 Poster: A snowHead
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Renside, hope you found the place OK.
Lovely sunshine continues, but freeze-thaw has taken its toll on many pistes rendering them hard and slidey.
Certainly Cornegidouille (Blue down to La Roche) is back to its worst, and a frightening place for beginners on its lower steeper section.
Without Envers it is the only way back from Montalbert.
And what is the state of play with Envers?
Well, there does seem to have been some activity round the bottom station. Snow has been cleared round access, some poles and tapes up for where we might queue, chairs have been cleared of snow (though that might just be result of warmer temperatures). But still no sign of any actual action.
We thought it might start on Saturday when whole of Paradiski opened up. But no. Now maybe Christmas? New Year? Easter? Armageddon?
It remains a sorry sight.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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We went up Envers yesterday morning and it was working well, but as you say it is not working today. (it was also running Saturday afternoon) I'm so fed up with it and the fact that no piste machines had been down Cornegidouille today with beginners really struggling once again. I have written to the Montalbert Resort Director and the Piste Director of SAP. I know a couple of seasons ago the Mayor of Aime and Tarentaise got involved after a skier passed away after hitting some ice and went headlong into a tree, so hopefully something will be done this year. It still remains the only piste I have ever skied with piste patrollers standing behind slow down banners on two of the bends yelling at skiers to slow down! if irc that was New Year 3 years ago.
We went over to Champagny where its also showing some bare batches today and also on the lesser used pistes back into Bellecote
Snow showers forecast from Thursday and then heavy snowfalls from Boxing Day, however there is rain in the forecast from Thursday below 1250 and for a time Thursday afternoon up to 2000m. Hopefully that's wrong! But we do need to go shopping so....
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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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What!? You have been on Envers?? 
But it only works intermittently - like when i'm not there. Typical.
Went over to Les Arcs today.
Huge queue for Bergerie lift at 9.30, so we went back to 1800 and took the bus round to Bellecote.
Bit busy all the way over to Dos Rond, but then all skiers just evaporated. Pierres Blanches down to Vanoise was bliss: empty and lovely snow. Vanoise was quiet. Covid Pass checked at Peisey lift (one and only check all day).
Les Arcs was on the whole busier than La Plagne. We met lift queues for the first time.
The "road" down to Derby lift had some nasty icy patches.
Tried out the new restaurant at bottom of Derby. Won't bother again. 4€ for watery hot chocolate in a paper cup. It was hot, but had no other attractions.
At bottom of favourite Edelweiss-Vallée de l'Arc run there were long queues for both Comborciere and Pre St Esprit. Fortunately the majority of skiers were wearing masks/buffs in the queues - so well done Les Arcs.
Run back to La Plagne in lunch period was wonderfully quiet.
Weather remains wall-to-wall sunshine, but markedly colder today.
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From the regional news paper - le Duaphine ..... Google Translated
La Plagne cancels fireworks and torchlight descents
The La Plagne station launched, through a statement published on Tuesday, December 21, the first episode of a long series of cancellations to be planned as part of the New Year's festivities. The resort with the red cap announced the cancellation of a new project killed in the bud: a 360° pyrotechnic show entitled "Snow of Fire", orchestrated from the "Dou du Praz" (summit of Plagne Villages), located in the heart of the station and at an altitude of more than 2,000 m. By setting fire to the starry sky and summits, this fireworks display was to be fired at midnight and visible from all altitude sites. A new concept that already dealt with the epidemic context, since it eliminated the usual gathering of more than 10,000 people on the Plagne-Bellecôte snow front.
"Unfortunately, all these efforts were not enough to maintain this evening," reads the statement.
But the "Snow of Fire" event is not the only animation affected by this wave of cancellations. Thus torchlight descents (Montchavin-les-Coches, Champagny-en-Vanoise) as well as the festivities relating to the 40th anniversary of the Plagne-Montalbert site are also cancelled, in the context of a New Year 2022 that should strangely resemble that of 2021...
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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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Sad (especially when they seem to have tried so hard to make the Firework Display covid responsible), but understandable.
Now they just have to get Envers going (listed as "Towards"  )
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Happy Christmas
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New Year celebrations. December 24, 2021
| Quote: |
Hello everyone,
A Prefectural Order came out today, here are the main measures concerning us:
— "Article 2: from 9 a.m. to midnight, the wearing of a mask is mandatory for anyone aged 11 and over [...] in the support municipalities of ski resorts [...]
— Article 4/5: The consumption of alcoholic beverages on public roads is prohibited from 4 p.m. to 6 a.m.
