 Poster: A snowHead
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Just get grand huit instead of the rope tow.
Or get tufs from VC and ski down directly.
There’s a regular shuttle bus from the snow front at val claret.
Too far to walk in ski boots
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@phillip33, bolin, tuffs then ski or download in the bubble
Last edited by Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person on Tue 6-01-26 8:46; edited 1 time in total
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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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Quickest
Head up the Tuff lift and then ski down Johan Clary(underneath the Toviere). Its the steep black run back into Le LAc
Easiest
Jump on the bus from Val Claret to Le Lac
Mid-range
Take the Fresse lift from Val Claret up to the top and ski into Val and ski Borsat all the way down past the Follie to the Tommeuses lift. Take this up to the Toviere and either ski down the black run Johan Clary or take the Toviere lift down to Le Lac.
What you did was probably the "easiest" from an all ski perspective.
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If you are up on Grattalu piste, take Grattalu lift to top, then from the top take left hand turn that runs just under Merles lift- keep going to Grand huit lift, off lift, bear right on blue, you join a few pistes at the bottom, bear right onto Palafour piste, straight down into Le Lac. Takes you to bottom of Palafour lift
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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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Ski: from Claret, Tichot lift, ski down to the Grattalou lift, bear left onto the Lac piste, Grand Huit lift, Perce Neige piste then ski all the way to Le Lac. Or, from VC take the Tufs lift and ski down the Johan Clarey; more direct, but is just one black run down from the Toviere.
Alternatively, take the bus from the centre of VC to Le Lac; they run all through the day.
There is a path alongside the lake from VC to Le Lac as well.
..Nick
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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@big_ben, the 1st is a lovely a route in. At the top I prefer the short Merles red onto Lac
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On the medical centre strikes - the med centre is open but the combination of the doctors strike and very firm conditions mean they are very busy, so you can expect a wait if you are unlucky enough to need them.
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Awesome guys
Just finishing my lunch and wine at Grissleys
Then we are heading back
I will let you know how we go
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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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@phillip33, this app may help in similiar situations
https://skiif.com/en/
before the rope pull hop onto Grand Huit you can then ski back.
Option 2 is to go up Fresse, (get on lhs I think which stops halfway) then download on Toviere or ski one the blacks back down.
There is a bus (mate used it when he did some apres in Val Claret)
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Eyes down for the first day on skis. It was very cold this morning, luckily there wasn't a breath of wind. So, out I ventured with some mates doing a passable impression of a Michelin Man. Overall the pistes are in good condition, both snow making teams of pisteurs and snowmakers have done a great job (aided by the Baltic air) to keep the place in good nick. Yes, there are a few small stones here and there but they could easily be avoided. I didn't see anybody off piste - enuf said. We started on Palafour and onto the new and swanky Aiguille Percée chair - all very smooth - it's going to get busy at the top though. A few stones on Corniche as we dropped into Lavachet for the late starters. Piste H was busy and one or two students need driving lessons..... Up Fresse and down to Borsat - where we had to abort the original plan as Borsat was rammed because Marmottes is broken. So down into La Daille for coffee. They have put a lot of artificial down on those pistes - not a stone or twig in sight which is unusual. After a trip back and a run round the 'Palet' Bowl it was time for a hot lunch.
And the weather - not a lot has changed and everyone's agreeing the snow is on the way. I'm sticking with 60-100cm by Sunday (that might be a tad pessimistic but a game changing amount in anybody's book) as its spread over 3 days it won't cause havoc on the pistes as it can be managed as we go along (sometimes more is not best). It will be a brutally cold night and Wednesday will dawn bright and blue, there may be more breeze but I don't think I can get another layer on! Clouds will start bubbling up from lunchtime and the first light flurries will start late afternoon/happy hour. The night will not be as cold. Thursday - whiteout with really strong winds and snow all day varying in intensity between moderate and heavy. I would expect the links and the glaciers to be shut, it will be a day for the tree lined runs to Brev and La Daille etc. The good news (for skiers) is that it will be snow way down. to below Brev. Friday, from an academic point of view will be warmer, but otherwise a repeat of Thursday. Saturday will see snow all day - it may only be moderate but expect travel to be difficult - don't even think about travelling without chains - if you are up here buy them now before the shops run out of the popular sizes. The wind won't be quite as strong on Saturday but enough to blow the snow around and on to the roads. Sunday is a long way off, but probably snowy but not as windy.
For the aviators on Saturday, it should be warm enough down at the airports to ensure its rain not snow, but sleet can't be ruled out. But if you are leaving Saturday - don't moan at the transfer companies when your departure time is brought forward!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@kitenski, you might want to edit your post just in case someone follows your advice. Fresse goes in the opposite direction to Toviere. You meant Bolin then Tuffs.
Last edited by snowHeads are a friendly bunch. on Tue 6-01-26 17:59; edited 1 time in total
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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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Update
A lift was shut due to technical difficulties which meant we couldn’t ski up and over
Skied back into Val Claret then joined the throngs getting onto the bus and had a beer in Le Lac
Agree with Choco about conditions
Heading to Las Pissalas tomorrow before the weather changes , few runs Thursday - then drinks and watch the snow fall
Thanks again for everyone’s in put
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@Dr John, isn’t fresse the lift with 2 queues? The left hand one goes half way up??
