 Poster: A snowHead
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| Perty wrote: |
Balcony this morning… 
No idea when the lifts will open.
Satnav says the drive down from here to Moutiers is 1hr 6 mins (normally 30) and an hour to drive up.
Stay safe everyone. |
Wow! Great pic! 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Reports on the Val Thorens SCGB FB page that there is chaos on the road going up through Les Menuires. The police are turning back vehicles not equipped with chains. Snow socks will not suffice. It has apparently taken 2 1/2 hrs to travel 8.5km on the road down from VT.
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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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Judging by the stationary queues of traffic, I think we can safely declare a SNOWMAGEDDON 
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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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| Quote: |
I think we can safely declare a SNOWMAGEDDON
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Oh yippee. But entirely predictable given the forecasts of the last few days. How long before we hear about people being put up for the night in a sports Hall in the valley?
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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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@Origen, 453 people in the gym in Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne last night, including about 110 teenagers
Last edited by Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do. on Sat 10-01-26 13:55; edited 1 time in total
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Can confirm the chaos. Just passed the roundabout at Les Menuires. We left Val Thorens at 10:30 AM and it's now almost 3 pm
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@Herbstein, 
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We've done about 15 kms in 5 hours. It's at an absolute standstill
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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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Can anyone recommend an instructor in 3v with good English for advanced skier level. On piste only. Thanks
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A proper snowmageddon. From Albertville to the start of the climb in just 3 hours. And still 2 hours till I reach destination.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Oh Lord!
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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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I haven't driven to Meribel for nearly 40 years and queued for the exit to Val Thorens for 15 minutes before I realised mine was the next exit. 
Very slow along N90 even at Les Allies needed chains to access apartment building . There's a lot of fresh snow.
Knackered.
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Seen just now on FB Bens bus have cancelled theirs and people are being cancelled on by private companies now too, ouch.
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You know it makes sense.
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One new report on SCGB Val Thorens FB from transfer company saying that no-one will be allowed in or out of VT tonight. Traffic is stationary in Moutiers. The road to VT is apparently blocked due to a crash. The Salles George Larnaud gym in Moutiers is said to be open for overnight accommodation.
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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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| chrisbristol wrote: |
| Can anyone recommend an instructor in 3v with good English for advanced skier level. On piste only. Thanks |
Recommend https://www.skimarmalade.com/en/
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Poster: A snowHead
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Yes, it’s been chaos on the roads today and not over yet. Mr P had to go home to the uk from 24 hours yesterday. His flights were on time both ways, and he’s just set off to get back here from GVA. As a precaution he booked a room in a hotel in Albertville tonight, and I’m hoping he will use it rather than chance it getting up here. It does look like they’ve reopened the road up though….
Other bizarre satnav options suggest driving via Meribel and over the top, or via a track from the Maurienne valley!!
For those of us here, even with the links closed and only St M 1 and St M express open, my brief excursion to the slopes today was a joy, soft creamy snow, just about enough viz and at last, no icy bits or rocks. I measured 15 inches on the balcony this morning. There’s another 4in accumulated today and it’s still snowing.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Are buses getting into Les menuires today? Had family leaving Lyon for 3v atabout 11am
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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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| chrisbristol wrote: |
| Can anyone recommend an instructor in 3v with good English for advanced skier level. On piste only. Thanks |
If you let me know what dates and resort you are in I can let you know my availability.
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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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| Perty wrote: |
Yes, it’s been chaos on the roads today and not over yet. Mr P had to go home to the uk from 24 hours yesterday. His flights were on time both ways, and he’s just set off to get back here from GVA. As a precaution he booked a room in a hotel in Albertville tonight, and I’m hoping he will use it rather than chance it getting up here. It does look like they’ve reopened the road up though….
Other bizarre satnav options suggest driving via Meribel and over the top, or via a track from the Maurienne valley!!
For those of us here, even with the links closed and only St M 1 and St M express open, my brief excursion to the slopes today was a joy, soft creamy snow, just about enough viz and at last, no icy bits or rocks. I measured 15 inches on the balcony this morning. There’s another 4in accumulated today and it’s still snowing. |
How did Mr P's journey go? Where is he sleeping tonight? 
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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 chaos. I’ve friends stuck on a transfer in Aigueblanche. It’s gridlock and doesn’t look to be getting any better. Emergency accommodation being provided in a few places now.
Still snowing in Bozel as I type.
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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've made it to the Les Menuires. I didn't need chains, winter tyres and AWD do make wonders. I think the problem today was too many people with summer or all-season tyres trying to reach their destination up in the mountain. I've seen a french guy with summer tyres and crappy chains which broke after just 200 meters when mounted . And he continued up the hill. Crazy.
The road to the Les Menuires wasn't that bad to cause such mayhem.
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@Bergmeister, Mr P took the sensible option and stayed in the hotel in Albertville, thank goodness.Satnav still saying over 2 hrs to get here from Albertville.
I see that the D117 is to be closed between Fontaine-Le-Puy and La Combe between 6-7am Sunday morning for more avi control.
Meanwhile I can see a slow procession of headlights still coming up the road past St M..they must have had a really long day….
For those of us here, tomorrow should be epic…but stay safe!
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| matejp wrote: |
| I think the problem today was too many people with summer or all-season tyres trying to reach their destination up in the mountain. |
so how many vehicles with all-season (3PMSF) tyres did you see who'd failed to get up the mountain?
