 Poster: A snowHead
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It has been quite a day here in Chatel and light snow has been falling again for the last hour or so. Powder everywhere apart from the lowest slopes which were a bit wet and sticky.
DJL Spent the morning above yours - first tracks under the top chair, then lots and lots of fresh tracks, with a farm run home at lunchtime. Surprisingly deserted for the first Sunday of the holidays - everyone must have gone elsewhere! 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Chatel Snow wrote: |
| …..everyone must have gone elsewhere! |
Judging by the congestion when we headed home from Hauts Forts , everyone is in Avoriaz and Lindarets. Absolute carnage on the run down to Ardent!!
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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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Chatel Snow, Ardoyne, It's always the same - Avoriaz and Lindarets clogged (and the Cornebois chair). Other unfashionable bits bearable. Secret bits deserted!
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We're heading back out to Chatel on at the end of the week after three weeks back in the UK doing some work. It sounds like the snow pack has grown quite a lot since we've been gone and there's more in the forecast..... I totally agree about everyone spending all their time around Avoriaz and Lindarets and long may it continue - leaves all the good stuff for a just a few of us!!
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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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| Chatel Snow wrote: |
Very very mild here in Chatel with temps above 10C and water pouring off our roof. Fortunately it is dry and the snow is coming tonight!!!
Not done it for a while - but been looking at those automated sites this afternoon that appear to be popular - J2ski suggest 10cm upper mountain for this snowfall and 2cm in village and snow forecast.com have 11cm at 1700m and 7cm at 1200m. As they are presumably both based on the same American GFS data its odd that they are showing different amounts. They also are showing a good deal less precipitation for the Chatel area than the Met Office Euro4, Meteo Suisse and Meteo France forecasts - that all use European model data (as far as I am aware)
This potential snowfall is therefore a GFS versus the combined European forces of the Met Office / Meteo France and Meteo Suisse.
I'd be amazed if the GFS forecasts are right on this one, but a forecast is not right or wrong until it has verified - so another interesting test of forecasts is on the way! |
Bump on this post from yesterday - well done the euro forecasts - particularly the Euro4 Met Office model.
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Just heard from my brother. He was out skiing so not in a ditch but did have a bit of an epic. Got stuck behind cars fitting chains going up the pass so turned round and went via Thonon. Deep snow in Abondance but made it most of the way to Petit Chatel. Parked up near the petanque pitch at 04.00. Must have been some dump.
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It's still snowing in Avoriaz, albeit lightly. Hopefully more of the same tomorrow.
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DJL, wasn't that much of a dump as far as I can see locally (not PDS) but it was that slightly wet snow that very easily becomes slippy and IF YOU DON'T HAVE FECKIN SNOW TYRES YOU ARE A. STUPID AND B. A LIABILITY TO EVERYONE ELSE.
20cm of fresh is hardly a dump. It's the Alps. In winter. It happens. GET SNOW TYRES OR STAY OFF MY ROADS.
Saw far too many slippy sliding idiots out there today.
PS SNOW CHAINS ARE NOT A SILVER BULLET.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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DJL, that's right the rain turned to snow at Abondance last night and then was coming down fairly thick and fast from after around 9.00.
under a new name, agree, tyres are the key. One of our party got a new car two says before they drove out so no time for tyres, they had fun with the chains this morning 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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under a new name, calm, calm, he had winter tyres! Haven't had the full details yet but no doubt I will eventually.
I've got to the point of losing traction and just making it through before (with winter tyres) and I think that slushy stuff is just the worst possible. Seems much slippier than cold fresh snow.
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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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under a new name, having a bad day?
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zzz, no, more annoyed at commune Les Houches for not providing adequate parking for my convenience. It was just continual around town today though. No snow tyres, stuck, chains when not needed, no chains when, etc....dull, dull, dull.
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You know it makes sense.
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4cm of fresh fluffy snow on the van roof this morning which has fallen since yesterday evening. -3C with some clear patches this morning and valley fog patches.
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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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sarah, Lunch? Do tell.
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Poster: A snowHead
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under a new name, why not just hibernate for the week? Curl up and lick your wounds. I spent New Year week cross-country skiing and am spending half term week in Hampshire whilst my niece and family enjoy my apartment!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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pam w, i have a busy week in Geneva so that's fine otherbthan missing the sunshine today. Oddly, certain idiots aside, aside, it was remarkably quiet around Chamonix. It is also delightfully quiet around Geneve.
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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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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| DJL wrote: |
| sarah, Lunch? Do tell. |
Not telling in public
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Mont Chery just keeps giving!
Great morning up there great snow, sunshine, new skis match made in heaven!
Tour around Les Gets in the afternoon, snow held well and the crowds just weren't there.
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Avoriaz and Prodains were fine - but at about 3pm we found the crowds in the runs into Chatel...Starting at Nyon lift tomorrow and will see what that area brings.
Chattonmill, how long are you here for? We should arrange for a ski - although I have folks out this week and may find it a bit tricky to get away!
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Sent a text earlier, am leaving Friday, but back in March.
Weds morn would be good if you are around?
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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What a perfect day!
First off we had some great skiing in soft dry powder snow under perfect blue skies, sharing it with an old friend and his two lovely children. Our boys held their own in the Teenage Black class at Avoriaz Alpine Ski School - and Youngest is only 11.5; proud of both of them but Youngest particularly overcame his apprehension of joining the advanced class. Other friends dropped by to say hello and then we had a great evening meal at Le Rocher, Montriond.
