 Poster: A snowHead
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DanMcDan, going home tomorrow 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Weathercam, hubby and no 2 son were on that lift last week in high winds. It was swaying so badly it was hitting the pylons. Son no 1 and I had decided on a trip down to Chantemerle and a ski bus back.
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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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Stuck on Col du Montgenevre trying to get to Puy st Vincent
Been told a bus haa turned over on the French sidr.. looking like it contains be a long night!
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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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philipb, bad luck.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Weathercam, wondering if running it in the high winds has damaged it though.
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Made it. Col open but slow. Raining in Briancon but snowing in Puy. Had a great afternoon powder skiing in Bardonecchia this afternoon, worth the 4 hour drive!
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philipb, we went down to Briancon circa 17:00 and I was amazed at the traffic gridlock, not least cars going towards MG, in fact I went round the side of the Giant super market and legged it back up the hill to Aldi !
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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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philipb, just posted at the same time there, glad you made it, take it you did not take the side road up from Prelles ?
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Weathercam, no stuck to the main road, didn't fancy getting lost and stuck! Woken up to lots of snow here in Puy, looks like it's going to be a good day!
Bit of a relief after driving in heavy rain from Chamonix yesterday, it was noticeable the difference between the French side of the Frejus tunnel where heavy rain to the
Italian side where hravy snow. I hope all the lower resorts we drove through didn't take too much of a kicking from the rain, we were going to stop and ski in Megeve but it was just depressing.
Hope to get over to Serre for an afternoon this week, any recommendations on the best lift to start from?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Extremley windy here in the valley this morning and a lot of blasting going on, should imagine all the top chairs will be shut today.
Jeees can see the snow being ripped off the peaks in the wind!
philipb, best option as it should not be busy this week is head for Frejus lift and parking area and then take the four man chair Casse du Boeuf.
Your point about rain French side of Frejus and heavy snow on the other was just how we found it on Xmas and Boxing day too.
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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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Hi folks looking for a bit of info from those in the know. We are arriving for a week in Serre Chevalier on 16th February. We are staying in Briancon. Have looked into possibly arranging transfers from Grenoble but because it is Sunday to Sunday and there is only the two of us they seem either non existent or extremely expensive. So hiring a car seems the only financially feasible option, but a bit worried about the road situation. What are the roads like snow wise as a general rule. Hire cars from Grenoble don't seem to offer snow tyres and they won't guarantee availability of snow chains. We have a pretty early return flight on the Sunday and I'm not too excited about the prospect of getting stuck on the Col du Lauteret at 4 in the morning. Any advice, recommendations or suggestions welcome. Also looking for recommendations for cheap places to eat in Briancon folks. Thanks
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You know it makes sense.
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wishfulthinker, as a general rule, the road is kept clear and open unless there has been heavy snowfall or high winds immediately before your trip. I was however surprised to see the amount of snow on the road when we left last Monday, and cars without snow tyres did need chains. If you can't get any at the airport there are a few garages on the way that sell them around Bourg d'Oisans. Being a Sunday there are unlikely to be many supermarkets open unless it is before 12.30.
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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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wishfulthinker, I will also ask my contacts in SC if they know of anyone else looking for transfers too. You never know, someone may be looking for the same thing as you which would cut the costs down.
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Poster: A snowHead
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09:30 Just taken this picture and you can see how the top of the Eychauda (2659m) is being stripped by the wind Crying or Very sad
This is going to make the snow pack really dangerous, but should be able to find some great tree skiing where the snow's been dumped by the wind lower down.
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Oh bother! This is not looking good for my trip 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Hells-Bells, many thanks that would be very useful. Our flight lands at 8.45 on the Sunday so once we've faffed around collecting luggage and picking up hire car we should be on our way fairly early, fingers crossed. Was hoping to get an extra half day's skiing in on the Sunday but that is probably asking a bit too much especially if we have to stop to try and pick up snow chains on the way.
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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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kat.ryb, this can change very quickly once there is another fall of snow. Many places were bare and wind-stripped when we arrived, but were well covered by the time we left.
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wishfulthinker, my own half-term guests are arriving and departing on the same day as you, and are also flying to Grenoble, but I think their flight times are much later.
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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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We are on Monarch flights from Leeds Bradford which I think are the first flights to arrive from the uk and the first to leave.
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Hells Bells,
could i ask a similar question as wishfulthinker in relation to driving from Turin to SC i.e shouldnt be a problem uless of heavy snow, high winds etc, also if i get an international group hire car would i be able to drop it off in Salle les Alpes as i only need it one way or would it have to be in Briancon for example ?
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rjmm, I really have no idea about the car hire, but I think there are only rental places in Briancon, and none in the other villages. However, I do know that guests stuck in Sc because of the ash cloud thing had to return their car to Turin, and couldn't drive it direct to the channel ports where they had arranged a ferry. They had to hire another car from Briancon. A question you would be better asking the company you are hiring your vehicle from.
Have driven to SC from Turin on several occasions, it is a better option than the Lauteret, but the same applies.
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Hells Bells, thanks very much, i will check with car hire firms in turin , much obliged, just had a look and it seems the drop off in Briancon is closed on saturday
i think its going to be the train to oulx
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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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Folks
Hiring a car and driving to Serre Che from Grenoble would be my choice. Possibly cheaper than public transport (certainly for a group of 3 or more), it gives you flexibility that you wouldn't otherwise have. Examples: you could drive to another resort if the conditions are bad in Serre Che; you could leave a day early if there is a bad forecast.
