Ah yes I know where you mean, never stopped there, is it any good?
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
chrisheath, I'm afraid I may also be at the Auberge . I've skied past it many times but never had a drink there - but then we don't often use the on-piste cafes as they're expensive. An exception is the one in Sixt at the bottom of Cascades (which we always do when it's open). Blue and yellow Berghaus Mera peak, no beard, black salopettes, ageing blue Head skis (hardly use the damn blades...), blue Lange boots if anyone is trying to spot a If OH is with me: light blue berghaus XCR, black salopettes, white boots, gold Atomics. Might also be son: all in black with blue Atomic Metrons. See you there.....
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?
It's not as good as the Igloo or Chalet de Clair but if it was it wouldn't be quiet. The food is not bad. There's a plat de jour. They do a fair croque monsieur and madame and a spag bol. Also quite cosy indise, though small. The terrace is nice in the sun. it gets virtually none in early Jan but as the sun gets higher it enjoys a longer lunchtime in the rays. Not a gastronomic delight but better than just functional... and the toilet is free.
The free toilet swings it May call in for a hot chocolate at least (well if it doesn't warm up a tad we'll need it - don't often wish it was warmer.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
I have to look after daughter for half term, and she is doing competition classes until 2 every day, as long as i do some sort of class.....hmmmm.....so may be calling in or may not....i am in grey salopettes, black and grey columbia jacket and silver carrera helmet, with faded snowheads stickers on the sides, daughter is in all purple salopettes, mostly white and purple jacket...but she will probably be too tired to do much after classes...so it will be a grumbling daughter in tow!.......
For anyone that's interested, below is the link to our video from skiing in the Grand Massif from 2nd Feb to 5th Feb. It was very cold but great snow so worth it, no sunbathing with a glass of beer though! Overall impressions of the Grand Massif area was good, definitely will revisit, although may stay in another resort, we stayed at the UCPA in Flaine this year. One issue we had is we thought there was quite a lot of flat bits of runs, as skiiers this wasn't too much of a problem, and probably has helped my fitness a bit!
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
liz09, Nice video.. can't tell if you are the "Liz and Tim" that I once skied with in La Plagne - doubt it, that would be a huge coincidence.
After all it is free
After all it is free
It's difficult to tell who any of us our under all our layers, our noses were the only things showing it was so cold! We have skiied in La Plagne, two years ago, but not with anyone else so I don't think so, must have been another Liz and Tim!
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liz09, Irons was their surname and it was about 7 years ago
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Ski the Net with snowHeads
Thanks for all contributions to the picture quiz Do you think the snow will hold up for another 2 weeks? I'll review what I'm packing nearer the time but I'm currently trying to find suitably warm clothing! Brrrrr! I hate to be cold.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
BinkiBelle, The snow will hold up till the end of the season even if it doesn't snow again... I think you will be fine in two weeks whatever happens.
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.
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
mr_big_ad, What terrible conditions
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
stevo_the_saddler,
just shocking, i hope they are as bad in two weeks when i head out!
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Can anyone recommend a good ski boot specialist in Samoens? I have pain in my knnes when I ski and I have been told it could be I need my boots looking at. Thanks for any help.
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
stevo_the_saddler, mr_big_ad, I've yet to ski Gers despite going to Flaine many times. I struggle on mogulled / hard /icy blacks and always presume that Gers would be harder than say the Diamond Noir (which I've done, but struggle at the steep part). It looks OK right now - will it be left unpisted?
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Greetings. Have arrived in the freezer this afternoon. The snow in my garden is like dust...we're very excited. Skiboots. Go to Pellissier Twinner. They are the best in my humble opinion.
