 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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Snowed about 5 cms in the last 2 hours - still snowing hard. Lovely fluffy stuff. 
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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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Now that sounds better 
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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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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Can't believe i'm back in the office after a week in les2alpes  easiski, tks for all your help with Jacqui, she's gone from this being her last ski holiday to looking at where to go next year.
Unfortunately due to the weather on our last couple of days she didn't get to practice much of what you had taught her, but her confidence levels have increased enormously. We went up to the glacier on new years day, but the total white out put her off and we ended up coming back down and potted around on the cretes, but even there conditions weren't good
Tks again and great to meet you
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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LIAMJ, why wait for next year - pay another visit to LDA with us in March! Go on, you know you want to 
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Butterfly, would really love to, but my daughter announced her engagement just before Xmas, so think holidays will be off the agenda for a little while 
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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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Well - where shall I start? It snowed a lot in the night and it was cold so even down here it was light, fluffy powder. We had freshies onthe nursery slopes in the morning which was a huge +. Imagine trying to shuss the Petit Viking in top of boot deep snow - going nowhere!
At midday I went up to the Cretes which was very good but, of course lumpy with all the peeps skiing on the new snow. Very nice, lots of ops for the students to learn how to ski in deeper snow, and the weather wasn't bad either. Cloud was rolling around off an on all day, and we saw bits of sun, but more , we saw flashes of sun on bits of mountains poking out of the clouds - beautiful.
I skied back down the Grande Pente which was nice until below the trees. Sadly, at about 16.00 it was pretty much tracked out and very hard under the new snow. I did manage to find some bits of 'peuff' (sp?), but the sidslipping snowboarders had done a lot of damage - should be illegal. 
pic shows lots of tracks in Rachas
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easiski, sounds much better since I left 
Just had an inch here this evening.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Small amount of snow that is more like mini hail stones fell last night and froze in situ, very crunchy to walk on. It's -8C here tonight and in the village we were in earlier tonight there was a burst water main on a sloping road - they will have fun there tomorrow morning 
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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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today was fantastic! The skies were mostly clear with a little high cloud all day, viz was great and the snow was fantastic all over. The only problem is that the new cover is so light that it does get brushed off quickly especially where it's not pisted. Underneath is hard and I found some big lumps near the Fee resto buried under the cover - must have been an avalanche down there at some point before the last dump.
Pistes are in fantastic condition and it's staying cold so the powder is still powder.
Pix looking up to the glacier from the top of the Bellecombe lift and looking up and down Posettes on my way home from the middle of the middle seciton. I did have to ski the trees on the first pitch to get the freshies, but it was fun.
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Fab! I'd far rather be there than here watching numpties who have no idea about driving in snow/ice. Mind you I had a bit of fun taking the car out to play around with skids in the leisure centre overflow car park - others seemed to think I'd flipped! Well how many chances do you get here to improve your skid control?
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You know it makes sense.
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Butterfly, Looking fun in Britain this morning according to the BBC news! Lovely morning here - got super photo to upload later
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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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Today was fab again, but even colder. The snow is staying powder - 3rd day in a row - can't believe it!
Pix of moon over the mountains this morning from my kitchen window + PaulW enjoying his first off piste trip on 'Moonland'
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Poster: A snowHead
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easiski, looks familiar! 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Butterfly, he!he! yes - thought of you when he did it. good for Snowdrop to see (so flat). BTW Mike and Sue are not Snowheads!
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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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Yesterday (6th) was clear and cloudy with very flat light throughout. However it remained very cold and the snow is still ab fab!
this morning (Fri 7th) we've had a huge dump overnight and lots of local bus services are cancelled (sound familiar anyone?). I am very tempted to rush out and ski, but really have to get the van unfrozen (is totally solid), as I have to collect Aztec's family from GVA tomorrow, and 4 adults and 2 kids won't fit into Betty. 
