 Poster: A snowHead
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That sounds rather scrummy snowandtrek. I'm out at the weekend - so the jealous levels are reasonably contained.
I am, still, of course. JEALOUS!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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SP1R1T, all I can promise is that I will try and keep the photographic evidence snow related
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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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Just got back from Les Crosets, bit cloudy but lovely conditions, and when the cloud lifted the whole back wall looked amazing! there is a lot of snow on them there mountains...
there is also a lot of snow slipping off them there mountains so take care if venturing off piste for at least the next couple of days.
have fun y'all
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Just back from a week in Les Gets and I can confirm cracking conditions (although I am ashamed to admit that I failed to get my skis on ... all work and no play makes ctskifam a dull boy... ). Walking down the main street in the evenings felt like being in a resort in the Rockies – but with far more character and far fewer cowboy hats.
The resort seemed to be working very hard at getting the pistes in good shape with bashers working through the night. Snow cannons are also up and running at the mo to back-up the 60cm+ in the village and roughly 150cm at 2000m - and the sun is now shining. If you can get out before Christmas just do it. If I thought I could get away with deserting wife and child for another week I’d be on a flight this afternoon.
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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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Today was one of those days which reminds me why I'm living out here. Clear blue skys and glistening white mountains. Shame I was working because with the lifts not yet open in Chatel, there are some wonderful touring opportunities.
Maybe tomorrow...
Can anyone tell me why my status is "down a crevasse"? I have checked and my email is correct.
Thanks,
Ed
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Driving from Geneva to Morzine tomorrow evening, is the road up from Thonon clear and open. 
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air319, the road is fine! Enjoy, should be a good 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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Was there yesterday, Fecking Awesome, all looks set for the weekend.
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Today was well - BLLIISSS
Morning in Lindarets and over to Plaine Dranse and Happy Valley. Fresh tracks. Back home to pick up the little people and then a fab afternoon on the Morzine/Les Gets area - perfect quiet pistes..........
One of those days when you think I know why we moved here...........
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Just a quick report from our weekend in Les Gets....
Arrived in the village just before 21:00 on Friday evening and on the drive up we knew we were in for a special weekend. It was definitely one of those times in the season when all the photographs that appear in brochures would be taken. There was snow piled up everywhere. The branches on the trees were sagging under the weight of the snwo on the branches, and yes it was pretty cold.
We had a great meal in Le Carnotzet(next to Bar Bush), which I think has a new chef for the season, a couple of drinks and then off to bed all excited for the next day.
I was up early getting the equipment ready for the day. Kicked everyone out of bed by 8:00 and we headed down to the town to buy our lift pass by 9:00. The hazy start soon gave way to clear blue skies and despite a freezing first chair lift after our first run we were all warmed up and ready for the day. A few of the runs had been left unpisted and it was vital we hit these first as it was clear they would soon be tracked out. We headed down into the Les Gets bowl and ended up doing a quick circuit of all the runs leading into the bowl before stopping for our fist vin chaud. All the runs were in exceptional condition and although there were quite a few people about it was far from busy. Once the vin chaud had been consumed we headed for Melesez(the red down to the Perriers car park), and it did not dissapoint. Empty, with great snow can only mean one thing.......as fast as possible top to bottom. In fact it was so good we did it twice.
We then decided we would treat ourselves to some lunch and made our way back out of the bowl and headed via the Les Folliets lift over towards the runs on the Pleney. We stopped at Le Vaffieu, which is one of our favourite stops. A fairly long, lazy lunch with a couple of drinks made us happy and set up the afternoon session trying out the runs down the Pleney. We finished off with two runs down the village in Les Gets. One via the blue from the top of Pleney and then after a quick chair lift back up down the red that runs straight under the six-seater chair. A great first day of the season finished off with a little snooze and a fantastic meal in Les Copeaux.
I only had a half day to ski on Sunday and thus was one of the first in line for the chair Sunday morning. It was pretty cold sitting on that chair. The car has said -13 on the drive down to the village. The first few runs were pretty hard packed and a bit crunchy, put once the sun got up a bit higher it softened up a bit and was again excpetional. Only complaint I did have was that they red down from the Ranfoilly Express(I think) had not been pisted the night before and was thus a little bumpy. Other then that great. I did a quick round of the runs on the bowl before having a look at the watch and deciding I needed to head back to pack up and clean the chalet ready for our first clients next week.
We locked up and headed towards the airport, with a warm feeling in our stomachs knowing that it is only a couple of weeks before we are back, not the usual feeling you get that that is the last ski of the season.
