 Poster: A snowHead
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@Pamski, lows?? Not in my experience, unless of course coming back to the UK counts!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I see from the Chatel lift/piste report and Chatel Snow’s daily update that the Chermeu lift isn’t running which is a bit of a pain if you come over from Petit Chatel. Any word on the problem? I know it had some issues last season so maybe it has just clapped out.
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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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@Pamski, thank you! Yes I am prepared for the lows! Don't expect it to be a walk in the park particularly the school thing! But I am optimistic 
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@Annie, school on Monday! Ski Club already joined and started so that is a big result
@DJL, not been up your neck of the woods yet so don't know but suspect it could be closed due insufficient coverage in that area, for example Linga has only just opened and the return Linga piste is still closed with grass sticking up!
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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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Ranfoilly lift still closed in Les Gets, results in big queues for the other two uplifts out of the bowl. But it's worth it as the reds are beautiful to ski
Good skiing early, but the icy patches, rocks and branches start to win through by lunchtime. I think it needs another good dump to really set the base. At the bottom of the choucas piste, on what is a road in the summer, just before the lifts, lovely icy Tarmac is poking through, just at the point you want to stop to collect everyone for the right lift. As my husband found out today when he tried to stop on it!
We are loving Arbis, although the big moguls seem to have moved down the hill a bit overnight.
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Some fantastic rainbows out today, plenty of people too!
Arbis was great, the bowl was good early on then went off a bit.
High time Ranfolly got an upgrade!
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Pistes have now become very patchy, stones and grass showing through. More snow needed.
We were on the slopes at 9.20 amazingly, it was great early on but then became very busy and later on ski base threatening!
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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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@MontriondSkier, I took 30ish pics to make sure! Those low lying clouds made for some great pics too.
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@Chattonmill - those aren't rainbows... They are 22deg halos visible when the sun's rays are refracted by airborne/suspended ice crystals. The bright spots are known as "sundogs". Great pic!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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The skiing in Les Gets has been on the good side of ok this week. Much better than we thought given the preceding disaster week...! The one dump of snow has held up pretty well until today - surprisingly so across most of the pistes. It's been cold and dry; great to be out on the mountain.
The resort does get crowded and this isn't helped when major lifts are out of action for reasons apparently unrelated to atmospheric or piste conditions. At one point yesterday neither the Ranfoilly or Rosta lifts out of the bowl were working so everyone was compressed into a small area served by just a couple of working lifts. In fact, the Ranfoilly lift hasn't been working now for about 4 days, a "problem with the motor" apparently. The Charniaz chair was also not working earlier in the week. It's hard not to conclude that pre-season testing may have been, well, limited. With one of the busiest weeks in the calendar ahead, you'd have thought they'd have taken great care to minimise the risks of mechanical breakdowns affecting the resort. But while the crowds are there perhaps they can afford to be slipshod and lazy in preparation and operation, so I'm doubtful that anything will be "done" until some sort of crisis point is reached. But then that's France isn't it..? I'd be interested to know if others share my views/concerns.
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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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@IanTr, +1 from me. Fairly typical French effort by the sounds of it.
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@IanTr, yep. Lots of lifts broken down or regularly stopping this week. It was as if they didn't know the ski season started in December.
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You know it makes sense.
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The big plan is interesting, the Pds have laid down the law. A new lift from the School is starting next year to Mt Chery.
This should relieve the pressure on the bowl.
Two new Pistes on the Mt Chery side as well all finished for the 2016 season.
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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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@Chattonmill, is there local opposition to the new lift across the village?
Ranfolly is out of action too much 
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Poster: A snowHead
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This morning Avoriaz is either sheet ice or broken up bits of ice!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@IanTr, Ranfoilly has be unreliable for a number of seasons now.
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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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@IanTr, During interseason I walk through the bowl and down the Chavannes 3-4x a week. I saw a lot of work and testing being done in between both seasons and during the summer season on Ranfolly (the most work apart from the recladding of the red bubble I'd say). I think it's an old lift that had the motors replaced a few seasons ago and it's difficult to keep going. I was on it when it stopped and it felt like there had been some type of catastrophic failure, still worse places to be stuck and it's the first time I've been lowered off a lift.