Pic from yesterday of the view over the Ecrins fromt he top of the Toura, will take more later for today
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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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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Linds, Looking forward to seeing you.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Linds, have a great time Hope the journey goes to plan.
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My wife finally left today (was due out Wednesday but Gatwick closed). We had to walk down but no taxi, so we came back and tried the snow chains (michelin say three minutes to get them on, but it took over an hour, even in a covered garage.
Despite very thick snow we got down from our perch (Residence du Soleil) when the taxi phoned, shame there was no text or call earlier as we turned up on time (5.10am).
Despite conditions she got there, but now its Grenobles turn and flights have been cancelled or turned back.
She hopes to get out via Lyon tonight.
Anyone having insurance problems? We have a top policy but they only pay £40 a day for delays over 12 hours, she had hoped to take the train or go from another airport.
Good luck getting here newcomers. 
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And on it goes. Wife bussed to Lyon for an evening flight (I think the Grenoble morning flight ended up here). Now been told Lyon is closing "for a while". Has ticket and a seat though, not happy about the cold air blowing through the terminal though.
I repeat this tomorrow morning when a son's friend returns to Bristol via ... Grenoble.
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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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David Ash, why is Grenoble etc shut ? is there loads of snow and it is an 'airport' issue or is that the UK airlines can not get there at the moment and it is an 'airline' issue ? what do you think ?
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   David Ash, And I have to go to Geneva tomorrow morning to collect friends! I've just checked the BBC website and Leeds Bradford seems to be working - I suppose GVA will .... Will I get out of town though? I got both vehicles out of the hole today, but it took me clearing the road by hand right up to the second Sequoias road for the van (complete with snow tyres and chains) as it had snowed so hard. I think I've de-frozen it (keep fingers crossed), and it's now parked up by Jacques Sports with blankets over the engine! Betty went up OK this morning just after the plough had been, but was in Lo and did slide a bit. She is now by the red eggs.
Pix show snow and road not cleared at all when I went shopping (snow up to my knees at that point, and sort of cleared when I came back (note shopping bag). Also pretty pic of further up the village. Since then it's snowed heavily all day, and another 10cms at least have falled since I cleared Betty. My neighbour (who's a skiman) came striding back home at lunch with a pair of Pontoons on his shoulder declaring 'c'est vrai, il y a un Dieu'!
Sadly I didn't have the opportunity to ski today due to snow clearing etc. but I could hear shrieks of delight from the general Diable area which told me it was brilliant. It's still very cold so the snow should stay in good condition for a while. I have no idea when it will stop.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Hmm... and there was me regretting that we hadnt had the foresight to keep the nippers out of school this week and have 2 weeks skiing (school been open for only 2 out of 5 days here - given Hersham had an amazing 1inch of snow it is pretty pathetic!!) Does sound like we had a relatively easy exit from LDA last Sat... not sure I could have swung a 2 week holiday and then arriving back late!
Hope you are enjoying all the snow when you manage to get on the slopes rather than shovelling!
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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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Rayscoops
Yes it was snow. Lyon was closed for a while too, and now my wife has just rung to say her flight has been cancelled. what next?
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David Ash, Poor Jan - she must be really fed up.
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You know it makes sense.
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David Ash, Hope Jan gets home soon
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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 does get worse.
Wife enjoyed stay in Lyon hotel last night and now at airport waiting to see if today's flight goes. Some people have been trying to get back since Monday apparently. My son's friend missed the bus this morning (message sent asking where he was apparently, but not received by him - Blackberry issue?). After an hour waiting he was cold and miserable. Some confusion about meeting places it seems.
I tried to drive him to the airport, and got down with snowchains. However, one snowchain had jammed closed, so had to take the tyre off. The jack slipped just as we removed the tyre damaging the brakes. Car now in garage. Have to say other French people very helpful (we tried physically lifting the car up), but one said my brake fluid was leaking and advised me not to drive it. Local garage there in 15 minutes though. Most cars not able to get round the corner and up the hill at the start of the climb up to 2 Alpes. Snowchains essential. Unfortunately most people coming down, taking them off when they reach Freney, so I expect there will be accidents lower down as they are needed all the way down.
