 Poster: A snowHead
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Looking much whiter on the webcams...
Fingers crossed it lasts a bit longer this time, @davidof!
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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 went up to La Setaz with a snowboard and a sledge yesterday for a wonderful sunny winter day out. A number of people were skinning up/ skiing down / enjoying the wonderful conditions in the skiing area as well as in the Crêt rond area.
They have used the cold window to get the snow cannons to produce important heaps of snow on different slopes on La Setaz the past few days.
It has been snowing again since a little after lunch time in Les Verneys.
I drove up here on wednesday and on saturday evening with my new winter tires, part of the road was white but no real difficulties getting here.
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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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We are of to Valloire in Jan. We are flying into Grenoble, is there a better route / transfer than the bus-train-train-bus that seems to be suggested by the various public service travel sites?
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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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hire a car? although Grenoble seems to be particularly expensive for car hire
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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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How’s the snow at St Francois de longchamps / Valmorel? we’ve committed to Geneva for 6th March and fancy going there or Valmeiner/Valloire
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| skimummk wrote: |
| How’s the snow at St Francois de longchamps / Valmorel? we’ve committed to Geneva for 6th March and fancy going there or Valmeiner/Valloire |
The webcams for Valmorel look pretty white - although not sure how it'll be after another week or so of warmer temps. Most resorts should be pretty snow sure for the early March I would have thought... (normal caveats apply..)
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ah - got it wrong - we are going to Morillion in March.... we are committed to Geneva on 6th Jan but still to pick a resort!!! arghhh getting the trips confused 
Going to choose between St Francois de Longchamps and Valmeiner for January I think.
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That's a no-brainier. Valmeinier 1000%.
I've been virtually all major resorts in the Alps and Pyrenees (Serre-Chevalier to Schladming).
It surpassed my expectations by a mile. Lots of variation over 3 different mountain ridges, very snow sure, no traffic jams like to the Tarentaise, much better value for money, nice and friendly locals. And although Valmeinier 1800 is a drawing-board resort, it is of human size, max 5 levels, certainly no eyesore.
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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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We've booked Valmeiner! The persuading factor was a 35% discount on the lift pass for that week - 184 euros for 7 days!
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Anyone got an update on snow conditions in the Maurienne Valley? Thanks
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| capability wrote: |
| Anyone got an update on snow conditions in the Maurienne Valley? Thanks |
Above 1600m slopes are ok.
Les Karellis seems to have ok opening. North facing so not too affected by the sunny weather this week.
Valloire / Valmeinier looking good, for the time of year. We may head up there over the vacation.
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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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| capability wrote: |
| Anyone got an update on snow conditions in the Maurienne Valley? Thanks |
Webcams are here.
Good uptop.
Conditions are better than Xmas 2022, when it rained for days.
https://www.le-corbier.com/en/webcams/
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We'll be in Val Cenis in a couple of weeks, and will head to Bonneval at least twice. I'll update on arrival
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You know it makes sense.
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| capability wrote: |
| Anyone got an update on snow conditions in the Maurienne Valley? Thanks |
Friends have arrived at our apartment in the valley today and we arrive Saturday so can update by the weekend if needed.
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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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| andmelffion wrote: |
| capability wrote: |
| Anyone got an update on snow conditions in the Maurienne Valley? Thanks |
Friends have arrived at our apartment in the valley today and we arrive Saturday so can update by the weekend if needed. |
After or before new years day big dump?
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Poster: A snowHead
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Is there any forecasting on when one of these Retour d'Est is likely to sweep through from the Italian side?
There's some snow in the forecast over the next few days, but not a lot.
The Val Cenis snow pack at the bottom is reportedly 20cm to 30cm and 85cm at the top. Which is lower than previous season averages 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Gored wrote: |
| andmelffion wrote: |
| capability wrote: |
| Anyone got an update on snow conditions in the Maurienne Valley? Thanks |
Friends have arrived at our apartment in the valley today and we arrive Saturday so can update by the weekend if needed. |
After or before new years day big dump? |
Friends have had a cracking couple of days, snow is ok in Val Cenis but better in Valmeinier and Valloire. Snow in the forecast for this afternoon and several days throughout the week so fingers crossed for some fresh powder (though will be staying on piste) to play in.
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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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Hate to be ungrateful but a bit miffed that we might get snow on half our days next week - hope it all falls overnight 
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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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@skimummk, there on Saturday, can't wait  will take any snow at any time!
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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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@Goof757 are you going to Valmeiner?
I’ll be the one making 10 times as many turns as necessary being “encouraged” by hubby to “just point down ffs”
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@skimummk, Val Cenis (Lanslevillard) for us. Hope you have a great trip!
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We’ll be in France for a week for skiing at the end of January. We’re open to everywhere but would like to avoid the mega resorts where English is spoken a lot. After something a bit more French.
We’ll have a car and are fine with driving to the ski resorts each day. Is there a nice little town in the Maurienne valley that would be a good base?
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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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Any of the towns in the valley give you easy access to resorts…St Michel de Maurienne to Valmeinier, Valloire or Orelle for Vat Thorens and the wider 3 Valleys…St Jean de Maurienne for Les Sybelles, St Francois Longchamp…Modane for Valfrejus, La Norma, Aussois, Val Cenis, Bonneval sur Arc.
All very French with little English spoken.
