 Poster: A snowHead
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@YetiWrangler, If you don’t have any luck with Ultimate our daughter has the number of a New Gen instructor based in Tignes that she had a few successful lessons with last season.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Lac looks very frosty this morning on the webcam, the end of autumn may well be night. A bit of snow tomorrow and it is starting to look unsettled from next Sunday.
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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 say it every year. But when they take the tennis fencing down by the lake and put the tyres on the courts its a sign the locals think winter is imminent. That has just happened. So hopefully the forecasts are correct from the weekend - a cold snap and a decent fall. Arrive Sat 30th Nov. Staying until 27th Dec. Back probably late Jan
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| bobski62 wrote: |
Great, thanks @Kenzie - I might take advantage myself. Let's both keep an ear to the ground for the date when they announce it... |
Saw an update on Facebook today:-If you're coming out to Tignes this season and don't have all your ski gear sorted yet, don't panic! Lo Terrachu will be hosting a bring and buy sale at the beginning of December (4th is pencilled in) so you can pick up skis, goggles, beanies etc for a bargain! Also, if you're having a clear out, keep hold of anything you'd like to sell and we will announce a date to drop off items closer to the time 
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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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| Quote: |
| When they take the tennis fencing down by the lake and put the tyres on the courts its a sign the locals think winter is imminent. That has just happened |
Spot on @Mark1863  Nice to see Val Claret looking quite white this morning. At last! 
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@BFG_Skier, that platform (and the seating) is a good use of a dead spot on the top of Tovière
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Hi all! My first post on this forum! I'm going to be skiing in Tignes for 4 days from Dec 6th. I've been obsessively checking the weather, webcams and forecasts for a while! Glad to see that a light dusting has gone down last night - albeit nothing else is forecast for the next 10 days.
My question for regular early season skiers/snowboarders is will there be sufficient time for them to pretty much create enough man made snow to have most of the runs up and running by Dec 6th?
I know they open officially on Nov 23rd - what realistically will be open by then?
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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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@eak99, welcome to the forum.
It's impossible to say for sure. You've picked a high altitude resort and Tignes will be doing everything they can to open on time. Lots of snow making capacity so everything is on your side.
However, to make snow you need consistent freezing temperatures which has not yet arrived.
Fingers crossed for you. No point in worrying until the 4th Dec
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Thanks both for your reply! That's super helpful and much appreciated. I am staying in Tignes 1800 in Les Boisses. I've been looking at the piste map and could anyone advise how long it could take to get from there up to the double M slopes?
I'll try and stop obsessing over the forecast for now!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| eak99 wrote: |
Thanks both for your reply! That's super helpful and much appreciated. I am staying in Tignes 1800 in Les Boisses. I've been looking at the piste map and could anyone advise how long it could take to get from there up to the double M slopes?
I'll try and stop obsessing over the forecast for now! |
Its only about 20 mins by bus - get the Tignes App, and the timetables are on there (and live bus info via the Zenbus section).
Cant remember, but I think you need to get the bus from Boisses to the bus station behind Maison de Tignes and jump on the other bus up to VC.
If you mean skiing............well, thats very much weather dependent as 1800 is a wee bit lower down than Val Claret - which makes a difference in early season.
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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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| mountainaddict wrote: |
| Quote: |
| When they take the tennis fencing down by the lake and put the tyres on the courts its a sign the locals think winter is imminent. That has just happened |
Spot on @Mark1863 Nice to see Val Claret looking quite white this morning. At last!
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Indeed. Lets hope from Sunday the forecast holds reasonably true.
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| Quote: |
| Glad to see that a light dusting has gone down last night - albeit nothing else is forecast for the next 10 days. |
Snow-forecast.com is showing heavy snow (33cm) and freezing level dropping to 1750m on 17th Nov @eak99 Got everything crossed for that happening - Mrs MA and I will be there from 28th Nov.
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You know it makes sense.
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Just had a message from the Mairie. Snow making will begin tonight on Double M, Carline and Grattalu. They are then hoping to extend the area next week.
