 Poster: A snowHead
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FlyingStantoni, No she hasn't but she wasn't there. I think she would though. No cliffs to worry about though.
I've just got up and it's throwing it down (with snow) here. Shame for all those saturday transfer people. Think I might go skiing.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Reporting from the taniere in Avoriaz. Piste in perfect nick. 15 cms on a flat base. Off piste, anything steep is lumpy underfoot, but anything less steep is great. Skied Linderets, Xmas trees, crot. Higher stuff closed due avalanche. Still dumping!
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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.
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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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andyph - it you use the term Dranse Valley synonimously with Vallee de la Manche then you might understand 
What most people think of as the Vallee de la Manche is accessed from the top of the Fornet chair - turn right and go over the saddle - which takes you down to the Mines d'Or.
There's a ski bus service from the bottom.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Ah ha, FlyingStantoni, think I've found it on Google Earth. Looks magnificent, but definitely one to be wary of with current avalanche conditions, I imagine. Is it worth a visit when there's no fresh powder? I'm not out for a couple of weeks, and it doesn't look like any fresh snow is due before then.
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andyph, I've only done it a few times - all a while after fresh snow and got fresh tracks each time. But I might just have been lucky.
One of the (real) locals might have a better view. I'm just a pseudo / wannabe local. 
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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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andyph, FlyingStantoni, and the descent zzz is discussing if off the back of Chamossiere and so takes you into the valle de la Manche from the other side of the Fornet route. Am jealous.
Am also pleased to have been proven correct that the ultimate all round off piste ski is an FIS legal slalom model. Heh. Heh. Heh. 
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| under a new name wrote: |
| Am also pleased to have been proven correct that the ultimate all round off piste ski is an FIS legal slalom model. Heh. Heh. Heh. |
You are, of course, always right *
* Excepting when Mrs under a new name is more right!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Just back from Avoriaz.
Loads of snow. Visibility was ropey on Friday and Saturday. It was beautiful blue skies today. Thursday pm was lovely too.
But loads of snow, it didn't stop. Lots of wind on Friday and Saturday. Perhaps 50 MPH at the top, with visibility down to about 5M at times.
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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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under a new name, is of course right. There are two lift served routes into Vallee de la Manche, the one from Fornet and the one served by the Chamossiere chair. This involves a traverse of the Chamossiere bowl and a short walk up. But.... it's not an easy route to navigate and involves a lot of ski agricole if you take the wrong turning!
Back to the snow conditions. Yesterday I skied fantastic snow in sunny conditions. Around the Fornet chair was perfect, the wall couloir was in fine shape and the Fornet to Vallee de la Manche route was largely unskied with 30cms of fresh powder at the top which turned to 15cms on an icy base halfway down. Absolutely fantastic conditions for everyone out here.
Today there are some clouds in the sky so forcing myself to take a day off and do some of those boring household chores!
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Great to hear that the snow is building.
All ready for our trip in a few weeks time.
The route everybody is describing sounds great, but I've only just started trying off piste and don't have the transceiver, shovel kit.
Can anybody suggest any alternative routes perhaps between pistes which could be good to increase my off piste experience whilst minimising the danger 
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You know it makes sense.
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| Quote: |
Can anybody suggest any alternative routes perhaps between pistes which could be good to increase my off piste experience whilst minimising the danger
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Book a guide/instructor or join a ski school off piste clinic. Doesn't have to be expensive and will be safe!
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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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Oh, and forgot to say, the snow is superb at the moment! There was another dump forecast for today, but that disappeared from the cham forecast, although clouds are building so who knows...
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Poster: A snowHead
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I know this is likely to be in the wrong thread/section so sorry 
I am off to PDS (based in Saint Jean) on 3rd Feb for 4 days. I have been reading the above and tyring to plan out a good day route. This will be my second time to PDS and I want to cover as much snow as possible this time.
Is the following route do-able? and worthwhile/fun?
Ardent (d’Ardent) - Lindarets (Chaux Fluene) - Plaine Dranse (Les Combes) - Linga (Bus or walk) then (Super Chatel) I am a bit stuck on the best route straight into Morgins to avoid the T bars? Any suggestions? Then Morgins (La Foilleuse) Champoussin (Bochasses) (Aiguille des Champeys) (Pointe de l’Au) Les Crosets - (Crosets 1 or 2) (Ripaille 1&2) (Chavanette) Avoriaz - Lindarets - Ardent
We are early starters and late finishers so could this be done with a stop for lunch somewhere nice? Any suggestions or variations, must sees & must ski etc would be gratefully received
I want to 'work in' the black under the (Aiguille des Champeys) in Champoussin & The Swiss Wall if possible, could that be done? Any estimate on timing?