Nice dump of snow here last night so can here them blasting up in Valmeinier this morning.
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@skimummk, @Goof757, have a great trip!! Keep us updated on your trip and snow conditions! The webcams are looking great, but it also feels like a lot of rain has fallen below 1600m, so hopefully the lower slopes are okay.
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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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@Onnem, thanks. Great info
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| Handy Turnip wrote: |
| @skimummk, @Goof757, have a great trip!! Keep us updated on your trip and snow conditions! The webcams are looking great, but it also feels like a lot of rain has fallen below 1600m, so hopefully the lower slopes are okay. |
Can report loads of snow on Saturday - we arrived very late as we were trying to sort out being given the keys to the wrong car (have given up trying to sort it out )
The pistes are in great condition, we’d light snow yesterday we went low and it was fine, but zero visibility due to cloud higher up in afternoon - today was very foggy in resort, but clear till about 2pm further up. Came back in complete cloud - couldn’t even see the next pole on piste - not fun!
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You know it makes sense.
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@skimummk, great news about the snow, less good news about the visibility. Looks like the sun will come out later this week.
Do you plan to go over to the Valloire side?
Last edited by You know it makes sense. on Mon 8-01-24 21:10; edited 1 time in total
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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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| skimummk wrote: |
| Handy Turnip wrote: |
| @skimummk, @Goof757, have a great trip!! Keep us updated on your trip and snow conditions! The webcams are looking great, but it also feels like a lot of rain has fallen below 1600m, so hopefully the lower slopes are okay. |
Can report loads of snow on Saturday - we arrived very late as we were trying to sort out being given the keys to the wrong car (have given up trying to sort it out )
The pistes are in great condition, we’d light snow yesterday we went low and it was fine, but zero visibility due to cloud higher up in afternoon - today was very foggy in resort, but clear till about 2pm further up. Came back in complete cloud - couldn’t even see the next pole on piste - not fun! |
Is that all velmeinir side? Or have you been over to the shared mountain as well? The blue back to Valmeinir (armeira) is a nice run.. hope you like heights on a chair over gorge
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Poster: A snowHead
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We went to shared mountain yesterday but stayed on Valmeinier side - today we stayed in Valmeinier all day and I just did Lauzes over and over to get my confidence back - might head to Valloire tomorrow depending on 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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| skimummk wrote: |
| We went to shared mountain yesterday but stayed on Valmeinier side - today we stayed in Valmeinier all day and I just did Lauzes over and over to get my confidence back - might head to Valloire tomorrow depending on weather. |
If you want to build confidence then the green and blue runs off the Setaz lift are lovely to cruise about on, with some tree cover if the weather is still a bit cloudy
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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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| andmelffion wrote: |
| skimummk wrote: |
| We went to shared mountain yesterday but stayed on Valmeinier side - today we stayed in Valmeinier all day and I just did Lauzes over and over to get my confidence back - might head to Valloire tomorrow depending on weather. |
If you want to build confidence then the green and blue runs off the Setaz lift are lovely to cruise about on, with some tree cover if the weather is still a bit cloudy |
Thanks - will tell my “route planner” and report back
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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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we didn’t get to Setaz today - the problem is getting back - as a less than confident skier I was nervous of having a long run back especially on blues rather than green. For some reason the short run from top of grand drozes to bottom of moneul has become my nemesis and I’m snow ploughing it!
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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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| skimummk wrote: |
| we didn’t get to Setaz today - the problem is getting back - as a less than confident skier I was nervous of having a long run back especially on blues rather than green. For some reason the short run from top of grand drozes to bottom of moneul has become my nemesis and I’m snow ploughing it! |
Yes I've had a few of those in my time - they get inside your head! Looks like a sun will be out tomorrow and friday, so hopefully you can conquer it before the week is out!!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Thought I'd post some snow depths, as always a useful reference for anyone looking back.
Val Cenis
Base: 50cm
Summit: 110cm
Valmorel
Base: 30cm
Summit: 150cm
Valloire
Base: 30cm
Summit: 165cm
Valmeinier
Base: 75cm
Summit: 165cm
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@Handy Turnip, I’m considering staying somewhere in the valley from January 26. I’m curious why the snow depths (base) at Valloire and Valmeinier would be so different. They are nearby and approximately same elevation?
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| sbooker wrote: |
| @Handy Turnip, I’m considering staying somewhere in the valley from January 26. I’m curious why the snow depths (base) at Valloire and Valmeinier would be so different. They are nearby and approximately same elevation? |
There might be a number of factors in play - but the main resort of Valmeinier is at 1800m, and Valloire is at 1400m, so I'm guessing that's the main reason. There's plenty of snow out there this year, and as much as the FL seems to be jumping around at the moment, 1400m should be high enough for late Jan.
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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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Thanks. If coming from the valley which side would be easiest to drive to? As in shortest time to drive?
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| sbooker wrote: |
| Thanks. If coming from the valley which side would be easiest to drive to? As in shortest time to drive? |
They are much of a muchness, from the valley to Valloire is approx 18 kms and to Valmeinier 1800 is about 17kms..though the nearest lift in Valmeinier (girodiere) to St Michel de Maurienne (where you start the climb up) is only about 15 minutes - there is a small car park within a couple of minutes walk to the lift, from here you can take the Armera across to the Valmeinier side or the Grandes Drozes and Moneul chairs to head over towards Valloire.
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FAQ
