Just landed in Geneva and off to Morzine for second week this season (went end of Jan as well). Temperatures look to be nearer +20 this time rather than the -20 we had before! Can't wait though, snow still appears to be good! Will report back later in the week...
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Check out the footage of our adventure up the Point De Ressachaux, from late Feb. There'd been no fresh snow for a while but conditions were ok up high. An amazing peak - so close to Morzine but felt a million miles away up top.
clarky999, the off-piste is pretty stable, but, as for Innsbruck, you need to pay attention because of slides, debris and glide cracks. I must admit that I haven't been tempted to venture off-piste once this weekend.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Welcome to s onz.
We skied the Plaine Dranse / Linga sector yesterday and had great hoon around. You really couldn't ask for more - blue skies and fast, (very) grippy pistes. The bottom half of the run down to Linga was particularly good value for carving with the final pitch down to Linga being the best I can remember it. Run of the day was the red run down to the bottom of Pierre Longue.
There continues to be great cover on all the pistes - although a few of the high traffic green/blue runs back to Plain Dranse were showing the start of little patches of brown poking through. Nothing the pisteurs won't take care of.
I agree with FS's call on best run of the day. Our last one (before the rugby) was from top of Cornebois lift down Perdrix Blanche abd followed by the red down through the trees.
Good snow all the way, getting soft towards the bottom and just the odd loose stone to dodge.
One short pause at the top of the Pre La Joux lift but otherwise flat out. Brilliant.
Makes a real change from the mud/ice on that bottom part most years (when it is open)
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Just got back from Morzine and had 15 deg C sunny slopes to 15cm of fresh snow all in 4 days! Saw the aftermath of a couple of slides, one on piste in Avoriaz! Snow conditions are holding up well but there was lots of hard packed snow \ ice in the busy areas.
Have to say this is the first time we have been to the PDS area and we all found the lift system to be shocking, especially in Les Gets. Constant breakdowns or stoppages due to people being catapulted off the lift when getting on. Got stuck on one lift for over 30 minutes, doesn't give you much confidence either when you can hear the lifties hammering away!
Beer and food isn't too badly priced though - Will write a mini TR when I get time.
After all it is free
After all it is free
russ_e, we were in Les Gets and surrounds all last week and it was great. Bad luck baout the lifts - we didn't go into the bowl in Les Gets more than a couple of times and then to use the Grains d'Or lift but I have heard that the Ranfoilly lift is out for the rest of the season. That is only what 'I have heard' so not sure about that but it was reported on here last week that people were stuck for three hours which is not good. Bet the catapaulting off was on the Rosta lift - seems to happen all the time on there as it swings round very quickly at the bottom and if you don't get a move on and get forward in time you can get caught out. Always amazes me though how people can stand in a lift queue and not watch to see how the lift is operating and just get themselves sorted. We are now in a tiny place in Austria and the lifts are working like a dream.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
Did the gully from the top of the Vallee de la Manche into Switzerland on Saturday.
Bit sketchy at the top
Getting better lower down
Soft consolidated powder mixed with spring snow all the way down to the Grand Paradis
View from the bottom looking back up the gully
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Much respect FreeBeer. I've looked at that a few times and walked away from it. There's something about the entrance that freaks me out.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Really really warm today - lots of slushy bumps
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.
Great day yesterday round the Circuit Roc d'Enfer starting from Grande Terche.
Very quiet so even when it softened up the runs didn't get too chewed up.
The run back to the bottom of the bubble is getting a bit thin. Still OK for now but must be deteriorating at a rate of knots.
Met a Brit at lunchtime who spends a lot of the season out here who reckons it could be only until the end of this week that the circuit stays open.
Planned to have lunch at La Tavaillon just below Col de Follys but it looked shut up for the season so did a second circuit and stopped at the top of the chair out of La Chevrerie - very nice and a great view. I must learn not to judge people too quickly. The French lady who we all thought was carrying a bit too much insulation to be a serious skier finished lunch before us, clipped into her touring bindings and set off up the side of the piste at a real lick. Must be all that altitude training!
Enjoyed it so much we just made it round for a third circuit.
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
DJL, one of our favourite things to do and we were there last week when back to Les Gets. In the past we used to go round first time and have hot choc at La Tavaillon and book for lunch and do it again. But the place you went for lunch has become a regular stop for us now. The runs over there last week up and down from the chairlift and then the poma were great.
We did come across quite a few people speeding their way up the sides of the piste - puts it all into perspective when all one has done is go up the lift and then point the skis downwards.
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Yes great runs down that side.
There was also a guy on snowshoes who we saw walking up just below the Col du Graydon. He pitched up at the restaurant as well and when we were heading for the car after the third circuit he appeared through the woods. Must have been a good 6 mile round trip with fair altitude change
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Did the Portes du Soleil circuit today - some of the hottest temperatures I've ever skied in but still a fabulous day. Barbossine was open and quiet, still pretty hard packed/icy and lots of moguls. Lovely run down to Torgon today (I think it's in the Plan de Croix valley). Even got a little off piste in some nice soft and not too slushy snow at one point. Yesterday was (for me) an even better day - Hidden Valley (my 1st time there) - left me with big grins for the entire day, Frontaliere and Renard were also wonderful as well as the off piste below the Donkey's Knob. Almost on my 30th day skiing this season and although there's no powder I'd still say it's very enjoyable. Even our home run down to Ardent wasn't as slushy or busy as we expected.
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
We were on Donkey's today - the most softcore and enjoyable off piste to be found.
Still good skiing though it's too hot! Nearly everything in Chatel still open.
Had a lesson this morning and it really makes adifference having some guidance on where the best snow is. Tired legs but hope the technique is better tomorrow..