If the Lauteret is closed - very rare and equally rarely do you need chains/snow tyres - you almost always have the option of driving via Gap. About an hour longer of a drive but more certain in that the max altitude is about 1400m. Use that route if you are worried about the Lauteret.
There is a web site "Inforoute05" that gives up to date info on the state of the roads including the Lauteret. You can check it before you go and there is also a phone number (it's on the site) that you can call to get a speaking message on the latest conditions.
Coming from Turin, Montgenevre is even more likely to be kept open as the ski station is on the col but if you are not heading back to Turin then hiring a car might not make a lot of sense. Transport form Oulx has to cross through Montgenevre but maybe rjmm is not concerned about road conditions. Btw, the tolls cost more coming from Turin than Grenoble...something to take into account when booking the flight maybe...
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Kevin Byrne, I think there may also be a smart phone app for the Inforoute 5 now too.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Kevin Byrne, thanks very much for the info. Think we are definately going with car hire from Grenoble, which as you say gives us more flexibility.
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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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I have a similar snow chain concern coming from Turin (a few years ago, I had to turn back at the Montgenevre and buy some chains). I now take a pair of Autosocks of a size likely to fit the hire car (quite big tyre ranges covered by each size). They are light and fit easily in luggage. They are now legally accepted in France, but not sure about Italy (even though Halfords now sell a similar product that is actually made in Italy!). Autosocks go on in 10 seconds and work better than chains in almost all circumstances - certainly better than my £300 Rudd quick mounts!
In ten trips to SC I have had to use chains once on the Lauterate, but on three other occasions it was just shut - once I used the Gap route, but other times went via Montgenevre and the Frejus tunnel, then A43 - always open and adds maybe an hour and a half to the Grenoble trip (never really counted, as in those days I drove from UK).
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Kevin Byrne, i have decided to take the train from turin porta nuevo to oulx and then get across to briancon by bus taxi or lift , i am travelling alone and meeting up with a group in SC so as long as i arrive on saturday 22nd feb then all good nothing bad 
in time for the rugby of course !
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You know it makes sense.
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Mrs has been out on the piste last couple of days back on the snow board, and can report very nice conditions and empty!!!
At lunchtime was pretty well the only one out!
Daily updates and webcam from our apartment here
Last weekend the Col was shut to traffic from 16:30 Sat to 08:00 Sunday - I had friends leaving who went via Montgenevre and had to use chains from Nevache to Oulx on Sunday am, whilst the other friends went over the Col when it opened and had to use chains.
I've been commuting back and forth to La Grave as well as going to La Grave in the morning in the dark for theory then up to the Col for a ski tour then back to LG for more theory then back home, again in the dark 
Taking Mrs to Lyon on Monday and will go via Frejus and pop up to see one daughter in La Tania then drop Mrs off at Lyon and then back here - then back to collect her on Friday and then go and stay with other daughter in Tignes for a few days - all rather bonkers as I'm doing more driving here than I ever do back in the UK.
Interesting trip will be my a mate who is taking a train(s) all the way from Ashford to Oulx - I'll report back how that goes.
Currently outside mucho noise from some very powerful race cars on the Ice circuit must be a major event coming up!
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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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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Weathercam, belive it or not, on a still night you can hear the track from Monetier.
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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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Hells Bells, just think, could have been an airfield 
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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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Hells Bells, just think, could have been an airfield
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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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07:09 am guess what's just started 
I'm alright I've been up since 06:45 !
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Hello peoples long time no post! Happy new year to all.
I've skimmed through all the posts here, so many questions to answer. One very simple one for weathercam, go to a ticket office and ask for your days ski nordiques pass, as to skiing without one you do risk a large fine, the yearly ski de fond pass isn't very expensive but if everyone didn't pay it they couldn't keep the piste groomed etc. the season pass for 05 and 04 is 92€.
Any other questions you want answered just ask.
Went out for the first time yesterday, conditions very very nice, a few dodgy patches on a few pistes but generally very good.
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snowangel., wondered what happened to you ?
You still working in the lift office at Frejus ?
Don't know what's happened to the ski de fonde track but still as at last week was not starting from Pontillas.
Don't know if there's been any change as I've been back & forth to LG all week and see that it's all open from Guibertes ??
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No it's still starting from monetier.
Still at ticket office full time now but at chantemerl mustn't grumble!
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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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snowangel., ok we've been muppets so a bit of advice please...........
Before Xmas we went up to Montgenevre and found out we could not use our vouchers (that come with our season passes) as we sort of suspected / had heard about.
Don't know what happened, but said vouchers have now disappeared off the face of the earth and we've torn the van / apartment apart looking for them, know it's a big ask, but do you think we could get replacements ?
Now looks like new snow Monday and Tuesday which is par for the course as the plan is/was to take the Mrs to La Grave to ski Monday before I then take her to Lyon airport for an early evening flight and then of course drive back
Weather still warm for the time of year with it only minus two overnight here though looks like winter temps back end of next week?
And note that for the first time in quite a while avalanche risk for Thabor is now at 2 though Pelvoux is still at 3 for W-N-E aspects
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Weathercam, did you get your vouchers with your lift pass? I ordered my pass online using our previous years passes and was told to take my confirmation email along to the office to collect the vouchers. If you have proof you purchased the passes you might be able to get replacements there.
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FAQ