Sorry no photos as the wife forgot to pack the camera. School boy error.
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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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Thanks for all the early reports from Morzine area this year. We have been to Morzine on our last two ski holidays and are off there again this year too. We can only manage to squeeze a long weekend in this year though, BUT we are getting away without the children this time, so i am hopeful that we'll get LOADS of ski-time in!! It sounds a fabulous start to the season. So much better than last year when i dreaded checking out the green and brown webcams!! Hope the snow lasts and that there is plenty more for when we come out at beginning of feb.
keep up the reports.
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Just to echo the above; the snow is great in both Avoriaz, Morzine and Les Gets. Spent the Saturday in Avoriaz (bargain at €15 for the day) and had great fun trawling around the runs (especially the Red that goes down through the tree line - well, thought it was pretty cool until I found Les Gets the next day!) and playing around on the small 'green marked' jumps in the snow park!
Sunday was flipping cold as we made our way from Morzine Pleney over to Les Gets. Found the runs very icy to begin with but softened up quickly in the sun. Had a delightful time playing around in the untracked snow next to the pistes (simple pleasures for those new to this skiing malarky, like myself!).
We all wish we had longer there. Plus, got to give a thumbs up to the AUBERGE DE LA COMBE A ZORE pizzaria in Morzine... fantastic pizza and great staff! also big props to one of the piste medics (?) who unintentionally gave us a huge laugh in the Le Crepu bar after getting so intoxicated and lustful that he started dry humping a rather unfortunate female friend in the middle of the bar. One of those situations where you had to be there to see how funny it was 
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You know it makes sense.
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Thanks for all the updates, we are off to Les Gets on Sunday and its looking good, will report back upon our return.
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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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We're off on to stay with snow&trek on Sat. ...have been watcihng the webcams avidly and getting very excited...just a little nervous that no more snow forecast for a while  will it last till we get there?
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Poster: A snowHead
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As above, the conditions are fantastic. So fantastic that, after two days of hard skiing, MrsPhillipStanton went to bed at 19:00 tonight to recover. She would have gone to bed earlier, but had to get home from work first.
There's more off-piste skiable than there was in March last year. There's not a bare patch to be seen anywhere - even the high traffic areas. And I managed a carving run down the Junior Downhill - top to bottom - without having to avoid anyone. Magic.
The off-piste was relatively heavy up in Avoriaz, but around Linderats it was fab - as our many runs through the Christmas trees testify. gamekeeper and snowlamb, you'll have a great time.
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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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Great photos MorganW - love the snowpark one.
To resize the photos I uploaded them to the Snow Media Zone. Once you've uploaded the photos there's a link to a thumbnail that's automagically created.
There is another way, but I'm not sure how to do it.
Last edited by You need to Login to know who's really who. on Tue 18-12-07 9:53; edited 1 time in total
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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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PhillipStanton, thanks! Have found the link and replaced the photos.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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No probs MorganW. BTW - you've double-posted one photo and lost another.
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MorganW, I think those photos are really good. Camera phones have made grabbing snaps of the slopes so much easier! 35 days to go!!!! 
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Hi Im new and have been skiing in les gets and PDS for about 17 years now and skiing for about 25 ( im 34 yrs old)
anyway back to my question, has anyone managed to get on the new lift in avoriaz, word on the street ( or rather forum remontee mechanique) says thats its super fast and a lot longer than the previous lift. This now sounds like a viable option to park at prodains instead of making our way over to what is becoming an increasingly overcrowded Lindaret car park. cant wait to get out there for new year and then again on a boys trip. I havent skiied mont chery to the village in years and cant wait to ski my favourite james bond-through-the-trees-stunt-man run !!!
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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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Welcome to  s torico. That's a very good point - and one I intended to make above, but forgot.
The Grande Combe has replaced the Combe du Machon lift, which was IIRC a 2 seater. I must admit that we were a tad "surprised" by it - as we skied to the bottom of Combe du Machon only to find it wasn't there any more. The bottom of Grande Combe is about 200m lower - near the bottom of Crot - and they've dropped the top a tad so that it's now on the same level as Lac Intrets, which Remontees Mecaniques suggests has also been replaced (though if it has been then I really wan't paying attention). I suspect they've dropped the top to make the exit more appealing to less experienced skiers / boarders.
The new lift is, indeed, very speedy.
Interestingly, Remontees Mecaniques suggests that the Point de Vorlaz (the summit to the left of the lake up the Fornet bowl) will be next - and then the Mines d'Or is being opened up in 2010. Anyone know anything more substantive about this?
