 Poster: A snowHead
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@AP1, arriving in Flaine some time around midnight - fingers crossed. If you see someone dressed as an under-ripe banana wearing a bright blue helmet over the weekend, that'll be me. Any top tips for the area?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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For skiing or apres ski ? Luckily w3 are in Samoens and may not meet bananaman !!
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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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There must have been 30cm of snow overnight. The conditions today should be epic but sadly I have to leave. The top of Aup de Verans and Grand Platieres are visible and there is no wind at resort level. They are blasting so I would guess that the avalanche risk is going to be high so this could delay the opening of the lifts. Yesterday the visibility was bad all day and I didn't go out until 1pm. By the time I got down to Forum they had closed the DMC and the Aup de Verans because of high winds so didn't get to do any real skiing, very frustrating. Anyone coming over to Flaine today is in for a great day. Have fun!
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@AP1, we'll be in real trouble if he brings his Ukulele as well.........
@UkuleleDave, hope you arrived OK.
Has been snow overnight in Les Carroz, although I'd guess only 10-15cm. Bon ski, everyone, and sorry that @Chris Mason, has to leave just now.
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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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Morning all. Interesting drive into resort last night. Was very glad someone else was doing it.
@sj1608, fear not - no ukulele this trip. Travelling companion would probably burn it. Have we met?
Looking very exciting for a good day. Will report back later.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Quick update: the Aup de Verans is running but not the DMC. Must go.....
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DMC started around lunchtime. Pretty windy at the top, but in the right direction to push you along serpantine.
Serpantine closed towards the end of the flat - forcing a turn down crystal. 15cm or so of powder sitting on top of piste. When the sun broke through it was fabulous.
Grand vans open. Nice skiing down to the first lift up on the other side to come up to come back down tourmaline into Flaine. A little wind blown and scratchy in places near the top, but other than that bloody marvellous.
On the DMC now for one last run.
It's been a great first days ski of the season.
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Well there was a queue of 4 for the first lift out of Carroz this morning, so no-one needed sharp elbows. Pistes were empty all day.
Pistes in great condition everywhere, but an odd choice of lifts open. Molliets was open early then closed to be replaced by Saix Express. Corbalanche closed all day, so a trip to Flaine meant you had to go down Portet to get back to the Tete. Both Plein Soleil chair and drag closed, along with Gron chair.
We skied Carroz, Samoens and Morillon. Marvel was open, which is unheard of this early in the season. The work on the Tete has made it feel much more friendly - as a beginner I hated going up there.
At around 12ish it started snowing heavily and visibility dropped dramatically. Just as we thought our day was almost over, this was quickly replaced by sunshine and cloud, with lighter snow later, so we kept going until our legs gave out.
@UkuleleDave, don't think we've met, but I'll be keeping an eye out for an under-ripe banana over the weekend! 
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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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@sj1608, we came up grand vans from Flaine in your general direction, but other than coming back up vernant it wasn't obvious that we could go any further without getting stuck. Any ideas?
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@UkuleleDave, yes, we thought the lift decisions were nuts, too. Assuming it's the same tomorrow, go down Dolomi (much nicer today than when it's all haystacks, with a worried skier on every bump, which is its usual condition!). From there, continue down past Vernant lift, and on to a piste called Portet. You'll need to take speed lower on Dolomi to do it without poling, but it's not disastrous to pole it. At the bottom of Portet, you will get to the Saix Express (en prevision at the moment, so assume it'll be open tomorrow) which will take you to the Tete de Saix, and from there the world (or, more accurately, Les Carroz, Samoens, and Morillon) is your oyster. We have never seen Corbalanche (the obvious route to the Tete) closed like this, and it makes it difficult unless you know the area.
We'll be looking for that under-ripe banana........
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@sj1608, brilliant. Thanks. 
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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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Amazing day yesterday , skied around morillon expecting the slopes to be quiet, didn’t expect them to be empty..conditions near perfect. New runs and lift in Samoens not yet open , but the re modelling of the area around Tete de saix should make it easier when busy.
Also just woken up to 6 inches of fresh snow in Samoens village.
