 Poster: A snowHead
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So any one want to link up with me and Mrs SL this week? Notwithstanding the weather (we ski until we get drenched). Skiing all pistes, but happy to cruise blues, reds and even greens if it means good snow and a good chunk of the off-piste assuming normal security and that you can actually see. We are based in Val Claret.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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The forecast today said "moderate snow". Hmmm. By 2 pm it was absolutely puking it down with soggy flakes. The temperature at the bottom of Tomeuses was showing plus 2 as we beat a retreat from the Folie Douce around 3.45. Little Miss Bogus and her two friends did amazingly well in the conditions and we made it as far up the Val d'Isere as as the top of Glacier Express. Disappointed that the Up and Over was closed so we couldn't make it to Fornet but at least we achieved the 22-year-old set's primary objective of dancing on a table in wet snow while being sprayed with fizzy plonk. And that's it for this trip. The 0745 Altibus beckons and Easyjet permitting I should be at the Barbican tomorrow evening for David Tennant's Richard II. Who says skiing and culture can't mix?
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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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| Bogusman wrote: |
| The 0745 Altibus beckons and Easyjet permitting I should be at the Barbican tomorrow evening for David Tennant's Richard II. Who says skiing and culture can't mix? |
Call us backward, but here in Yorkshire we still prefer William Shakespeare's Richard II. But surely you should be watching the Yorkshire play - Richard III - "Now is the winter ..."
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@Ski lots, great to meet up .... Let's see how the conditions pan out. We arrive Sunday in val .... With guide weds, thuts and Fri so have to see what is open and when we can meet. Pm me and we can exchange numbers.
Happy to ski most stuff !
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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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@Timg60, 0655 flight from Newcastle for us  Val Claret based
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@chocksaway, What's the name of the hotel across the road from your place? Genitalia or something like that ?
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@GeorgeVII, That's its nickname on account of the floorshow that a certain lady put on one evening without drawing the curtains (until me and a couple of mates went out onto the balcony and gave her a round of applause!!). Its the Gentiana in real life and ahs had a lot of improvements over the summer.
@Bogusman, Don't tell your daughter but the stuff they spray off the deck at the FD is Super U sparkling water. Same effect but cheaper - and not as impressive as Veuve C. 
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@chocksaway, Thanks for that. We might have another bod out on the 16th but just for a long weekend. 
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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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| chocksaway wrote: |
@Bogusman, Don't tell your daughter but the stuff they spray off the deck at the FD is Super U sparkling water. Same effect but cheaper - and not as impressive as Veuve C. |
Smelt like cheap fizz the last time I got covered in it (since then I learned not to stand near the bar...!). Maybe they've changed it to water since.
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@Kenzie, Well in Lancashire we understand perfectly well that Will wrote it but whichever actor is playing the part has a temporary lease. Whatever, I'm looking forward to it and it will make up for the disappointment of no longer being in Tignes.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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It was Jean Dorsene that they sprayed at the Folie back in April, I was too busy skiing in December to check if its still the same.
It is about €2 a bottle under bond if bought by the container in the UK, so I'm sure they get an even better price, which is probably the same price as a bottle of fizzy water in the UK.
I'm up for a research trip to check it out if anybody insists
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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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Weather permitting will be in the Embu about 1am for a quick pint. If anyone is around.
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@muppet, That's what it looked like to me from my safe distance.
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You know it makes sense.
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Warm in the village this morning 
Currently water is dripping on our balcony and the pisters are once again blasting away.
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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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@Kiters, Just caught on to that one. Mmmmm what's a lad from Donny doing in Val - they are normally over here in my apartment. Must be something to do with 14 mill a year......
Meanwhile we are having a small lull in the weather grey and warm - the remnants of the snow on my balcony have melted overnight. From the weather radar we are expecting more snow/sleet/rain shortly.
Funnily enough the weather now looks marginal at Chambery - the Tommy from Birmingham has just landed but it may be a bit of a lottery..
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Poster: A snowHead
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I'm glad I'm arriving next Saturday morning and not today. This happened last year, on this very weekend, when I was in La Tania and that Saturday was probably the worst conditions I've skied in.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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If you're travelling today via Geneva expect heavy rain between the airport and Bourg. Well, that's what it was like on the way down anyway.
