 Poster: A snowHead
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We stayed in Le Marintan in St Michel de Maurienne and, once more, used the Ski Maurienne Sans Frontieres lift pass. It's now €120 for 5 days - up €5.
29 Dec 2014 : Aussois
Bitterly cold and windy but still busy. Snow up at Fournache thin and scratchy - must have been some wind. Plan Sec Poma closed as were the runs Balmes and Choulliere. Some pleasant powder between the pistes under Setives chair.
30 Dec 2014 : Les Karellis
Still cold but with plenty of sun to ease the pain. Lots of untouched powder between the pistes on the southern bowl and we claimed first tracks down the valley to Albanne where the piste was mostly artificial and scratchy. Enfers run in great condition. Rest of northern bowl was good but still thin in places. Lots of powder in middle bowl but mostly tracked already.
31 Dec 2014 : Valfrejus
Absolutely no wind so felt slightly warmer. Great conditions all over. Dodging speedflyers as we descended north face of Punta Bagna. John managed four different routes - one was enough for me. They've replaced the 2-man up-and-over chair both ways over the Envers Col by a 6-man that only goes from the back to the col. Rando passes now up another €4 to €16.
1 Jan 2015 : La Norma
Very few people out early but still not busy later on. Snow good higher up but very thin from mid-station down. Several pistes closed. We tried to skin from the top-station to the peak but were told to stop by the pisteures 'cos of Risk 3. Still managed to ski the grand couloir that starts by the other side of the top-station. Snow in fantastic condition all the way down.
2 Jan 2015 : Albiez
Massive temperature inversion and it was above freezing by the time we got to the resort. Pistes very thin all over and we spent much effort steering round stones and bare grass. Little powder stashes here and there but all very thin and often heavy. Earned €10 by carrying two snowboards from parapenters who weren't allowed on the lift without them.
Full report:
http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=115764
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Tue 13-01-15 10:36; edited 2 times in total
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Good man ! I`ll tease you in 2.5 weeks 
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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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Anyone else been or going.... any news welcome ?
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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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Off in a week; 20cms predicted next 12 hrs in Val Cenis. More to come. Bodyboarding tomorrow at Southbourne to get fit; perfect conditions for surf and ski.... yeah
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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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Val Cenis is predicted 20cms plus on the valley floor in the next 48hrs, to add to the 10cms odd from the last 48, all good news
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Things are looking much nicer now:
http://m.webcam-hd.com/les-karellis/vinouve
This webcam, in Karellis, gives a good overview of the lower end of the valley. To the left, the white ridge in the distance is somewhere around St Francoise Longchamp; St Jean de Maurienne is below that near the dark trees; in the middle, under the rocky Croix de Tete is St Julien; on the second hump to the right is the Fort du Telegraph (and nearby the col of the same name); directly above, in the distance is La Norma and, just out of sight round the bend, Termignon; and finally, the large white slope to the right is Valmeinier.
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And another dump around Thurs or Fri 
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Arrived Val Cenis yesterday, and headed out into a dusting of snow at resort level this morning; where there was a meter of snow last year there is bare tarmac. Snow conditions improved at 2000m, but visibility did not, leading to frustrating skiing. There was at least 20 to 30 cm light snow on top of hard packed pistes higher up, where not tracked. It was hard packed, topped with artificial leading back to resort, managed well, but leaving unmanaged pistes bare.
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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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Same again today; mixed visibility with some snowfall at 2000m plus, so good skiing high up, decent untracked off piste, and packed artificial low down. Some 30cm predicted on Thursday. Wednesday is a clear sunny day, so off to Bonneval sur Arc.
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Clear sunny day up at Bonneval sur Arc; mixture of lightly iced crust where windy, and fresh 10cms of snow where not skied out. A really unspoilt empty ski area... long may it remain so.
Heavy snow predicted tomorrow night, preceded by light snow for next 24hrs.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Sounds lovely. I have been to Bonneval in summer but not winter. Would like to try skiing there at some point. Enjoy the rest of your week in Val Cenis. 
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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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No pressure Snowymum 
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You know it makes sense.
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Soft snow all day in Val Cenis today, about 10cm plus on most levels; visibility good up to 2400m, excellent in the trees over at Termingnon. Now snowing hard since dark, 20cms expected in valley floor, but only around freezing; should be a good day tomorrow, with a bit of sunshine and snow easing to light flurries.......about time for a real dump.
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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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Just back from a cracking week in Val Cenis, albeit a long drive home after the snow chaos around the A40 and A43 on Saturday. The week started off with 15-20Cms of fresh, sufficient to cover the tracks off piste and then progressed to 4 days of unbroken sunshine. Everything was open although things could do with the freshen up they got by Saturday. Having said that, it was still possible to find light untracked powder in some of the hidden fields at mid mountain near the Ramasse for last turns on Friday afternoon. Whilst half term was busier this year it was still possible to ski deserted runs especially over lunchtime during the week. As ever, Val Cenis remains a hidden gem although looking at the amount of construction going on it is clearly going to get busier so lets hope the 'project' lifts come through in the next couple of seasons.
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Poster: A snowHead
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@frozennose, The project lifts were marked as that 2 years ago so I wonder if they will ever be constructed? Sounds as though you had a good week.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@snowymum, Apparently a change of Mayor last year has held things up but we were reliably informed by our ESF guide/Instructor who MGS sort for their group skiing in the afternoons that at least the new Arcellins lift on the Val Cenis side will go ahead this year. There was also talk of the 2 tows in Termignon being replaced with a 6 pack before the expansion of the area that is shown on the piste maps.