Gers. Gers faces north. Even in bad times the snow there is usually excellent and virtually never icy. It is never pisted. The main route gets enough traffic to become packed down and mogulled. The moguls are seldom huge. The most technical part is the last bit where you are funnelled into a bit of a gully. It's normally about 3-4 moguls wide. these can be quite large but are seldom icy or rock hard. It is no more technical than diamant noir. In reality Gers is one massive face. Some parts are steep. Apart from the main route it doesn't really get mogulled to any extent and if often soft snow. I haven't skied it for a couple of weeks as I've been in the UK but past experience tells me it will be amazing snow. I am here in resort for 4 days with Mrs CH. If you would like to do Gers with some guidance then we would happily oblige, as we will definitely be doing it. I am not a ski instructor or qualified guide but have skied the GM extensively for 6 years 40-50days per season and am used to taking friends.. from absolute beginners to serious ski mountaineers.... to bits of the hill they will enjoy. The only downside, judging by your previous remarks,is that there is no free toilet, or indeed any toilet, unless you take the rustic off piste route from the bottom of the drag to the Gers refuge (worth it, and not just for the bladder relief) or find a suitable bush behind which to risk terminal genital frostbite.
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?
billb, I would agree with chrisheath, description of it. Not as bad as you may think... though the last bit is challenging. I actually find the drag lift harder than the run itself as its soooooo long.
Which brings me neatly to a favourite chair lift debate....... if you had your way and change/add just one skilift.....what would you do? Some have said...put in a Gers chairlift. I am not certain. Discuss. You are allowed 20 minutes of ranting (the time it takes to go up the Lanche/gentianes chair and not much longer than it takes on Lindars Nord..possibly my favourite bit of the hill (same toilet situation).
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
A chair would ruin Gers... gers is good because it is so under-used. If I could put one chairlift in now it would be a replacement for Lanche. I heard a rumour that they were going to work on some extra piste under Lanche to link Morillon/Samoens in a better way.... now that would be lovely!
After all it is free
After all it is free
stevo_the_saddler wrote:
A chair would ruin Gers... gers is good because it is so under-used. If I could put one chairlift in now it would be a replacement for Lanche. I heard a rumour that they were going to work on some extra piste under Lanche to link Morillon/Samoens in a better way.... now that would be lovely!
I'm inclined to agree about Gers...at least now they've fixed the drag...a couple of years ago half the buttons were missing and the queues got silly. Having said that it is a massive area and would absorb quite a bit more traffic without becoming remotely congested.
I would spend my money on a high speed chair to tete de saix from the morillon/les carroz area. Not sure whether to go for the lanche or one of the other routes. You're probably right. I don't want any more pistes though. Happy to cut my own tracks.
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chrisheath, Thanks for the offer, but won't be skiing until Sunday which sounds like your last day. And that's my first day for a year so will need to take it easy. Enjoy your stay. I agree toilets are a problem in the GM. I've melted snow a few times.......
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Ski the Net with snowHeads
Re. chairs, then with the demise of the Ballacha drags out of Flaine Foret I can see a case for a chair to link with the new Desert Blanc chair (especially if you're based in Foret) otherwise you have to keep dropping down to Forum. They seem to have made it worse. Also if you're lapping Cristal / Lucifer / Belzebuth you can't now get to the top (via the old 3 man chair).
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
The desert blanc is a massive improvment on the 2 old chairs but as it ends lower than the higher of the two old ones, it makes some of my favourite descents less easy to access. The DMC is often oversubscribed. The Tete de Verds chair is good and speedy and has some interesting terrain underneath it. However it's a slow way to the top if you then use the diamant noir. I'd like to think they'll eventually sell the d noir chairlift to a museum or an eastern block resort and replace it with a fast chair......but then they might not do the lanche or lindars nord. Decision, decisions.
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.
I agree about Gers.
Never mind new/repacement lifts - have they got the Egg working again yet?
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
Malheureusement,non.
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Technically challenging but a lift from the top of Grand Vans across to the top of the Sepentine run in Flaine would resolve my least favourite area - the bottom of Tourmaline.
Or is there a better plan to relieve this dangerous bottleneck?
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
janner, Dynamite would help tourmaline
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
I wouldn't hold your breath on that one. Tourmaline suffers in the same way as most "obligatory links" Everyone uses it, so it's busy. There are also a lot of fast skiers,not all in control..and that's me being polite. They have widened it but I agree it can still be unpleasant. The red alternative(goes off the side as the run becomes a road) is little skied, probably because it's left bumpy and can therefore be tricky (and quite icy as it is more south facing). I quite like it but I'd be happy if they made it much easier.....a bit wider and pisted flat....this would encourage more folk to use it and thus reduce the traffic on the blue. Wonder if it will happen? No breath holding here either
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Chris Mason wrote:
I agree about Gers.
