 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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English skiers use the term Couloir too. Those tracks look incredible!
I still have 20 days to wait until I am in Pas, lets hope it keeps snowing 
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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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| bar shaker wrote: |
| English skiers use the term Couloir too. |
Ah yes, but not crap ones like me! 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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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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Anyone got any reports on the grandvalira region in andorra, is it skiing better after the snow last week or should I keep preying for more?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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fukin fantastic 60 cm fresh powder 120cm at top
1meter at bottom
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Back from Andorra yesterday and conditions were excellent. Skied Arcalis on Monday, which was fully open and a pure delight, until a complete whiteout just after lunch sent me home early...and I was one of the last. Still, it made for a good day's powder hunting between the trees in Pal the next day. Pal is still missing a few slopes, but isn't far off the max. Went to El Tarter on Tuesday which again almost ended in a whiteout, but once that blew over, conditions were fantastic. Miles and miles of fresh stuff, especially up at the top, which was just a bit too windy for most. Even if warm temparatures between now and then, it looks like a good Easter is in store in Andorra.
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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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Returned from a Weekend in Tavascan. Really hot, and finally sunny (some forecasts said probabilities of storm this past night).
There was a freeride event, saturday a derby (couple mixed) and today the freeride competition. Yesterday all the mountain and orientations were really transformed, and this past night the refrozen was significant. After did the hiking of the ridge and check the conditions, only S faces were in good condition (is an amateur competition...) the other were in a  ice/crud, and some iced bowls of yesterday's fusion... the organization decided to cancel the event for safety. So the people decided to hike 30minutes more and reach a nice and charged cornice south oriented that we kicked it and did a nice run to the top of the start, at this hour (14h) the zone was softened and we can try our lines...Nice spring snow, made 2 jumps and soft landings..... definitely, the organization made a good decision, and we did a better decision to hike a little bit more, really happy spring snow.
The problem is that in the Pyrenees there weren't enough snow, and apart from some special places as Tavascan, Ordino-Arcalís, or Baqueira, the other ones suffer a lot, and we need LOTS of snow. With the predicted drop in the temperatures we will have "perfect" ice rinks, so be quiet and safe, and make edges!!!  
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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AlTom, Fab photos, you do need a bit more snow on the off piste though don't you? I hope it comes for you soon.
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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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You know it makes sense.
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At least 10cm fell last night in Peyragudes, Baqueira and Superbagneres with more snow today and heavier snow forecast for tomorrow and Monday. It is beginning to look like the slopes will be perfect after the French Easter holidays finish which will give us empty slopes and great conditions.
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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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How crazy is this:
Fantastic dumps of snow over the last two days (between 30 and 50cm) but no chance of trying it out as both Superbagneres and Peyragudes are closed due to high winds (75K). With 10 guests expecting their first ski of the season today its pure hell...........................
Out with the sledges and on with the snow shoes.
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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 have 30cm in Bareges (1250m) and it is still snowing really hard. Yesterday we found 15-50cm off-piste, depending on the aspect, so today there must be well over 50cm fresh up there this morning. About to go and find out! One thing's certain - we'll be sticking to the trees because the visibility is next to zero! 
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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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Heavy snow continued all day today (though the lifts were closed), though the freezing level has climbed a couple of hundred metres with it now raining in the town. By mid afternoon there was at least 50 cm of dry snow down to 1000m and with the winds dying down for the morning, tomorrow could well be a little bit special (as long as we can still see of course).
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Looking at the web cams, I would think you are going to have an amazing day!!
I'm in Pas on Sunday. Can't wait.
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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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finally, yesterday dump was the season dump. Major problems in comunications due low snow level. the snow bring lots of snow in certain places as Ordino, or Tavascan.
Here you can see the meteofrance nivose, it's located not far away from tavascan, in couserans. The snowfall was step by step but without stopping,
http://www.meteofrance.com/FR/montagne/obsHebdo.jsp?LIEUID=MONT_PAULA
The restort is closed now, but they will open this weekend, and will be the LAST of the season .....
