 Poster: A snowHead
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Have been in La Thuile since Dec 20th. Good start on 20th but last 3 days have been heavy, low cloud coverage. Practically impossible to see more than 50m ahead on LaT side. Snow is in good shape and a few 5 cm top ups have helped. Cloud finally starting to break up this 23rd afternoon.
Went to La Ros side last 3 days and full visibility - breezy with cloud and sun. snow cover was thin in some parts and suffered towards end of day.
Outlook is improving for 24th with clearer skies and then Xmas day snow of 15-20cm which make for a fun last day.
For those arriving for new years - very settled weather and blue skies from 27th but temps rising again.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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A little more open at Pila today I think, and some more snow forecast for tomorrow.
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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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Whilst in common with everywhere, it could probably do with a bit more real snow, but its looking fabulous on the webcams.
enjoy @ster,
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@t44tomo, although some is not open the snow conditions of what is open isn’t too bad and not as crowded I thought they would be. Courmayeur on the other hand has more coverage but was choca today.
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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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| shouchin wrote: |
Have been in La Thuile since Dec 20th. Good start on 20th but last 3 days have been heavy, low cloud coverage. Practically impossible to see more than 50m ahead on LaT side. Snow is in good shape and a few 5 cm top ups have helped. Cloud finally starting to break up this 23rd afternoon.
Went to La Ros side last 3 days and full visibility - breezy with cloud and sun. snow cover was thin in some parts and suffered towards end of day.
Outlook is improving for 24th with clearer skies and then Xmas day snow of 15-20cm which make for a fun last day.
For those arriving for new years - very settled weather and blue skies from 27th but temps rising again. |
I’m arriving with the kids in three weeks. Not getting my hopes up too much but glad there’s snow!have you seen any good boot fitters in the village?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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The much anticipated snow has made it over the "ridge". Webcams showing a decent amount of fresh stuff falling with more to come.
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Still snowing heavily this morning too.
Pila looks mainly open, La Thuile looks mainly shut, probably had more snow, and visibility looks very poor.
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Just saw this 
“Avalanche at Pila (Aosta Valley): One Person Found Dead Near Pointe de la Pierre
An avalanche above Pila, in Italy’s Aosta Valley, has resulted in one fatality, according to updated reports from Italian media and local authorities.
The avalanche occurred in the Pointe de la Pierre area, on steep high-altitude terrain above the ski area and outside the groomed piste network. After several hours of search and rescue operations, the person involved was located and confirmed dead.“
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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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Tragic, but you have to wonder what they were doing up there in the midst / aftermath of all that fresh snow when avi risk was high.
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@t44tomo, the usual I imagine, indulging in a (very) risky adventure sport.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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The base at Pila listed on the official site is 20cm is this correct, La Thuile seems to have had significantly more snow! We were planning to drive to Pila in Feb but the conditions make me wonder if we should stay at a hotel in La Thuile or Cervinia if the overall conditions are better. A number of runs appear closed at Pila too but not sure if this is normal.
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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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| Elc wrote: |
| The base at Pila listed on the official site is 20cm is this correct, |
I doubt it as it was listed as that depth before the decent snowfall a few days ago. But who knows what it will be by Feb.
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| Elc wrote: |
| The base at Pila listed on the official site is 20cm is this correct, La Thuile seems to have had significantly more snow! We were planning to drive to Pila in Feb but the conditions make me wonder if we should stay at a hotel in La Thuile or Cervinia if the overall conditions are better. A number of runs appear closed at Pila too but not sure if this is normal. |
As above, doubtful that 20cm is accurate, and you only ski on the top 5cm anyway! 
If you have a car then you can be flexible anyway and visit 2 or 3.