Never mind new/repacement lifts - have they got the Egg working again yet?
Latest news is for 23rd Feb opening.
As for the lets not replace Gers drag lift brigade- utter garbage, why would you want a long, steep uncomfortable drag that frequently breaks down just to keep a few people away? Just leave it unpisted if that boosts your egos!
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?
stevo_the_saddler,
But fair!! You may be wishing for some nice Austrian style, heated bubbles if current temps persist, not long, cold drags!
BTW what happened to the forum? I may bump into you as we are at LFDS over half term.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
I will be in a very bright orange north face jacket with wife and two kids in tow. Should be at the quiz in coveys on tues if you wanna say hi!
I'll be the other one with wife and two kids in tow!
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Just bin reading this thread and although not strictly about the conditions... I am off to Flaine on Saturday... Gers sounds interesting but looking at the piste map... is the only way out of the Gers bowl to head all the way don the Cascades run, to Sixt...???? Seems like an back bottom if it is...
I know you can get the drag back up but form the map it doesn't appear to go high enough o get out, back across to the resort...???? How can you do this bowl without the long trip down the hill...???
Any helpful advice would be welcomed folks...
After all it is free
After all it is free
AlpineAddict, From the top of the drag it is a short run down to Serpentine. IIRC you cross the route that leads into the Gers bowl. If the only way out was via Cascades it would be even less crowded - maybe that would suit some on here
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AlpineAddict, You come in lower than the drag and exit from top of the drag back into Flaine as Chris Mason, said. Straight forward enough.
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Ski the Net with snowHeads
So...first day back. Went up prepared for very cold and was slightly overdressed. Almost warm in the morning. Wind got up in the afternoon and temp dropped... getting colder. Conditions?...perfect. If you are here and don't like it then winter sports are not for you. Perfect pistes. Some nice bumps and still amazingly good off piste, given the snow fell a while ago. Combe de Veret is fixed and in excellent nick. Gers......good but they've clearly pisted the main route. The technical lower bit I referred to last night is currently like a moderate red run. As has been made clear, you can get out of the bowl and back to the main Flaine area from the drag. A bit of avalanche debris if you keep to the steep face left of the drag. I see the Gers chair debate is raging. For what it's worth I think a number of things put people off Gers. One is the drag. The fact that it's all black or off piste is another. The warning signs about "only for good skiers" and "difficult drag" are a third (they're right, it's JUST AWFUL STAY AWAY ) and the entrance... a narrow bumpy track this year, is the fourth. A chair would make things more comfortable but wouldn't be my priority for the area. It's also pretty unlikely as the whole Gers bowl is a protected zone and unlikely to see development...don't you think Sixt would love to put a lift system up to Flaine in?
Anyway the most amazing thing today was that there was nobody here! Didn't queue once, empty slopes. Run of the day...that gully under the Vernant chair. Bumps are q big! Mistake if the day.. 2 glasses of tartrazine rich fanta for 8.4 euros. Felt like being taken from behind by a piste machine (or so I'd imagine).
Vacances scolaires start this weekend....get it while you can
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
. I've skied past it many times but never had a drink there - but then we don't often use the on-piste cafes as they're expensive. An exception is the one in 
If OH is with me: light blue berghaus XCR, black salopettes, white boots, gold Atomics. Might also be son: all in black with blue Atomic Metrons. See you there.....
May call in for a hot chocolate at least (well if it doesn't warm up a tad we'll need it - don't often wish it was 
Do you think the snow will hold up for another 2 weeks? I'll review what I'm packing nearer the time but I'm currently trying to find suitably warm clothing! Brrrrr! I hate to be cold.
) and the entrance... a narrow bumpy track this year, is the fourth. A chair would make things more comfortable but wouldn't be my priority for the area. It's also pretty unlikely as the whole Gers bowl is a protected zone and unlikely to see development...don't you think 