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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 guess too many regarding the road situation yesterday. Summer, all-season tyres combined with crappy snowchains seen in person. I was there.
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| JDL65 wrote: |
| stevew wrote: |
| Absolutely baltic today in Courchevel. Stopped in 1850 and 1650 today for a lesson. Ben took us to some really good pistes. Some 8cey spots but better than last couple of days. Run back to Le Praz at the end of the day more than acceptable. |
Are you staying with SkiVo?
Is Ben, Ben Beattie? If so, please tell him James from Gillingham Wheelers says hi and hopes to see him in July!
Ask Ben about his ski jumping career and the vidoe he submitted to the Meribel film festival last year. |
Sorry missed this post, too busy with skiing and apres. Yes, it was SkiVo and Ben Beattie, we did talk about his ski jumping career. He's a really good instructor.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Herbstein wrote: |
| Can confirm the chaos. Just passed the roundabout at Les Menuires. We left Val Thorens at 10:30 AM and it's now almost 3 pm |
Our transfer picked us up in Reberty 2000 at 0530 and despite half an hour stuck behind a stationary Ski Famille transfer bus, we got down the valley and to GVA by 0930, which was in line with expectations. I feel for the poor folk who were leaving later, we saw everything from delivery trucks to minivans hopelessly wheel spinning trying to get up the hill.
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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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Question for those of you familiar with Les Menuires at the end of March: staying in Levassaix, looks to be the inter resort bus rather than the district buses that service it for access to the main lift and town - if you miss the hourly bus, is there usually enough snow to find your way down to the Bettex lift?
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Worth it once you get here!
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You know it makes sense.
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@Specialman, Le Bettex is at about 1500m, so probably not guaranteed to be open in late March. Even by mid-March the low parts of Les Menuires can be very slushy in the weather is warm. You will have to wait and see.
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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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fab conditions today, bluebird and a metre of freshies.. pistes were good as well... quite a few rocks under the surface and dinged my fat skis... very slidey looking in places so take care when off... saw loads of skiers in sketchy spots with no avi gear..
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Quote: |
Question for those of you familiar with Les Menuires at the end of March: staying in Levassaix, looks to be the inter resort bus rather than the district buses that service it for access to the main lift and town - if you miss the hourly bus, is there usually enough snow to find your way down to the Bettex lift?
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I stayed just above Levassaix (Belambra Les Airelles) at the very end of March 2-3 years ago and there was visible effort to keep the run down to Le Bettex open, and it was really totally fine even though some slopes above it (the ones below the bottom of Roc 2 chair) were closed.
And yes, Les Menuires' front side does get slushy at that time of the year.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Specialman, we have made good use of our apartment in Preyerand since 2012. This area is just above Levassaix. The Bettex piste which runs past Levassaix is essential for lots of people to get to the Bettex chairlift so as mentioned above they put in a lot of effort to keep it open. In our experience it’s always been open to the last day of the season. At worst you may have to walk a couple of hundred metres to join the piste from your accommodation at the start and end of your day.
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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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| matejp wrote: |
| I guess too many regarding the road situation yesterday. Summer, all-season tyres combined with crappy snowchains seen in person. I was there. |
As a noob to snow driving, I’m curious what you refer to as “crappy snowchains?”
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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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A 14 hour journey from Edinburgh to La Tania yesterday with all the excitement of the weather. Worth it for the soft fresh snow and blue blue skies 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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Wonderful off piste above St M today, Legs hurt. Tea. Bath. Shepherd’s pie for supper. Perfect!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| matejp wrote: |
| Summer, all-season tyres combined with crappy snowchains |
It's your casual bracketing of 'summer' and 'all season' which is a bit odd. Plenty of Snowheads with Cross Climates, Goodyear Vectors etc must have it all wrong!
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| Cardo wrote: |
| matejp wrote: |
| I guess too many regarding the road situation yesterday. Summer, all-season tyres combined with crappy snowchains seen in person. I was there. |
As a noob to snow driving, I’m curious what you refer to as “crappy snowchains?” |
Folks panic on the (slippy) snow.
The reality is, most people can't ski, and most people can't drive.
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"Crappy snowchains" are the cheapest, least tough, and the most difficult to put on. But they are generally OK if put on properly, which means stopping after 50 metres, and again after another 100 metres, to tighten them up. Which is not always easy.....
And having put them on, take it easy, especially on those sections of the road with very little snow on.
I'm amused at the idea of somebody who could tell, passing a stranded vehicle, what sort of tyres it had on. 
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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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Conditions were absolutely prime today.
Doing a ski safari from Val Thorens to Courchevel and back. Any tips on the best route or "must-ski" runs on the way? Want to make sure I don't miss the last connection back!
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| Origen wrote: |
"Crappy snowchains" are the cheapest, least tough, and the most difficult to put on. But they are generally OK if put on properly, which means stopping after 50 metres, and again after another 100 metres, to tighten them up. Which is not always easy.....
And having put them on, take it easy, especially on those sections of the road with very little snow on.
I'm amused at the idea of somebody who could tell, passing a stranded vehicle, what sort of tyres it had on. |
Thanks. I took the car to Courchevel over Christmas. It was the first time where I might have needed chains, so bought some recommended Konig ones. They’re the self adjusting type. Didn’t have to use them, as there was very little snow over Christmas! Tyres are summer tyres, albeit the car is AWD.
Maybe next time…
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FAQ
