 Poster: A snowHead
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(Oh, and we snuck past the ‘meat police’ un-noticed’)
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Eurotunnel to Val d'Isere today. No major delays, just a small accident and general weight of rush hour traffic round Chambry. No fuel problems.
Eurotunnel was excellent, just 1 hour from the check-in booth to train departing, including dog check-in. Would've left a bit sooner but we just missed the boarding for our scheduled train as we were letting the dog get some exercise before going through border control.
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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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| Quote: |
If you travel to the EU from a non-EU country, you are not allowed to bring any meat or dairy products with you
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Hmm, we always have a carrier bag in the back seat full of meaty Waitrose wraps for the crossing which we eat in the car or stood outside it (whilst on the train moving). It's not done on purpose or out of spite as I usually just forget.
Have been steering wheel swabbed, asked how long roof box has been left unattended, to open all windows for passport checks but never about meat.
I think the French have better things to think about......
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Val Thorens for Sunday to Sunday "Easter Week" - any other SH going that way ? Looking to find other snowboarders while better half is at lessons in the morning.
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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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@kettonskimum, true, we also had a selection of pasties, pork pies and car meat as Bob Mortimer would say - that didn’t cross my mind either!
Saturdays journey from Dijon to Les Arcs was uneventful in easy traffic. 4.5 hours or so to Bourg, punctuated with a short stop at a pleasant lakeside Aire just outside Chambery. Arrived in Bourg at 1:15 - fill up on fuel and ‘weekly shop’ at the Super U and then 30 minute drive up to 1950.
Good to see plenty of snow as we drove past the bottom of Pre St Esprit lift.
Arrived at 2:30 and were able to get into Apartment. Mad two hours unpacking, picking up hire ski’s, sorting lift pass, before a cold beer and pizza.
All set for a good week ahead!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Anyone heading north via the Chunnel today? How awful are the queues this afternoon? I seem to recall last Easter heading back was vile.
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@always29, we are on the 13.20 chuntering along now. Booked on 14.50, offered 13.50 at no additional charge, but just waved along as we wound our way through. Seemed all the kiosks open for French passport and then UK passport control.
No real queues to speak of.
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Good to hear. We're booked onto the 1706. Traffic has been fine so far, apart from an accident near Orly Airport slowing us down and then the sat nav took us off the motorway and onto the Paris ring road, where we got caught in rubber necking traffic for 10 minutes. Still the fastest route according to the sat nav. Now back on the autoroute and due into Calais in 90 minutes.
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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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We’ve come up from Troyes area and absolutely plain sailing for us. Few crazy Belgians in the fast lane, plus ça change…
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@pamski, thanks, we were booked on 1620, upped to 1536 and we've boarded the 1520 as we're just waved through. Less than 6hrs from Maçon, possibly the clearest easiest run we've ever had. Watch the M20/25 go to turds now I've said that!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Left VT about 3pm yesterday, overnight at Troyes and then got put on the 1150 Chunnel (1250 booked). Sailed thru passports, no delays at all.
West side of the M25 was its usual grotty self, but nothing too bad. Now back home and missing the snow and Affligem !
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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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Still quiet at Calais. Booked onto the 1720, changed to 1620 at check-in, no extra charge. Currently sitting on the train waiting to go. No queues at all. We did change our booking last night from a 2150 crossing and there were no available slots from. 7-8pm so will probably be busier later.
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At Calais now. Offered the 1635 rather than 1706 for no charge, so went for that one. Just queuing for passport control, but nothing out of the ordinary and moving smoothly.
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You know it makes sense.
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Just had the best week in Three Valleys, got back yesterday. Probably the best conditions I can remember, so cold even the afternoon slush held off.
The guy in the ski hire place said it was better than any week in February or March
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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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I'm heading north from Genoa this morning, too long a drive to cross tonight and drive home. Will get somewhere around St Quentin tonight and find somewhere to stay. Beautiful day. Just had tyre pressure loss warning but looks and feels fine. Have reset and will cross fingers.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| kosciosco wrote: |
Just had the best week in Three Valleys, got back yesterday. Probably the best conditions I can remember, so cold even the afternoon slush held off.
The guy in the ski hire place said it was better than any week in February or March |
Certainly different gravy to what we had at Christmas in Paradiski and 3V last Easter. Just the way it falls. Been a great week for sure.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| kosciosco wrote: |
Just had the best week in Three Valleys, got back yesterday. Probably the best conditions I can remember, so cold even the afternoon slush held off.