@mountainaddict, You will now doubt enjoy and whilst all the lifts aren't as modern as the larger resorts, having also skied Val Cenis outside of half term you'll certainly not be queuing and rapidly clock up the vertical. Well worth seeking out a guide if you are looking to do some off serious off piste as there are some great descents but even without there are some really good side of piste areas, 'itinaires' and runs through the trees and meadows. We are told the other resorts in the valley are worth a visit but haven't yet managed it in the last 8 years we have been going or indeed the few trips we did 25 years ago!
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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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@offpisteskiing, Where was that shot taken?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Quote: |
| Well worth seeking out a guide if you are looking to do some off serious off piste |
May well do that if snow conditions warrant it - but a quick Google search of 'Val Cenis Mountain Guide' and 'Val Cenis Off Piste' brought up only ESF multi-day group lessons and a private company offering half board five-day trips... 
Presumably there must be guides available locally for half days/private bookings for two of us?
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@mountainaddict, The company we go with, MGS, organise group skiing with guides who are all ESF so haven't looked any further in the past. Off peak I would imagine that ESF would be able to do a day or half day. The ESF people we have had over the last few years have been very good, know the mountain well and insist on full safety equipment being taken for the full off piste excursions.
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Thanks for the info frozennose - really looking forward to the trip.
Does ESF provide the avalanche safety kit? Or do you need to take your own?
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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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@mountainaddict, Intersport in Lanslevillard certainly rent out transceivers and I think the Twinner shop opposite do as well. Both are on the street running up from the church and school in lanslevillard, not far from the piste front. There is also a very good bakery there and the Arcelle restaurant is very good for local fare. One thing you can look forward to is very good value. even without the current exchange rates we were doing lunch for 4 for between 30 and 40 euros including drinks, sandwiches etc. for 3-4 euros, plat du jour 8-10 euros and end of day beers at 3 euros. Another good reason why we have kept going back for the last 8 years.
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€3 beer? In FRANCE?? Great stuff ! Impressed by the other prices too - will certainly make a change from our usual Tignes prices!
And ta for the restaurant suggestions. Any nice rustic mountain restaurants?
And finally, what about a decent supermarket - or at least somewhere to buy a few bits of groceries?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@frozennose, Val Frejus, but the whole valley has been good this week. (Pics to follow once back at base...).
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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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@mountainaddict, Try the refuge at the top of the Ramasse lift for an old school bar and basic restaurant. Otherwise The Ranova over the other side of the ski area near he Plan cardinal lift. There are a couple of others but we otherwise tended to go back down the large number on the piste front - Fleur et Neiges, Bar de Rocha and the one next to the gondola station are all good value. Supermarket wise, there is a large Intermarche on the way up in Modane, a smaller one just outside Termingon which both have cheap fuel and then there are 2 or 3 Sherpas/Casinos in Lanslevillard as well as a number of boucheries, Fromageries etc. It is a traditional village so there is a bit more than just the usual resort type stuff.....Now wondering whether we can squeeze an Easter trip in!
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Thanks again frozennose - sounds great and we can't wait !
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You know it makes sense.
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Heading out to valmeinier on 7th March and was wondering about car parking costs.
I can see on the main site that we will be parking outside but cannot find any info on costs in winter, the website says it is free in summer.
We are staying in le Thabor P&V so in the upper bit of 1800.
So anybody got any idea on costs please?
Also, does anybody have some good on (or near mountain) lunch recs?
And one final question, any nice reds (or blues but not quite ready for natur blacks yet) that might get a bit bumpy?, would love the chance to practise my bumps skills if poss!
Thanks in advance and really looking forward to heading somewhere a bit less travelled by the Brit tour ops.
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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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Poster: A snowHead
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Off to Termingnon tomorrow; will report back when able.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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We finally booked with MGS arriving in Lanslevillard on the 28th March. Who is coming out that week? Might be nice to meet up and put names to faces.
Also @cstreat, an update on conditions would be great! 
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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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We are out there from 28 in lanslevillard but with two small kids so we are no fun at all
Looks like hopwfully a few cm of snow due this weekend.
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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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Just back from a great week in Val Cenis (Lanslevillard), where we skied Val C plus Aussois, La Norma and Bonneval.
Despite wall to wall bluebird conditions & temperatures reaching 14C the day we skied south-facing Aussois, conditions are pretty good everywhere and cover is still very extensive.
As you'd expect, there's a full range of conditions on offer - packed powder at altitude, the odd scraped bit here and there, soft stuff in the sun lower down and a few (mainly south facing) closed runs. Everything generally came up really well with overnight pisting.
Things really cooled down over the last couple of days - well below freezing on the tops and snow flurries this morning when we skied for a couple of hours before setting off for the airport. This morning's Savoie forecast is saying that things are now turning unseasonably cold.
Trip report and pics to follow.
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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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Unseasonably cold. Yeaaaaaah! If it could oblige and be unseasonably cold until 27 March and then warm up to about +5 with no wind and blue skies I'd be much obliged.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@robertsnerys, well we are no party goers either! We have an 11 and 13 year old but they are small!
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@mountainaddict, yes please to the trip report before the 27th if possible
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Trip report & pics now posted in the appropriate forum mini_mo.
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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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@mountainaddict, yes I have read already, thanks
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FAQ
