniere (contact@lagrandelaniere.com) - she is the owner of both the hotel and the lift ... I think the drag was closed for the majority of last season but the blue down to the Perrieres chair (that takes you past the hotel terrace / bottom of the drag) was open ... so staying at the GL or anywhere else up there would still allow you to head to Perrieres first thing in the morning and ski back at the end of the day. The "issue" is the walk to the centre and back at night ... which to be honest I don't mind (it's a good leg stretcher after a meal and a few beers). |
thats great thanks! Funnily enough its the GL hotel i'm looking at, so i will drop Christelle a note. And yes the walk to/from town is a bit of a concern too.
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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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On the Avoriaz-Chatel December theme, there's a weird thing going on with ski passes. Avoriaz won't sell a Portes du Soleil pass until the 20th December, but Chatel will sell one a week or so earlier. We're going to be in Avoriaz 15-19 Dec and I was hoping to drop into Chatel Plaine Dranse, but it appears there's no way to do that unless you buy your pass from Chatel. Does anyone know if the Avoriaz accommodation (e.g. Amara) will sell PdS passes early, or will they just follow the local tourist office? I still have 2 Morzine passes, so in theory I could recharge them on the Chatel site, if that's what I have to do.
Anyone?
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Poster: A snowHead
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| ukoldschool wrote: |
Hi all,
Hope you don't mind me asking here (seems a more appropriate place than the Piste forum).
My party of 4 snowboarder are looking at a trip to Pds for the first time this coming January, and at the moment are keen on Avoriaz as it seems to be the most central of the Pds villages, however would be keen to get some real life experience on if its even possible to use the lift system to its fullest from say Les Gets, and be able to board back to base from another area, or if its a bus only situation like in Chamonix? The piste map is a little tricker to interpret than say Les Arcs/LaPlagne.
Thanks! |
If I may add belatedly to this discussion...
As others have said, the connection between Morzine and Avoriaz is there, but involves either a ten minute walk or a bus. I reckon from the centre of Avoriaz to the top of Pleney in Morzine would take you an hour and a half; maybe an hour via the bus route. Avoriaz to the Les Gets base, an extra, 30 mins? This transit really breaks up the day so it should be done occasionally, not daily.
to my mind:
- Avoriaz has a great combination. The night life is a bit weak but the accommodation, ski-in-ski-out, and the access to Chatel and Switzerland really are awesome. And you can do a day in Morzine-Les Gets if the snow's good there. Most Avoriaz ski lessons start near the bottom of the resort which is a 5 minute slide down from your flat. You can still go out for the night in Morzine but be careful not to miss the last bus back to the 9pm last gondola. Kids like Aquariaz (the pool).
- Morzine is lovely, much more traditional, and if you're there for third wave coffee and really good pizza, this base might be for you, BUT access to Avoriaz (which has better snow for most of the season) is a faff. You either have to get a bus and a big tricable gondola, or start at the Super Morzine gondola and wend your way on a circuitous route to the heart of Avoriaz and thence even further to Chatel/Switzerland. You don't want to do that every day, or commit to lessons at one if staying at the other. Also, your day on the Morzine slopes starts at the Pleney gondola which will have a moderate queue, and your accommodation might be over 20 min walk from there. In that case, plan the best part of an hour to get to 9.30am lessons in Morzine.
- A halfway house between Morzine and Avoriaz is the Prodains area (Morzine). You're at the bottom of the lift to Avoriaz and only a free bus from the centre of Morzine. But it looks pretty dead at night. It's sort of a best of / worst of both worlds depending on what you want; and the accommodation down there has some different (and cheaper) options.
- Les Gets strikes me as a strong commitment - "I do not want to go to Avoriaz, Chatel, or Switzerland". This could be fine if you are going mid season, when the snow should be reliable. But it really will be a trek to get to Avoriaz or worse, Switzerland. Don't get stranded! Apparently people love the vibe of Les Gets. The only time I ever made it over there was when I was staying in Morzine.
- I briefly looked at staying in Chatel, and some of the Swiss resorts. Access to Avoriaz is - I think - not possible at night. I travel with kids so this was effectively ruled out (they love the pool). Interested if anyone wants to say more about these bases.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@amh15,
Serma (Avoriaz lift company) will sell PdS lift passes 1st week of the season for 13th Dec nearer the time.
I’m not a tech type guy but I think the description is they set up some sort of pop up website along side their normal ski-pass avoriaz web site.
It’s a building week and it will be a discounted pass.