Last edited by You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net. on Tue 18-12-07 18:39; edited 1 time in total
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yeah I read the same - is there a chance we can have a thread about speculation on new lifts in various regions?
the ones I hear about in les gets, PDS are
mont chery nord - link over the roc d'enfer towards st jean d'aulps- pretty unlikely they have enough problems over there as it is
chamossiere replacement - same route???
red bubble chevanne replacement - subsidence is a major problem at the moment apparently
closure of morgins link for PDS
going down to the mines d'or would be fab, however I like sunday lunch with the goats and cows down there so it would be a shame to spoil some of the mines d'ors natural quiet beauty
sounds like the avoriaz plan is centred around and near the combe du machon which sounds like great new to me, looking fwd to skiing the french wc run again !!!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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oh yeah also forgot to mention of the inevitable talk of the lift off the back of les gets to link up with morillon and the grande massif - cant see this ever happening but it would put les gets in the centre of a huge ski region - anyonme ever hear anymore rmuours on thsi one or have they finally killed it off?
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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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torico, still hear the rumours every now and then but I suspect less and less substance to them as each year goes by. I'd settle for the red bubble being pensioned off and replaced!
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PhillipStanton, I am very pleased to see that the Crot hasn't been removed. Machon was a 3 seater but good to see it's replacement. Hardly the most reliable of lifts. I wonder of the lower summit is also to do with improving its ability to operate in higher winds? The top station was pretty exposed.
And just why do we need either a Pte de Vorlaz or Mines d'Or lift? What's wrong with walking up? I'm surprised they managed to overcome either the inevitable environmental objections and also the likely nightmare that will be avalanche control.
torico, The Mont Chery-St Jean link, as I understand it is too tricky (i.e. expensive). The last I heard about Chamossiere (a few years ago) was that it, like Chery Nord was going to be closed permanently. Thankfully it looks as though that sad outcome has been averted. The Samoens link is being much talked about and a chum's road is being enlarged to handle the car park that is going in...make of that what you wish...
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You know it makes sense.
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David Murdoch - good point about the wind - I hadn't thought about that.
I agree on the Mines d'Or lift, although something up the Point de Vorlaz from the bottom of Brocheaux / Mossettes would, IMO, make a good contribution to terrain in and has an aspect that holds its snow well.
The loss of Chamossiere would be devastating.
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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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yeah chamossiere is a fantastic area I did see on one of the threads on the french forum that chamossiere was due for replacement with a TSD6. I find it hard to believe they woould need a fast 6 going up there unless they had plans to open up more pistes however its avalanche city up there!
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Poster: A snowHead
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Very excited now as we set off at 4am tomorrow for our first ever drive down to the Alps...We're heading for Montriond with Snow&Trek....on the 0720 shuttle....give us a toot if you see us 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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snowlamb, have a fantastic time.... i'm waiting for Christmas and New Year to be over so I can really start looking forward to my trip. If anyone is interested I have found as many Avoriaz Snow Forecasts as I can which can be viewed here www.ski-finder.co.uk/snowforecast/Avoriaz. If you know any more then please let me know.
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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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Please no lifts up Vorlaz, Cheserie or down into the Manche Valley  These are 3 of the great off piste runs of the PDS, I really would not want to see them turned into pistes....
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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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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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David Murdoch, torico, out of interest, what was the main problem to creating the link over to St Jean d'Aulps when this idea was shelved - I am guessing it is just too expensive to do?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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yeah I believe it was quite a few lifts needed, Ive always fancied climbing up the roc d'enfer as I have seen tracks coming down it before but never really thought to have skied it
For the mines d'or lifts, it looks like 2 ifts are proposed, the road up to the mines d'or could do with some work as its pretty back country
I am not totally convinced they will do it, I will ask round when Im there next week!
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MrDan, I believe that they need to put in something like 4 lifts to get over and the marginal benefit to the PDS of linking in StJdA was somewhat limited. But I dont know for sure. (Sorry Swiss keyboard so apostrophes are out the window...)
torico, I agree. Given that you arent allowed to build house up the Mines dOr road, I think ski lifts would be frowned upon by the authorities in Thonon. Who knows though
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Does anyone know anything about the morgins link to PDS being closed yet. They were talking about the lift (don't know the name I'm afraid) last year, saying that it wouldn't be operating this year. Anyone know if that's the case?
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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 had not heard abouth this! Does this mean that the PdS tour can only be done in one direction ie. Champousin-Morgin-Chatel?
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Guys silly question - got my pds map out where's mines d'or?
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FAQ
