 Poster: A snowHead
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Looking really promising on the webcams! Headed to Monterosa in a week  .
Forecasts suggesting it will stay cool, so fingers crossed any new snow should be here to stay.
Using this Austrian weather service for the Valais region, which seemed pretty accurate for today's snow fall: http://www.metgis.com/en/domains/valais-alps/fresh-snow-3hrs/gfs/ Any other good recs for local forecasts?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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A decent dusting of snow overnight and more expected this evening / overnight and snow showers on and off right thru the weekend. No mega snow dumps but should be enough to freshen things up and then after 3or4 clear days further light snow the following week. *subject the the unreliability of forecast that far out!
8 more sleeps til I get there.
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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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| samr96 wrote: |
| Any other good recs for local forecasts? |
The guides I skied with a year ago both used the MeteoSwiss app, as did several of the locals.
Looking forward to hearing about conditions on the ground: I’m thinking about going back later in the month, but only if there’s a decent base off-piste.
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
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@t44tomo, certainly looking better! Although so far not so much ...
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@Onnem @JayRo Thanks for the weather resources!
Webcams looking lovely this morning, definite signs of more fresh snow overnight. Won't be enough for serious off-piste, but that doesn't bother me.
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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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| under a new name wrote: |
| @t44tomo, certainly looking better! Although so far not so much ... |
I'm not a greedy man, and there is more forecast. It looks like (from Monterosaski.eu) they are contemplating opening the home run black into Champoluc. Currently has a yellow dot on the "in real time" map.
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Its started belting down again this morning, and forecast to continue for 5 days and then clear up but stay cold for my arrival on the 11th
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| samr96 wrote: |
Looking really promising on the webcams! Headed to Monterosa in a week .
Forecasts suggesting it will stay cool, so fingers crossed any new snow should be here to stay.
Using this Austrian weather service for the Valais region, which seemed pretty accurate for today's snow fall: http://www.metgis.com/en/domains/valais-alps/fresh-snow-3hrs/gfs/ Any other good recs for local forecasts? |
Whats the view from "on the ground" assuming you're out there now?
Webcams look like more light snow from late evening yesterday and still snowing this 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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Cam watch update: another day full of light to moderate snow today and poor visibility in places, especially higher up. Looks like the snow will peeter out this evening into a cloudy day tmr before the sun breaks through for my arrival on Thursday, with clear, light breeze thru to end of weekend. looks like it will work out slightly warmer than it was forecasting a week ago, so may trickle a degree or 2 over freezing at valley level, but that should mean its still below 0*C where it matters.
Sounds ideal, I assume our hire car is going to break down en route from Malpensa because its doesn't normally work out this well.
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Brief ground report to corroborate your cam report @t44tomo : indeed steady snowfall all the way into the valley throughout today, yesterday and overnight. Mostly light to moderate but quite heavy on occasions - a couple of lift rides left me covered in the good stuff. Visibility poor at times, particularly today, but at a bonus of soft, fresh snow and empty runs! I usually keep to the pistes but would say this has been enough snow for some off piste exploration once the fog clears  .
Safe journey @t44tomo - I think for your first few days you will have timed it just right! Though I love a snowy ski day too.
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You know it makes sense.
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| samr96 wrote: |
Brief ground report to corroborate your cam report @t44tomo : indeed steady snowfall all the way into the valley throughout today, yesterday and overnight. Mostly light to moderate but quite heavy on occasions - a couple of lift rides left me covered in the good stuff. Visibility poor at times, particularly today, but at a bonus of soft, fresh snow and empty runs! I usually keep to the pistes but would say this has been enough snow for some off piste exploration once the fog clears .
Safe journey @t44tomo - I think for your first few days you will have timed it just right! Though I love a snowy ski day too. |
Awesome and thanks..it's just a long weekend Thurs - Sun for me and my son, both looking forward to it.