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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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@mountainaddict, 28 November was/is our planned arrival date but no transport booked yet as we were waiting on our passports and visas being returned from the French embassy, which happen yesterday.
With the fluctuating freezing levels over the next week I’m starting to get concerned we’ll have a limited start to the first few weeks of the season similar to 22/23, but hopefully I’ll be proved wrong.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| GreenDay wrote: |
| eak99 wrote: |
Thanks both for your reply! That's super helpful and much appreciated. I am staying in Tignes 1800 in Les Boisses. I've been looking at the piste map and could anyone advise how long it could take to get from there up to the double M slopes?
I'll try and stop obsessing over the forecast for now! |
Its only about 20 mins by bus - get the Tignes App, and the timetables are on there (and live bus info via the Zenbus section).
Cant remember, but I think you need to get the bus from Boisses to the bus station behind Maison de Tignes and jump on the other bus up to VC.
If you mean skiing............well, thats very much weather dependent as 1800 is a wee bit lower down than Val Claret - which makes a difference in early season. |
Thanks that's good to know thank you! I'm hoping the snowfall will be sufficient as where we are staying is supposedly ski in/ ski out.
Does the Boisses Gondola being open depend on snow cover too? I'd have thought we'd be able to get that, then the Aguille Rouge chairlift before being able to ski down into Le lac?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@eak99, The Boisses Gondola and the Aguille Rouge Chair rarely run at all until the week before Christmas, even in good snow years. The Chaudannes sector has only been open once or twice in the past 10 years before then. I don't think it's snow cover - it's down to the gradual opening of the areas, and the low number of punters before Christmas.
Odds are you will have to get the bus up to Le Lac.
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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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Hi @eak99, to pick up on a few of your questions:
The Boisses / Brevieres sector normally opens in the week leading up to Christmas. Sometimes earlier but that's not to be relied on.
Early season there is normally a bus from Boisses to Lac, but it's generally two buses in the morning (8, 8:30 or so) and a couple of buses in the evening (6ish). This can vary from season to season so you will need to check the timetable once it's published - easiest way is to download the Tignes App to your phone.
From Lac, at the Maison de Tignes bus station / tourist office you change buses to get the one to Val Claret. There's a good chance that Lanches chairlift will be running by 6th Dec, but if not, funicular is pretty much certain.
Each year the resort opening is progressive and as @GreenDay, and @chocksaway, mention, very dependent on temperatures and what's fallen out of the sky. Early Dec, Glacier is pretty certain, Double M fairly certain, Grattalu, Carline quite possible, Boisses unlikely.
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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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Thanks @judwin and @bobski26 - that's super helpful info! That's all good then - looks like we will be getting the bus up! Assuming driving and parking up isn't really an option? and do taxis/ubers operate much around Tignes?
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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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Driving up and parking is definitely an option, so long as you don't mind £10-£15 per day for the privilege. The road is generally black up until Maison de Tignes but obviously that might vary. From there, the round robin bus to VC is quite regular and all day. I mention Maison de Tignes both because it likely avoids the snowier roads and it's a nice place to get gear on and get changed.
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Thanks Bob! Could you please send me a link to the carpark you're talking about, I cant seem to find it? Do you think there is much chance any of the chairlifts in Lac will be open by 6th Dec? Sorry for all the questions!
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Lac lifts: it's 50/50. Parking links: second post on page 1 of this thread. The carpark under Maison de Tignes is Lac3. No point booking in advance as it's most unlikely to be full and if you mix and match with the bus you'll be better off paying by the hour.
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Brilliant - thanks so much for pointing me in the right direction!
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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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| Quote: |
| The carpark under Maison de Tignes is Lac3. No point booking in advance as it's most unlikely to be full |
I've alluded to our 28 Nov Tignes visit in earlier posts/car park queries. We'll require just under 5 days' parking, with that duration (5 days) seemingly being the minimum duration for a discount price. As I still need to get my finger out and sort the hire car registration number issue with car park operator Indigo, will I be best off just turning up (ie not booking in advance) with a view to parking at Grande Motte or Golf in Val Claret? I'm struggling to find the daily parking rates, as I've done in previous years... 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Snow cannons now going on the Palafour and Toviere sides as well
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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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| Quote: |
will I be best off just turning up (ie not booking in advance) with a view to parking at Grande Motte or Golf in Val Claret?
