@horizon, great stuff, at least someone is enjoying it
We're all a tad depressed here this morning after looking at all the various forecasts and how now they are all showing zero snow.
Daughter is even thinking of going back to save her 90 days.
One option now is to rent fatbikes to go all the way up a valley I know, or next week drive into the Queyras and ski some resorts there and maybe stay a few nights?
One thing is that it's going to be very cold even during the day next week.
Might have to look at hiking up the summer trails on the South side to stretch the legs.
Can see the cannons on the Mickey doing their thing this morning though it's a bit late for that now
The big son et lumière / video mapping in Chantmerle was typically French, very up itself akin to French Olympic ceremonies
We walked from here alongside the gridlocked traffic, and then the bus back was rammed, and I had to admonish some jeaunes who were acting not very British when it came to the queue
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Daughter and I took first lifts from Monetier so got first runs off cibouit and then first down cucumelle - pistes are great when fresh and the blue skies are stunning.
It’s already getting busy, and lots of brown spots, but you can’t beat a first run on a groomed piste knowing nobody is in front of you!
@willh, best strategy, one we sometimes do in Feb hols when lifts open at 08:30.
Make the most of it, and cannons still blasting on the Mickey.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Lots of new snow made lower down in Monetier… which makes the run home interesting as it’s all sat in large piles on the piste still! Disappointing that still only one run into town, would love to understand what the plan is - if there is one.
After all it is free
After all it is free
Been here since Sat. Family is loving the blue skies, I wasnt able to find any sof snow off pistes but the open pistes are being well maintained, pretty hard and icy. I thought the run down to Monetier was great, didnt realise I'd have to pay for valley bus back. Only other run to valley which is open is Bez to Villeneuve. Prorel run towards Briancon was very nice in morning. Have to upload at midstation, bigger problem is the q for chairlift at top to get back over.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
Caption competition
"What's the dumb human up to now?"
The forecast merry-go-round continues, especially with yr.no
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Made the trip to via lattea today, huge difference in snow quality, even in Montgenevre. To get the ski pass included in 6 day SC pass is convoluted. Go to ticket office in SC and get docket. Then show in Montgenevre to get french side pass, then show again in Claviere to get italian side Via Lattea pass.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
@Weathercam, That forecast works perfectly for me lol
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.
@AndAnotherThing.., works well for us too, arriving 11th.
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
@Hells Bells, cool, be good to get out with the dogs again
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
@AndAnotherThing.., absolutely,
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Does that forecast not just show 6cm of snow? Is that little likely to make much difference? Open more runs etc? I've been eyeing up coming out on the 10th but with so much closed I've been holding off.
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
[quote="Weathercam"]Caption competition
"What's the dumb human up to now?"
/quote]
" I pull the airbag trigger and what happens, out pops a F*¢¥!πg skipping rope"
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Oh the irony - just checked the Ring cams and it’s snowing at home
Last day today, a little morning pootle then an afternoon of packing ready for early start, with detour to Lyon airport
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?
Solely based on my observations of the parking area in the building next door.
Where there have been circa eight cars pretty well parked up all day for the past five days, there are now only three, and I can see people taking rubbish out etc
So looks like the Grand Retour is starting, which is understandable, as to why would you want to face gridlock on the roads tomorrow, and for many that don't ski and for those who only take it one day at a time, why pay for a pass given the conditions up the hill etc
Tomorrow, the day pass is €39, so my daughter might venture up the hill if she finishes her work.
OH is running into Briancon, and I'll go and pick her up and then do a shop, then I might go on the bike in the garage this afternoon as I have to admit (a tad embarrassingly) that after the skipping one knee is not 100%
@Weathercam, the annoying thing will be we need to drop boy at Lyon airport, that’ll add 30 mins on to travel time
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
@Boris, hopefully you will still be ahead of the main traffic though- at least it is not too much of a detour from your route.
After all it is free
After all it is free
@Hells Bells, indeed, it’s just off route, will just be a slight pause while we unload his skis from roof box and pack bag etc
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
I’m currently in Pinerolo and popping across tomorrow to stay with a friend who has recently moved from Chamonix to Briancon. Should we ski SC or Montgenevre/Claviere?
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
@Chamwow, better snow will be towards Italy though will still be busy with Italians visiting.
Serre Che lift pass discounts tomorrow if you use Holiski.
Think might still be busy up the hill?
My lot might be suffering from post NYE Norovirus oysters, I'm just my usual full of s**t and very windy
And more slides, especially where I've been this past week.
Thanks, yes another mate put me on to Holiski, could be worth a look though this trip I’m not heading to the other à la carte resorts - my home mountain in Australia has an AUD$500 Ikon Pass bolt-on for their season pass so for roughly 280e we get 5 days in each of Cham, Megève, Aosta, Zermatt plus others, pretty stonking value.
As for the link, the friend we are staying with actually works for the PGHM he was our guide in Chamonix for many years before he moved to the rescue side.
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.
Pretty good skiing in Serre Che today. Pistes much quieter, still a bit thin here and there but plenty to enjoy.
Lots of piles of snow made, hoping they use it to open up some of the runs back to resort. The Serre Che app has been showing the Casse du Boeuf piste as open past few days but it still has netting across the top.
In Monetier they opened the Aya piste yesterday which was a nice change after 3 weeks of being forced down the Rochamout blue!
We’re in our last week of this trip and I’m back to work on Monday. Still hoping for some fresh snow before we leave (next Saturday) but I have a feeling it will probably come as we are packing the car!