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You know it makes sense.
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Is there anyone on this thread who can put me in touch with the SCGB rep in Val d’isere? Trying to tee something up for someone tomorrow.
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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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@kitenski, they decoupled it a few seasons ago cos the junction box kept breaking. Both queues go on Bolin, get off and then shuffle round for Fresse or turn left to Tuffs lift to Tovier. Fresse never went to Tovier.
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Poster: A snowHead
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@kitenski The Bollin and Fresse lifts were separated at least a couple of seasons ago. Bollin goes up the lower part where you can traverse across to Tufs to go up Toviere as DrJohn says. Alternatively after getting off Bollin you can get on Fresse to go up to the top from where you can ski down into Val or back to Val Claret.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Thorney wrote: |
| @kitenski The Bollin and Fresse lifts were separated at least a couple of seasons ago. Bollin goes up the lower part where you can traverse across to Tufs to go up Toviere as DrJohn says. Alternatively after getting off Bollin you can get on Fresse to go up to the top from where you can ski down into Val or back to Val Claret. |
I was unaware of that. Good to know.
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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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@Old Fartbag, @kitenski, Yes, it took them over 20 years to realise that synchronising 2 separate lifts was a big ask. When they updated it with a digital control system it became all but impossible.
@wittenham, There is no SCGB rep in Val D’Isere as it’s all done by a band of dedicated locals where folks are split into different groups - they meet near the Sun Bar.
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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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@wittenham, there are no official reps in Val. ( but there is a very good club supported service. Meet by the map at Olympic cablecar base station for 0930). In Tignes, Andrew Harte is there at the moment. You can meet him at 0920 outside Maison de Tignes. Look on the SCGB site for a rep phone number, or use the App if you’re a member
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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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@wittenham, There is no SCGB rep in Val D’Isere as it’s all done by a band of dedicated locals where folks are split into different groups - they meet near the Sun Bar.[/quote]
Many thanks, do you know what time they meet? Are they easy to identify?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Thanks @hamilton, you answered my question. I am not an SCGB member.
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Sorry, one more q… I am asking these q’s on behalf of someone else. Can the person do one day without being an SCGB member (yet…?).
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Sorry, one more q… I am asking these q’s on behalf of someone else. Can the person do one day without being an SCGB member (yet…?).
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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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Non members can join the groups for a taster day.
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Many thanks @lunch Mike
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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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An update from Radio Val this morning says that there is still no accurate forecast for Marmottes returning to service. They are still investigating repairing the broken bits, replacing the broken bits or replacing the gearbox in full. The last is the manufacturers favourite option. But the Marmottes was a prototype and gearboxes are not available on the market so it will have to be manufactured from scratch. They then say we may have to wait a few days or a few weeks.
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Well I can imagine that a gear breaking a tooth off that size and the tolerances involved would mean that machining a new part would be tricky even if it wasn't a prototype design.
Building a whole new gearbox is probably the sensible engineering choice as I expect that they can basically pull some up to date drawings out for standard parts and make a whole new gearbox in the time it would take to fiddle around making a one off gear for the prototype gearbox. Especially as the design is now nearly 20 years old.
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You know it makes sense.
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Back out to Val beginning of Feb having been in Tignes for a week from 13th December. So hopefully it is fixed by then.
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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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Well if Typhoo put the T in Britain, today put the B in Baltic! It was a bright blue morning and temperatures on the balconies were -15 to -17. So fully togged we left at 10 and had a ride up to the Eye, a few more stones on the Lac side of the hill put remarkably good skiing. After collecting the laggards in Lavachet we did runs round Aiguilles Rouge and Percée. Snow fab. But today became a day of lift and power failures, in addition to Marmottes, Merles had a late start, the gremlins then hopped over to Aiguille Percée. So we popped down to the Jam Bar for a hot chocolate and up Tov to find Tommeuses, Mont Blanc and La Daille gondy were all shut due to a power supply issue in Val. So Lord knows what the queues for Borsat and the Funival were like. We then came down into VC and round the Palet bowl, by now (just after 12) the breeze started to pick up and the cold was brutal, it was only going to get worse as they shut the Telepherique for wind. So a phrase including discretion and valour sprung to mind and we aborted for a hot lunch. It quickly clouded over mid afternoon and it has warmed up a bit - its only -8 as I type. The first light flurries are imminent according to the radar. We have seen the last of the sun for a while.
Light snow will continue through the night and the winds will pick up. It may be light snow in the morning, the intensity will pick up through the day, as will the winds. If they open the links keep a very sharp eye out for closures. I suspect the glaciers will be shut. Friday will be snowy and windier, a proper whiteout with only the lower lifts open I would think. Saturday is a bit of a conundrum, the edge of the weather is not too far to the south, so some models suggest moderate snow all day, some light snow. It will still be windy and by now the accumulations will be enough to give the pisteurs a big day out. BUT the breaking news is its going to be colder on Saturday than originally suggested so there may well be snow flurries at Geneva, Grenoble and Chambery (I suspect a difficult day there especially of the cloudbase is low). The forecast for Sunday is confused, could be snowing, could be sunny spells - standby.