Easiski finally escaped for Geneva (roads very bad here this morning and very slow driving down) but her people making their own way now as its so late. However my son's friend had booked a flight home via Geneva (it's impossible to get through to Easyjet) and the buses to airport from Grenoble suspended.
Now hoping he will get the bus to Geneva airport in time for 8.00 o'clock flight to Bristol.
Hope everyone else gets here.
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Poster: A snowHead
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David Ash, Fingers crossed for everyone.
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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 Ash, you have my sympathy
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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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easiski, Have you come across any people from Guernsey this season? From December through end of Feb, there are weekly flights from here to Grenoble and the airline and a local travel agent have put together packages for LDA over the whole period so we are trying to do our bit for your local economy!
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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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Oh No!
Wife's flight from Lyon cancelled again. Son's friend flight (Geneva) delayed. At least they are not beginning their holidays.
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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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David Ash, . Could be worse, they could be stuck in a UK airport.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Well, this could explain why we did nothing all day but eat galette du rois and work out how to spend our profit share bonuses rather than selling any lift tickets.
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Lizzard, you will only be spending that bonus if you sell tickets, no bloody use if the punters don't get there. I forgot to buy a galette du roi this time, I usually bring one home for my neices, as they love looking for the charm .
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Helen Beaumont, several colleagues brought home made ones, so we are all very fat this morning. And we already have the cash in our grubby paws because it's last year's bonus. Boringly, however, it is now in the savings account.
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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'd never heard of gallete du rois - but never having been in France around the 6th Jan I guess that is unsurprising. How long do they carry on selling them for? Am I likely to come across one the first week of Feb?
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Well, I can now continue the narrative from David Ash, : ...........
I eventually got out of LDA only to be stopped by the police who insisted that I clear the roof of the van, so I had to climb up on it and shovel off at least a foot since the day before. Fortunately I was wearing my ski gear. 
I then proceded down the mountain in 1st gear (auto remember) in a huge line of traffic. Having got to Freney I picked up the friend and took off the chains. 'OK you would think - now I on my way' - hmmmmmmmmmm Very slow moving traffic all the way to Vizille (about 35kph) when I turned off.
Of course by this time I'm really late and I know that the plane from Leed/Bradford to GVA is on time. Vizille was better because there were only local cars on the road and so I reckoned we'd start to make good time. Of course remember that I have no heater working in the van, so just coming out of Vizille it starts to sleet, which freezes the instant it touches the windscreen. Result? Unable to see anything, including where I could stop to clear it. Tried wipers and no wipers, equally blind (seriously).
We had just got through Uriage about 2.5 hours after leaving LDA when Tom phoned to say they were booked on the coach to Grenoble. The friend got David Ash's son, to sort out travel from Grenoble to GVA so we then headed to the train station. En route we stopped at a Feu Verte where I bought (great expense) a battery and a 12v heater which I put on the dashboard.
We got to the station in good time where I bought a tuna sandwich that turned out to have onions or peppers or something so I couldn't eat it. Friend was leaving on the same bus that Tom was arriving on, so that was OK. 5 adults and 2 small kids in the van and it was still cold. The 12v heater stopped working. The screen started to get frozen over again and just in the nick of time we got enough altitude to be a bit warmer and it was OK. (phew).
Passengers really frustrated by speed of cars coming up the mountain and I had to overtake 3 who were travelling at around 20kph or so as I was afraid we'd get stuck with insufficient momentum.
Good news, we got here, I have a day off, and we didn't have to put the chains back on.
Any mechanical types out there who can tell me if I can get my heater turned permanently on at the heater itself? There's nothing wrong with the heater - just the controls. Have to fix it.
It snowed again last night, so when I recover my camera from the van I'll take some nice shots as the sky is clear.
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FAQ
