 Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Thanks for this Mel - has anybody got more up to date info? I'm going 3 weeks and starting to get obsessed by the weather and conditions!
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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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Me too. go out there in February. Listings on Grand Massif website seem to vary a bit in what they say
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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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I'm off to Flaine on Saturday so will report back on my return!
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Hi kewhoward!
Never been before! But really looking forward to it.
I think the forecast is a bit mixed.
I do have friends that live near by though and they went and had a ski yesterday and enjoyed it. They said the recent winds have done a bit of scouring around and about but generally they said there was a lot of snow. My friends and us are all from Scotland so we're used to a bit of scouring! Apparently they managed to do the Cascada (hope I've got that right!) run which was in reasonable condition until the last wee bit where there was a bit of thin snow - not bad for 14km. The snow is much further down the mountain though than this time last year apparently.
Looks like I will have to learn to post pics so you can see them on my return!!
Only three more sleeps!!
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The best part of the Cascades is stopping half way down. There is is sign with a bell on it marked "Refuge Lac des gers". Ring the bell and 2 minutes later a skidoo will magically appear  They will then tow you up to their lovely refuge - where you can have a fantastic meal by the frozen lake. If the Gers drag is running (unlikely next week) they then put you in their Snowcat and drive you back up to the lift!If not carry on skiing down to Sixt.
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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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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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 offence taken - I am a liberal sort of chap 
It certainly is one of the best views of Mt Blanc
I shall post a TR when I get back
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All this sounds so exciting!!
Thanks kewhoward and norris for all the info!
norris, is the Cascades Refuges thing really good and always on? It just sounds a fab thing to do!!
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You know it makes sense.
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Mel, I was in Morrilon 1100 Les Esserts, retuned the same day, very impressed with the Grande Massif. First time visit to the area, very good skiing, but very good snow conditions. Cascades run was a waste of time, long run, uphill sections, only the fantastic isolated views and the frozen waterfalls stopped the group I was with from lynching me for taking them down it. 
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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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snowaddict,
It should be open when the Cascades is running. I have spent the night there several times. Ski down from Flaine at the end of the day and spend the evening drinking fine wines and eating great local food. The pass out in their dorm rooms, wake up and continue skiing down to Sixt in the morning - FAB
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Poster: A snowHead
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| norris wrote: |
snowaddict,
It should be open when the Cascades is running. I have spent the night there several times. Ski down from Flaine at the end of the day and spend the evening drinking fine wines and eating great local food. The pass out in their dorm rooms, wake up and continue skiing down to Sixt in the morning - FAB |
This sounds absolutely fab! However on the many times we have been to the area the Cascades run has been closed!
The snow head above you commented on the flat bits - is it really that bad??? 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Got back on Saturday just gone by. Sorry for not posting earlier but have not been very well.
So here goes!
Sun 20th - Bright blue sunny skies. Stayed in Flaine. Loads of snow on the mountain. Some runs quite scoured though from being blasted by the wind. Those runs that weren't too scoured were great to ski on. The scoured runs weren't pleasant really. Only really pottered around gentle runs for most of the day as my husband hadn't skied for two years and was a bit nervous. He finished up a bit earlier than me in the afternoon so I did get a bit more challenging stuff in towards the end for an hour or so - nice!
Mon 21st - More gorgeous weather! Headed over to Les Carroz and Morillon. All runs in great condition. Came across one small section on a flat piece of track that was really exposed to the sun that was maybe getting a bit brown but that was the only bit. think it was part of Marvel in Morillon and it really was only a 5-10 metre patch.
Tue 22nd - A massive storm. At times there was icy rain in the village. Huge winds, loads of snow falling, white out conditions. We didn't ski as I wasn't feeling too well and my husband was exhausted.
Wed 23rd - Wow - loads of new snow and blue skies again! We stayed in Flaine. I reckon we had acquired maybe a foot or so and some of the drifts were pretty big! Friends of ours came to meet us so I was able to do some more challenging stuff as us wives went off together and left the boys to it! We started on the Diamant Noir which was ski-ing just wonderfully!!! Basically you could just ski anywhere, on runs off runs, there was so much gorgeous new snow to play in!
The bad news was that although Flaine got gorgeous new snow, lower down resorts got some rain which had resulted in Cascades closing. It had been open at the beginning of the week, but near the bottom took a beating in the rain.
Thurs 24th - Another sunny day. We headed off to Samoens 1600. All runs in great condition. A bit colder today though, especially in the shade. We ended up heading back pretty quickly as the runs aren't very long and the chairs are slow and we were getting too cold! Spent the rest of the time playing over by Sortilege (well, beside it rather than the run itself) and then Combe de Veret - fab! Sortilege was almost spring like as it was quite warm and in direct sunlight.