Yesterday was very quiet on the Morzine/Les Gets area. Today was moderately busy on the Avoriaz/Chatel side of the valley, but nowhere near as bad as New Year week.
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| Chattonmill wrote: |
Sent a text earlier, am leaving Friday, but back in March.
Weds morn would be good if you are around? |
That works for me! Have not received text as I lost my phone off piste a few weeks ago - sorry. Am PM'ing you my new number - send me a text!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Saharan dust on the snow in some areas today - making some unusual piste colours!
Last edited by snowHeads are a friendly bunch. on Wed 19-02-14 17:09; edited 1 time in total
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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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Chatel Snow, helped with the flat light I thought 
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Its my least favourite alpine phenomenon - so really glad we have some snow arriving early hours of Friday to cover it up!
Photo from Cret Beni at lunchtime today (which was deserted between 12 and 2)
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You know it makes sense.
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Chatel Snow, agree, it looks really dirty! It was the same all over Pre la Joux today too. Poor snow conditions today really I thought, hard and scraped with crud and slush too. Still relatively quiet considering the holidays 
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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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sarah, Yes - the general consensus locally is that it is a relatively quiet start to the half term hols - might change at the weekend though!
As the mellow upper runs at Cret Beni are treelined both sides - we had no issues with flat light today. Snow was wet, but ok and the place was deserted between 12 and 2. Having said that, its quite a change from last Sunday and Monday's powder!!!
Looking good for Fri / Sat and the outlook after a mild and dry Sun/Mon is potentially more snow Tues/Wed next week.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Chatel Snow, Sunday and Monday were bliss 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Great day out with Harry Flashman, gave him a tour of Mt Chery and then the rest of Les Gets in the afternoon.
Found some great snow at the side of Arbis.
He sure can ski, but can also Tomahawk like a pro...
Cheers Flash, see you in March.
(I hope my family have not left you in shock!)
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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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Chattonmill, great day chap! Your family are brilliant, and thanks for a proper tour of Mt Chery and Les Gets. Glad that my full, skis off, high speed tomahawk entertained, and I will see you guys in March for some off-piste nonsense - we'll find some good soft stuff over Prodains way! Safe trip home, and thanks for a cracking time
The dust phenomenon was very strange - never seen that before. Leaving white tracks in an orangey-cream off-piste field was a new one for me. Conditions were very odd. Adjacent pistes could be completely different - off-piste next to Arbis saw nice sugary slush on one side, and awful concrete on the other side of the piste. Weird!
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Still looking OK for the snowfall that is expected to arrive in the early hours of Friday - copy of our latest update below. The important thing is that the Euro4 model says "yes" according to latest info.
"Chatel Snow Forecast Update 20/02/2014: 10.00am
Latest thoughts on tonight and tomorrow's snowfall... latest info is suggesting that we could see 20cm at the resort altitude of 1200m (plus or minus 5cm) and perhaps 30cm or more at 1800m and above (again plus or minus 5cm). It may start as rain in the early hours of Friday morning at resort altitude, but should turn to snow fairly quickly, with the snow level perhaps below 1000m by breakfast time. If the rain/snow limit stays a bit higher than forecast, then the snowfall for 1200m might be less than suggested above, however, the 1800m figure would be unchanged. Update this evening."
http://www.chatelweb.com/snow_forecast.php
ps - snow - forecast.com has 7cm at 1700m  ... which goes against all the model data I have seen including the very same GFS that it is based upon.
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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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Latest update on the overnight snow. Chamomix area might get more than us this time...
"Chatel Snow Forecast Update 20/02/2014: 5.20pm
We are still looking at similar amounts of snowfall overnight and through tomorrow here in Chatel, according to the latest info, though perhaps the lower end of expectations look the most likely based on the most recent model output. 15cm to 20cm is still possible at 1200m (as long as the rain/snow limit is favourable) and 25cm to 30cm at 1800m. There is still the chance of upgrades or downgrades in these amounts overnight, as there are some conflicting signals from a couple of the forecasts seen this afternoon and we will tweet any significant changes through the evening. The snow is likely to start as rain in the early hours of Friday below 1400/1300m, but it should be snowing at the resort altitude of 1200m by breakfast time. The snow may last into the afternoon.
Some snow showers are possible on Saturday evening, though amounts at this stage do not look significant.
Following a mild Sunday and dry Monday, potentially significant snowfall is possible over the Tuesday and Wednesday period."
www.chatelweb.com
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My favourite supermarket view (Vinzier)
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Chatel Snow, thats a long way from Chatel, have you skied Bernex or Thollon ?. May be a bit busy for the next few weeks though.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Chatel Snow, pretty!!
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| BergenBergen wrote: |
| Chatel Snow, thats a long way from Chatel, have you skied Bernex or Thollon ?. May be a bit busy for the next few weeks though. |
Not yet - we drove via the bottom station this afternoon for a look - car park and surrounding roads were chocka with parked cars - but will defo go for a day there after the hols, as the area looks great.
Last edited by Ski the Net with snowHeads  on Thu 20-02-14 20:43; edited 1 time in total
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FAQ
surprisingly quiet too 
not complaining 
Like the wacky races out there today 