If the website does not work you can deffo buy one in resort.
Note that not all pistes will be open in Avoriaz and/or Chatel even if they get an enormous/Mega load of snow.
If they did get a stupid large amount of early season snow They would want to keep some snow for the Xmas/New Year hoards.
Plus pisteurs, piste basher drivers and all other staff still building/training/setting up etc etc.
13th to 20th Dec (1st week) is a great week. After the rock on snow event finishes on Sunday it will be very very quiet from Monday 15th 
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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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@amh15, you can also do Morzine-Ardent by bus. It is then a gondola to Lindarets and a chairlift to get to either Avoriaz or Chatel/Plaine Dranse area. Two chairs to get to Switzerland.
If you want to swim Aquariaz is not the only option. There is a pretty decent pool in Chatel though probably less attractive to kids if they want slides etc.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| DJL wrote: |
@amh15, you can also do Morzine-Ardent by bus. It is then a gondola to Lindarets and a chairlift to get to either Avoriaz or Chatel/Plaine Dranse area. Two chairs to get to Switzerland.
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Thanks - that is neat, I always wondered if there was anything useful for non drivers down at Ardent. For anyone like me struggling to find that bus timetable, it's here. Quicker than I would have imagined at 20 min, and that is indeed the right end of Avoriaz for Switzerland. Still not something to build in to your plans for every single day if you can avoid it, but definitely adds to the variety of day trips you can do from Morzine.
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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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| amh15 wrote: |
| DJL wrote: |
@amh15, you can also do Morzine-Ardent by bus. It is then a gondola to Lindarets and a chairlift to get to either Avoriaz or Chatel/Plaine Dranse area. Two chairs to get to Switzerland.
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Thanks - that is neat, I always wondered if there was anything useful for non drivers down at Ardent. For anyone like me struggling to find that bus timetable, it's here. Quicker than I would have imagined at 20 min, and that is indeed the right end of Avoriaz for Switzerland. Still not something to build in to your plans for every single day if you can avoid it, but definitely adds to the variety of day trips you can do from Morzine. |
What do you mean for non-drivers? There’s a lively apres bar called Happy Hour. There’s a DJ most nights and a great atmosphere. Family-friendly too as long as children can tolerate music, singing and a bit of dancing  . Our teenage boys love it. Bus stop is directly outside the bar. The Hotel du Lac on the eastern shore of Lac Montriond has a lovely bar and an even better restaurant - they do wood-fired pizzas most nights (they’re bloody amazing). Navette stops outside …
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I’m a big fan of the Hotel du Lac, done it a few times now for a long weekend and is super convenient for Ardent. They also do great cocktails and Sunday Roast.
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@bigtuboflard, I agree. Stayed there a couple of times when doing BASI courses some years ago, before we moved here. Beware of the demi-pension though, or at least make sure you check the menu in advance. I was served up andouillette one night, which I did not appreciate one little bit.  TBF the rest of the time it was really very good.
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| franga wrote: |
| What do you mean for non-drivers? |
Never having been down to Ardent, all I know of it is that there's a car park there with a gondola. But we come by train and stay in Avoriaz, so the concept of visiting a car park at 1200m has never been a top priority for us . Having said that, I had a quick look at Google Street View and it looks charming down there, if very quiet.
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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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@amh15, The run down from the top of Chaux Fleurie to the Ardent car park is great with about 800m vertical if you take the take the marked cut-throughs that bypass the Linderets plateau.
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| amh15 wrote: |
| franga wrote: |
| What do you mean for non-drivers? |
Never having been down to Ardent, all I know of it is that there's a car park there with a gondola. But we come by train and stay in Avoriaz, so the concept of visiting a car park at 1200m has never been a top priority for us . Having said that, I had a quick look at Google Street View and it looks charming down there, if very quiet. |
Get it … as @Ozboy says the run down from the top of CF is lovely as is the run from the top of Grand Conche via the Arbicotine blue and any variant through the Stash / Lindarets forest. If you’re in Avoriaz for a week I would wholeheartedly recommend getting down to Ardent, taking the navette towards Morzine, getting off at the Hotel du Lac (great burgers at the cafe behind it, admire the stunning lakeside setting, a drink on the hotel terrace) and then back to Ardent again. A different way to spend an hour or so over lunch … you won’t regret it.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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The Lindarets plateau is a great place to have a mid-morning hot chocolate / vin chaud on the many loungers outside restaurants if the sun’s out. And lunch at Pommes de Pin never disappoints. You’re spoilt for choice. Enjoy.
