 Poster: A snowHead
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Agreed - it's definitely past its best. I wonder if the failure was due to the high speeds they seemed to be having to run it at this year? It's usually a bit of an attention grabber, but this year they seemed to be taking it to a new level.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Thanks to all. Wife has finally been given an air ambulance slot to leave Geneva today at 12.50 this afternoon!
Talking about lifts though the Croix lift at Les Contamines was pretty dodgy last week and we were stuck in a queue and on it for nearly an hour as apparently it couldn't cope with the number of people trying to use it in one go. Just kept moving forward one chair, stopping for 2 or 3 mins and then starting again!
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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 haven't been to LC for a while - sounds like I had better make sure I only go in really quiet times.
Fingers crossed your wife has a comfortable journey, @archers. Or not too uncomfortable, at any rate.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Talking about lifts though the Croix lift at Les Contamines was pretty dodgy last week and we were stuck in a queue and on it for nearly an hour
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Really? Which one do you mean? Technically I don't think there is a Croix chair. Do you mean Col? If so that's pretty unlucky. It is probably the busiest lift but it seems to move the queue pretty quickly.
Have to say that apart from the morning ski school bubble rush I only had one noticeable queue all week - about 10 mins for the Grevetaz drag
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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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Sorry to bring the thread back to the weather!!!
But I am going to St Gervais next Thursday - Sunday... just wondering what the conditions are like?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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can let you know...will be there for 3 days this weekend
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Sorry all, it was the Croix lift at St Nicolas
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And there was lots of snow at the weekend, about 30cm, and a bit more in last few days, so should be good
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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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@archers, is your wife home yet? and OK?
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Yes thanks. Arrived yesterday at 5pm on a flight from Annecy to Luton. In lots of pain if she moves so I think it's going to be a long recovery! Thanks
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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What have the doctors told her? It sure is painful for a bit but the trauma specialist in France told me I'd be able to walk without crutches after 3 weeks, which seemed absurd at the time. It was more like four weeks, and I could only walk slowly (I remember a painfully protracted shuffle round a big Tesco, feeling very elderly hanging on to the trolley) but once you can weight bear without significant pain (I tested my progress on the bathroom scales) I was able to start gradually upping the exercise.
After my time on crutches I became more impressed by the people you see skipping round up and down stairs, making it look easy. I never mastered stairs.
The fact that I was told that I would not do more damage by accidental weight bearing was very reassuring to me. I had some nasty (but thankfully short-lived) jolts of pain when my crutch slipped on a hard floor and my left leg hit the ground, but knowing it wasn't making things worse did help.
The outlook is good though, compared to many soft tissue injuries - or some other fractures - provided the bones are in the right place. All the movement of the last few days must have been very uncomfortable and tiring, but I expect in another week she'll be feeling a lot more comfortable, and able to be more mobile.
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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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Arrived in St Gervais this morning. High winds which meant that the better-arbois gondola was closed, and also all lifts to Mt Joux. The list passes were 20% off, but even then the cashiers were doing everything in their power to persuade people NOT to buy one. They tried to tell me that there were only button pulls open at the top.
We bought anyway, and by the time we'd looped Monts Rosset and Princess a couple of times (and had lunch) the wind died down and everything was open. The added benefit of the wind whipping snow up off the hills, meant that we had 'fresh powder' when we eventually DID get up to Mont Joux.
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St Gervais is pretty good in bad weather - plenty of trees. Noticed this morning that Les C was almost completely shut
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You know it makes sense.
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Has anyone got any advice on the Megeve area for a (half) season? Looking for a range of pistes - blue to off piste. Are the lifts affected by weather eg wind? Is there any ski to door? Or are there other areas you would recommend?
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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 think Megeve is a good option for range although I'd say there's not much in the way of challenging piste in the area itself (the only ones I can think of are off the top of Mont Joly and the moguls in St Gervais). However the offpiste is slow to track out and you can ski from St Gervais to Les Contamines offpiste  Also quite scenic, mainly tree skiing, with easy access to many nearby resorts for variety. You can drive to Cham in half an hour or so, Contamines in 20 mins, there's a tramway to Les Houches from St Gervais. The lift pass is excellent value for money.
Living wise I would imagine it is way cheaper to live in St Gervais than Megeve given Megeve's 'moneyed' feel although then you wouldn't really be able to ski to door unless you found somewhere in Bettex.
