 Poster: A snowHead
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The good news is that we woketo 5cm of fresh snow on average, which refreshed the pistes and some of the gullies off piste. Further to the East there might have been a bit more snow but nothing to get excited about looking at the webcams. It was spookily quiet at 9AM which was nice and we had a run down to Brev where we discovered the rain snow line was around 1620m last night as we came off the piste to the run into the village it went from great snow to boiler plate. It would be rude to mention that my newly arrived mate did most of the last pitch on his GMs so I won't! The light was coming and going all day - there was no rhyme or reason to it so it was down to La Daille (for coffee - obvs) and then around the Bellevarde and to The Corner for lunch. By now the pistes were bumping up and a modicum of effort had to be invoked.A dance round the Palet and it was back for tea and medals by 3.
Cloudy all day tomorrow and potentially the wind will be a bit stronger - but after a bash tonight the pistes should be in good order as the lack of sun today has not mashed the snow. A mix of sunny periods and total cloud will be the order of the day on Monday with a stiff breeze aloft. Tuesday and Wednesday will see cold starts but onve the sun is out it should be bright and sunny all day - hurrah!
For the fliers tomorrow - the UK looks grey and dreary with a chance of fog almost anyway - your guess is as good as mine. Over here Lyon looks like being foggy and Geneva might be - that may slow things a little but as its a relatively quiet Sunday I don't forsee many delays.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Some excellent light powder to be found off-piste around the mountain today, easily 10cm+. Had smoothed things out in some places, but also but there were also drifts where you would not normally find them. Visibility often not brilliant, but that reduced the number of participants.
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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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@chocksaway, any suggestions for a nice snow front lunchtime restaurant ,accessible for a walker , we are staying in Tignes and have L'armailly booked and theyll get a taxi ti Val so we can meet up for lunch , something on the snowfront with tablecloths and decent service . Any suggestions ?
Thanks for your travel updates they are a unique insight
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Has anyone stayed at Tignes Lake Lodge and booked through tigneslakelodge.fr? It's on Airbnb but there is a significant saving booking through what looks like their own website- I just want to make sure that address is legitimately their direct booking website and not something scammy!
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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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@gwatts10, I read this thinking you are looking for a lunch spot in Val rather than Tugnes. For a good lunch in Val, I would recommend TonTons in La Daille at resort level. They also do a daily lunch special and is a personal favourite.
If you wanted something up the mountain in Val, up on the Solaise there is the Restaurant du Lac de l'Ouillette which is walkable from the Solaise gondola. The Refuge du Solaise is also an option.
Non tablecloth places, the Datcha restaurant where all the blues converge is also walkable. I used to walk the dog down to there to meet up with skiers. If you want a value option then Cascade restaurant up on the Fornet sector, walkabke from the Valon gondola.
For getting to Val, a walker can also get the free bus between Tignes and Val which runs a few times a day and drops off at the bus station. They can then get the Train Rouge into town, Fornet or walk to La Daille.
Edit: Forgot to mention the various Folie Douce offerings accessible from the La Daille gondola.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Not a recommendation for food but the Alpages at top of Chaudannes lift has a fantastic view for pedestrians (allowed up and down on lift). You can see the major areas of both resorts from the Head of Fornet cable car around to the Grand Motte. Well worth a visit on a clear day for that.
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@gwatts10, I'm a €15 lunch guy (have to be when you are here most of the season!) so not the one to ask - but plenty of replies so far. But thanks for the thanks!
@DaveyGTi, Via the privacy page on that website I checked the SARL Number and the director is well known in Tignes, their address is in the block next door to Lake Lodge so my view says its legitimate.
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Well, today was challenging in parts. The cloud was thicker than yesterday and below the highest peaks, and the wind was stronger. It was quite frustrating seeing blue skies to the north of Mont Blanc occasionally. We had 'premier traces' down Henri and got the first Funi where we nearly got blown over exiting the building. Even Genepy was a challenge so we headed down to La Daille where we were treated to the VIP Gondola (no 51  ) which hasn't been around recently. Ac ouple of runs and coffee, we then joined another group and went the long way rounds to Boisses where the snow was in very good condition. As the wind eased we popped up the Funi again for Double M as it was now much quieter after lunch, even though it was very defensive skiing in the light. At 3.30 we pulled stumps as there was no definition at all, which is not great on Trolles.