— Article 6: Outdoor festive events, torchlight descents and fireworks on public roads and in private spaces are prohibited on 31/12/2021 and 01/01/2022 from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.
— Article 8: In ski resort support municipalities, the consumption of drinks and standing food is prohibited in the following places:
>> cable cars and ski lifts
>> hotels and similar accommodations
>> tourist accommodation and other short-term accommodation
>> campgrounds and caravan parks for caravans or recreational vehicles
>> restaurants with a musical atmosphere
>> cafeterias and other self-service
>> fast-type restaurants
>> contract catering services, canteens and corporate restaurants
>> catering services
>> pubs and bars with a musical atmosphere" |
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boredsurfin, not sure I quite understand Article 8.
Meantime Santa's has delivered. Despite predictions to the contrary from most standard sources, IT IS SNOWING! 
Been snowing hard since lunchtime. A good few cm lying already.
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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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And snowed overnight. Another few cm. Cars crunching as they go past. Trees all white. Christmas card picture.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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So we've had a lovely morning. Streaks of sun and blue sky. Lovely new fluffy snow. Lots of almost empty pistes.
No one on Pierre Blanche down to Montachavin. And the between-piste off-piste is gorgeous. Area under Crozats chair just lovely.
Got home at right time: clould has come in: can't see beyond 100m.
And, according to The Bulletin: Envers is open!
Amazing.
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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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@Jonpim, it's 7c on our balcony! Chatting to the locals they are concerned that after Macrons announcement tomorrow the enclosed lifts will have to close!
Envers open! Maybe someone listens to the complaints after all.
We still have a broken piste machine here as well....
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Close the Gondolas and Cable Cars
Zut alors!
That's gonna bugg@r up you and Skichampuk.
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You know it makes sense.
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Low cloud drizzle and cloudy
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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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Similar on piste apparently 
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Poster: A snowHead
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Reversing into an oncoming snow plough on a pedestrianised street!
(The gate was unlocked to let the snowplough in)
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Yes, @boredsurfin, pretty grotty up here in 1800. But must admire the intrepid keen skiers who still went out today.
Meantime covid is flowing thro the resort. All of Bobsleigh staff. Friends we had meal with (fortunately) outside at Roc des Blanchets 10 days ago. Le Cantine closed.
But looking out from the balcony, people (and lots of them) going about as if nothing untoward.
We have filled the moat, let out the crocodiles, and drawn up the drawbridge.
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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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The New Year crowds have gone, lovely sunshine - interesting piste conditions from sugary right through to sheet ice! (Its 9c in Montalbert) Off piste looks rock hard! The lines in the snow are caused by the rain we had for a couple of days.
Snow predicted Tuesday night into Wednesday and then off and on for the next week.
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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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@boredsurfin, "New Year Crowds" may have gone, but now we have a hord of "Post New Year Punters" pouring in.
Don't think this is going to be the quiet week we'd hoped 
And yes, the snow conditions are "interesting".
Off-piste is horrible.
Piste varied with lots of nasty hard bits interspersed with (snow)gravel.
Not really much fun.
We went skinning up to Dou Du Praz yesterday, and apartment DIY today.
Roll on Wednesday
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Some of the new year crowds are unfortunately still blocked on the road in Aime so I hear... 'Circulation à l'arrêt'. I thought it was very calm on the slopes and lifts today, especially compared to the craziness of this week. A number of fellow Belgians among the lucky ones here. The stade de slalom de Belle Plagne was in excellent shape, a lot softer than Thursdays and Fridays icier conditions. And the piquets didn't fall down by hordes today  And COVID is everywhere. The creche in Plagne Centre is closed.
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@Jonpim, Most of Holland seems to be skiing today, very busy on the slopes and in restaurants today.
We had a very late last minute booking last night for the week from a Dutch family.
Went round to the nearby hotel to book a table for them and most of their last minute cancellations from the UK had been replaced by Belgians over New Year so not having too big an impact there.
Last edited by Then you can post your own questions or snow reports... on Mon 3-01-22 15:48; edited 1 time in total
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Well, skichampcouk, all our skiers must have gone your way.
Early on skiers were loading onto the Melezes lift, but leaving the 1800 rather bereft.
From top of Dou du Praz you can see a lot of the La Plagne pistes, and at 1pm they seemed mostly empty.
Of the skiers we observed, many were struggling with the hard pistes.
Skinning up at the moment is more fun than skiing down.
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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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Yes, it seems the resort has fillied up with Belgians and Dutch.
