 Poster: A snowHead
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@luked, My son is a boarder and hates Cascades! There is not only flat bits, there are uphill bits, one of them quite steep.
@boarderpatrol, Good luck to you on that one. As a boarder I am surprised you are even considering Cascades.
@ringingmaster, The piste is on the piste map so I would guess that it is 'on piste'. However, there are numerous ways down to the bottom of the drag and none of it is pisted. There are piste markers, IIRC, so if your question is related to insurance cover you might need to stay within the markers.
Conditions today were wonderful. The off piste is well tracked but the snow is still soft and well worth trying. The new Tete des Saix chair appeared to be running properly. Bit warmer today (-3C at top of Grands Vans at about 3pm). Very few people around, especially after lunch.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| luked wrote: |
| @boarderpatrol, just the kind of person I've been looking to speak to! If it is open when I come is the cascades worth doing as a snowboarder? If so are there any bits where u have to really maintain speed for the flats? |
Not done it as yet so will see what its like if it opens. It does look like there are lots of flats on it. Think we are heading to Samoens in the morning - up the Grand Vans.
@Chris Mason - yes will heed the advice - just looking at what opens as my wife skis and didn't enjoy Dolome in the shade. Convinced her to try again tommorrow after I have re tuned her ski edges 
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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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im interested in these buyclub.ch vouchers for my trip on the 26th.
has anyone had dealings with these before, i just want to make sure its a legit offer before i buy.
thanks.
ian
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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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@boarderpatrol, I finally did cascades on Skis after going 7 consecutive years on the trot, felt there was far too much flat and uphill sections, and after the first 1-2km it's dull, I felt I lost half a day and won't ever do it again, there's far more fun to be had in the rest of the GM
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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 did Cascades last year as skiers and I thought it was great to do once as the scenery is fantastic but the final section is a mountain road and was icy/stony. Ok if you are confident skier but it was busy and the usual scenario of people not giving the less confident space and time. The bus queue was a bun fight as well but I'd still recommend doing once.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Gers is a black piste.
They're certainly slow getting the domaine open. I guess it's the sort of stuff that they would have done the two weeks before Christmas, weather permitting.
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Conditions good again today. Still finding a bit of powder of the sides. Temps seemed warmer and winds are very low if none existent.
Same piste status today. Didnt notice much new stuff. Possibly saving some if the snow doesnt arrive next week.
Not sure what happened to grand vans lift around 3pm today. It was closed - looked like mech or elec issues. Plenty of folks caught out for transfer out of Flaine. We did see a few buses later on going to pick up and ship them back we think ?
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Can see Grand Vans from our balcony. They have got some scaffolding out and have taken a few chairs off, quite a bit of activity going on, so will hopefully be fixed by morning.
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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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FWIW the Grand Massif app says that Cascades is scheduled to open tomorrow.
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The last section of Cascades is in good order, the snow cannons were working there this morning, also the top section looked ok, didnt visit the middle as I was persuaded down Gers which was fine.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Chris Mason wrote: |
@ringingmaster, The piste is on the piste map so I would guess that it is 'on piste'. However, there are numerous ways down to the bottom of the drag and none of it is pisted. There are piste markers, IIRC, so if your question is related to insurance cover you might need to stay within the markers.
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Thanks for the replay - not insurance related as I have suitable dog tag cover. More 'luggage space' related as I am packing light for just a weekend - bringing the avi gear or not.
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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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| Ian_86 wrote: |
im interested in these buyclub.ch vouchers for my trip on the 26th.
has anyone had dealings with these before, i just want to make sure its a legit offer before i buy.
thanks.
ian |
I successfully loaded the days i bought onto a Card today on the official website so was working fine
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That's good news, though as you only have 15 posts to your name you too could be part of an elaborate scam... that includes tripadvisor reviews referring to bargains bought through the site. 
Received an odd email telling me that if I were to buy any more then I wouldn't receive the vouchers until next Wednesday. Sits oddly with the max 2 per person rules...
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You know it makes sense.
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| ringingmaster wrote: |
| Chris Mason wrote: |
@ringingmaster, The piste is on the piste map so I would guess that it is 'on piste'. However, there are numerous ways down to the bottom of the drag and none of it is pisted. There are piste markers, IIRC, so if your question is related to insurance cover you might need to stay within the markers.
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Thanks for the replay - not insurance related as I have suitable dog tag cover. More 'luggage space' related as I am packing light for just a weekend - bringing the avi gear or not. |
Bring your gear. The only avalanche I've ever "attended" (as a rescuer) was in the Gers bowl.
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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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Yes i am definitely in on this and am harvesting Credit cards as we speak to pay for my next ski trip!
