 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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I've skied the 3V at easter one year (mid April I think) and managed to get reasonable access to all valleys and even had 30cm of fresh at the top of Mount Vallon. However - down in Meribel it was wading through knee deep slush-puppy by the end of the day. There's no telling at the moment what conditions will be like this year by April. Cross your fingers and pray to the snow gods!
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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've skied the 3V at easter one year (mid April I think) and managed to get reasonable access to all valleys and even had 30cm of fresh at the top of Mount Vallon. However - down in Meribel it was wading through knee deep slush-puppy by the end of the day. There's no telling at the moment what conditions will be like this year by April. Cross your fingers and pray to the snow gods!
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Oooh thanks kamikaze for the reassurance...Definitely crossing everything I have to get those snow gods smiling 
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So far as I can make out, cavycool isn't going until the last week in April. At the last EoSB at around that time, the skiing in VT was OK, but the link to Meribel was closed.
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Reread my post and realised hadn't put exactly when I am heading out there...will arrive in Meribel Sat 17th April thanks for clarifying Hurtle! May be jumping in the car to find snow in VT if can't get over the tops!!!!
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cavycool, The links will very likely be open - I usually ski on the final day of opening for Meribel and Courchevel, and the links have been open for the last few years
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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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Hi offpisteskiing,
Any further updates ....leaving for M'bel on friday evening for the week....is it going to be worth it?!
SCoGB rep reckons La Masse on the other side of Les Menuires is the place to be ....any other tips?
Weather models for the next few days are not inspiring me to drive down with much haste ! 
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HTL, La Masse & Val T were not bad at the start of the week, we skied powder between the pistes in the main Val T bowl on Tuesday...
In short - head high...
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J2Ski snow report says a light dusting, enough to improve conditions should be due this weekend. By all accounts to improve the lower resorts.
We're off to Val T, but hoping to traverse some of the 3V to get a bit of tree-line and a look at Meribel. *HTL*, I'm taking my netbook and may be able to update Snowheads with where the best snow lies.
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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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Thanks to all for the tips....it looks like the models are distinctly undecided on whether the snow will roll in or not...most recent ones suggest not.
snow-forecast.com suggests a dusting tonight and then that's pretty much it....Will have access to a laptop and wi-fi in Meribel Villages hopefully....and will try and update Snowheads
Fingers crossed and bon ski !
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Just got back from the Three Valleys yesterday, snow is becoming very icy lower down, however, Val T was still maintaining good conditions no doubt due to the cold temperatures preserving previous snow. I do imagine though if it doesn't snow any time soon then skiing there will begin to become less enjoyable!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Just back from a great week. Wall to wall sunshine all week.
Yes lower pistes are a bit icy in places, but plenty of snowmaking going on which is freshening up the worst spots in the morning.
Best snow in VT - as expected ...... and in the Courchevel couloirs, especially Emille Allais which is always the best !
Saw the worst fall I have seen for a long time - 2 teenagers in a family group fell from the north entrance of Teleferique couloir all the way to the Combe de Saulire piste ..... maybe 300 metres cartwheels, somersaults etc. Miraculously they walked away. Goodness knows what they were doing up there.
A few flakes started falling in Geneva Airport just as we got on the plane - but the Alps were bathed in sun once we flew through the low cloud.
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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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We have just got back from Courchevel too, I thought the condiditions were ok on Monday but by the end of the week virutally all slopes had large sections of sheet ice especially after lunch.
Weather forecast stated small amounts of snow nearly every day - but as already posted there wasn't a single cloud in the sky for most of the week.
As a result of the condiditions (and maybe food/beer cost) the resort was dead.
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Skied from Val T to Courchevel 1850 this morning, pistes are still okay in the morning after a night of snow canon. But a bit patchy in places.
No new snow to speak of, only snow in the air.
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You know it makes sense.
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Just back from 3 days in Meribel having skied in each of 3 valleys and would say conditions on piste are reasonably good and much much better than I was expecting. Snow is firm and grippy and although scraped in places you can easily avoid down the sides. Obviously off-piste is pretty non-existent. However higher runs of VT, La Masse, Meribel valley and Courchevel 1850 all in not bad nick.
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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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| brianr wrote: |
| Obviously off-piste is pretty non-existent. . |
Best not tell offpisteskiing that, he must have been posting pics from another time zone......unless there has been a very precise thaw off piste whilst leaving snow on piste......
This is one of my pet hates, off piste is skiing the snow you find, you'll get champagne powder once in a lifetime for an average week a year British skier, everything else is still off piste and sometime (corn) is almost as good....