The guy in the ski hire place said it was better than any week in February or March |
Likewise, an amazing 8 days is coming to an end for us in Val Thorens. An instructor said this was winter, not April, weather. The best week of this previously wet and record warm season.
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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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About to set off North from Châtel to Eurotunnel. Will be taking the cross-country route over the Jura mountains to bypass Geneva. Will pop out onto motorway near Poligny. It’s been an amazing 10 days and best April conditions I’ve seen in recent years.
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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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Currently at La gare de Moûtiers, awaiting a regional train to Lyon. Before taking a TGV.
So far so good, no talk of delays due to strikes.
Last edited by You need to Login to know who's really who. on Mon 10-04-23 12:25; 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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@Ozboy, that was always a favourite route of ours when travelling back from Les Gets. There were good spots to stop and walk the dog or have a picnic.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@pam w, hope your extra long journey has gone ok.
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| Layne wrote: |
Certainly different gravy to what we had at Christmas in Paradiski and 3V last Easter. Just the way it falls. Been a great week for sure. |
Same here. We had sheet ice at Christmas in Austria. And worse, the snowmaking was in full swing so we'd get a very light dusting on top, which would slip out of the way revealing the ice underneath. My husband had his confidence knocked so badly, I feared he was ready to hang up his ski boots forever. He's come back from this one rating it in his top 3 holidays ever, and raving about the difference good conditions make. We said last week that at least we had excellent accommodation at Christmas as it turned into a spa holiday with a bit of skiing, rather than being a ski holiday, so it was lovely in its own way. I'm so very glad that we made the leap and booked for Easter, and I'm grateful that the weather played ball.
Hope you're almost home now Pam W.
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we drove out to Ischgl for a week was then going on to serfaus for the 2nd week(which would be now)However daughter broke her tibia jumping in to the air bag in the snow park, so have had to cut it short. Great snow conditions up to that point
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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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Ah would have given anything to ski an extra few days in 3V! Was just a fabulous week. Absolute dream week. The runs from Mont Vallon, Saulire, Cime Caron I will be dreaming about until next January!
Very envious of those heading to the EoSB, snow in great nick up top and the forecast (FWIW this far ahead) looks great with more snow followed by sun!
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@Mother hucker, sorry to hear that. Hope she makes a quick and uncomplicated recovery.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@Mother hucker, Sorry to hear that! Hope she recovers swiftly. That's quite a story to be able to tell.
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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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@Pamski, yes, journey went fine - just home, 2221 miles. Almost all pretty effortless except that hideous last leg from Eurotunnel. M20 very busy, heavy rain, spray from trucks. Maidstone Services vile, very overcrowded, big bunches of schoolkids sitting on the floor (because no chairs left). Smell of frying. Fruit machines and garish kids' mechanical toys and toddlers nagging to go on them. Long queue for coffee and sandwich at Costa - £8.50. Arrived at Coquelles to be offered free ride on earlier train but I'd have done better to take my booked crossing and had a far more civilised break at the Eurotunnel terminal. Why anyone ever goes anywhere voluntarily on an English bank holiday defeats me. Long jams on M25.
Hundreds of relaxed, miles on the Italian and French motorways were an absolute breeze in contrast. Beautiful weather. Lovely spring foliage. Quiet service areas with no fruit machines.......
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| Pamski wrote: |
| @Ozboy, that was always a favourite route of ours when travelling back from Les Gets. There were good spots to stop and walk the dog or have a picnic. |
Just made it to the tunnel in 8 hours from leaving Châtel. Only one stop at Intermarche in Polingy for fuel and food. Stoked up on Comte and Mt D’Or cheese which is quite ripe and mouldy at the end of its season. Good run with no lorries and surprisingly low number of U.K. cars. Eurotunnel busy but flowing well - around 15 mins to get through both border controls.
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You know it makes sense.
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| Owlette wrote: |
Same here. We had sheet ice at Christmas in Austria. And worse, the snowmaking was in full swing so we'd get a very light dusting on top, which would slip out of the way revealing the ice underneath. My husband had his confidence knocked so badly, I feared he was ready to hang up his ski boots forever. He's come back from this one rating it in his top 3 holidays ever, and raving about the difference good conditions make.
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Your husband sounds just like me @owlette, we had 3 days in Lech at the start of January and there were more than a few frustrated tears! My confidence was in tatters, felt like I’d completely forgotten how to ski 
Just got home from a week in La Plagne & can genuinely say I skied better than I ever have before. Totally epic & exactly what I needed to restore my self-belief & love of it all!!