Don't know about wind/weather (other than the snow is often unusually good for the altitude because of the proximity of Mont Blanc) but sure some others will. I think it's a great place to be, particularly if you have a car.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Not obvious place for a season given that it is expensive relative to the quality of the ski areas IMO. It depends if you are attracted to the plush/upmarket (ladies in furs with little dogs also in furs  ) and feel it is worth paying for. Personally if I was spending that much on accommodation then I'd prefer 3V, EK, PDS etc for a season.
That said, St Gervais would make a good base - much cheaper and an atmosphere (more mountain, less fur coat) than Megeve. Also nearer to Les Contamines and Chamonix
On your specific questions, I agree with what belette says about the skiing. I'd add that it is great in early season bad weather (including wind) - not too high and lots of skiing on and off-piste in the trees. Megeve side is quite sunny too. Of course, these features can become negative later in the season and the season is fairly short. I would want a car to get to Les Contamines or Chamonix if the snow was poor.
Not that much ski in ski out without spending a fortune (think 3V has much more for example).
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Jaunebec, not sure what you mean by a half season, but you can buy a Megeve off peak season pass (i.e. not school holidays or weekends) which covers all of the Evasion Mont Blanc except Les Contamines (so about 330km area) for 250 euros. All our guests who stay for 2 weeks+ get it. For 10 euros you can buy an Espace Diamant loyalty card which means you get to ski there for 19 euros on Saturdays. I would take a car and position myself somewhere convenient to take advantage of that - no need to stay slap bang in the middle of Megeve to enjoy the Megeve ski area.
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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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Unless you are a millionaire you can probably write off "ski to the door" in Megeve. And it doesn't really exist in St Gervais for different reasons. You could get much closer in Notre Dame de Bellecombe and it would be far cheaper. A car would be pretty well essential, in my view.
A "half season" where you started the week after New Year and then went home to the UK for the 4 week French holidays, then came back out till the end of the season could work quite well and you could probably get some really good rent bargains on that basis.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Hi everyone- so what's the snow & weather like out there please? Flying out on Friday for 5 days, have car and staying at Combloux, so do we ski at Megeve, Flaine or Cham? (maybe a mixture?)
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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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Not sure about Combloux - had a coffee at the foot of the slopes last Tuesday, on my way to Gva, and it didn't look great but was probably much better further up. Miranda would know. Upper reaches of Megeve should be absolutely fine. I wouldn't bother with going as far as Flaine or Chamonix but Les Contamines could be a nice day trip. But another alternative would be to drive along to Praz sur Arly (the other side of Megeve), park in the big free car park at the bottom of the fast Cret du Midi chair then do the Ban Rouge runs (top of Praz) and over to the top slopes in Notre Dame de Bellecombe which are in brilliant shape and deserted. There is a rather unpleasant bit of liaison between Praz sur Arly and NDdB - it's a blue slope but only because it's a liaison - it's really red. Ropey snow, quite steep for a blue, got a camber and gets mogully. But it's only short so competent skiers should be fine.
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@snowyowl, not skied there for a couple of days (didn't ski yesterday and was skiing in Cordon today) but a couple of days ago it was classic spring skiing (much more April than March at the moment!), meaning I was skiing Combloux in the morning and moving back to the north facing pistes in La Giettaz once things had softened up. If you do that, I recommend stopping at the Bonjournal (top of the Christomet lift) for a drink or some food, then you have to take a long blue down into La Giettaz, and if it's getting sticky be brave and take it at pace as there are some flat bits! Guests have been having a great time in the Portes du Mont Blanc sector of the Evasion Mont Blanc (which is what Combloux is in) so no reason why you wouldn't if you keep that it mind. Jaillet (the 'Megeve' bit of the sector) will be rubbish now as it's so sun exposed, but it's only a small bit. Hope to be out tomorrow if I get my chores done in the morning, so will update if I get a chance.
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I was in St Gervais last week, the snow was holding up well considering the warm temperatures. I'd second what miranda said about Jaillet, it was suffering badly at the beginning of last week and so will be worse by now.
I'd definitely recommend making a trip to Les Contamines if you can. The snow there was better than anywhere in the St Gervais/Megeve area.
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Thank you all- that's exactly what we wanted to know...is Les Contamines on the same pass? We like to think we are competent....Thanks for the idea of Praz, hadn't thought of that!
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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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@snowyowl, Yes Combloux and Les Contamines are on the same pass if you buy the Evasion Mont Blanc pass, but I'd look at your options and do some maths - probably best to buy day passes (i.e. Les Contamines day pass, Portes du Mont Blanc day pass for Combloux, Praz is a different pass altogether as it's the Espace Diamant). You have quite a few options!
