 Poster: A snowHead
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cardweg, I agree with stevo_the_saddler. However, if conditions don't improve, you might want to go to Flaine itself (for the best snow), although you have to pay for parking and it's a bit of a trek from the public car park to the lifts IIRC (I'm normally there for the week so use the long-term parking). There is a free bit on the way in on the side of the road (space if you're lucky) but you have to walk a little, although you may be able to use the new lift from the Montsoleil apartments, which are close by. Others might confirm this.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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billb, +1 for that but would use Vernant if lifts are open as parking is free and not too far to walk.
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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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Well, I'm back now. Friday was a bit warm for comfort and the lower runs into Flaine were a bit soft; Saturday was warmer and by after lunch it was jolly soggy in the bottom of Flaine, and pretty cut up everywhere else. Glad I'm not there now until it cools a bit!
Had some absolutely superb lessons from a self-employed instructor called Nicolas from http://www.skisession.fr/ in Samoens. An excellent teacher, whether for beginners or the more experienced. Loads of patience for the most timid beginner, excellent English, the ability to push you just more than you want to be pushed. (He's apparently a free rider, so I guess the world's your oyster with him.) No praise is too high for him.
Thoughts for the resort:
1. Morillon - that Lanche lift is so slow; in fact they need a bubble/express lift from 1100 to the top. 40 minutes for that journey, including a tunnel containing icy moguls on a blue is a joke.
2. Marvel - I'm surprised it has no cannons.
3. Corblanche lift must be dreadful during busy times.
4. Diamant Noir lift must likewise be dreadful when it's busy. It was bad enough at times on Saturday.
5. There seemed to be nothing much between beautifully groomed reds and very difficult, bumpy, blacks.
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James the Last,
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4. Diamant Noir lift must likewise be dreadful when it's busy. It was bad enough at times on Saturday.
5. There seemed to be nothing much between beautifully groomed reds and very difficult, bumpy, blacks. Mon 07 Feb, 11
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The Diamont Noir lift doesn't seem to get really busy (well not IME) although it's the only link to the top from the LHS of the bowl (as well as serving the black). If I were (say) skiing the top of Faust a few times I probably wouldn't go that way but would keep right and go back up on the Perdrix 3 man (slowish but often not too busy). The centre of the bowl does need new faster uplift though.
I guess the GM isn't really a black run area - for that you head further south to the big fancy places n'est pas?
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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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James the Last, some answers in addition to what billb, said
1. Morillon - that Lanche lift is so slow; in fact they need a bubble/express lift from 1100 to the top. 40 minutes for that journey, including a tunnel containing icy moguls on a blue is a joke.
Lifts are v expensive especially one that long! the new molliets lift for example cost a years income apparently.
2. Marvel - I'm surprised it has no cannons.
Sairon the long blue is cannoned all the way down, the snowmaking pond (on left of sairon chair needs to be made bigger for any more, les carroz is planning on making l'airon lake bigger for snowmaking on combe)
3. Corblanche lift must be dreadful during busy times.
Gentaine (corblanche lift) and further up 2 man l'airon lifts go to the same place, go up the l oaisis drag to get to l' airon. they are both going to be replaced with a new lift.
4. Diamant Noir lift must likewise be dreadful when it's busy. It was bad enough at times on Saturday.
because of not so good snow at the bottom, sopeople are doing laps of the top, not usually like that
5. There seemed to be nothing much between beautifully groomed reds and very difficult, bumpy, blacks.
They often groom the top of the blacks (eg. corblanche) and leave the rest. There are one or two easy blacks eg Grand cret into vercland, but they are currently shut due to lack of snow.
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Just completed my first day in the GM. Not a cloud in the sky, and found that we were seriously overdressed for the temperatures. Despite it feeling like a spring day, most pistes were in good shape, with the odd bit of rock scratching through at lower levels. Lower slopes in Flaine were hard packed in the morning, with top dustings of man-made, but at higher levels the piste bashers have been working miracles. Just getting my bearings, so sorry not to be more detailed. Surprised at the number of small, slow lifts, but its still a great area.
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cstreat, James the Last, There are some old lifts... local knowledge can make avoiding them easier. As Carroz said, there is investment coming and has already been some recently (the new Chariande Express in Samoens has made a huge difference). Flaine usually has large queues at DMC when busy - but this can be avoided by heading for (another new) lift opposite (Tetes des Verdes) which gets up quite high and another lift just after gets you to almost same height as DMC. Marvel doesn't have cannons, but as Carrox said, most of Morillon main area does, and a whole load of new cannons in Samoens for this season.
The Lanche lift is dreadfully slow, as are the other options back towards Samoens, but mainly because it is a long distance. There is I believe talk of a link from Morillon 1100 to Samoens 1600 with a new piste too (beneath Lanche lift) - but I suspect this is many years away and may never happen.