Thanks in advance.
ARMS
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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[quote="Arms"]I
Ardent (d’Ardent) - Lindarets (Chaux Fluene) - Plaine Dranse (Les Combes) - Linga (Bus or walk) then (Super Chatel)
/quote]
You can catch a bus from Linga into Chatel and then the gondola up to super chatel. Personally, I would avoid and stick to the Dranse/Linga sectors.
The route to Morgins from Mossettes is down a long and tedious flat road run . The (Pointe de l’Au) chair is closed and replaced with a tempoary drag. Again avoid this sector
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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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Arms, the route you describe is "the circuit" in a clockwise direction; you can do it the other way around too. There is a small track from halfway down the Linga directly to Chatel that cuts out the bus. I havn't used it for years but there is certainly enough low down snow for it. I don't know any way thru Morgins that doesn't involve at least one t-bar but maybe someone else does. Timing wise, I took a small group of average skiiers the other way around last year and we had finished it in time for a late lunch back in Avoriaz. If you push on I see no reason why you could not fit in your couple of black runs.
Make sure you go on a nice day. The views are great, the skiing a tad dull!
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dz4d1v but if I avoid those how do I complete the loop?
I was planning on doing the loop clockwise so not Mossette to Morgin but Morgin>Champoussin>Les Crosets>Chavanette>Avoriaz>Ardent does that then avoid the long tedious flat run you metioned?
Is the Pointe de l'Au closed for a long time?
I just looked on a gps site after this post from Andy on another thread. It has pretty much that circuit tracked on it, superb! I even google earth'd it super close up in 3D to look at the terrain. It would be great if someone could get the runs and lifts on google earth. 
Arms, that route is pretty much the one we've done a few times. We took a diversion to do the Torgon sector once or twice, and from Les Crosets did the Champery/Planachaux sector too, but it really depends on the time you get there - don't want to miss the last lift back over!
We usually stop for coffee break at bottom of Linga before getting the bus to SuperChatel, and then stop for lunch at a small hut on the way down to Morgins village. No idea what it's called, but this is the view (maybe someone might recognise it?):
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_lAyziiIP0Z8/Rp5b7BRQdsI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/IU97912cLZ4/s720/tmp3a00bff0.tmp..JPG
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_lAyziiIP0Z8/Rp5b9RRQdtI/AAAAAAAAAYY/BqcW2vdeEtk/s720/tmp7034e56b.tmp..JPG
Found this GPS track log on gpsies, which is mostly same as the route we took. Been meaning to convert that to a Lift/Piste route instruction.
http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=evpmqkyqlsyvjwzl
zzz I was wondering whether it could be done the other way and therefore including "the wall" easily. Cheers.
Thanks guys.
Last edited by You need to Login to know who's really who. on Mon 26-01-09 15:37; edited 1 time in total
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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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Arms,
See earlier posts .....
Following the temporary closure of teh chairlift l'Au-Pointe de l'Au in Champoussin the connexions between Champoussin and Les Crosets have been modified.
Connexion Champoussin - Crosets
> chairlift "l'Aiguille des Champeys"
> blue slope following the signposts direction Crosets
> baby lift (new temporary lift) "Pierre à Cornieule"
Connexion Crosets - Champoussin
> Go down in the direction of "Col des Portes du Soleil" from the top of Mossettes
> blue slope Tovassière just till Morgins
> chairlift the "Foilleuse"
> skilift Bochasses or Sépaya
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Arms, welcome to
I'd agree with zzz, for timing. We were quite surprised how quick it can be done.
We've done both clockwise and anti-clockwise in the past. I personally found the clockwise option easier to navigate, but I'm not sure whether the closed (Pointe de l’Au) chair can be avoided.
Its a while ago but I think there is a slow green route which avoids the T-bars when going anti-clockwise.
On the whole the skiing isn't the most thrilling, but its good to look at the piste map and see the distance covered.
I've just checked the map and yes from Col Des Portes du Soleil there is a run straight to Morgins cutting out Champoussin.