Define "better"
There will be more snow depth at La Thuile as its pretty much on the alpine ridge , so it got almost as much as Pila snow in Nov when it came from the SW, but got more in the recent snow that came from NW. if its snowing or cloudy whilst your there Pila is "better" as you can see the piste as a good number are tree-lined. La Thuile (& Cervinia) are both very exposed so super on a bluebird day and a nightmare in high wind and poor visibility. For example on Friday just gone, Pila was as open as "normal" (the extreme "edge" pistes with no snowmaking haven't opened yet) whereas virtually nothing was open in La Thuile.
My Daughter is heading to Pila on Weds so will have some 1st hand detail.
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You know it makes sense.
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The weather from this weekend seems to be favouring Aosta , all of the above will benefit.
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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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Any recommendations for mountain restaurants accessible by non skiers in Courmayer? In particular is either Pre De Pascal or Chez Ollier easy to get to? Any and all suggestions welcome?
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Poster: A snowHead
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@bajie, I don’t think Chez Ollier is possible, they do say this re snowmobiles but likely for resident guests , but you could check as to cost
“Where We Are
The refuge is located directly on the ski slopes of the Courmayeur area, at 1,890 meters above sea level.
During the summer, we're located on one of the routes of the Tour du Mont Blanc, making us the ideal stopping point for a rest after a long hike.
During the winter, we offer a snowmobile service for luggage and passengers from the Val Veny cable car.”
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| bajie wrote: |
| Any recommendations for mountain restaurants accessible by non skiers in Courmayer? In particular is either Pre De Pascal or Chez Ollier easy to get to? Any and all suggestions welcome? |
Pascal is from if you go up the Val Veny cable car
if you go up Dolonne gondola or the Courmayeur cable car then there are quite a few on the flat bit at the top of those near the Checrouit lift you can walk to, assuming wearing decent footwear.
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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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How does a resort have 0.5+ of snow and it change the snow depths? The reported snow depths in Courmayeur haven’t changed at all?
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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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@MoodyFFS, the bloke who has the key to the cupboard with the measuring stick in it is on holiday.
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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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@ster, 
Any idea how conditions are there? Off there this time next week. Socials look good but that’s all I really have to go on.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@MoodyFFS, Courmayeur? No up to date info but bound to be better when we were there over NY (and it wasn’t terrible then) . The Pila webcams showing coverage look better and there are defn more runs open now.
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Hmmm, what was promising to be a decent snowfall over the weekend has been down graded in the forecasts to a fluffy top up. Child 3 & her OH landed there last night so hopefully get a view on conditions at Pila.
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Junior Tomo reports that conditions are good.
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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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great to hear, heading there Sunday
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Any suggestions on where to rent telemark (NTN) in or around Courmayer/Pila/Thuille?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| t44tomo wrote: |
| bajie wrote: |
| Any recommendations for mountain restaurants accessible by non skiers in Courmayer? In particular is either Pre De Pascal or Chez Ollier easy to get to? Any and all suggestions welcome? |
Pascal is from if you go up the Val Veny cable car
if you go up Dolonne gondola or the Courmayeur cable car then there are quite a few on the flat bit at the top of those near the Checrouit lift you can walk to, assuming wearing decent footwear. |
Thanks @t44tomo
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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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Cogne was decent today. Must have had 20-30cm at top. Was still there when I put a turn in at 11:30!!
A fantastic little place when the light is poor.
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Cogne was decent today. Must have had 20-30cm at top. Was still there when I put a turn in at 11:30!!
A fantastic little place when the light is poor.
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You know it makes sense.
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Hitting Pila for a week on Feb. 14. Staying in Aosta. No car. Couple. 1 well experienced Intermediate and 1 beginner+. Any tips for ski-hire, places to eat in Aosta, away-day ski reachable by bus etc.....current resort conditions..basically any first-hand info welcomed. Vibrant aprés scene not required...