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Amazing day yesterday , skied around morillon expecting the slopes to be quiet, didn’t expect them to be empty..conditions near perfect. New runs and lift in Samoens not yet open , but the re modelling of the area around Tete de saix should make it easier when busy.
Also just woken up to 6 inches of fresh snow in Samoens village.
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You know it makes sense.
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Arrived yesterday evening and it’s snowed overnight. Plenty of snow at village level. Need to get the bindings on my new skis sorted and then see what’s what. Snowing at the moment.
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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 that was a tough morning. Visibility dreadful - full on whiteout from the top of the DMC down to the bottom of Dessert Blanc. Much the same story from the top of grand vans down towards tete de saix. A bit clearer lower down, but by then the motion sickness had got so bad it was time for me to head home. Goggles kept freezing up, which really didn't help with the disorientation, so by the time I got to tourmaline I was stopping regularly for fear of actually being physically sick! I had to call it a day about 12.30 and take myself off to bed. Never known anything like it.
On the plus side - it's been snowing all day, so fingers crossed for some great skiing again tomorrow.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Well that was a tough morning. Visibility dreadful - full on whiteout from the top of the DMC down to the bottom of Dessert Blanc. Much the same story from the top of grand vans down towards tete de saix. A bit clearer lower down, but by then the motion sickness had got so bad it was time for me to head home. Goggles kept freezing up, which really didn't help with the disorientation, so by the time I got to tourmaline I was stopping regularly for fear of actually being physically sick! I had to call it a day about 12.30 and take myself off to bed. Never known anything like it.
On the plus side - it's been snowing all day, so fingers crossed for some great skiing again 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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Skied this afternoon after sledging all morning with kids. Stayed in Samoens. Visibility at tete de saix poor but better lower down. Loads and loads of snow. Had a blast.
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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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Poor visibility but great skiing this morning in Les Carroz. Cannot understand why Molliets lift is not running - meant that a trip to the Tete was compulsory to get over to Morillon. We only went to the Tete once, and were very grateful for all our training that 'you should be able to ski with your feet not your eyes'.
Significantly more snow in all the places that were a bit light on covering yesterday (parts of Tete, Arete, top of Marvel).
Eventually our long day yesterday caught up with us and we had to call it a day earlier than we wanted to. By that stage visibility seemed to be getting worse and the snow was beginning to pile up.
It's still snowing slightly in Les Carroz.
@UkuleleDave, hope you feel better tomorrow.
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@UkuleleDave, zero vis hits me like that too. Most unpleasant.
But hardly a surprise today, firmly forecast. Why didn’t you head for the trees? (Or was nothing open?)
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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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@under a new name, there aren't too many trees in Flaine! Unless things have changed over the last couple of days, there's nothing tree-lined open yet......
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@under a new name, @sj1608, Thanks. Yep - a dearth of trees here and by the time I found some over towards Les Carroz I was already feeling bloody awful.
It's never hit me quite like that before, but still looking forward to tomorrow. Last day sadly.
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@UkuleleDave, I know conditions are due to be better tomorrow, but in case they aren't you best bets are in Les Carroz and particularly Morillon. The Marvel (5km of well-named green run) in Morillon is tree lined all the way down and also very gentle if you're not feeling great.
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@sj1608, Thanks. Sounds like a good plan.
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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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Skied Marvel a couple of times today. Lovely to have good quality snow all the way down and not artificial stuff. Excellent day. Finished up early as kids were tired but sun looks like coming out now for first time in days and wish I was still up there.
More snow forecast for tomorrow so may have a day off to get all my work done so can get back at it Tuesday with hopefully some sun.
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Sunday 17th
Sort of skied les carroz this afternoon, well we spent a long lime doing combe, and bits off it, as my son found back on skis hard work. Lots of lifts useful to an inexperienced skier closed, not impressed les carroz...........
Snow is superb, but was rather busy in places.
Last edited by Ski the Net with snowHeads  on Fri 5-01-18 22:59; edited 1 time in total
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Skied Flaine side from the dmc first thing. What a joy when you can see what's going on and know which way up is. Nicely pisted down crystal.