The delayed avalanche report has just been published, with 25-35cm on new snow by Friday morning it is rising to Risk Level 3 through the day as the snow accumulates, take care folks.
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Poster: A snowHead
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We enjoyed if that’s the word lift outages as we attempted to get to Rosie’s for a much needed thaw and hot chocolates!
Mont Blanc then tommeues then bubbles up from la daille came to a stop as we passed them!
Maybe it was us?
Bus needed into val to catch Olympic and head back to tignes before anything else broke
-20c at one point
Salt rubbed in wound as last lift broke down on way back to le lav with me halfway up the drag but only out for 5 cold mins
Maybe the grid outage was due to demand overload thru very cold weather
Brrrr!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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It's snowing!
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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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VC to Le Lac -Up Tichot then up Gratt then head down to Grand Huit, 3 lifts - You can then ski all the way down Palafor. Beer in Marmott
Or if you want a longer run home ski from Grand Huit down to the chair that takes you up to Arg Piercee. Then long easy run all the way round the back round the other side of the hole in the rock back to Palafor.
Both runs end up at Maison Tignes and a beer
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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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VC to Le Lac -Up Tichot then up Gratt then head down to Grand Huit, 3 lifts - You can then ski all the way down Palafor. Beer in Marmott
Or if you want a longer run home ski from Grand Huit down to the chair that takes you up to Arg Piercee. Then long easy run all the way round the back round the other side of the hole in the rock back to Palafor.
Both runs end up at Maison Tignes and a beer
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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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@chocksaway,
It sure is - a massive 2 inches my wife said , 6 according to me !!!
Just finished Traitors , bottle of wine done , few runs tomorrow, hopefully not on the toilet at 3am , then Lunch ( Reserved Le Dahu - Val Claret - enjoyed the Fish and Chips today ) 1pm
Then Bus to Le Lac and a 430 am pick up -
Really enjoyed the trip - The Goddard Curse was not enacted ( heavy snow all week ) but it was bloody cold
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Update
Wife said , are you posting on Snow heads , what are you saying !!!
Nothing i said
Then there was a loud noise next to me
“ Jesus is said , are they avalanche blasting already”
She hates me
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It’s like a mini snow-opera playing out in real time
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| Quote: |
Saturday will see snow all day - it may only be moderate but expect travel to be difficult - don't even think about travelling without chains - if you are up here buy them now before the shops run out of the popular sizes.
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I've just posted up on the FS thread, a spare set of chains that may be useful to someone...
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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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I was just starting to type and we have just had our first avalanche blast - more on that later. I was woken by the snowploughs at 6 - always a good sign. It had snowed lightly through the night and the official score to 8AM was 10 cm and 15 up high. It has snowed moderately to heavily all day, it has warmed up and we have been sat in cloud. So, I didn't fancy going to Brev and standing in a queue for half a day so I set about some plumbing - got a dodgy shower bar. So Weldom, next week for a new one. I daren't risk fiddling with the old one as I can't isolate the showers from the main supply (loos and sink - yes showers no!). I then popped out for coffee with Lynnecha (+1) and had a year's catch up. The back to spend a couple of hours phoning mates.
Oh, the wind increased late morning and the links closed - hope no-one got caught.
OK, the wind will increase tonight, but snowfalls should be moderate on the scale but the latest falls should be at 50cm in the village by morning. So expect noise in the village from before the early doors open. It will be snowy and windy all day, might have to find some more plumbing! The intensity of snow varies from forecast to forecast as is the nature of mountain weather, so final totals all to play for. Saturday will be a little warmer up here but it will snow all day and the winds will be strong but not too bad. But the roads will be white - so expect a spot of escape tomfoolery on the roads. It currently looks like light snow at Geneva - so minor delays and sleet at Chambery and Grenoble so again deicing issues and the cloudbase may be an issue at Chambery.
On Sunday, the snow will stop +/- 3 hours of breakfast and we should see some sunny spells, so potentially a good day to be careful! Monday's forecasts are so wildly different it's not worth wasting electrons on.
OK, the avalanche risk is 4 tomorrow. What with 50cm (more at height) of fresh snow on a hard, very cold base and more falling, together with high winds over 2 days and a 17deg temperature difference in Lac between 1400 yesterday and 1400 today we basically have a the full gamut of threats - one is tempted to shout "House". So, unless you are with a guide stay on piste!
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@chocksaway,
Good advice to stay on piste. Almost ideal conditions for some big slides. Another couple of weeks before my return - so likely to miss out on any powder days resulting from this weather.
Cornwall, Channel Isles and Scillies had a Red Weather Warning issued an hour or so ago. Wind. 90-100mph. We will get a bit in S Mids later on. We are on Amber for Snow here - I suspect that will mean a few cm. Bit ridiculous.
So our activities are similarly restricted by the elements
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FAQ
