 Poster: A snowHead
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@sugarmoma666, three pistes to be precise - all black and all un pisted - by far the biggest % of people that go up there do ski away from the "pistes" as they see others do it and follow. It's why they go up there!
It is the one lift that is shut most frequently for that reason as it's so easy for people to access the terrain.
In terms of educating people it would be a good way to do it by making that sector "a must have avi gear free ride area"
Maybe you went there after it had been well tracked out, I'm saying that like on a day today, for the first three or four hours after it opens so it can get well tracked out as I'd be pretty annoyed if some muppet that had no idea set some thing off that ended up killing people, or were involved in an incident and could not help due to having no gear!
Been snowing reasonably hard for the past hour*, pretty ironic bearing in mind my mate is coming back over the Col around 20:00.
*In fact some of the heaviest snow we've had all season as I've just had to go out and brush the snow of the satellite dish and don't think I've had to do that this season so far?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Yep, we noticed they were unpisted. One of the things I loved about Serre Chevalier was the Brut Beige areas where those of us without avi great could ski on nice unpisted areas. I thought that was the point of them.
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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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@sugarmoma666, but incidents do occur. Last year under the Vallons chair in one of the gulleys a sixteen year old was killed.
The conversation I was having this morning with the pisteurs was initiated with me asking them if Eychauda would open, and then how secure was it, as I was pointing at the cornice up there at the end of the ridge which is always present, see image below.
The way things have gone so far this season, and agreed not in resort unlike last season, conditions are best described as sketchy and I've set off a slide on something I never would have thought would go.
The area I've highlighted in the photo is classic avalanche terrain, if I were to come across that out of resort I would stay well clear. But the pisteurs must have given it the ok as it was probably so tracked out up to a few days ago, but it is a difficult call.
Every year people do get killed,as has happened this year, in the slack country because they think it's safe or just do not think.
A well known ski instructor here, his brother in law was killed above the Prorel a fair number of years back, and he knew the mountain and conditions.
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Sad to see another two deaths in the Hautes Alpes, this time two raquetters, from Grenoble. They were caught on Sunday last in a large avalanche on the Izoard side of the Col Perdu (below the Arpelin). Avalanche risk was and remains very high in the Queyras after heavy snow at the weekend.
One of the lessons from the incident was that the couple did not seem to have left any indication of what route they were going to take or even the area that they were visiting...resulting in the rescue teams searching a much larger area than necessary. Note to self on that one.
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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 are aiming to pop across to Serre on Thursday from Sauze. What are the queues like at the moment and which village is best to park at to get good mileage for the day? Any help appreciated.
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There are lots of options but in the interests of speed, shortening your journey and minimising the time needed, why not take the nearest option...park in Briancon, taking the Prorel lift. Ski up the valley to Monetier and back again. Very possible in a day though obviously you won't ski every run! It is possible to get from the Prorel to Monetier in 4 lifts. Getting back can be a bit of a drag (sic) as you have to use at least one drag lift to make the connections. That drag (at the Fermier restaurant) can get quite crowded especially towards end of day. But never any worries, you can drop down at any point to the valley and take the shuttle back to the Prorel.
No idea what the queues are like. Sorry.
Enjoy, whatever route you take.
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Not essential to use the drag if you don't want to , you can take the red Bez piste and ski across to to take the Casse du Beouf chair.
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OH said it is very busy at the moment - if I were you I'd stay in Italy !!
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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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@Jerby, I agree with @Weathercam, the snow's great here in Monetier, especially higher up, but we had an awesome day by driving to Claviere today. Deserted pistes and thigh deep powder in the trees, under a blue sky with the last snowfall still clinging to the trees - close to paradise. Getting day passes to ski at Claviere = easy and smiles all round - skiing into Montgenevre from Claviere = total bureaucratic b%$£ache (lots of rolly eyes and more interested in her iphone than the customer in front of her).
Just hoping tomorrow back in Serre isn't an anti-climax...
@Hells Bells, accommodation is awesome 
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@sproggski, thank you Enjoy the rest of your week, and look forward to hearing about it when you get back.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Weathercam wrote: |
| OH said it is very busy at the moment - if I were you I'd stay in Italy !! |
@Jerby, I agree with @Weathercam, the snow's great here in Monetier, especially higher up, but we had an awesome day by driving to Claviere today. Deserted pistes and thigh deep powder in the trees, under a blue sky with the last snowfall still clinging to the trees - close to paradise. Getting day passes to ski at Claviere = easy and smiles all round - skiing into Montgenevre from Claviere = total bureaucratic b%$£ache (lots of rolly eyes and more interested in her iphone than the customer in front of her).
Just hoping tomorrow back in Serre isn't an anti-climax...
@Hells Bells, accommodation is awesome Very Happy
Thanks for the above. Have got to say we skied down to Sansicario and Cesana today and the pistes were deserted. It must be the best kept half term secret out there. Just fancied a trip to Serre but if its long queues then we have done more than enough of that elsewhere in France at Half Term and will give it a miss.
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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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Great picture! Today I booked a week in Serre Chevalier from the 21st March, I haven't been there before and I am going alone so I am hoping for some good conditions as I will be doing a lot of boarding. Thanks for the updates I will be keeping a close eye on this thread.