Tomorrow morning looks like being similar to this afternoon with marginal less wind and the cloud should thin to give us some light. Tuesday and Wednesday will be calmer and mostly sunny, just the odd cloud around the peaks. The air will be colder but with the sun out and no wind it should feel more pleasant. Thursday's forecast is little more than a horoscope at teh moment but maybe unsettled with light snow.
In other news, the new gearbox for the Marmottes chair is being dragged up the hill tomorrow, but they are not forecasting how long it will take to fit, check and certify - so probably not this week.
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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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@sno trax, thanks for the suggestions , weve gone with some old favourites and one new , so ends up looking like this
day 1 Bazurto - Tignes
day 2 L'Armailly - Les brevieres
day 3 Panormaic - Tignes
day 4 Grande Ourse - Val
Thats gives us a bit of variation .
thanks again
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Back to Tignes le Lac in Feb, realise ive never headed over to Le Fornet area for a play around - is there a bus you can take from Le Lac in the morning to then have a play and ski back throughout the day- or is it best to ski over and back again? Whats people thoughts on timings for that?
Thankyou!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Ski down to La Daille from Tovierre, get bus to Le Fornet, repeat in reverse but keep an eye on the links ( Borsat and Tommeuses) to get back. Lunch in Cascades. Lovely day out.
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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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@Mark1863 Does Alpages still play 80s soft rock on a continuous loop ? Everytime i stopped for a hot choc i had Whitesnake, Van halen and Toto playing away in the background
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@gwatts10, Grande Ourse is a good choice. Not eaten there myself but have friends who are repeat diners there and they rate it.
Enjoy your trip.
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You know it makes sense.
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@Granv_ski, if you're happy on Face then I'm sure that skiing over will be quicker than getting the bus and infinitely more fun, and it is definitely doable.
Up Toviere
Down Les Tommeuses (keep right to not miss the next lift)
Up Marmottes Express
Down Face
Up Solaise
Down Piste L
Up Laisinant Express
Down Table d'Orientation and you're in the Fornet Sector
Coming back you need to use the Leissiers Express (the up and over lift) but I prefer not to use it on the way out as it always feels like a lot of lifts in a row with no skiing and Piste L is pretty fun.
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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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Assuming Marmottes gets fixed in time as it's currently out of action.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| rambotion wrote: |
@Granv_ski, if you're happy on Face then I'm sure that skiing over will be quicker than getting the bus and infinitely more fun, and it is definitely doable.
Up Toviere
Down Edelweiss (keep right to not miss the next lift) [edit for correct piste name]
Up Marmottes Express
Down Face
Up Solaise
Down Piste L
Up Laisinant Express
Down Table d'Orientation and you're in the Fornet Sector
Coming back you need to use the Leissiers Express (the up and over lift) but I prefer not to use it on the way out as it always feels like a lot of lifts in a row with no skiing and Piste L is pretty fun. |
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| endoman wrote: |
| Assuming Marmottes gets fixed in time as it's currently out of action. |
If there's no Marmottes in Feb, you can either:
- ski down to La Daille (at which point you could take the bus), and up Funival to the top of La Face, ie the same place as Marmottes
- from the bottom of Marmottes, take the magic carpet to Borsat, then down Genepy and (a) on to Santons all the way to the bottom of Solaise or (b) up Fontaine Froide to the top of La Face
But if there's no Marmottes in Feb during school hols, Borsat will probably have long queues (it's just a 4-seater).
Last edited by Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person on Mon 19-01-26 15:26; 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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Thanks All, much appreciated, just need to remember to start heading back in time!! 
