 Poster: A snowHead
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A bit of a day today.
It rained overnight in Morzine - washing away about half of the snow in the garden outside the apartment - but with the overnight freezing level looking to have been around 1200m.
When we got up on the hill we'd had around 10cm of snow - most of which had been left unpisted. The first two hours of skiing were superb - even if I had to snowplough for much of it. 
It continued to snow / rain for much of the day - with the freezing level climbing up to around 1500m - adding to the snow above, but making much of the snow below horribly sticky and grabby.
We didn't venture over to Les Gets (we got diverted into lunch at Nyon - see below) - but I'll be able to report tomorrow.
We drove up to Avoriaz tonight to hire some skis that MrsPhillipStanton wants to try. It's blowing a hooly up there. Really, really, really a hooly.
Powderhounds should note that it was blowing a hooly this evening up at Avoriaz. Lots of snow + high wind = high avalanche risk.
A few things to warm the heart:
Antoine Ski Sport up in Avoriaz is superb. A quick "pop" into the shop to hire some skis turned into a 20 minute, passionate discussion on the merits of what he did and didn't stock. He stocks non-mainstream products (with the exception of a few Rossi products - on the basis that not to do so would be "unFrench"!) - and only if he enjoyed skiing them. The skis we hired are in tiptop nick. Trace hasn't skied them yet, but you can just tell. Highly recommended.
I saw an ESF instructor today with a kid in a ski-bob. You see quite a few around here. What warmed the heart was that they weren't just pootling - they were abosultely hooooning down the piste - and whooping at the top of their voices 
We had a long lunch in the rebuilt restaurant at the top of the Nyon cable car (given the weather, you would have too). Absolutely superb. Not just a restaurant, but a restaurant. What's the difference? An excellent wine list. Wines in a wine cave. Optional slippers to wear if you want to take off the ski boots. Free nibbles to start. Waiters who remembered who ordered what. Absolutely stunning food. The best chocolate mouse in the area. Free digestives. Go and eat there. Lose an afternoon. 
For any parents coming next week
Please excuse this if it sounds patronising, but...
I shadowed a childrens group today - most of whom were soaked and cold within an hour of us starting the lesson. Hell, I've got good, Gortex gloves and my gloves were soaked by the end of the two hour lesson. I got through three pairs of gloves today.
The weather forecast is suggesting the same snow / rain mixture for the next week. So, if you're sending your children out on a lesson, please consider:
- taking up a spare set of gloves and a spare layer or two for them to change into during the day after the lesson - take them up in a rucksac, take a cable lock and leave them in a restaurant - most don't mind as long as you eat there
- giving them some money for an "emergency hot chocolate" to warm them up
- giving them a small chocolate bar to eat as a morale booster
A few of the childrens groups today had to finish early because it was better for the children to get them inside and warm.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| kendadj wrote: |
| Is it really that good up top ? |
I'll let you know tomorrow
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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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| PhillipStanton wrote: |
| It continued to snow / rain for much of the day - with the freezing level climbing up to around 1500m - |
I'm surprised at that. In Les Arcs the freezing level was much lower, with snow during the day down to Bourg Saint Maurice at approx 850m. Strange thing, this mountain weather 
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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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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| PhillipStanton wrote: |
Hello rob@rar - nice to see you in these here parts of the snow reports 
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An avid reader!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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...oh, peeing down outside and 3.8* degrees on the (comedy) weather station+
Does anyone have a record for the number of pairs of gloves they've got through in a day?
* Spurious accuracy, I know
+ If not "comedy", then this particular piece of electronics has a very good sense of humour...
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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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brian
brian
Guest
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PhillipStanton, classic 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I saw a woman last week (in LaPlagne, not in PdS sorry) attempt to get on seat 1.5 between two large guys who occupied seats 1 and 2 (on a 4 seat chair).
She ended up suspended by her elbows, dangling, 20foot above the snow. Stop the lift. Drop poles. Unlatch each ski. Let go. Got caught by ski boots and slid down two men on the ground. Phew.
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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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That happened to me as a kid! Ski pinged off on take off on the chair (got tip caught in snow). Person in next chair picked it up. I was on lift with 2 other 11 year olds... did they support me in my graceful exit? Did they heck as like... I actually managed to get halfway down a (steep) exit ramp on one ski before coming to grief in a snowdrift...
Wonderfully recounted story though PhilipStanton... had me chuckling! Poor kid...
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carled, you started boarding quite early then
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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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I had a ski fall off on loading last year. I thought i would just ski down the ramp on the one ski. There was a large group faffing about near the off ramp. The carnage was most impressive.
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Poster: A snowHead
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PhillipStanton, Mate, great story.
The restaurant at the top of the Nyon Cable. Isn't it just great? You know that it's run by Pascal who used to run l'Etale? He's done an absolutely stonking job. It is exactly how a restaurant should be run. Anywhere. Let alone up a snowy plateau without sensible services. And in summer? Wow!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| David Murdoch wrote: |
| It is exactly how a restaurant should be run. Anywhere. |
My thoughts entirely.
| Frosty the Snowman wrote: |
| The carnage was most impressive. |
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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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Not much to report today.