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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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Arrived in Pila this afternoon, totally cloud bound nd light snow, cannot even see the gondola from our hotel, some snow tmrw then the sun is due to come out. Met some folks heading home who said the conditions are great with the snowfall the last day or so making a big difference, will report on actual conditions when we get out of skis tmrw
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Poster: A snowHead
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I’d love to see the sun. I’ve been around since Thursday and not seen much. My last day tomorrow.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Cracking 2 days of sunshine in Pila, snow is in great condition and almost perfect early afternoon when it softens a little in the sun.
Getting above the main resort area and staying up there all day or lapping the Chamole lift sees deserted pistes, great views and fun times, narrower part of the blue through the town can be a bit of a bowling alley with ski schools and nervous skiers everywhere.
This is an improving intermediate paradise, quiet wide pistes to practice technique on and/or just have fun.
A number of red pistes are closed for race training, not been a issue for us but does cover some of the steeper red pistes.
If you love loads of different pistes and a huge area to traverse then probably not for you unless a part of an Aosta valley tour.
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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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Death at Courmayeur I see, 21 year old skier lost it, barrelled off a piste into a tree at high speed in Dolonne by the sound of it.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| ster wrote: |
| Death at Courmayeur I see, 21 year old skier lost it, barrelled off a piste into a tree at high speed in Dolonne by the sound of it. |
That's sad. A reminder that our sport / leisure is not risk free.
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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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Horrible news about the death.
Good news for anybody heading to Pila, decent fall of snow Saturday night, our transfer bus required chains Sunday morning with snow all the way down to Aosta.
Loved our week there, though it goes from nice, quiet and chilled to full on madness between a Friday and a Saturday, went out for first lifts Saturday morning and called it a day by lunchtime, absolute chaos at times, I saw the chopper make at least 5 trips. However, the quiet lovely slopes the rest of the week were a dream and we will be back next year.
Hotel Etoile de Neige is a lovely 3 star hotel, decent size rooms, we were in a twin (made up as a double) with balcony overlooking the slopes. Beds a bit hard but you can switch off the heater, decent shower pressure and enough room for kit etc. boots have a heated room for storage in the hotel and skis are stored in a room in the garage, no lockers and the door is not locked so if worried bring some locks, we just left our kit and no issues.
Booked via Crystal including ski hire and the local shop runs a shuttle Sunday afternoon and Monday morning to take you to the shop and then return you and your kit, just leave kit in the ski room at the end of the week which was very handy.
Food is pretty good, breakfast a bit limited but 4 courses for dinner, serviced buffet, so you could have whatever you wanted, e.g. soup and pasta from the primi course. Staff are very nice and helpful, water and 500ml house wine included at dinner per room.
About 1 mins walk to Chamole life from the hotel and ski back to door. If contacted in advance for bigger groups they can help with transport to ski school. Took no lessons this year but will take a couple next year as whilst I enjoy my skiing, I have stagnated a bit.
In short, Pila is terrible and nobody should ever ski there and just leave it nice and quiet for the rest of us
Will not forget skiing down lovely snow on quiet slopes on bluebird days, looking at the view from Mont Blanc to the Matterhorn
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Snowing thru hazy sunshine this morning across the region and quite a reasonable dump forecast for early next week. 
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| roguemazza wrote: |
In short, Pila is terrible and nobody should ever ski there and just leave it nice and quiet for the rest of us
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Agreed, its awful, don’t go.
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@roguemazza, if you're going back to Pila, contact Phil at Impulse and he'll hopefully be able to sort you an instructor. Everyone is native English speaking. You might have spotted them around the resort in their eye catching green and blue jackets.
https://www.impulse-racing.co.uk/
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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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| MoodyFFS wrote: |
@ster,
Any idea how conditions are there? Off there this time next week. Socials look good but that’s all I really have to go on. |
@moodyffs did you go to courmayeur? How were conditions? Headed there in 2 weeks and worried about the base depth! Hoping for some dusting over the next little while else might have to see if we can get the bus to ski some of the neighboring resorts
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A third reasonable overnight top up of snow this week
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FAQ