Fri 25th - A much colder day, more like January temps you would normally have. Nice and sunny though. We stayed in Flaine. All the new snow was ski-ing really, really well, whether on the runs or off them. Just glorious, what more can I say!
In summary - there is gallons of snow! We had an epic week with epic weather. Anyone going out shortly will be in for a treat!!
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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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Thanks norris, snowaddict, looks fabbo - can't wait - I'm out for 5 days from week on Thursday - the weather boys seem to think there's a good chance of a refresh by then! Hope all your health's are restored.... 
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Hi just returned from Les Carroz/Flaine and had 3 days of lovely snow! Pistes were uncrowded and good skiing on fresh snow. Flaine bowl was doing well and all runs except the link to sixt were open! we left sat 9 Feb and sunny skies but the freeze thaw is set for all this week.
We had one day of 13 hours of continuous snow!!! was up to my knees in the village! needed snow chains! 
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Welcome to Snowheads juliemtaylor! Good to see another Grand Massif fan - I think we are a bit of a minority around here!
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| Quote: |
Good to see another Grand Massif fan - I think we are a bit of a minority around here
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there are more out there than you think!!
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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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i'm off myslef for a long weekend in 3 weeks, then again for a week with the family at the end of March. Lets hope the snow holds up.
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| simo1234 wrote: |
| i'm off myslef for a long weekend in 3 weeks, then again for a week with the family at the end of March. Lets hope the snow holds up. |
Another fan here!
Off for a girls weekend on 27th and then again with the family on 14 March! Yipee - can't wait!
Hope it gets a bit colder though!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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hi folks
anybody goingh this saturday , we got a cheapy ( £700 for 2 adults and 2 kids cant be bad even tho its only 2 star)
Leaving in 8 hrs for a trip to Edinburgh and a early morning flight.
The better half has pnuemonia tho and is 3/4 of the way through her antibiotics, the Doc says she should be fine 
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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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Has anyone got any upto date info on the conditions?
Snow forecast wasn't looking too positive and I'm taking 2 friends next week - after raving about how good it is!
I've been praying to the Snow God and am still waiting for her to reply!!!
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my daughter is there at the moment and phoned me tonight. She said the cover is still good in Flaine - no brown patches - but piste very hard packed and some icy bits. She's enjoying the skiing (with Adventure Outdoors) but will give boarding a miss for the rest of the week. She didn't say how far down they'd been; they're in tuition/guiding groups - French speaking, which she isn't! She says her French is improving though, and the accommodation is very good value for what they paid.
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You know it makes sense.
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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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Freezing level will be the critical thing next week; looks like something's going to fall out of the sky.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I did Samoens 9-17th Feb and was pleasantly surprised at A) hiw good most of the pistes were considering time since last snow and B) how quiet it was (relatively speaking) for half term. I know the area very well and know that Jan and March you never queue on a lift, but was expecting busy Feb conditions - but no! I think our longest queue was the first day at the GME in Sameons at 9 am for about 5 mins.
Back again next week 26th-1st, hope it gets a top up by then, but should be OK even without barring the dreaded feohn wind (too much cheese  )
Grand Massif Fan!
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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 for the updates guys - will keep everything crossed!
kewhoward, - Will def order snow chains then - just in case!!!
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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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waterskibabe, don't order the chains... this will ensure a huge dump of snow. If you order them, it wont happen 
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Quote: |
the GM website reports snow yesterday
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my daughter told me last night there had been a couple centimetres at the top; better than nothing.
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we don't ever take chains with us to morillon
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Does it never snow much, in Morillon?
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pam w, not that often...seems to be on the rain/snow limit rather to often. marvel is rarely in good condition.
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pam w, Marvel was "OK" beginning of our week - by the end of the week they had "ice" warnings on the electronic info boards. Same with Cascades run - still open, but very icy for the last kilometre.
PS - Spotted by several people last week - Trinny from the telly
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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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Hairy Boy, I wouldn't have recognised her if she had said - hi I am Trinny - but it wasn't me that spotted her, although I did hear several people mantioning it. Aparently she had on a gruesome outfit (allegedly)
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FAQ
. It's a long time since I skied Cascades and My Feb trip is with my daughter - I don't think I'd want to do Cascades to 
) but I am trying to aviod international incident. If you go up by the chair above Ballacher - and the Gers drag is running is this a sensible thing to do - or should I just stick to all the other good stuff? And are you in Surrey or Flaine now - love to hear about the snow if latter 
here are a few though.
- but as Pam w says the weather diviners are indicating precipitation around the back end of next week (with all the big caveats around that sort of time distance ). Maybe fun time on transfer day again ? Still as I was reminded once would you rather have a cr@p transfer and great snow or the other way around? 