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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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| DaveyGTi wrote: |
| Has anyone stayed at Tignes Lake Lodge and booked through tigneslakelodge.fr? It's on Airbnb but there is a significant saving booking through what looks like their own website- I just want to make sure that address is legitimately their direct booking website and not something scammy! |
Yes, we stayed in 'Toubkal' last year. I paid through direct bank transfer with a helpful chap called Chanel. I was also suspiscious but couldn't have been better. Nice 6 person apartment on the front with ski-in ski-out (A short 'ski-skate' around the edge of the lake required).
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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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@Granv_ski, there is indeed a bus, but from Tignes 1800. It's at 8:15 and another at 8:45. You'd have to get the bus from Tignes Le Lac to Tignes 1800 15 minutes before (ie 8:00 or 8:30); you wait at the same bus stop in Tignes 1800 to change buses. Many instructors use the service if they are meeting clients in Val - so you can take your lead from the red jackets. You can also ski over, as others have explained. Once arriving in Val d'Isere, get off at the first bus stop in La Daille, and jump on the Train Rouge bus all the way to Le Fornet in time for the first cable-car up. All the buses I have listed are free.
The advantage of the bus is that you can get there before lifts open (some folks like to get first tracks in the Le Fornet sector...). The advantage of skiing over is that it can be quicker, and you spend more of your time skiing rather than, errmm, sitting on a bus.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Fabulous but Freezing Fornet,
@Granv_ski, Funny you should ask.......
When we woke this morning there was more blue sky over Lac than forecast, with a bit more cloud to the East. So, I took a chance and changed my plans and off we set. On the 9.01 Tov Gondola down to La Daille and onto the Bus to the Laisinant Chair (for which there is never a queue - just sometimes its annoying if the Fornet Cable Car has a queue. Ski down to the Vallon Gondola and up to Fornet and on the Cascades Chair by 9.55. (For coming home - loads of ways - but my favourite is The Up and Over, Datcha, Magic Carpets down into Val by Red, Black or Gondola then up Bellvarde by Gondola or the 2 Chairs and Tommeuse and home - but that includes blacks.
Back to today - there was plenty of light up there but at the top the wind was somewhere between brisk and bracing (Baltic would be more realistic) but the snow WOW. There was about 2 cm on smooth pistes - pick your analogy - velvet, silk, apple pie.... Off piste the snow was very wind affected so anything from beautiful in gullies to hard packed sastrugi. A couple of runs demanded a hot choc and then 3 more with trips up the T bar saw us to lunch. One more for luck (but the word was out) so we popped back as described and came down Trolles up Chaudannes and then Marais and home. I fell asleep!
Tomorrow is likely to have a thinly veiled sky and a bit colder than today, but slightly less wind so all in all about the same! On Wednesday the cloud should break up a bit to give proper sunny spells. Still little confidence for Thursday - the weather will change as a westerly system starts taking control - looks like being cloudy and there may be light snow for most of the day or it might not start till Happy Hour - tricky. The snow might continue into Friday or it might not- the forecasts are that variable. Some forecasts have lots of snow some have none - it's all down to the battle of the isobars!
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Today was a day on the Solaise - great snow still chilly and the light was a bit variable - we did just about all the runs up there. Coffee at the Lounge and following that we popped over to Val Claret and lunched at the Aspen. After lunch we used Lanches but declined Vanoise as it looked a tad bleak. The only other thing to report was the sighting of engineers in oily overalls at teh top of the Marmottes Chair - so fingers crossed on that one.
Tomorrow will be much like today with differing cloud here and there. There should be less of a breeze which might make it feel a bit warmer. Thursday - mmm - looks like mostly overcast with some short sunny spells. The confusion has moved a day to the right for Friday - cloudy more than likely and potentially light snow depending on which super computer is your choice. Vote France for light snow! Saturday - again - could be moderate snow all day (Meteo France), snow in the afternoon (3 others). A case of waiting and seeing!