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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's been a while since the conditions were so good at this time of the year, I get there Sunday and can't wait...4 old fellas looking to ski every inch of the place..
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Poster: A snowHead
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One thing worth adding here, its worth buying your ski pass online in advance. I've saved 16% by doing it vs if I bought online today and no doubt it would cost me a couple of euros more still at the tills tmr.
its been snowing a small amount again this morning but the fog of yesterday has lifted
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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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Had an hour's delay at Heathrow, queue for the de-icer machine, which was a slight pain, but Fiat Panda power got us upto Champoluc in time for a couple of hours or so of lovely sunny skiing this afternoon. Had beer and pizza and looking forward to full day out tomorrow.
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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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| t44tomo wrote: |
Looking at where it's appeared on the piste map, It goes from bottom of the Moos piste and then takes you up / over the road to the last bit of the black -red down from Sant Anna.
I can tell you more on 12th Jan |
This is exactly what it does, but it wasn't operating yesterday, so the Staffal shuffle is still in operation!
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@t44tomo, how far is the shuffle?
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It's not far at all, 250m ish - less that you walk from ticket office to first lift at some places.
There is similar walk if you ski down to Alagna village from piste bottom to gondola back up.
We did that yesterday just for sake of skiing from one end to the other, but only went half way down today did the Mullero piste there and came back up.
Significantly busier today, suspect Saturday brings day skiers up from Milan & Torino. Mind you Friday was not busy at all. Local ski schools and race clubs were out in force too.
The bit above Gressoney, Seehorn and Punta Jolanda chairs were less busy.
Edit: to add whilst on subject of dodgy weekend crowds.....
On Sunday we didnt go beyond Sant Anna, to avoid what seemed the busier lifts / gondolas out of Staffal & Alagna. i.e.We went over from Champoluc to, and did some runs off either side of, Betta Forca and then back to Frachey and Champoluc. It was interesting that Champoluc was the quietest place for slopes and absence of any lift queues so did loops either Crest / Ostafa and right down to the bottom and /or up over the Goat / Sarezza and up the two man to Belvedere and back down into Crest. The Mandria chair was a minor pinch point (5 mins) and the side of the 2 man chair taking you from bottom of Goat back to Frachey was also quite busy at times, but no wait to get the other way over to Champoluc.
Trip report:
https://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=167646&highlight=
Last edited by Then you can post your own questions or snow reports... on Mon 15-01-24 16:59; edited 2 times in total
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Any updates from today?
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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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First post as snowhead  and first time in the monterosa region. First day riding today - Windy with most lifts closed, the rest of the week looks promising with some snow forecast tues eve and Wednesday according to meteoblue.com, which I think the locals use. The one run we were lapping was running fine and fast to get those legs back.
On a side note does anyone recommend or know of a guide for some off piste guiding?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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First post as snowhead and first time in the monterosa region. First day riding today - Windy with most lifts closed, the rest of the week looks promising with some snow forecast tues eve and Wednesday according to meteoblue.com, which I think the locals use. The one run we were lapping was running fine and fast to get those legs back.
On a side note does anyone recommend or know of a guide for some off piste guiding?
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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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| Rachelle wrote: |
On a side note does anyone recommend or know of a guide for some off piste guiding? |
Email info.guidealagna@gmail.com , or PM me if you'd like me to send you a phone no.
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Great thanks 
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You know it makes sense.
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If you like some on piste challenges, I would recommend trying to master traversing the steep Sarezza pitch without falling victim to the ice sheet, and skiing Olen to the Alagna middle station without a rest. Those two runs I found particularly beautiful, but I generally thought the pistes were enjoyable and terrains and surroundings more varied than elsewhere. Favourite lunch stop was Rifugio Gabiet!