We headed over to Les Gets with our group today (Timmy is well and isn't put off skiing!) - the main link run is back open - and then up Chavannes; to the Indian Park and back. Nice snow all the way there and back.
I then spent most of the remainder of the day refining my posture and body movements on the nursery slope at the top of Pleney 
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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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PhillipStanton, I didn't get up today - stuck in the office waiting for the computer man to turn up! Hubbie did and had great joy in telling me he had 1st tracks down Happy Valley...
Happy Valley - into Plaine Dranse up Chaux de Rosees then off to your left down blue until you go under next chair then swing off to your right into a bit of gentle offpiste. Great fun!!!
I'll be heading out Sunday morning...catch some powder
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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.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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snowandtrek, mmm, Happy Valley... that brings back some very happy memories 
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Hi guys first post on this informative, humorous and thought provoking arena. PhillipStanton what a glorius scene We are off to Les Gets in the morning. If the forecasters are reading the tealeaves correctly we should be in for some fun. Keep up the the good work.
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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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phild- please leave some freshies for me - off to Le Viking (Morzine) 17th Feb. Driving everyone in my group booking mad by hourly updates on snow forecast / not etc. Totally addicted to all reports last 2 days keeping me sane! Keep them coming guys!
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RetroSkier, Went to Le Viking last year heavy snow just before we arrived then 7 days of wall to wall sunshine had a great time. Whole place was run by young english staff. None of the staff or management seemed older than 20 and they all lived on the top floor of the hotel. I thought that it was a receipe for disaster but was proved totally wrong. They ran the place really well. Food was very good and staff very friendly
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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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Welcome back Curtains. Glad to hear that the snow up higher was good - it was certainly less enjoyable around Pleney - but that's the curse of being a trainee instructor!
A bin lid is the only way to go when it's snowing. Look forward to the rest of the report...
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You know it makes sense.
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Late start this morning (this skiing full time takes it out of you...) - so I'm writing this in my jim jams (I know, I know, enough detail  )
Anyway, the comedy weather station reports 3.4 degrees and it's raining outside the apartment. Heading up work on my bumps technique (if I can find any - technique, that is...)...
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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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PhillipStanton,
this may sound like a strange question but you weren't sitting under the heaters hiding from the rain at the Irish Bar on wednesday after your BASS course ,
when some horrible north east louts turned up lol
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Poster: A snowHead
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Giant flies on the loose in Les Gets
 [/img]
(Lucky capture from the Les Gets webcam a couple of days ago)
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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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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.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Now this is more like it.
It's been peeing down in Morzine all day and snowing from Prodains and above. We finally have snow falling on, errr, snow (I know, I know, a bit fundamental for a ski resort, but...)
MrsPhillipStanton and I were out testing skis and everything we went on around Linderats was in the best condition it's been in all season.
If you're coming in the next few days, though, I'd suggest you bring a guide dog...
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| Curtains wrote: |
| ...snowheads hat... |
I really should pay attention
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Great picture kendadj.
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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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PhillipStanton, This is the first time for a week or so I have looked at this thread. Off to Les Gets in two weeks and hoping the snow continues to improve. Looking at this thread earlier in the season was too stressful!
Keep up the great posts, maybe I will "bump" into you in a couple of weeks - not literally I hope, mind you I am a pretty poor skier!
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Just got back from Morzine. Left there at 8.20am this morning (by car). Had a great weeks skiing. Stayed in a chalet right next to the Pleney bubble. The ESF school meet outside for childrens lessons, so very convenient to drop kids off at in morning! Mind you, the last two days it resembled a skating rink, and I had a very comic, out of control, holding two sets of skiis and poles, spinning on my boots, backwards moment,which I am sure gave the people in the bubble lift a laugh.
Sun and Mon were hot and sunny. Had to go and buy after sun due to careless application (not) of sun cream. The pistes were looking decidedly patchy, but were fine for us as we had one beginner child who was more than happy to do repeated B and D runs down the Pleney.
Tuesday was better, apart from one of our party dislocating their knee on the D run down. The Dr put it back in for him on the piste (ouch) and he took the bloodwagon down. Two x-rays later and a bill for 400 euros, and that was the end of his ski holiday. Good job he bought a book....The snow on Thursday was not nice to ski in, but the pistes were great to ski on. Bit chilly on the old chairlifts though. Ventured to Nyon and Chamoisse, and spent a morning in Avoriaz.
Friday was fantastic. Beautiful clear skies, pistes were a bit crusty to start, but in the afternoon were great. Did loads of runs over to Les Gets.
All in all a fab week. I was so worried in the weeks leading up to it , that the lack of snow would ruin the hol. Should not have worried. There was plenty to keep my family amused, and by the look of things, there weather is bringing more snow too.
By the way. I got chatting to some scottish ladies in my ski class who were staying in a chalet with a family group of 17 with a company called snowandtrek. They recommended it. Anything to do with any of the snowheads on this thread??
Thanks for all the input from the regulars out there. It is great to get first hand info from those actually out there.
Must go. three suitcases of washing to sort out now....
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