Yeh i got that email too and i assume they mean if people had bought one day pass before, then they could buy a second one but wouldn't receive it until next week
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Poster: A snowHead
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@galpinos, Thanks for that. Will pack avi gear
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| charltonfan1 wrote: |
| Ian_86 wrote: |
im interested in these buyclub.ch vouchers for my trip on the 26th.
has anyone had dealings with these before, i just want to make sure its a legit offer before i buy.
thanks.
ian |
I successfully loaded the days i bought onto a Card today on the official website so was working fine |
So did you load all 4 days onto the one ski pass with no problem??
Last night I bought 10 passes across 5 accounts with 5 different credit cards!! 
I will be using 6 days worth and my wife 4 days worth when we come over in March. Hoping it is as easy as loading all the codes onto one ski pass all at once.
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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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| stewwrlfc wrote: |
| charltonfan1 wrote: |
| Ian_86 wrote: |
im interested in these buyclub.ch vouchers for my trip on the 26th.
has anyone had dealings with these before, i just want to make sure its a legit offer before i buy.
thanks.
ian |
I successfully loaded the days i bought onto a Card today on the official website so was working fine |
So did you load all 4 days onto the one ski pass with no problem??
Last night I bought 10 passes across 5 accounts with 5 different credit cards!!
I will be using 6 days worth and my wife 4 days worth when we come over in March. Hoping it is as easy as loading all the codes onto one ski pass all at once. |
Loaded 2 days of the 4 that i bought onto one card and then loaded the other 2 days to a second card in case of any issues
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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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| charltonfan1 wrote: |
Yes i am definitely in on this and am harvesting Credit cards as we speak to pay for my next ski trip!
Yeh i got that email too and i assume they mean if people had bought one day pass before, then they could buy a second one but wouldn't receive it until next week |
After being the one who popped this discount on this thread, I sat down to do it last night for this weekend only to find the delivery date had moved forward a few days, and therefore would not be useable for this weekend. Dang. 
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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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Doh 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Best I can do is to offer you a virtual pint to say 'thank you'. 
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Conditions today still very good. Grands Vans chair closed until about 15.00 this afternoon but was running after that date, so hopefully the issue is fully resolved. The pistes are in fantastic condition, although there are a few patches lower down that have been scraped of snow and are quite icy. The off piste got heavier towards the end of the day where it was exposed to the sun, but, hey, who's complaining? It was good to see that they responded to the GV closure by putting on buses to get people in and out of the bowl, I guess the credibility of Flaine as a resort was at stake.
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| charltonfan1 wrote: |
| stewwrlfc wrote: |
| charltonfan1 wrote: |
| Ian_86 wrote: |
im interested in these buyclub.ch vouchers for my trip on the 26th.
has anyone had dealings with these before, i just want to make sure its a legit offer before i buy.
thanks.
ian |
I successfully loaded the days i bought onto a Card today on the official website so was working fine |
So did you load all 4 days onto the one ski pass with no problem??
Last night I bought 10 passes across 5 accounts with 5 different credit cards!!
I will be using 6 days worth and my wife 4 days worth when we come over in March. Hoping it is as easy as loading all the codes onto one ski pass all at once. |
Loaded 2 days of the 4 that i bought onto one card and then loaded the other 2 days to a second card in case of any issues |
Did you manage to load both consecutive days at once, or do you have to load a day, ski it and the. Load the next.
Do you do it All through the grand massif ski pass site?
Thanks.
Ian
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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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Cheers Chris
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Arrived in Samoens last Sunday, we're here for 3 weeks and couldn't have timed it better! It's been a week of blue skies, very cold temperatures and until today very quiet pistes, with no lift queues. Today however was very busy, lots of fast but not very good skiers paying no attention whatsoever to other piste users! We had an early lunch then headed home.
Most pistes are holding up well with the exception of some lower slopes where there are blades of grass appearing and a few stones, and the piste back from Flaine to Samoens (the one that leads to the corblanche or vernant chair) was thin, chopped up, mogulled and not very enjoyable this afternoon.
Anyone any idea why theyre not blowing more snow whilst it's cold, coz there are areas that could do with a bit more cover.
On the whole a very enjoyable week, snow quality helped by the low temps but could do with more.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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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Very busy throughout the GM area today. Car parks were very busy so I guess it was lots of locals coming in. Gers bowl opened yesterday afternoon and by the time I got in there this morning it was well and truly tracked out. Mrs M went off the top of the drag down onto Cascades and found some untracked powder. Some of the pistes are getting very hard packed and icy in places and the number of people on the slopes today means that the piste bashers have got a lot to do tonight. Warmer today (3C at the bottom of the DMC this afternoon) which was also affecting the snow.
Need some more snow soon! 
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Heading out to Samoens for the weekend on Friday - best start the snow dance......
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You know it makes sense.