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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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| ScarlettInSpace wrote: |
| Owlette wrote: |
Same here. We had sheet ice at Christmas in Austria. And worse, the snowmaking was in full swing so we'd get a very light dusting on top, which would slip out of the way revealing the ice underneath. My husband had his confidence knocked so badly, I feared he was ready to hang up his ski boots forever. He's come back from this one rating it in his top 3 holidays ever, and raving about the difference good conditions make.
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Your husband sounds just like me @owlette, we had 3 days in Lech at the start of January and there were more than a few frustrated tears! My confidence was in tatters, felt like I’d completely forgotten how to ski
Just got home from a week in La Plagne & can genuinely say I skied better than I ever have before. Totally epic & exactly what I needed to restore my self-belief & love of it all!! |
You've summed it up perfectly! So glad you've had your confidence restored too. Sounds like you were across the valley from us at the same time. We were in Les Arcs from the 1st to the 8th. We almost booked La Plagne, but booked Les Arcs based on a recommendation on here. Husband is even talking about the Paradiski pass for next time. He loved it.
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Poster: A snowHead
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I suspect this last week has presented some of the best conditions of the season, right across a big area. A friend who had arrived in Les Saisies on Thursday of the previous week said that the place had looked more dismal than he'd ever seen it at the end of March. Pistes OK, but everything else grotty. Then Friday and Saturday delivered significant new snow and a pleasant touching up on Thursday, so that pistes had a few inches of fresh on top of the corduroy for a final day's skiing on Friday. Perfect. The weather was good too - some great sunshine, but not too warm. We were extremely lucky. The place was deserted - not a sniff of a lift queue. Many late season skiers had probably cancelled trips.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Just come back from Les Arcs and it was the best ever Easter conditions at the top that I have experienced! Slushy at the end of the day 200m just above Peisey Vallandry, but conditions further up remained excellent until lift closures. Everything from heavy snow storm on a couple of mornings to lovely sunshine later in the day. Great time!!
On the way over we got through Dover docks on time with no bother, but we drove past many coaches caught up in the debacle caused by Brexit. Also many trucks parked up on the A2. Felt dreadfully sorry for all those. Now that passports have to be stamped, five people in a car can be coped with but clearly a coach can not.
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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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I sit in our appartment in plagne bellecote and i barely See the lifts 200m away from me from the snowfall
It is snowing since 15.00 pm but its likely a snowstorm than normal snowfall
I have some pics in my Inst Account (turms.snow)
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Home after a week in Arcs 1950. Saturday morning, left apartment by 9:30 and had a morning of boarding around 1950 in low vis and snowy conditions. Wrapped it up around 1:30, returned kids skis to hire shop, changed and set off down the mountain around 2:30.
Roads were clear despite the snow falling through the morning. This is the second year in a row that we have left resort in the snow.
Easy journey of 4hrs or so to overnight stay in Dijon. Back on the road at 8:30 and arrived at tunnel around 1:30 for our 15:20 booking. Really light traffic. Tunnel was quiet too - a short 4 to 5 car queue through check ins and passport controls. We were allocated an early train 1420, but as we parked up the chap said to just drive on… so we did and left on an earlier train.
Arrived home in St Albans by 3
15:30 and first load of washing on by 16:30!
General theme for this year seems to have been ‘low traffic’ - both on the roads , the tunnel and in resort. We didn’t queue for any lift more than the usual 3 or 4 people in front shuffling through the gates. It would have been completely unnecessary to pay extra for an express ticket.
To re-iterate some posts above - conditions were excellent all week.
Now off to plan next seasons trips…
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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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@Richie_S, Fab report. Bonus to be home just after you should have been getting on the train.
How did you get on at Folie with the kids?
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Well. My wife and I had fun. 17 yr old and 14 yr stayed as long as it took to down a hot chocolate and then skied back to 1950 whilst we hung about for another beer with the 10 yr old who a) was happy to stay b) not allowed to ski off with his brothers.
I did decide that it was ‘probably’ a good thing that the Folie wasn’t here 20 odd years ago when my mates and I started visiting as a group of lads…. I imagine it would have impacted our ‘first to last lift’ mentality.
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Just jested with my 9 year old that he couldn't come skiing next year. His response 'meh'. I'm sorry, what? I probed further, unsure if he was winding me up and he said 'I know you love it, and I'm happy for you, but I'm just not bothered'.
Like a dagger to my heart!!
On an unrelated note:
For Sale. One 9, almost 10 year old. Generally good humoured. Big fan of Pokemon. Slightly defective...
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@Owlette, how much are you prepared to pay?
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FAQ