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pam w, I just mean Murphy's law in that we usually go xmas or new year and usually manage to pick the coldest week (not purposely) this year left it a bit later (not late) this season and no snow...I know it's too early to give up hope but it's like as soon as I change queue the one I was in goes faster. Hope I'm wrong.
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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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snowmam, Just before last Easter it warmed up, snow melted and many people had written off the ski season in many resorts. And then it snowed. Conditions can be transformed in 48 hours - I've experienced that more than once as have many here. Don't write it off until you get there. And even then it can change overnight. You have to hang in there. After all you're a  aren't you?
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Deffo. I know have experienced going to bed and getting up to 2 foot of fresh powder in Livigno one year so I'm not giving up hope in fact getting more confident by the day. Thanks for the gee up.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I began yesterday badly, a bit sore and stiff, and looked to blame the snow conditions or my hire skis, which seemed more knackered than anyone else`s. Headed over to Samoens, which was quiet and uncrowded, and had one of the best days ever, in my limited experience. There`s a few icy patches, and the odd scratchy rock, but it was great.
South facing slopes got a bit mushy by the arvo at pinch points, but I can only echo whatcarroz, has been saying for the last 2 weeks; slopes are holding up fantastically, and the sun and warmth makes for some lovely lightly dressed skiing. I wore just a merino T and light jacket yesterday. Don`t be depressed if you are on your way out at the end of this week, it`s not so bad.
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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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cstreat, that's great news as arrive on Saturday and was getting worried.
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Just watched video on you tube guy snowboarding on sairon 4 days ago conditions look fab, so I happy, love sairon at the end of the day when legs are like jelly (not gettin any younger) esp if long liquid lunch!!! Hope foehn doesn't happen as weather outlook seems to fear.
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You know it makes sense.
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Just back from Flaine. The on piste snow is pretty good down to about 1800m, it gets a bit iffy then. The pisteurs are doing a great job and we had a great time. Probably not the best if you just want off piste. It all looks a bit strange with so much rock and earth on south facing slopes but great for 'al fresco' lunches.
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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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left yesterday evening after a great day higher up in Flaine; mid sections have hard pack with a dusty topping which was very icy underneath, and lower sections were slushy by 2pm. Finished up with a quick run through of Samoens, Morillon, and Les Carroz; it was a combination of nasty icy patches, then good conditions, descending into a slushfest. Some south facing slopes and links have got noticeably bare in 2 days as the ground has warmed, and with no real off piste and half term there will be a lot of crowded pistes. However, if you get out early, and move around, you will have a good time, and if you are a beginner or intermediate your skiing can only improve in such varied conditions. Just leaving my b and b in the Jura; do the French have the smallest double beds in the world?!!
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Poster: A snowHead
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Fingers crossed, the weather forecasts look to be improving, with very small amounts of snow most days next week - just in time for us hitting the slopes next weekend at the start of UK half term!!! 
http://www.yr.no/place/France/Rhône-Alpes/Flaine/long.html
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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ClaireM, I'm patiently waiting for "dure" to change to "fraiche" - that would be great 
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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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ClaireM, I have stopped looking at the forecasts - I'm too scared now. I'm having the winter tyres put on the car tomorrow, but wondering why. Lets hope this is the start of some major precipitation.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| Quote: |
do the French have the smallest double beds in the world?!!
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 probably. I can't stand them - especially if they also have nasty foam pillows or those French bolsters. We have a super king size bed so are rather spoilt - in French B & Bs I always ask for twins.
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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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| stevo_the_saddler wrote: |
ClaireM,
I have stopped looking at the forecasts - I'm too scared now. I'm having the winter tyres put on the car tomorrow, but wondering why. Lets hope this is the start of some major precipitation. |
Must admit - got my dimensions confused and realised after i had posted that 1mm is not worth getting excited about!!
Agree with you, should stop looking at forecasts, but too tempting not to look!!
The reviews on here of people actually there are much more useful than long term forecasts, and everyone still seems to be having a great time!
Lets hope you need those winter tyres and snow chains!!
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According to snowheads weather outlook, looks like snow for valentines day, hope he sends some good lovin to the alps. Will be there this day 2 weeks can't wait.
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Had a pretty good day today, for a day spent on piste. Skier's left under Grand Vannes at top rather nice to the side piste.
Pistes being genereally well kept where open, only issue being, naturally, the hordes of turtles and terrapins littering the slopes.
Gers excellent, lovely grippy windblown, lovely firm well formed bumps to side of Onyx. Very fine.
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| under a new name wrote: |
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the hordes of turtles and terrapins littering the slopes.
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Is this a new term for punter skiier?
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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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I arrived home yesterday from samoens, we had a great week and the on piste conditions were brilliant considering last monday it was +13 at samoens 1600 and did cool down gradually towards the end of the week.