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You know it makes sense.
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Arriving in SC on Sunday, fingers crossed we've timed it right
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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'm also heading over soon (sat), a little worried about it being french half term but still like a kid at Christmas. Really hope the snow forecast is correct!
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Poster: A snowHead
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I'll be there in two weeks but heading to Austria first 
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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 are here at the moment and conditions are sweet. Busy pistes means its best to be out for first lifts to get the best of the piste. Lower down it is a bit scraped and mother earth showing through in a few places. Weather is fab. Might post pics when I get home. Wall to wall blue sky and ensoleille!! Perfect!!
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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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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@Weathercam, isn't this the Serre Chevalier thread not the Val Maira one? 
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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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@Weathercam,
Yeah it sure looks mouth-wateringly good. I'm not sure exactly where Val Maira is but I'll look it up. Photos are tremedous.
Sadly we're not going to make it out again this year. I have a problem with my right foot - too wide, bunion like on the little toe side. Result is that I developed pressure sores this year and last - not just from skiing, tight climbing shoes and running don't help. So, surgery looks to be on the cards. Due to see a foot and ankle surgeon in March by which stage the current pressure sore will have healed. The danger with these things is if you don't treat the undelying cause they can become really problematic and difficult to get rid of. 
As always be careful.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@Kevin Byrne, good luck with the foot.
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@Hells Bells, Thanks Helen.
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| RetroBod wrote: |
| We are here at the moment and conditions are sweet. Busy pistes means its best to be out for first lifts to get the best of the piste. Lower down it is a bit scraped and mother earth showing through in a few places. Weather is fab. Might post pics when I get home. Wall to wall blue sky and ensoleille!! Perfect!! |
Please do post your pictures they would be most appreciated.
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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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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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Snowing lightly, have had a smattering so far (see cam link below) - temp hovering around freezing here at 1400 - forecast is for heavier snow later today - but how often have we seen that in the forecast, but we can still hope!
Could certainly be an interesting transfer day, also seems like a bit of a breeze, so up on the Col could be a lot more, and already a fair amount of traffic on the road.
Will go up the hill around lunchtime and then hopefully tomorrow a repeat of last Sunday 
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The webcams look promising, now if it can just keep snowing for 4 weeks please...
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You know it makes sense.
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Coming down quite heavy now and traffic looks quite heavy too - very windy at times so should imagine traffic must be crawling up and over the Col which is still open as I type this.
Think if I was travelling today I'd be taking the Frejus option because it's only going to get worse!
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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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Just been sent on a pdf preview of this months Fall Line mag re the feature on their La Grave / Serre Che / Montgenevre road trip they did a month or so back. Makes for a good read, though I think if my eyes are not decieving me that there is an amusing typo caption error that will be interesting to see if it's spotted before publication.
Col still open but should imagine it's carnage up there.
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Poster: A snowHead
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@Weathercam (or anyone else), which way is the Fréjus way? Just sat on tarmac waiting to fly to Grenoble and trying to figure out the best way to get to Monêtier. I've found the Gap route but can't find the Fréjus option. We have winter tyres. Thanks very much!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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It's the Modane / Maurienne Valley Turin Auto Route from Chambery then you come back up the Col du Montgenevre
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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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@Weathercam, got it, thanks very much. Fingers crossed they let reopen Grenoble airpoet soon!
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Scottishly windy at the top of Combes. Unbearable. Slipped over to Aiguilettes and scored some lovely powder. 30cm up here but coming down lightly. Small flakes making heavier powder. Plenty cold mind you!! Pizza in Cafe de Soleil.
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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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Just back from Briancon and large gantry sign there advising people heading for Grenoble to either go Frejus or Gap as conditions difficult.
Though the Col is still open.
Echo what @RetroBod, says about wind & cold. But good stashes of powder in the trees though have to get the aspect right otherwise go through to icy crud.
Wind up top should imagine will raise avy risk though we're already at three, be interesting to see what is open tomorrow am.
Snow in valley still not that much though
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The forecast is for rain in the valley on Monday. indeed
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The col is easily passable with winter tyres at the moment and should remain so unless snow gets heavier up there. Barely any traffic as I guess everyone is stuck in the queues on the alternative routes. Lyon to Grenoble was interesting though....
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@Custard the Rabbit, all it takes is one idiot though - think the traffic was heavier this morning, and many were on the road last night.
My mate came over Montgenevre in a hire car from Turin this avro no winter tyres and did not have to use chains.
We're back to our dribbling snow where earlier this afternoon it was quite heavy and looking promising
Have a good one tomorrow.
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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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Up early for first lifts (08:30) hoping for a replay of last Sunday before the hordes get up the hill.
Fair bit of blasting going on. and as I suspected avy risk up to 4 !!
Bit of a breeze in the valley, but not a lot of new snow, reckon will be around 30+cm up top and more in the wind stashes and wind loaded slabs a plenty!
Oh and my head hurts big time this morning, but luckily I was not up super early unlike my mate (04:30) who was escaping the traffic.
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Conditions look great on the webcams this morning but very busy. Anyone over there care to share their pictures?
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