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In a word @mountainaddict, yes.
At that time of year the car parks are not full or even close. Better in Golf as the prices are all the same and it saves having to clear snow off the car - plus, Grande Motte car park may not exist any more (what was left of it was slated to become a recreation park, though I note Indigo does list it as an option).
A digest of last winter's hourly and daily rates is on page 1. I rely on the placards at the entrances for this info so will update once I'm in situ, hopefully week tomorrow, and most likely matching those from @BFG_Skier's link.
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That's brilliant @bobski62 Thank you so much!
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You know it makes sense.
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Excitement mounts!....Cue Top of the Pops music!...Calling all pop pickers!...Now then, now then, now then! (Sorry, gone too far...  )
Tignes is straight in at no. 13 in the Wepowder.com forthcoming snowfall charts!
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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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| mountainaddict wrote: |
Excitement mounts!....Cue Top of the Pops music!...Calling all pop pickers!...Now then, now then, now then! (Sorry, gone too far... )
Tignes is straight in at no. 13 in the Wepowder.com forthcoming snowfall charts!
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Do any of these sites give data comparing their predictions with what actually happens?
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Quote: |
| Do any of these sites give data comparing their predictions with what actually happens? |
Can't say I've ever seen info along those lines @Kenzie. I usually use Snow-forecast.com, which is generally accurate in terms of forecasting whether precipitation will happen, but has been known to underestimate snow amounts.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Thanks @BFG_Skier  Apologies, as I'd overlooked your response.
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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: |
I usually use Snow-forecast.com, which is generally accurate in terms of forecasting whether precipitation will happen, but has been known to underestimate snow amounts.
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The latest forecast is decent enough - freezing level dropping too. Let's hope it's an underestimate! (Note to self: I've got to stop checking these bloody forecasts every 5 minutes!  )
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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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| mountainaddict wrote: |
| I usually use Snow-forecast.com, which is generally accurate in terms of forecasting whether precipitation will happen, but has been known to underestimate snow amounts. |
Really? My experience of Snow-Forecast is they are massively optimistic - there's always a big snowfall forecast in 5 days time, which becomes a moderate one in 4, down to nothing on the day. That's also why I use them though - the on the day forecast is generally accurate so you know how many layers/which lens to put on in the morning but get to live the rest of the week with your glass half full.
That said Tuesday's forecast snow seems to have gone up if anything in the last 24hrs - and more appeared on Thursday's forecast.
Too soon to start the "Will the PSB Lardybus be able to get upto Le Lac?" worry?
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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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A time for a weekly look at the weather. Firstly - apps - the weather is not digital! Apps fluctuate wildly as they seem to work on a 0 or 1 approach to weather without assessing trends or a movement of the weather system by 30 or 40 miles, so they tend to offer a misleading 'digital truth' and therefore change their minds every 5 minutes when the weather pattern is unsettled next week. I also find certain ones tend to overestimate snow amount. The major forecasting models forecast rainfall in mm, a factor is then applied to give depth of snow, in light powdery conditions (very cold and no wind and generally not in Tignes) that factor could be 15, if its close to sleet that might be a factor of 5, in my book snow-forecast is a culprit here. Obvs this changes as you move uphill as it gets colder, generally. The same thing seems to happen for temperature where sea level temperatures have an adiabatic lapse rate applied to give the temperature at altitude. But this rate is rarely linear through the atmosphere - so you can often get quite scary temperatures (Meteociel - looking at you!). You can then add the windchill and get truly scary temps - see above.