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Thank you for the information on best places in the Megeve area for a short season. The recommendation to go back to the UK during half term weeks is a good one financially - rental companies are keen to fill apartments in off peak weeks.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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rental companies are keen to fill apartments in off peak weeks.
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they are, but you are not likely to be able to negotiate much of a "discount for quantity" from agencies as they have to agree levels with owners. You might do better with a "particulier" - personal owner.
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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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jaunebec, if you are interested in accommodation in st gervais (i.e. occupying someone's apartment while they are not there) I can possibly help you, I have a friend in St Gervais who could probably hook you up. PM me if so
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You know it makes sense.
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Hi all, done 2 rather foggy /wet days in Megeve but today's trip to Contamines was really worthwhile. .. fab weather and pistes really good compared to any we found at megeve, even cote 2000. Even the sunny side was holding up well. I had not heard of Hautuce before and it appeared that is a secret. . No people! Mind you all of Contamines was deserted.
If this weather holds out it will be great for us but not for the poor souls coming out next week. ....
St Gervais seems quite a decent sized town with direct access to the ski area @Jaunebec, would be a good location imo.
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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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@snowyowl, glad you had a good day. Contamines often has the best snow around. The "Hauteluce" side of the Les Contamines ski area is actually above Belleville, which is at the top of the Hauteluce Valley. The (rather pretty) town of Hauteluce is further down the valley and actually linked to the Les Saisies (Espace Diamant) ski area. Something which often causes a bit of confusion. 
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Poster: A snowHead
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We're going to be in Chamonix for a couple of weeks from this weekend. Our pass gives us a day in Megeve and I wondered if anyone has any thoughts on whether it would be worth the trip over. We are quite keen to give it a go as the last 2 times we have attempted to ski Megeve there has either been no snow (literally, Easter a gew years back) or it's been raining!
Happy to have a day pottering on easier pistes as a break from Chamonix!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@philipb, I wouldn't bother with Megeve, just stop at Les Contamines if your pass includes all of Evasion area. Having said that there are some good runs at the top of Megeve but the majority of snow below 1800m is quite porridgey.
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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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Agreed - Les Contamines will be better, and perhaps quicker to get to.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@snowyowl, you picked a good day to go to LC - yesterday was not so pleasant!
Had a gorgeous day out today - after a grim weekend the snow was much nicer to ski today and the sunshine was lovely. Skied Combloux in the morning, stopped at our favourite spot for early lunch on a lovely terrace, and then back over to La Giettaz in the afternoon… Stopped at 3.30 as was skiing with a friend who had a transfer to leave at 4 but actually could have skied for longer…. so glad for him he got today as he'd only skied the area on Saturday/Sunday and he kept commenting on what a different experience it was skiing today from the weekend.
@philipb, if you're over for a couple of weeks then just take your time and see what happens - the snow will always be best at LC but personally I find it's not the place to go in low vis.
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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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@miranda,
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LC but personally I find it's not the place to go in low vis.
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couldn't agree more. We went over to LC Wednesday last week, having watched the forecasts a bit, and had the most glorious day - early start from Les Gets and we were there when the lifts opened and it was really quiet. Clear blue skies and heavenly, but I would not enjoy it in bad vis.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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not the place to go in low vis
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I imagine that's quite right but I only ever go there (something I do occasionally) on really good days - even with the sun shining and good vis it can be cold and horrible up on the Col du Joly. I never go below the middle gondola station either.
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Come to think of it I never set out to ski anywhere on a day with visibility like Sunday. People go on about trees, and they do help on misty days but when you can't see more than a couple of metres you'd only see the tree just before you hit it.
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the snow will always be best at LC but personally I find it's not the place to go in low vis.
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Very true. My wife and some friends were in Les C this weekend and had a couple of rather short days due to poor vis. In that kind of weather I'd head down the valley to St Gervais (or St Nicholas if the roads are clear).
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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've checked and it looks like the pass gives access to Megeve and St Gervais areas, at least you have to go to a desk in one of those to get the free day. I guess we'll see how it's looking next week. Thanks for the advice.
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Quick update from Les C. Plenty of rather wet snow this week has left very good cover down to about 1300m but rather sticky conditions below 1600. There is enough snow to see out the season. Once the skies clear we'll get proper freeze thaw going and the pistes will be excellent.
The last few days I've largely been skiing off piste in a mixture of powder and wet snow, a few inches on a firm base. Very quiet on the slopes. Mustn't grumble
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FAQ