Both have school holidays until January 9th.
And the Dutch have more stringent travel restrictions for Austria: Netherlands is considered a "virus variant area" and you need be boostered and have negative PCR, or go into 10 days quarantine.
So La Plagne is now full of the non-vaccinated Dutch (transfered from Austria). Brilliant.
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@Jonpim, We seem to have an equal number of Luxembourg registered cars to Dutch ones in the Montalbert car parks. Our local bar prefers the Belgiums - "at least they spend some money, but not as much as the Brits"...
Montalbert has always had a share of Dutch, (there is a small Dutch Chalet operator based here.) Thankfully we always 'manage' to get a Gondola to ourselves
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Cold this morning. -12C and counting.
Pleasantly quiet yesterday morning, but the few cm of new snow were soon scraped off down to the boiler plate of previous day's rain.
Made for pleasant skiing on gentle slopes, but less fun on steep ones.
Envers was closed, so everyone on Montalbert side forced down to La Roche. The bottom part of the blue run was treacherous. Scary for beginners/intermediates. Many were taking skis off and walking/sliding down.
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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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@Jonpim, Good to hear, the snow makers have been running here all night and through today - its currently warmed up to -5 on the balcony it was -8c at breakfast time. We aren't skiing today as I have knocked my knee and have a lovely bruise, topical voltarol is soothing the mild pain. We thought it best to rest.
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You know it makes sense.
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boredsurfin, sorry to hear.
Voltarol (topical or enteral) not bad, but the best medecine is a 40% (or 45%) solution aged in sherry casks.
Any ice should be placed on the bruise, never in the glass 
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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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Snowmakers still running, that's continuously for last two days and nights. Theres some impressively large mounds of snow under each of them now!
Nico at the l'arbreuvoir restaurant has stacked all of his terrace furniture - so its either end of season or a very large snowfall expected
The chimney sweep has been at last so we can use the log burner again
edit: the snowmakers have all stopped and its snowing gently....
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Poster: A snowHead
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Sounds lovely. Maybe will get back again one day!!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Do there seem to be any staffing issues in La Plagne at the moment due to staff illness / isolation?
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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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sugarmoma666, I know of one or two (boredsurfin wll probably know of more).
Le Cantine closed its kitchen last week due to covid, so was bar only. Chalet hotel les Rhododendrons (Bobsleigh bar) also had staff problems.
And we know of several friends and chalet staff who seem to have caught Covid from a particular evening in La Mine. Some of them have discovered that Covid can be more than "just a cold", being still rather breathless on exertion (skiing) after 10 days.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@sugarmoma666, as well as those that @Jonpim, mentions the lift co's excuse for closing lifts for lunch breaks is staff shortages. The French have or are due to go to a 5 day isolation so that may help. Being closed for last season I guess a lot of their seasonal staff found jobs elsewhere.
The local Bar / Restaurant owners here are all having trouble finding staff even at €15/hr, much as in the UK, but here they haven't got Brexit as an excuse
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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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@Jonpim, @boredsurfin, thanks for the responses. We were due to come out to La Plagne in a couple of weeks, but I'm in the process of moving that back to mid March. Hopefully things will be a bit more settled by then. It's great to hear how things are going in resort.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Nice Cloud Inversion after around 6 inches of snow overnight and more due later today.
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And today was back to a normal quiet Saturday.
Bad light at first so headed over to Montchavin end.
All runs quiet, and pistes quite fun with few cm fresh light snow at edges, and mixture of new soft snow mounds and hard patches in between.
Restaurant at top of chair out of Les Coches is closed, so next one down (Le Plein Soleil, but still know to us as the German One that used to serve up scrumptious Kaiserschmarrn) was extra busy - we gave it a miss.
Then sun kindly appeared to make our journey back easier with good visibility.
As boredsurfin, mentions: lotsa snow forecast for this evening and tomorrow
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I'm sat here watching the snow fly past the windows horizontally, the snow plough came up half an hour ago, you wouldn't know he had been now, and the forecast is for heavier snow this afternoon. But tomorrow is bright and sunny from the off!
The hairpin bend by us is covered in around 30 sms of snow, no one has bothered driving up past us so far apart from the snowplough. The guys from the ski shop next door must have walked up from the main car park!
and as I typed that the snow stopped!
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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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Quite happy not to be that ski instructor clearing the path to the Nursery!
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Wonderful day. Knee deep fluffy snow, off-piste now bearable, still snowing.
And Envers was working
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FAQ