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
@willh, the Aya run would have been even nicer if they’d spread some of the many piles of snow around! Few bits still very icy, but as you say made a change.
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Covered the whole resort over the last few days, very hard packed but at least they opened another route to valley, Marteau, which starta at top of Aravey bubble. Beautiful weather and a great trip but if you're arriving this weekend I'd suggest travelling to montgenevre for a day and the italian side for a day, both covered with the pass as I explained above. You'll get the fresher snow which fell over Christmas and some off piste oppertunity from lifts. Noticeably quiter too this week, except for Sestriere.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Boris wrote:
@willh, the Aya run would have been even nicer if they’d spread some of the many piles of snow around! Few bits still very icy, but as you say made a change.
They’ve spread it out somewhat which made for a better run today, but there are still piles presumably from last night here and there. Every so often you go to make a turn and it’s rock hard.
Still, one of the better days of the past week or so, I even added +1 to my Carv score
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Ken and I went up today for a first lifts bit of a blast to see how things are.
And as has been said quite a few mounds of cannon snow which you can never be too sure about, as can either be powdery snow, rock hard or, the worst, have a crust.
And then you're not too sure if it's dust on ice and you'll loose an edge etc
Good to see that the chemin below the Frejus Cafe is way better, and the Salettes was the best it's been all season.
But there are still big questions over the poor piste management this season, and if you're been given some BS as to what the issues are, just retort that they managed to cannon the Le Bez piste and the big plateau in front of Pointillas way before the holidays etc
I'm looking to bring my wife on an easy ski tour. She last did it ~3 years ago, so something manageable with easy exits. I was thinking of doing Eagles Rock in Montgenevre, we're here til mid February so we'll have plenty of opportunities. What are conditions currently like? I'd like to do a route in Lauteret at some stage too, we're based in Briançon . Open to suggestions
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?
Hi Snowheads. First post here as usually in the PDS thread and possibly embarking on a first trip to the area
I'm potentially looking at joining some friends in Montgenevre in mid March. They arrive for a week on the Sunday and other commitments mean myself and 10 year old daughter wouldn't arrive until Monday night before leaving on the Saturday. Does anyone have any recommendations for transfers as for just the two of us, transfers look incredibly expensive?
@Tristero, gotcha. I didn't realise mm of precipitation translated to cm of snow.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
shredder wrote:
I'm looking to bring my wife on an easy ski tour. She last did it ~3 years ago, so something manageable with easy exits. I was thinking of doing Eagles Rock in Montgenevre, we're here til mid February so we'll have plenty of opportunities. What are conditions currently like? I'd like to do a route in Lauteret at some stage too, we're based in Briançon . Open to suggestions
There are some inbound tours which would be a good ‘warm up’ in SC but not sure if they start from
The valley floor at the moment. Otherwise Refuge Napoleon is an easy option with an excellent lunch at the top….
I’m heading out shortly and up for some easy tours.
After all it is free
After all it is free
@Weathercam, must admit I wasn’t overly impressed with piste management, seemed to be a lot of snow piles around and plenty of banked snow higher up, but none of it on the pistes!
The one blue down to Monetier wasn’t great for beginners, I wasn’t a fan either! Although did belatedly see a very small blackboard saying take chair down.
Shame really, while we had a great week overall, the general conditions soured it somewhat. Would certainly like to give it another go, but need to go when conditions are better.
And I’ve learnt to ski
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.
AndAnotherThing.. wrote:
shredder wrote:
I'm looking to bring my wife on an easy ski tour. She last did it ~3 years ago, so something manageable with easy exits. I was thinking of doing Eagles Rock in Montgenevre, we're here til mid February so we'll have plenty of opportunities. What are conditions currently like? I'd like to do a route in Lauteret at some stage too, we're based in Briançon . Open to suggestions
There are some inbound tours which would be a good ‘warm up’ in SC but not sure if they start from
The valley floor at the moment. Otherwise Refuge Napoleon is an easy option with an excellent lunch at the top….
I’m heading out shortly and up for some easy tours.
You're welcome to join us on some easy tours. We're aiming to do most Mondays. Napoleon refuge is a good shout, I'll do some research on conditions there.
The SC trails are in bad shape, everything below 1500m is pretty much closed and non existent
Forecast for next week looks good, but think Montgenevre might be a safer bet for snow on the trail
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
So differing reports from up the hill yesterday, and I think it very much depends on whether you like cruising pistes or not, though let's face it, the vast % of skiers on here are just that, and only a few of us are otherwise inclined
A Swedish mate I was nagging to (who is far worse than me when it comes to doing other stuff), said how he even had a great day on his 20-year-old slalom skis skiing with friends along the whole length of the valley, probably non-stop
And he said how empty it was, that said for those that are here, you might have noticed an influx of Italians, which there certainly were in the Intermarche in Briancon yesterday, and that's because today is a National Holiday in Italy (Epiphany).
Also was nagging to some British Army girls so they are now all starting to arrive, and one can only wonder which of the limited pistes they will be using for the racing and then there's the XC but hopefully we might actyually get some snow from Thursday as many of the forecasts are in agreement, but as for actual amounts could be anything from 10cm to 30cm here in the valley, unfortunalty it doesnt look like the much needed substantial dump, though I almost think those days are no-more
And temp this morning is just a fraction of -12 and a fair bit breezier than of late, just to lower the temps even more with windchill!
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