Cheers,
Greg
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Poster: A snowHead
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Agree - generally the off-piste was rubbish ..... tricky breakable crust or skied out. But there were a few decent patches if you lookled, or hiked, hard. But even when hiking, most of the pitches were cr*p and not worth it !
The best areas were sheltered North facing slopes - Courchevel couloirs esp - were there were some nice soft chalky sections if you kept to the sides away from the moguls.
Meribel couloir very good too even though south facing and a bit rocky at the top.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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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Just back from Meribel Motterat.
Ok skiing for the first hour on groomers with snow cannon cover. After this nearly all the pistes had huge ice sheets and stones or grass appearing.
We headed for 1650 initially to get some easy skiing on bashed blues and sunshine , then Mt Vallon .
Most steeper pistes were like skiing on an ice rink . Clumps of atificial snow and concrete like compacted snow to try to edge on .
Spent the afternoons on the moguls as they offered some respite to the knee hammering and sphincter tightening traversing of sheet ice.
More injured than usual at the airport too .
I could not find any off piste that was good, the grand coloiur even had stones and rocks coming through and moguls the size of minis. The fourth valley was only OK , as was VT .
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Heading to 1850 on Feb 26th, I hope there's some decent skiing to be had!!!
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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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Standee, It'll be rubbish... don't go!
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dupes, that does not sound good at all. was vallon okay off the sides of the piste
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| shoogly wrote: |
| Standee, It'll be rubbish... don't go! |
Well, it's booked and paid for, be disappointed if the conditions are poor but it isn't as if it's the only place struggling (if indeed it is).
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Just finished a week in the 3v, mainly Courchevel and La Tania. Snow cover is very thin and hard, with lots of ice around, especially in the late afternoon, and some bare patches. Most pistes are open, but I would predict some carnage when the number of users picks up: have seen plenty of people falling and sliding a long way.
I would predict that until it snows properly again the resorts will continue their sterling efforts at preparing the pistes, which are pretty good first thing, but even the hire shops are a bit concerned.
Still, at least it's nice and warm.
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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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3 Valleys extremely quiet today (lull before the half-term storm). conditions on piste are very good considering there has been no significant snow since Christmas. Sure, there are some "polished" spots on the piste, some lower runs are closed, and others a little rocky, but snow on the higher slopes is quite grippy, and has even improved over the last few weeks as temperatures have risen. Pisteurs have been working hard to move stockpiles of snow onto the pistes. There is still some good off-piste, but getting harder to find. Anything near the pistes in well skied out and often mogulled. Weather was beatiful today, around 3 degrees at 2000m, -3 at 3000m and sunshine all day.
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Back yesterday from la Tania and Courchevel 1850 & 1650 (where I skied mostly) were just fine - no worse than weeks I've had historically in early March and perfect in the mornings. Even skiing back to La Tania late afternoon was okay albeit a little thin, icy and slushy in parts ... but perfectly okay. I didn't come across one closed run that I had in mind and almost managed to justify the cost of my lift pass on the back of how they'd managed to keep the pistes looking so good 
I can't comment on off-piste or the seriously scary stuff but for those wanting to stay on piste ... don't panic.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| tor wrote: |
Back yesterday from la Tania and Courchevel 1850 & 1650 (where I skied mostly) were just fine - no worse than weeks I've had historically in early March and perfect in the mornings. Even skiing back to La Tania late afternoon was okay albeit a little thin, icy and slushy in parts ... but perfectly okay. I didn't come across one closed run that I had in mind and almost managed to justify the cost of my lift pass on the back of how they'd managed to keep the pistes looking so good
I can't comment on off-piste or the seriously scary stuff but for those wanting to stay on piste ... don't panic. |
Cheers for that, has put my mind at ease.
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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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Just back from week in Meribel and 3V.
Most runs were fine early in week, but hear that Creux is getting thin now. Best snow is up high, La Masse, Mont Vallon and Val Thorens. Piste bashers are doing an amazing job, harvesting snow near pistes to bring them back to spec.
Most blues are in very good condition, though soft stuff is scraped to the sides by the end of the day. Lower blacks are icy, some reds closed. Jerusalem is not that pleasant - top stoney and icy (though there are signs saying so at top). We took the Blue down to St Martin many times and had some lovely runs. Early morning reds in Peclet, Orelle and Cime de Caron were great.
It has been very quiet there ... but sure this week will be much busier with half terms starting.
