 Poster: A snowHead
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pam w, i have to assume from CMB's opening dates that snow cannons trump local weather?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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under a new name, only if it stays cold.  Snow-forecast has FL up to 3000m next week.
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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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pam w, if they've been churning it out the way they have been in Monterosa, a brief blip will have limited effect.
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under a new name, forecasts might change - as ever. Everybody will be hoping they do as the last few runs of GFS have shown temperatures above average for much of the month. If that happens then in all but the highest parts we'll be grateful that there is no sign of any precipitation! Having been watching the GFS for some years I have never seen anything like the current output. 
and it's looked pretty much like that for a few days now.
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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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Pam w,
Thanks for that update. It's good to get a forecast & opinion from someone who doesn't have an agenda to talk it up, or down, for that matter.
My own opinion for what its worth, is that early season (i.e. Nov) snow was great but we're having a bit of drought now and its getting warm for about a week or so, so hopefully the brezze will then go into the NW and we'll get a few snow laden colf fronts in, in time for Christmas and Nyears.
Last 2 seasons have been epic conditions but not every year is like that, hopefully this one will be yet!!
I'm out on the 27th for 15 days and praying for powder now  )
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pam w, if the forecasts are absolutelz spot on, how much effect is it really going to have on 150cms (say) of concrete, with overnight freezing? Given that CMB had pretty much said that they weren't going to open until th e21st (Grands Montets exclu) to open Les Houches tomorrow must suggest (given likely potential revenue compared to Xmas/NY) that they're pretty confident that they can have the pistes in good nick for the turn of the year.
Little trashes a nice piste like skiers 
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| Quote: |
how much effect is it really going to have on 150cms (say) of concrete, with overnight freezing?
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If the forecasts are spot on there won't be an overnight freeze at lower altitudes next week (over 2400m in Chamonix, for example) or for big chunks of the next two weeks. Neither is there 150cms of concrete in many places where most of us ski. The Les Saisies website says 45cms at 2000m but very few resorts seem to be following their excellent example of publishing accurate (or any) snow depths. Is there 150cms in les Houches?
I don't want to be accused of being either gloomy or unrealistically optimistic. I am driving to the Alps on December 17th and hope as much as everyone else that the current run of GFS models - which has been unusually consistent - soon get overturned by some butterfly flapping its wings somewhere.
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Pretty depressing reading as i'm heading out on the 15th for a few nights! Is the snow bad throughout the alps or is there somewhere close to.chamonix that has better conditions?
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Verbier has more skiing than anywhere else locally, Courmayeur isn't looking great but the Coffee is always good and the Pistes that are open will be nice( to ski on) and empty
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Thanks, i usually spend a day over in italy as you are right the coffee is great and the pizza too! Its also.much cheaper than france! Is there a bus to verbier from chamonix? Ive skied verbier before but never done a trip from cham.
thanks for the advice.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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mrlossyman, no bus to Verbier. You can train it to le chable i imagine...
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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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Any update from Chamonix? Heading their on Sunday and luckily it seems to be getting colder....
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You know it makes sense.
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mrlossyman, do you still need a one-bag solution for your trip?
Look at your baggage thread and the PM I sent you if you do.
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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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mrlossyman: There's been a bus from Chamonix to Verbier on thursdays for the last few winters. I'd presume it's running again this winter, but you'd probably be best checking first. The valley train is not running between Montroc and Vallorcine this winter, a replacement bus service is running, but it doesn't always manage to line up with the trains which could be slightly irritating if you loose and hour of ski time waiting on a bus....
Chamonix is still here, as is the snow, though I'm not sure how much fun opening day at Brevent & Flegere will be.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Anyone know about current conditions on the GM? out next week...
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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icy currently I hear
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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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I'm out on boxing day, tempted to leave the fatties and touring skis in the locker and hire some stiff and skinny piste skis 
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Grum p, yep Thursday bus running again this season ( contrary to my previous comment ). Thursdays only.
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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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Got out for a slide around the Prarion this morning.
Only 2 runs (one red/black, one blue) open at the moment on variable artificial snow.