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A glorious day for skiing. There was just the faintest layer of very high cloud, but little or no wind. Calm enough for a hot air balloon to appear behind La Grande Casse. It was higher than the peaks and jolly chilly in the basket I suspect. As such it was always going to be a day of Grand Motte Fever, as my guests had not been there this week explicit instructions were issued. So 1st Tov, 1st Funi and 1st Cable Car! There is only one piste on the GM so far this year - the red - but it is wider than last year and the route out is much wider and easier to navigate. We arrived at Vanoise as it opened and we got back up the Cable Car just before the next train -so a second bite of the cherry. By the time we got to the top the queue was long at teh bottom, as it was for Lanches and Vanoise so we departed to enjoy the quiet parts of the resorts. Up Bollin/Fresse, the queue at Borsat was a non starterso down to the Funival and then Grand Pre and FF. Down Santons - a bit narrow but eminently doable. And then up the Olympique and down to La Daille as it was Croq o'clock. The gearbox for Marmottes that was dragged up on a sled yesterday has disappeared into place. So now connection testing and certification I imagine. After lunch we shot down to Brev and then lapped Aiguille Percée until it got a bit busier.
The weather - it's a tricky forecast as there is a battle of two lows (one off NW France and one over the Med off Perpignan). So we are in the middle of a tug of war which could swing either way - so all bets are off on an accurate forecast after tomorrow. Tomorrow is likely to be cloudy in the morning but with breaks in the afternoon. Friday - cloudy and breezy with some light snow or none! Saturday - maybe sunny periods in the morning, followed by light snow or light snow all day. Maybe snowy all day, maybe sunny periods. Further outlook - unsettled and snowy.
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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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Four Candles!,
Well, not exactly, - 4 corners of the piste map today. Looking at the webcams today it looked better over at Le Fornet this morning - so off we popped and did 3 laps of the Cascades (plus Montets T Bar - Corner 1) before Hot Choc - the pistes up there are in great condition. The lift queue built up so we descended to Le Fornet village (Corner 2) before coming into Val Centre by bus and then heading over to Lavachet for lunch at La Cantine - tip top bacon butty. It was then down to Brev (corner 3) and a couple of laps of Aiguille Percée before heading over to the Funi just before everyone came out from lunch so no queue at teh Cable Car (Corner 4). As Leissse is no more you have to ski down to Vanoise to get back up the Cable Car - so we did. Then home via Genepy and Trolles where the wibbling ridge was claiming a few victims.
The weather forecast is complex (or wrong probably) there are now 3 lows doing battle so things are going to change hour to hour. But the best guess at the moment is for tomorrow to be cloudy with light snow showers in the afternoon and evening - although these are far from guaranteed. Saturday, currently may start with brief sunny spells followed by cloud and some snow showers in the evening. Sunday repeat - sunny periods followed by cloud and then snow showers - getting heavier late evening. Monday - more snow showers and sunny spells - then beyond that looks more snowy.
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Brief Marmottes update
a) 14 teeth were stripped; and
b) installation “within the next few days” source: STGM lifty on Marmottes who’s twiddling his thumbs.
Fingers crossed it’s finally happening.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@Grinning, If they get it going by the end of the month, they will have done exceedingly well.
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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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14:00 Marmottes is turning!!!! Empty but turning - yay!!!
14:22 Stopped turning. Chatted to engineer - just testing but the replacement(s) is in situ and working “small steps” he said… this is all good progress
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@Grinning, This is good news. But I wonder when le homme avec le clipboard is due to sign it off?
Day off today as one guest to load onto a drone and some niff naff, nause and trivia to complete. From the window it was very variable light, from sun to quite gloomy.
The weather is still a complex scenario, but we are expecting light snow late evening until early morning and then it will clear to leave sunny spells in the morning with cloud thickening and more light snow showers through the late afternoon/early evening> these will stop probably before lift opening on Sunday, then they may start again in the afternoon, or they might not! There seems to be more agreement on Mondays forecast - sunny periods. Tuesday is anybody's guess snowy or cloudy. But a big system is heading our way on Wednesday and by the size of it it would struggle to miss us.