Safest way back down to Meribel is to avoid the lower runs, pop back on green to Mottaret and take the Truite back in.
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sat in chalet in La Tania at present. beem snowing this afternon and visibilty above 2200m pretty poor. bizarely visibility below 1600 also not great. was in courchevel 1650 at lunchtime and started snowing around 2pm. tricky journey back over to 1850 as poor visibility and scrubbed off pistes especially on the reds. really needs some snow on it now. 1650 blues in amazing condition considering. reds over the top of 1650 going over roc merlet are pants. we came down creux and bottom was mud and rocks. pistes down saulire going towards 1850 are ok. not snowing now but lots of low cloud. mixed reports for next few days. locals saying snow until 10pm tonight but not down here in la tania. expectng it to be overcast and snowing tomorrow.
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You know it makes sense.
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Some light snow overnight down to about 1300m. But not much, Avi risk is 1 today. Best conditions in Val Thorens. Not too busy considering it's Paris half-term.
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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've heard from our chalet owner in St Martin De Belleville & they believe it is the longest period without new snow for 40 years, whether that is just local or for the valley as a whole I don;t know.
The last snow fall there was 10th Jan. - I hope it gets better as we are going back in April, for Easter hols.
Noisey
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Poster: A snowHead
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4 weeks till we head off...
please snow gods... make it snow at least a few times before we get there!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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No prospect of new snow - it's back to warm weather and sunny forecasts with the exception of Sunday when there is talk, albeit muted, of two inches falling.
I keep hearing the Three Valleys typically see late-season snowfall - how late are we talking? I've had 12 weeks out here yet only 4 weeks of snow and only a handful of powder days! With friends and family en route through March, some serious snow would be welcomed!
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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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Astraeus, I've had fresh snow for at least one day of every trip I've done there over Easter over 6 consecutive years...one year it was snowing in Geneva when we landed late March I believe!!
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kitenski, glad to hear it. Meribel is by no means 'finished' but it is struggling. The guests I bring into resort are all pessimistic about the quality and quantity of snow seeing as Les Allues and down has next to no snow and the resort is unseasonably green. The slopes, however, have had cannon firing on them almost nightly since December with only two weeks (this week included) being too warm for them to be effective.
The bashers are also doing a grand job and powder hounds can find some satisfaction in the Alouette run atop Plattieres 3, the runs down from Mont Vallon (although Combe Vallon is suffering from some stones on the slopes as you get lower). Both of these will be best enjoyed if you stick to the side of the pistes as they are well-skied now.
Other than that, new skiers will be happy with the snow at the Altiport which is holding up remarkably well. The Grand Duc is struggling now with large icy patches and Mottaret's run-ins are horribly icy, especially in the afternoon, so caution needs to be exercised to stay safe on those slopes.
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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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todays report...beautiful and sunny all day with fabulous views, especially from top of mont vallon...however some challenging conditions. there is some nice snow out there but you have to look for it. val thorens ia good and even the off piste is skiable. run s on the glacier at vt are nice and cascades black is fun...huge bumps but good snow. busy runs back to mottaret are scrubbed off and icy.runs that face the sun are good around lunchtime - down fro saulire to meribel and from col de la chambre to menuires. Folyeres run to la tania was tricky at 5pm today-worst its been all week. sorry to say that it really does need snow now...however they are doing a crAcking job with what there is and there are so many pistes open that really are defyin g logic and nature white ribbons of piste draped over brown and green patches..how they do it I dont know but they really are earning the cost of the lift pass...its easy to look after a ski resort when there is loadsof snow !
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| backhojo wrote: |
| Folyeres run to la tania was tricky at 5pm today-worst its been all week. sorry to say that it really does need snow now... |
Hope they keep it OK as in La Tania in 2 weeks 
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piste bashers out on folyeres right now...its very annoying that they work on it very late at night. its 10pm and we have to be up at 5.30 for our transfer...one of the prices you pay for being slope side i guess. we have skied out and in every day all week.
went to 1650 today and ws generally good.some of the lower slopes are closed but thats cos they have focussed on one or two slopes and harvested snow. top slopes above 1650 in excellent condition and slopes above 1850 very well maintained
surprised that the run down to le praz is in fabulous condition (relatively...obviuosly not knee deep powder!!)
oh well ...holiday over...roll on april when we go to montgenevre
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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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Patch, go on i just arrived today..  sick as a dog so didnt ski today but hoping to get some fresh air in the morning.
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skimottaret, OK, here's one ... Boismint at Val T. In fantastic shape, and nobody on it today. See you there tomorrow
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