This data are aplicable also at Arcalís, due its orientation and altitude they normally receive similar amounts (in my experience). Arcalís will be open unitl 13th, so to weeks more!!!
This weekend will be perfect because the snow will be more stabilized than now, so more possibilites of do "nice things"
Last edited by Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do. on Tue 25-03-08 16:27; edited 1 time in total
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Altom,
Is that right, Grandvalira will be closed all week? Until the weekend?
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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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The officialy closing date for ALL resorts in ANDORRA is Sunday 13th april.....
Last edited by You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net. on Tue 25-03-08 17:28; edited 1 time in total
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AlTom, April ?
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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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AlTom, I'm really happy that you've got a big dump to finish the season with. Happy skiing.
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Out of interest, if it keeps snowing, do they extend the closing date? Does it open only at the weekends if there is still snow?
It would be crazy to close the whole resort network if there is 100cm of snow on the ground.
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You know it makes sense.
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bar shaker, I'm sure Baqueira closes this weekend, and like last year it has some of the best snow of the season so far....
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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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It depends, in Andorra and Baqueira for sure they will close the exact date, because they're major resorts and need a lot of people to work. In andorra there're a big % of "international" workers and have the contracts closed (also the appartments, passports, etc etc) so no possibility to extend the season.
In baqueira EVERY year they close with big amounts of snow.
There're other little resorts that they will extend the season depending on the snow, normally Masella every year try to reach the 1st May (and normally it's possible). Some years ago Pas de la Casa did the same, but now with Grandvalira always close the expected date 
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Poster: A snowHead
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I've often wondered with Baqueira why they don't keep a single sector open using 'local' staff if the snow conditions allow. That way they gain extra business at minimal cost.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| david@mediacopy wrote: |
| I've often wondered with Baqueira why they don't keep a single sector open using 'local' staff if the snow conditions allow. That way they gain extra business at minimal cost. |
Me too, sectors as Argulls hold the snow really well, sure they can open the lower cabin to mid-mountain, the front side and Argulls, with a reduced ticket and less personal.
BUT, their really business is when the jet-set are in the valley: expensive hotels, expensive restaurants, expensive forfait, lot of teach, lot of money in the altitude restaurants.... not in april...
At this time of the season, the installations are only used for season pass holders and day-tripers or weekend tripers..... So not possible to sell a 45€ ticket, a 300€ night, etc....... I'm sure that if they open in this conditions they don't waste money, but not necessary for them. I think that Masella is the example, with only 3 lifts they can open a big amount of hight terrain, so less workers
But, in the Alps, the resorts that try to extend the season are those that have a summer season, as tignes, chamonix, val thorens, 2alpes (chamonix don't have summer ski season as it, but a lot of activity in the lifts in summer; and Val Thorens for its altitude april is a really good month), etc, and try to keep the people that works all year, but normally those ones that don't have summer activity don't do it.
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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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| AlTom wrote: |
| BUT, their really business is when the jet-set are in the valley: expensive hotels, expensive restaurants, expensive forfait, lot of teach, lot of money in the altitude restaurants.... not in april... |
I think your right, they are focused on the upper end of the market. But they had a better snow park this year so maybe they are looking to a wider market.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Grrrrr!
Just checked the forecast. I'm heading out to Soldeu on Saturday. Sub-zero temperatures and snow until the day before I leave, when the temperature is forecast to shoot up to around 7 degrees and rain is forecast... 
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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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skisimon, please, in spring more than 3-4 days is too much..... All models forecast different things so, wait a little....
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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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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Had a great day at Peyragudes today (130 top 100 base) in unexpected sunshine, though the day was cut short by a massive blizzard and white out from about 1430 with snow down to 1200 m. Snow still falling tonight on and off so tomorrow is going to be great as long as the temp doesn't rise too much and the snow turns to rain.
Superbagneres also closes on Sunday with some of the best conditions of the season, luckily for us Peyragudes will be open for another week.
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FAQ
It takes all the fun out of being bitter and twisted in the run up to a holiday if I take into account the reliability of forecasting... 