Off for the circuit in the morning from Petit Chatel. Hope the run to Morgins is still open.
Ccarolh - 30 days is good going. Saturday will be 18 for me and that's it for this year. Must try for more next year.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Early start (for us) and on the first Chair from Barbossine. Great skiing on the groomed stuff over to Chalet Neuf.
Upper Morgins runs already soft at 09.45 and the last part down only just skiable with mud + stones appearing.
Very hot in Morgins at 10.00. Swiss side (Champoussin and Les Crosets) still OK with some bits of spring snow just off the piste.
Had a run down to Grand Paradis which is still in good shape - no tarmac! Planachaux to Les Crosets superb.
Down to L'Abricotine for late lunch then back to Chatel. Run down Linga at 16.00 still griippy and not too cut up.
Avoriaz tomorrow.
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?
DJL, any chance of any of the lifts starting to run earlier do you think? We are in Austria this week and all go by 8.30 and SamembergSue reports that in her area they are running from 8 rather than 8.30. Would be an enlightned move wouldn't it - half the time in Les Gets they seem to struggle to start by the appointed time in any case.
Pamski, I haven't seen any sign of lifts opening earlier. Pity the best snow is early with the sun and heat we have this week.
Avoriaz was great. Run down to Ardent through the goat village to warm up and then Coupe du Monde just as it was softening and gave up some grip. Brilliant!
Next we decided to have a go at Arete des Intrets which was a schoolboy error. Hardly any sun had been on the bumps and they were very icy. We only discovered this once we were too low to bail out though we noticed that is what the BASS instructor did with his group though they were all skiing better than us. Still you live and learn. It was a day to pick the right slope at the right time. Headed over to the Fornet bowl next which was good fun.
Back over to pick up our lunch from the car at Pre la Joux which we had along the ridge past the Rhododendrons.
Last run was down the open field above the Chaux Fleurie blue. Spring snow though just a little past its best but still really good fun.
Still very few rocks or mud though popular runs were very cut up late on.
Last day of the season tomorrow - 5 hours around Torgon/La Chapelle then down to the airport late afternoon.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Just landed at Stansted. End of season for me.
Great last morning. First lift from Barbossine at 09.00 then over to Torgon. The run down just perfect snow - groomed, froze and just starting to soften. Pretty much like that all morning over in La Chapelle and back to Torgon.
Even the Epervier run back to the Barbossine mid station was in good nick (apart from the last 50m and the road)
Hope those still out or arriving have a good Easter and end of season. Local forecast for village level was rain tomorrow then some fresh snow.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
zzz, no, I don't thnk so!!
After all it is free
After all it is free
Arrived in Morzine yesterday afternoon. Everything at resort level was almost entirely green and it was raining heavily. Have woken this morning to a complete change. Everything is now white and it is still snowing. Can't wait to get out and about on the mountain. Fingers crossed for a great week.
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.
Lots of lovely new snow this morning for my last day.
forgot my goggles yesterday - glasses kept steaming up so had to ski back to Morzine from La Linga in the snow with no eye protection. ouch!
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Snowing all day in Chatel. About 20 cms of fresh snow so far. Bit foggy at times but still a hoot.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
About 40 cm fallen by this morning, light powder and has been snowing gently all day here in Champery and harder up top! Should be a powder bonanza tomorrow...early doors!
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.
Sitting in Schipol after a weekend introducing a friend to PDS.
Saturday: skied Linderets to Les Croset, couple of times down the swiss wall then the Fornets snowcross. Lunch at Le Trappeur with a band playing for St P's Day. Coup de Monde to rewarm-up, then Crozets bowl and the "waterfall run", and back to Ardent. 48km before the GPS batteries died, max speed 66kph.
Sunday: all over the Linga side including 2x Hidden Valley. After hotty choccy in Plan Dranse it started sleeting so hole up in Le Chaudron, Les Linderets for lunch. Still sleeting so called it a day at 2pm.
Monday 0345: snowing heavily in Montriond as we began drive to GVA. Whose idea of fun was that? (mine ) 0830 landed at -5m above sea level. 1030 - trying to stay awake in a meeting at work. Oh well - it pays the bills! 2000 omg I'm tired; on my way home to Norway.
Back in Montriond in two weeks - can't wait. Dreaming (wishfully) of fresh powder at Easter.
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
summer, BergenBergen, sounds good to me. Anyone know what the snow gods have dumped in Avoriaz?
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Not much I'm told. Very light but not enough to stop you hitting the bottom.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Great snow above about 1700, especially on the north facing slopes. Chamossiere Black was in great form yesterday, Red a little sticky once half way down.
Cold this morning so gonna be a great day on the hill. Shame I have to go to Geneva, mend a bed and clean the boiler. Still 2 consecutive days up the hill is nothing to be sneezed at. Good days with The McSoley gang and old friends.
FlyingStantoni,
If and when I get your transfer set up. Looks like a supper do on Friday with Sean and others too numerous to mention.
Reports of great powder beside the blacks of Avoriaz and the VDM.
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Thanks DallyPaul.
Supper sounds excellent. Do you have a location in mind?
MrsFS is on a course in Chamonix this week and may or may not be back on Friday evening - it depends on how tired she is. I'm expecting that she'll be very tired - but you never know.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
I've just seen this photo of a slide beside the Charniaz chair.
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?
FlyingStantoni, There are a couple of people off to the left with a dog. Do you think it was a precautionary check? I hope no-one was caught in the slide, it looks quite big. Any news about it from MrsFS?
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
I'd assume that it was just precautionary geetee.
MrsFS is in Chamonix doing the BASI mountain safety course this week. She says hello (I've just spoken to her).