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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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There are better restaurants just below it in the goat village if you want a more relaxed lunch, my preference being the Terrace. On the plateau itself my favourite is Momas. And of course you then do the run down to Ardent straight after lunch to get the legs working again.
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Interesting. I know the Lindarets plateau well. I particularly love Les Tannes - beautiful red through the trees - and the Chaux Fleurie red.
Never been to the goat village - I was not sold on the concept of the car park beyond it and figured there would be no goats until the snow was gone (rude).
I've done the 7km or so Abricotine route multiple times - it's a tad flat on a board (at certain points) but a nice run down. As long as there isn't cloud/fog at the top - my daughter cried. The runs on the Swiss side there are a big fave for my group.
I'll be there early season so who knows what will be open, but I'll look for the chance to branch out a bit... Thanks all!
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You know it makes sense.
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| @247snowman wrote: |
@amh15,
Serma (Avoriaz lift company) will sell PdS lift passes 1st week of the season for 13th Dec nearer the time.
I’m not a tech type guy but I think the description is they set up some sort of pop up website along side their normal ski-pass avoriaz web site.
It’s a building week and it will be a discounted pass.
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Thanks for that! Following your comment, I pestered Avoriaz/Serma along the lines of "hey, are you trying to make me buy my PdS pass from Chatel?". They replied that they had now opened up sales for 13th with a 15% discount. A tad pricey at €58 given that Avoriaz is €30 from Mon 15th and €26 on the 13th-14th. I also noticed that if you buy a period that spans two different prices, you get whichever price is worse. Nice! 
I think for now we're going to wait and see. Does anyone know if that is basically it on discounts for PdS or will it go lower closer to the time?
Thanks!
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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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@amh15, Thanks for that. We're out for a trip that will get us 3 days on the slopes (14- 16 Dec) and I had found it difficult to get my head around what was on offer and what it covered. I suspect we'll go for the PDS passes, as I wouldn't want to be limited to the Avoriaz pass if some of the Chatel area is open too. In the absence of being able to upgrade the Avoriaz passes, I think we'll just bite the bullet at some point and go for the PDS ones. I wonder if there's a deadline on the 15% discount?
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Poster: A snowHead
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Can someone out there please get me excited about snow conditions?
If they are terrible, feel free to lie.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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About 20-30cm of snow has settled at village level here (1350m) in the past 24hrs, temperature stayed below zero all day, now at -5 or so, still snowing on and off. The snow blower had its first outing of the winter this afternoon, perhaps been a couple of cm since then, more expected overnight, then another big dump on Sun-Mon.
At this time of year I don't expect the village-level snow to remain until the season start, but the next couple of weeks isn't forecasting a big thaw, so hopefully this will stick higher up and form a good base layer. Fingers crossed.
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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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| Chaletbeauroc wrote: |
| There are better restaurants just below it in the goat village if you want a more relaxed lunch, my preference being the Terrace. On the plateau itself my favourite is Momas. And of course you then do the run down to Ardent straight after lunch to get the legs working again. |
Did you mean Mamos? Or is there another…. Mamos is one of our go tos… especially burgers… makes a very good lunch spot in the summer too.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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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@AvoAndi, Yes, Mamos. Typo. Never been over there in the summer, bit too far of a walk from Morgins. For me, at least.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Avoriaz is advertising on their ski pass website that they have a partial pre-opening for two x weekends.
29th and 30th November.
Then again
6th and 7th December.
If it’s like previous pre opening then no Navette’s running but free parking at Prodans.??
I think Season passes were valid in previous years pre opening.
See here….
https://www.skipass-avoriaz.com/en/winter/
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| Chaletbeauroc wrote: |
About 20-30cm of snow has settled at village level here (1350m) in the past 24hrs, temperature stayed below zero all day, now at -5 or so, still snowing on and off. The snow blower had its first outing of the winter this afternoon, perhaps been a couple of cm since then, more expected overnight, then another big dump on Sun-Mon.
At this time of year I don't expect the village-level snow to remain until the season start, but the next couple of weeks isn't forecasting a big thaw, so hopefully this will stick higher up and form a good base layer. Fingers crossed. |
Thank you, and also crossing fingers!
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| Harry Flashman wrote: |
Can someone out there please get me excited about snow conditions?
If they are terrible, feel free to lie. |
Are you watching the Morzine tourist office webcam? It's relatively rare to see quite so much snow there at village level.
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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