Only the Prarion Telecabine open (+magic carpet in the beginner area)
But lovely and quiet
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How's the knee holding up?
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Mike Pow, First downhill (uphill yesterday) runs of the season, so far so good. But lots of Physio at the moment
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Great to hear
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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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A quick update from me on the last couple of days.
Saturday - Grands Montets: A fair few icy patches, and the odd stones poking through, but they were generally well marked. Not amazing skiing, but nothing too annoying (apart from my monster hangover ).
Sunday - Brevent: headed over here with a friend as it was his first day back on skis, and so I wanted to avoid the ice on Grands Montets. Really nice in the morning, a few patches of stones, but generally quiet and well groomed (what was open anyway). From lunchtime when it started heating up it went downhill pretty quickly though - the slopes got cut up, and some areas very quickly run down and stones exposed. Some really nasty patches developed, boo.
Today - Grands Montets: decided this would be the best option for today, but I only lasted 2 hours. I skied every open run, but it was all about dodging stones rather than actually skiing. Tried a little offpiste, and hit rocks too. Boo. Definitely a day for rental skis only. Also really icy, much more so than Saturday - I think I entertained quite a few people with a comedy fall and long slide.
Chatting to a few people on the lifts today it sounded like Balme/Le Tour was open but in pretty bad shape, so not worth it. Top recommendations seemed to be making the trip to Les Contamines, but it's not open during the week yet 
Anyway, CMB seem to be doing their best to keep things as well maintained as possible, but it's just not great at the minute - more snow would really be appreciated!
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yeah i did brevent saturday and gm on sunday, gm is by far the best of the two at the moment but really needs some more snow!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Courmayeur in much better shape than Cham right now according to friends there over the weekend.
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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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Quick question. Is there a lift pass sales office near the train station ?
We normally stay at Pointe Isabelle and buy them from reception, but it's shut this winter.
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bladeskier, Yes.
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You know it makes sense.
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bladeskier,
When are you there this year?
I am in Les Houches From the 28th-31st Dec
Jon
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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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Another question re ticket pass offices. We're staying in Argentiere at the Cristal, is there a pass office at the Grand Montets lift and anyone know what time it is likely to close on a Saturday?
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Poster: A snowHead
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philipb, yes and no. I imagine the Compagnie du Mont Blanc might have a web site and that it might give some indication. Mind you, as the general state of French websites for ski stations doesn't give much indication for anything, I might be well wrong.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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the gm ticket office is normally shut by about 3pm...just in time for anyone coming down hoping to get there money back on the card 
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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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ok, looks like an early start on the Sunday then. Hope the queue isn't too long!
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Sat at geneva. Chamonix isnt great for snow. Les houches closed. Brevant 2 lifts up top and le tour a nightmare as hardly any snow! Grand montets better now but very icy and rocky in places. Nevertheless had a great time and i hope the snow falls soon so everyone can enjoy! Fantastic weather though!
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
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A lot of the snow forecast next week seems to be accompanied by very strong westerly winds, scouring the slopes facing Argentiere and heavily loading the other slopes? I'm booked to be there from 27 Dec to 1 Jan; seriously thinking of cancelling with prospect of no worthwhile or safe off piste - am I being overly pessimistic?
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On the rocks,
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| On the rocks wrote: |
| A lot of the snow forecast next week seems to be accompanied by very strong westerly winds, scouring the slopes facing Argentiere and heavily loading the other slopes? I'm booked to be there from 27 Dec to 1 Jan; seriously thinking of cancelling with prospect of no worthwhile or safe off piste - am I being overly pessimistic? |
You are definitely being overly pessimistic!! Definitely!! Meteo-chamonix expect 20-30cm of snow tomorrow and more to come....calm down 
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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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Whoyton1, you have not dealt with the specific points made by On the rocks - it's not just a case of what falls out of the sky. For somebody who is essentially an off-piste skier there are some genuine questions about whether a trip in the near future is likely to be worthwhile. But there are a lot of SHs who are very knowledgeable about conditions in Chamonix who are also no doubt keeping a close and wary eye on how things are developing.
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FAQ
go on, be a bit more specific 