Anyway to the entirely non-digital musings of moi:
Big change is afoot and is there going to be plenty of snow for the PSB - Yes. The jetstream is moving south over the next few days and winter temps are going to arrive with a vengeance, as are storm level winds. As you can see from the webcams stuff on the sunny side of the hill has been vanishing through the week, this will continue for a couple of days more. Tomorrow will be sunny, Sunday will see lots of fluffy cloud, with quite a breeze building up. Monday will be calmer and a nice day, again a few fluffy clouds. It will still be mild for mid-Nov. Tuesday will start mainly cloudy and this will thicken through the morning till it starts to snow in the middle of the day. It will be raining in Brev, sleety in Boisses and then snow, the snowline will drop below Brev after dark(ish) when the snow will intensify and the wind will begin to blow (a lot!). Wednesday should see moderate to heavy snow showers all day and it will be windy - working on the pistes will be tricky. Thursday more snow and wind - the accuracy of the forecasts is now getting to lower probabilities. Friday - probably more snow showers and wind, getting better in the afternoon. And Saturday the jury is till out - it then looks to get a bit warmer.
So, as ever, how much. I reckon in Lac something between 60 and 100cm before next Saturday, but it could be more or less, because there are some intense pockets of precipitation within the systems and you never know your luck in a raffle. The pisteurs and dammeuses are going to be very busy and the wind midweek will make it tricky to work and manage the drifts so patience may well be required on Saturday morning as they progressively open things. As for the PSB - should be OK really! More news next week.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Mjit wrote: |
| mountainaddict wrote: |
| I usually use Snow-forecast.com, which is generally accurate in terms of forecasting whether precipitation will happen, but has been known to underestimate snow amounts. |
Really? My experience of Snow-Forecast is they are massively optimistic - there's always a big snowfall forecast in 5 days time, which becomes a moderate one in 4, down to nothing on the day. That's also why I use them though - the on the day forecast is generally accurate so you know how many layers/which lens to put on in the morning but get to live the rest of the week with your glass half full.
That said Tuesday's forecast snow seems to have gone up if anything in the last 24hrs - and more appeared on Thursday's forecast.
Too soon to start the "Will the PSB Lardybus be able to get upto Le Lac?" worry? |
This.
Snow-Forecast often give the impression that a huge blizzard and sustained temperatures of -20c are days away. When it ends up being nothing of the sort. Rinse and repeat for 20 winters? Drawing in viewers.
I wish they were correct, instead a website to avoid.
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| Quote: |
| I wish they were correct, instead a website to avoid |
I can only speak as I have found @Snow&skifan and - as stated previously - in my on the ground experience, they have been known, on occasion, to underestimate the amount of snowfall.
I have no idea what systems they use, but if they really were in the game of bare-faced lies and fantasy forecasts, would they not be showing a metre of snow every day, as opposed to the 5 or 6 weeks of absolutely nothing, as of late 
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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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A few “professionals” skiing on the Grande Motte this morning. The Funi, Cable Car and Vanoise are open.
A few non professionals are skinning up Double M!
In other news, a New Mexican Resto is opening in Lavachet, a couple of doors down from Kodo and La Cantine is ‘under new management’. No news on what the offering will be.
They have also announced that to travel on the Funi you have to be able bodied so you can evacuate yourself down the metal steps alongside the track. Not sure if that includes the dogs that travel up to the Panoramique on their own!
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| chocksaway wrote: |
| They have also announced that to travel on the Funi you have to be able bodied so you can evacuate yourself down the metal steps alongside the track. Not sure if that includes the dogs that travel up to the Panoramique on their own! |
Think they can expect significant bad blowback. I coach para/adaptive rowing and that is pretty shocking. Do they indicate they are looking for a solution? What about old people that just go up to the Panoramic? Better not have a bad athritis day when I want to go up to the GM!
Like many forecast sites snow-forecast often exaggerates falls more than 2 or 3 days hence; and indeed are wrong. However, if it is still showing similar amount for the coming storm come Monday morning I will start thinking we are in business. At this time of year if it snows decently to Le Lac/VC level then that is OK. Remember, the runs down to Brev only tend to fully open up within a week or two of Christmas
Last edited by Ski the Net with snowHeads  on Sat 16-11-24 15:52; edited 1 time in total
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