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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 love the pistes of Monetrosa, they are long, interesting and the scenery is great. But to describe them as challenging is not really accurate. Sarezza-Conternery has a short and somewhat narrow section, which is why it has been re-classified as black, so not suitable for lower level intermediates but its not particularly challenging. Olen to the Alagna middle station is lovely, but I have no idea at all why it is a black run as it is certainly not challenging in any way. The same could be said of the home run to Champoluc (Del Bosco), its a great piste when in good condition but not really deserving of its classification in my opinion. The Jolanda 1 black in Gressoney is genuinely steep, and can be tricky if icy, but it is quite wide so even that is not super challenging.
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Poster: A snowHead
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As an aside - has anyone seen the "new" chairlift that has appeared on the piste map from bottom of Moos linking across to the Sant Anna side of the valley actually operating? My wife is not a big fan of the Satafal shuffle as she has a knee brace that is make walking (especially on uneven terrain) uncomfortable. I cant find anything about it on the Monterosa website.
I also have had a bit of an emergency where the apartment we booked in Champoluc had to cancel on us at the last minute. Not really anyone's fault just one of those things. Found somewhere else but its rubbish tbh, and has no parking which is a pain. Anyone have any secret contact that could help with a 3 bedroom place, preferably with 2 toilets and dedicated parking? Long shot I know. Maybe @under a new name, you know someone? We are there Thurs 08 Feb to Sat 17 Feb, could stay down the valley in a hotel for the Thurs 8th to Sat 10th if thats a problem.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@zikomo, sorry, can't help. How annoying!
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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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@under a new name, Yup. Very disappointing. It would actually be better if I could be angry about it, but in fact completely understand why the owners had to cancel on us. Might just have to look into buying a place!
Thanks for your sympathy though.
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@zikomo, No worries. Mrs U's family's apartment is mostly booked up a year in advance otherwise it would have worked well for you. Have you looked at the Hotel Bellevue? They have apartments in an annexe? But it's a busy week.
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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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@zikomo,
they posted on facebook in mid dec "we have a new chairlift, should be open at Christmas"...and then no updates since. I have a similar situation and while the walk isnt really an issue, black+lift is infinitely more sellable than black+walk to the SO.
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@under a new name, Thanks again, will have a look at that. yes it is a busy week. Which is why we booked the same place we have used the last few years at the end of last February! To be honest it is mostly that I don't like slumming it, and the only thing I have found would involve doing so! Also quite like to drive to Frachey of a morning so parking is quite important...
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@zikomo, I have a vague recollection of seeing an extra chair lift run out of Staffal on Saturday morning... could be they reserve it for busy days, or they are trialling it? I only did Moos once, when switching from Gressoney to Champoluc during the day. I didn't see this lift run then, but it was snowy, so I got across to the Staffal lifts on my skis with a few skates.
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| hobbiteater wrote: |
@zikomo,
they posted on facebook in mid dec "we have a new chairlift, should be open at Christmas"...and then no updates since. I have a similar situation and while the walk isnt really an issue, black+lift is infinitely more sellable than black+walk to the SO. |
@zikomo
As I posted above it was not operating all last weekend. Its all installed fully (it looks like a refurbed lift they have sourced from somewhere else) but it was all roped off with orange piste side tape and doesn't look like it had been in use at all looking at the exit point below Sant Anna, as there was no distinct track joining it into the piste.
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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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@samr96, thanks for the recommendation, did the run to Alagna, lovely views, rides fast and quite cruisey. Requires more snow for off piste as looks hard, icy and exposed, probably didn’t help with yesterdays wind too.
Any snowboarders tried the freeride areas?A helpful guide got in touch and said Monterosa isn’t great for snowboarders due to lots of traversing which involves walking unless on splits and skins…unless we aim towards the popular lines…
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@zikomo, the #25 “New” Moos 2 person chairlift does exist, they span it for an hour yesterday. It was closed today, not sure why. I thought it was an old chairlift tbh, but realised it says new on the piste map. Would be good because we could ride down to our hotel from that chair from the Moos home run.
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FAQ