As its Friday here is the travel news - 30k vehicles are coming up the N90 from ALbertville (5k more than last week) so its going to be busy late afternoon and I would expect the traffic flow lights to be operating at some stage. With 23k heading out - not too many problems.
There may be more problems with flying - from the UK it should be good (maybe a bit bumpy or the odd shower down south), but over here Lyon is forecasting fog - as its a well equipped place with 2 runways - only minimal delays. But there is a 40% chance of fog or freezing fog at the other 3 airports which will: Cause delays at Geneva, disruption with potential diversions at Grenoble if the vis is at the lower end of the scale and shut Chambery. Bonne Chance!
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You know it makes sense.
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The App has just burbled - The marmottes Chair will reopen tomorrow.
Permission to shout 'Hurrah' in a very loud voice.
Granted
HURRAH,
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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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@chocksaway, Blackadder fan I presume?
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Poster: A snowHead
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@moosepig, Might be!
2 or 3 cm of fresh this morning.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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HURRAH Confirmed!
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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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Low cloud but no fog when we landed at 9am at Geneva. I was through the immigration shed in about 30min - plus another 15min for bags. But I hear that those on flights a litre hit later than ours were taking 90+ minutes. No finger prints or EES being taken
Now on my way and very excited!
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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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| TommyJ wrote: |
Low cloud but no fog when we landed at 9am at Geneva. I was through the immigration shed in about 30min - plus another 15min for bags. But I hear that those on flights a litre hit later than ours were taking 90+ minutes. No finger prints or EES being taken
Now on my way and very excited! |
Was that Jet2 into the old T2 building at Geneva?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Yup. I was at the front of the plane so fairly quickly through - think just one flight ahead of us
@chocksaway - I am not a native Yorkshireman sadly. But having been there since 1996 perhaps I may yet honorary status soon?
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| TommyJ wrote: |
Yup. I was at the front of the plane so fairly quickly through - think just one flight ahead of us
@chocksaway - I am not a native Yorkshireman sadly. But having been there since 1996 perhaps I may yet honorary status soon? |
T2 may be f4om the '50s but at present the lack of EES gates is a boon
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@TommyJ,  I think that qualifies for honorary status.
Funny old day - firstly the quiet period is officially over. We have 1000 Belgian students here this week. We went up the glacier early doors as the sun was shining and poor weather was expected to arrive at some stage. It wasn't too busy up there as we summited and another 3cm of snow or so had again made the pistes very good. After a trip round Vanoise the hordes had arrived so we descended for coffee. Val Claret was mobbed - the 3 major lifts had large queues so we took the bus to Lac which was busy but with short queues. So we popped down to Brevieres and then onto the eye of the needle (a few stones on the piste on the way down). At this stage the sun was out, but in the time it took to do a lap of Aiguille Percée it was like someone drew a curtain over the sky - from bright light to gloom in 10 minutes. So we knocked off!
It started snowing lightly around 1pm and I think its petering out now. There will be a few more light showers of snow through the night but these should finish before daylight and tomorrow should be a day of sunny periods. Tuesday will start OK and then snow showers will start - perhaps around lunchtime - plus or minus a bit. The wind will also pick up quite a bit in the afternoon and the snow will intensify, it might be a bit soggy below the Dam to begin with. Overnight into Wednesday it will be quite snowy and this will continue throught Wednesday - the snow intensity will vary through the day but it will remain cloudy throughout. Thursday will be a mixed bag by the looks of things - a bit too mixed to pin down though.
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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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After spotting this fantastic gift for Mrs MA online, I'm shopping early for Christmas!
Tigines Space Killer indeed!
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To contribute to the busyness problems the Col des Ves and the Palet lifts were both out of commission for periods of time late morning. We noted that the standards of literacy had not improved as many folk seemed to think that “Expert Skiers” on the Col des Ves actually meant snowploughers welcome.
The Grattalu queue completely disappeared by about 12:30 as folk prioritised getting their noses in their respective troughs.
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FAQ