There is no real off piste to speak of but there is some forecast so its possible that could change.
I thought the village of samoens ws ok. It was beautiful in the old historic centre but looks to have been over developed in the 80s and 90s with some of those buildings looking rather untidy, but still a pretty good village, probably typically french and i must say i prefer austria.
The skiing was good not quite what i expected, but entertaining all the same. The kids with us did really well in esf samoens and the 6 year old managed marmotte by the last day(a nice long flowing red)
All in all i had a great time with just a few little niggles
1)I did not like flaine at all The blue to get there was great but the place is awful
2)tete des saix is a huge bottlneck and makes links between resorts very difficult/scarey for nervous beginners
3)some old slow lifts, They do need to speed some of these up and do some upgrading. Cant imagine what it would be like before the chariande express.
All that said had a great time i would go back possibly to morrillion, The pistes were in fantastic condition and also pretty quiet,
All you grand massif fans dont bite my head off not moaning for the sake of it its just my opinion and overall had a great time
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zzz, in large quantities yes. turtles are adults, terrapins are juniors.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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mattiwilkin, I agree with some of what you have written. Tetes des Saix bottleneck is a problem at busy times and can make or break beginners on their first trip "to the top"... in January it is a flat piste! unbelievable I know. The lifts are being gradually upgraded, I have been to far worse resorts for lifts - before chariande express it was a bit slow to get to the top, but it replaced another 2 lifts... you are spoilt in most of Austria. Flaine is horrible to look at, and I wouldn't want to stay there - but the skiing is great. Of all the villages in the GM, I am biased, but I think Samoens is the best - but next best would be Carroz. Morillon is a little quiet and less to do, but when conditions are perfect you can ski to the bottom (not for beginners though). Glad you enjoyed overall, despite not seeing it at its best.
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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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Stevo just looked at your appartment and we were staying just about oppposite, we were in the appartment in front of the bus stop. i thought that end of town had been well developed and looked nice. i think the only comments about that area was they should close the little bridge to cars and make it go around where the bus goes, would be a nice walk then, and they should make dog walkers pick up their mess!! my main qualm was the main street, from the tourist office to the roundabout, the new shop looks tidy, but where the butchers is and where coveys is need a good tidy up and the footpath and roads are not in the best of nick.?
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mattiwilkin, Agree. The dog mess is "a french thing" unfortunately. In other parts of France it is even more disgusting! They seem to have curbed the problem in our developement with the addition of "bags" for people to use. There has been lots of new developement which I think needs to stop now (I would say that now I have our apartment!), what it needs now in my humble opinion is a couple more restaurants to cope with the extra people.
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You know it makes sense.
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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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We got back from Flaine on Saturday after a weeks holiday and have to say that despite some concern before hand I thought the conditions were great. Obviously the best conditions were in the morning so it was worth getting up early. I have to say the guys looking after the slopes did a great job.
It was my wifes first ski holiday so I did not get over to the other villages but still found plenty to do.
I can understand why some people say Flaine is ugly although I dont agree.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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stevo_the_saddler,
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that corner where everyone stops
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Yup, that's the one. I get past there as quickly as possible. I'm afraid I can't avoid HT - both my wife and I teach. We'd much rather go in Jan or March (or both )
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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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LDM, Glad you enjoyed it. We have some friends who have a chalet in Morillon (I'm so envious) and they'd previously skied in some "big name" resorts but are very happy with the GM. Although I keep thinking we should go elsewhere (well we do sometimes) I'm sure we'll always go back there - you just get to know a place and it saves time not having to ski with a piste map all the time. I know it doesn't have the black runs and off-piste you get elsewhere but it's still extensive enough to maintain interest. And that view of Mont Blanc from the top on a still blue day is magnificent.
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billb, HT for us too (kids), thats why I try to get a short break with pals in advance, to get my need for speed satisfied. Still, I have been to some places where the queues at half term are horrendous compared to 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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stevo_the_saddler, Yes, the queues aren't too bad on the whole despite others on here constantly telling us to avoid HT. Teachers and people with school age kids have no choice. Let's hope that the snow that's forecast materialises.
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FilYour photos have just shocked me!! We are off Saturday, didnt realise it was going to look as bad as that!! Am just praying you and everyone else are telling the truth re on piste!!
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Good dump of snow today, everything is white again snow conditions are fine, however had to dodge some big rocks but I expect with this fresh snow it should be amazing tomorrow once the piste bashers have finished with it.
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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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ClaireM, er ......why would we not be telling the truth? Its looked like the picture above on south facing stuff most of the season, on piste is fine, most of flaine bowl faces north, quite a lot of samoens faces north, aspect is very important. On a different note Just avoid the dmc as the queue will be round the block next week!....we must sit down......
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FAQ
Anyway, a few cms forecast this week - let's hope it arrives and with more depth than forecast. I'll be there next Saturday 