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Excellent, thanks very much for that info.
I will have to look at my route again then taking into account the lift closure. The timing sounds perfect though, it means if we find a particularly pleasurable area we can hammer it a few times
I think we are going to hit Les Gets/Morzine on the first day, then do a version of the circuit and spend some time in Avoriaz on day two and then wing the last day depending on weather conditions or the need for fun.
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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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am headed to Morgins on Sat, wondering how the l'Au-Pointe de l'Au in Champoussin lift closure is going to affect us. Anyone have reports on the modified connections? Also, any local knowledge on morgins (good places to eat, etc) would be welcomed
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If the modified connection is a rope tow - then that was not working when we did that route Sunday before last.... bit of huffing and puffing going on particularly from the females around, the liftie kept whizzing up and down from the top to the bottom of it on his skidoo but didn't fix it and just sphiflicated us, the huffers and puffers, with the fumes from the engine. Friends did it last Sunday though and it was working then.
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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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or just look at the pictures ... 
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You know it makes sense.
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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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Poster: A snowHead
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| ian010 wrote: |
| I'll post back on my return for anyone interested |
I would be very interested to know how this is working as I am flying in on Tue 3rd Feb. Have fun! 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Silly question time - I can see on the above map the the Pointe de l'Au on the Les Crosets side is gone - why? Being replaced? But what about the Pointe de l'Au on the Champoussin side what's happened to that - it's still on the map?
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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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stevew, I think it's the Les Crosets side lift that catastrophically failed it's tech test and the underlying geology has failed the "let's replace it" test...
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| Arms wrote: |
I just looked on a gps site after this post from Andy on another thread. It has pretty much that circuit tracked on it, superb! I even google earth'd it super close up in 3D to look at the terrain. It would be great if someone could get the runs and lifts on google earth.
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Well, as it happens...
For years, I've tried to figure out the piste maps for PdS, what lifts link to which runs in different zones etc and just got confused. SO, I spent a bit of time before last season marking out (most of) the pistes and lifts in Google Earth. I've only shown it to a few close geeks and chalet buddies but it really clarifies a lot, for me anyway. Makes planning a day's itinerary a piece of p*ss.
I'll have to work out how to post the .kmz file that contains all the data, then you just double-click it and it will automatically load into GE. I might have to PM it, but let me look into that (unless any s can advise). You then just save it in My Places and you've got it! Note that you have to turn on terrain, and I like to exaggerate the vertical scale a little to show the slopes more clearly.
I haven't finished the further-flung parts of Chatel and Abondance, nor St Jean D'Aups, but it's good for most of the area. I'd also appreciate feedback if I've put the marked piste in the wrong place, as I haven't skied all the PdS and had to guess in a few places. Or if anyone wants to finish the missing pistes.
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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 to interrupt the conversation, but how's the snow in the PdS today?
I'm planning to be there for the weekend and I have my fingers crossed that the recent instability means not ALL offpiste is entirely skied out, but on the other hand the snowpack will be more stable by then.
Is this 100% wishful thinking?
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im also hitting the porte du soleil this weekend, so excited, makes concentrating on work this week more of a challenge than normal! What are the conditions like out there?
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andyph, that sounds neat. Some lifts on the Swiss side are included on gmaps/ge but not pistes. I've stuck some GPS stuff into GE/gmaps, but it's all MTB stuff rather than skiing. May play with GPS next week on the slopes, to see how it handles the weather.
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andyph,
| Quote: |
| I'll have to work out how to post the .kmz file that contains all the data |
do you have a google or hotmail account?
They both have a facility to file share as long as the file isn't too big. 40 or 50 mb I think.
e.g. http://cid-cc870dc63154a0f5.skydrive.live.com/browse.aspx/Les2Alpes%202008
If you don't have this option, PM me the file and I'd gladly put it on mine
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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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horizon, mrBishi, Spent the day sliding around Les Gets today. Bowl off the top of Chamossier chair to the left was still great and it is cold overnight still so should be ok for the weekend. Yeti and associated off piste were good too.
Runs to home were as icy as can be expected, lots of debutants on their bums. Overall though conditions are very good.
Gonna try the downhill piste Morzine to Geneva twice tomorrow. Oh Joy !!! Have a great weekend. Avoid Geneva, demonstrations expected due to the Davos Sumit Meeting. Will post this elsewhere to.
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FAQ