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we heading to les carroz on Saturday, as far as i can see, no snow due until middle/end of next week.
im praying it arrives a little early
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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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We have had brilliant couple of days on generally excellent snow . Couple of bare patches in the busy areas, but overall the conditions are fabulous. Last day today.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Found a amazing website yesterday called skiplan it shows all the French resorts in detail. Names all the runs and shows weather they are open closed or soon to be open very handy in planning out a day on the mountain!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Ian_86 wrote: |
| charltonfan1 wrote: |
| stewwrlfc wrote: |
| charltonfan1 wrote: |
| Ian_86 wrote: |
im interested in these buyclub.ch vouchers for my trip on the 26th.
has anyone had dealings with these before, i just want to make sure its a legit offer before i buy.
thanks.
ian |
I successfully loaded the days i bought onto a Card today on the official website so was working fine |
So did you load all 4 days onto the one ski pass with no problem??
Last night I bought 10 passes across 5 accounts with 5 different credit cards!!
I will be using 6 days worth and my wife 4 days worth when we come over in March. Hoping it is as easy as loading all the codes onto one ski pass all at once. |
Loaded 2 days of the 4 that i bought onto one card and then loaded the other 2 days to a second card in case of any issues |
Did you manage to load both consecutive days at once, or do you have to load a day, ski it and the. Load the next.
Do you do it All through the grand massif ski pass site?
Thanks.
Ian |
Yes managed to load two days within 20 minutes on the site without skiing one
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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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Far fewer people about today so pistes did not take such a beating. Marvel early this morning was lovely, almost deserted and in very good condition, even towards the bottom. Runs down to Carroz also in good condition, although Timalets is starting to show some worn patches. Spent the afternoon in Flaine, off-piste either side of the Aujon drag almost totally trashed but still quite good fun. Temperature just above freezing this afternoon so very pleasant. The Chamois run down to Molliets is becoming very busy, even when nowhere else is, I assume due to new Tete des Saix chair. Saw a few falls just before the tunnel under the road due to well worn, icy conditions. They seem to have made matters worse by putting up fencing so there is only a couple of quite narrow access points to get through the tunnel.
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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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I agree @Chris Mason, it was definitely less busy today but still more people than I expected, I've been coming here 12 years and it's far more popular than it used to be and as a consequence the bottleneck areas are more problematic. I had exactly the same thought about the fencing before the tunnel by Les Molliets and the run that leads down to it will be mayhem at peak times as everyone is funnelled onto the same piste, it's not wide enough to cope with all the traffic heading towards the lifts at Les molliets.
Does anyone have any idea why there isn't more snow being made? There are areas where more cover is needed and with nothing forecast for the next week I'd have thought they'd have been taking advantage of the cold temperatures.
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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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@skimum, if you look at the reservoirs quite a few of them are pretty low. I'd guess that they're trying to conserve the water in case there's not much more snow before vacances scolaire.
My big beef today is all the people that seem to think it's fine just to start skiing without checking what's going on behind them........
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Another great day on fantastic snow. Had a great few days. Sat at airport waiting for flight home.
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The sun continues to shine and the temperatures are staying low. This means that although the pistes are not suffering from the weather they are getting slowly worn away and there are an increasing number of brown patches showing through with stones kicked up by the piste bashers. The cloud inversion that has been with us for nearly a week now (cloud in the valley, sunny from Carroz upwards) continues but has risen to Carroz today, meaning it was colder in Carroz this morning than in Flaine. Drove down to Magland yesterday evening (food and drink running out and four more people arriving at the end of this week) and the hoar (sp?) frost on the trees below Arraches was beautiful.
Have had another fantastic day's skiing. Careful navigation round the few brown patches is worth the effort to save the bases and even the off piste is soft, although badly chopped up. There are patches of hard packed snow/ice lower down in all areas. Some snow is forecast for Sunday night so let's hope, things are going to be difficult if it doesn't arrive soon, despite the best efforts of the pisteurs.
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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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@Garioch, You could chuck that bottom one into the photo competition.
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Just returned from 5 days in Grand Massif area, staying at a lovely chalet in Sixt.
Pistes were really good considering they have only had a couple of significant snowfalls. Blue skies each day, warm in the sun, freezing in the shaded runs back to Samoens/Morillon late afternoon. Some of the lower runs showing rocks/grass and patches of ice - but nothing that caused any real problems and alternative runs were no problem at all.
Pistes over in Flaine were fantastic especially during the weekday mornings when it felt like we had most of the runs to ourselves.
We did Cascades on Sunday and vowed never to do it again!!! Very icy and rocky on the lower part.
All things considered I think we've been really lucky this week as it has stayed so cold, before leaving we were told that the foehn wind is returning today (Fri) so warmer conditions will probably be bad for the area without any new snowfall.
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FAQ