Living in resort and speaking to the people who help manage and run the ski area I get the feeling that there is a lot of constant maintenance and improvements that take place but it is not always easy to tell which are the most time critical. I get the feeling that a lot of care is taken but there aren't endless pots of cash to be able to do so considering the age of the resort. I 100% don't agree that they are slipshod and lazy in preparation and operation
ETA - getting back to the weather....it's currently raining at village level.
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I'm in lindarets at present and it's raining heavily there too. Let's hope the snow level drops to at least 1500m soon. It was rubbish today and more snow is definitely required
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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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Is it snowing yet?
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Currently 7 degrees and raining here at about 1100m in Chatel.
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4 degrees and rain in Petit Chatel. Just arrived - what a journey! It was raining at 05.30 when we left Colchester and 650 miles later it has never stopped, not even on the Pas de Morgins where it was 3C. Lowest temperature we saw was 2C in Morgins village. There must be lots of fresh up there if we can get high enough.
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@DJL, 4 degrees?? You must be a good bit above me then  or I have a dodgy thermometer! Not sure the freezing level but I'm not that optimistic it was warm yesterday and today. Been raining most of the day. Been to Thonon sorting and getting stuff.
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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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@igLou, not much, seems to be a done deal, work starting this year opening 2017.
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Fingers crossed that freezing level drops...
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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currently raining hard in chatel. 0 level above village overnight Avalanche cannons going off this am. Hopefully we can get high enough to get freshies (via SMS)
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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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Pouring here in Champéry too at 7.45am. Feeling worried as feels very warm too....waiting for some daylight to view webcams properly
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Raining heavily still in Les Gets, no sign of a snow line up Mont Chery though vis is poor.
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You know it makes sense.
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Got 2C in the car at 1300m on the bread run.
Looking up there is fresh snow on the trees on Morclan but it looks to be well above Super Chatel. Maybe 1800m or so.
Heard avalache blasting at 07.30 so hopefully OK up top.
Slow start called for I think. Intermarche here we come!
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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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Sleetish snow falling here in Champoussin at lower village level. Agree @DJL, leisurely breakfast called for.
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Poster: A snowHead
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well its still raining at the bottom and the vis is a bit rubbish but were finding bits of fresh in places. The lift pass lady did ask whether we wanted the pass to start today and said 'bon courage' whenbwe set off. (via SMS)
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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 its still raining at the bottom and the vis is a bit rubbish but were finding bits of fresh in places. The lift pass lady did ask whether we wanted the pass to start today and said 'bon courage' whenbwe set off
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Is it worth heading over to Avoriaz as I am currently at GM and all links are closed and snow is broken!
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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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@bertie bassett, leave a few of those fresh bits for me -out there myself from the 10th 
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It looks like all the rain fell as snow in Avoriaz. We've been riding powder this morning. Probably 20-30cm. I'd post a picture but I can't see how. Still snowing although it's been relatively light. I'd say get here ASAP as I doubt the new cover will last the 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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@FIRSTOFTHEGIANTS, sounds great. Sadly committed to the 10th so will continue keeping fingers crossed !!
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Lovely and sunny now in Chatel, got my washing out to dry
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@sarah, you are really living here now, with the washing out. Sun out in Les Gets too - just thinking that we should finally go and get our season PDS passes this afternoon, really tired after long flight back for now. I have heard from a neighbour that the road down to Taninges is closed at the moment - we came up on a transfer about 10 this morning and there had been a small rockfall, but we did pass a police vehicle with flashing blue lights so they have probably closed it as a precaution.
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Popped out for 3 hours this afternoon. Cornebois sector really not too bad.
Fresh snow above Plaine Dranse. Run down to the bottom of Pierre Longue still intact.
Sarah, good luck with school tomorrow. Maybe catch you later in the week.
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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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@sarah, Also hope the school thing goes well tomorrow. James (the one who's got that particular TShirt) is saying that he wishes he could have the time again and that it will be fine, so I am sure it will be 
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| nickH wrote: |
| @bertie bassett, leave a few of those fresh bits for me -out there myself from the 10th |
Will try nick but you'd better get snow dancing. Some of the bits lower down or high traffic e.g lindarets are struggling already anf forecast is sunny for the next couple of days.
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