Then we went over to Morillon. Found some moguls at the bottom of Marmottes - just off to the side. Nice bit of practice. Skied a couple of laps down to Morillon on sairon. Again - very nice. Lots of fun to be had around the edges, and some big bits of gentle off piste to try out too.
Then down to Les Carroz before back up and over to Flaine. Some brilliant snow today, but we're heading back home now. Bon ski everyone!
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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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We missed out on Grand Massif today, as we drove over to Avoriaz for the Rock On Snowboard Tour ski test (yes, I know it's a snowboard tour, but there were waaaaaay more skis than snowboards to test).
It's an annual event and I'd highly recommend it for anyone thinking of buying new skis. Day pass was a special price of €20,50.
@UkuleleDave, really glad you enjoyed your last day.
@Zorrac, totally agree about the lifts. It appears that they are short of staff. One day during the week they opened Molliets.....and then closed it because they'd decided to open the Saix Express. 
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Monday 18th
Well what did tomorrow bring...lots of superb powder and lots of visibility in the trees, so we just went up the gondola and skied down a variety of routes back to it,
According to cham meteo it will be:
TUESDAY DECEMBER 19
Sunny ‑ cold in the morning ‑ milder on sunny slopes later ‑ windy high up
Last edited by 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  on Fri 5-01-18 23:00; edited 1 time in total
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You know it makes sense.
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If you a very lucky the Gers bowl will open up....and with all this snow it will be THE BEST place in the Alps to ski for that first day (and an exceptional place on any day).
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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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Sun came out today. Skied around Morillon and it was brilliant. Quiet, sunny, and great snow conditions.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Tuesday 19th
Still lots of superb powder about, some untracked, it is so quiet, like having a ski resort to yourself, especially at lunchtime, so collected my son and took him out then, fantastic conditions to learn in, with no one zooming past, improvement was very marked.
This start reminds me of 2010 /11 when it was like this at the start, and it did not stop in january either.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Had a lovely day yesterday. Stayed local and did LC and Morillion with a stop a Chalet le Clair for lunch. Fab snow and quiet. Think that was the best conditions I've ever skied on Marvel.
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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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Our last day today, very sad to be going home so soon, but back at the end of the month. Just hope we get a nice snow top up between now and then ..........
As @Cheesie168, says Marvel is in amazing condition.
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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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Great day today, kids wanted a break so went out on my own. Sun shining, snow in great condition and so quiet. Skied Dahu then over to Carroz and Morillon. Sairon in great condition and skied portet and Combe as well. Planned to finish up on Marmotte in Samoens but it was so good I had to ski it twice. Wonderful day.
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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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Still really superb conditions, it has warmed up a bit, out with my little lad again so we did not go far and stayed in les carroz, but really amazingly quiet, had plein soleil to ourselves at times, they are getting various closed lifts ready for opening, so probably the last quiet day tomorrow.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I’m so jealous of you all having fun in the snow. We were contemplating Xmas in the Grand Massif as my son is getting married in March when we usually go. so afraid of injuries etc spoiling the day if we go any later than Xmas. Sorry now we didn’t book but were worried about snow cover after the last few years. Enjoy it all of you ...hopefully we will get a sly week in or maybe after the wedding if the snow stays well into March.
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Warmer again today and snow definitely starting to soften lower down towards Samoens 1600. Still great skiing and empty 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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Cloudy in the valley but beautiful blue skies up top. Snow still good a bit higher. Bit busier but still relatively quiet. They have opened the new lift. I skied the blue down from Samoens 1600 to it. Some quiet steep parts for a blue and covered with artificial snow all the way. Wasn’t the nicest run I did today. Will be nice when there is better snow.
Great morning. Will be busy tomorrow I guess.
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23rd December
Didn't go far today as took young lad out again, they opened plein soleil chair, so did the rather super in the sun plein soleil blue many times going back up the chair. Then combe down to gron, snow getting rather hard on the steep bit. Finally lou darbes down to combe and home, lou darbes was in the fog, and hard as nails in places, but young lad did it fine, with various others skiing past him and then falling over, which he found amusing.
Lots arrived today, so tomorrow will be busy.
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FAQ