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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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This morning looked pretty dire, so guess what?? It started sleeting at 2100m at lunchtime, this soon changed to snow so the slopes will have much more snow on them tomorrow, it is now starting to settle on balconies etc and snow chains seem to be the order of the day for vehicles without snow tyres. It seems like only a couple of aircraft lost the Chambery cloud lottery this morning - no doubt their passengers are enjoying a bus tour of the Rhone Alps, a fair few delays though.
Nothing has changed the level of the unpredictability of the weather unfortunately. The snow will continue into the evening with a snow level at about 1600m. Fot the night owls there may be a chance to see the odd star but the snow will start again before daylight, the snow level may creep up to 1700m but soon into the afternoon it will be where it belongs in January - below the Espace Killy!! The winds will pick up during the day - I would be tempted to stay in your respective valley in case they are obliged to close the high lifts. Whatever, the actual temperature it will seem like winter! The temperature yo-yos up through Sunday night but the snow will continue where it matters - the winds will be the problem by Monday morning when it will be blowing a hooley or as they say over here 'il fait un vent á décorner les boeufs' - a wind to blow the horns off the cattle. If you are arriving tomorrow and have not booked a lift pass you may want to wait to see if anything more than the village lifts are open - I know your transfer reps don't want to hear that . If anything Tuesday could be even more windy, unless the isobars wiggle a bit in our favour. Wednesday looks blustery with snow showers but we may see the sun behind rapidly moving clouds.
Air travel should not face any weather issues tomorrow according to the latest forecasts - blustery and showery in the UK (particularly in the south where it will be a southerly and therefore a crosswind. Over here there will be showers. Inevitably the channel will be bumpy, but the roads will be calm but chains will probably be a requirement for the last few miles if you do not have snow tyres.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@chocksaway, I follow all your posts with interest, including flying forecast. Have you considered posting the latter on the general weather thread? There are probably lots of SHs who are not Tignes regulars who are not aware of these posts but would also be very interested
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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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Pistes were great today, particularly if you like a bit of slush with your snow. Brevieres seemed to be just on the snow/rain limit. Skied down the 'H' just before 4 and only saw 2 other people.
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Sitting at Geneva waiting for my 9.40 bens bus. Plenty of water and food. Will we get up the hill? 
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@Timg60, Should be ok. It has stopped snowing and other transfer buses aren't having any problems.
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Ah good might make it to the Embu for a beer then. Been a long day and a coffee just isn't going to cut it
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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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@peanuthead, Thanks, I have considered that but my forecast is quite local, fair enough it will generally be similar in the 3V and Paradiski but beyond that it starts to lose validity. I am generally interested in the nest 3-4 dyas and don't get drawn in to long term forecasting. As for the travel that is time consuming and regarding each airport I have gleaned an amount of local knowledge, both of procedures and weather. So to go beyond 'our' little area would mean not skiing on Friday!!!
@Timg60, May well be in the Embu at 1800 tonight (ish).
Lots of new snow this morning folks so the pistes are in excellent condition, but the visibility was not great and as the avalanche risk is 4 I am unable to comment on the other side of the poles. It has snowed bits and bobs all day.
A couple of items of news on pistes and chairs - The Solaise Express having realised it is to be condemned next summer has gone on strike, as yet there is no definite forecast for its repair - a couple of days at least. Even though it is a quiet week this means the Solaise Cable, Car that small but perfectly formed one, will be very busy and there may be more queues on the Olympique. If you want to go up onto the Solaise then my suggestion would be to pop on the bus to the Laisinant Chair - it has more than enough capacity.
From the 16-22 of Jan Red Bull will be in Tignes with its Linecatcher Freeride Competition - it will take place off piste in the Chardonnet Bowl and the Grappilon Area (the 2 main bowls to the left as you go up the Grand Huit Chair). There will be a spectators village by the Grand Huit chair (and associated queues I would think!) and the whole of that are of off piste will be closed to mere mortals. I just hope there is not too much snow for them to be able to compete relatively safely.
And now to the weather, snow, wind and SERIOUS Avalanche Risk. The snow will continue tonight down to 1800m, but the wind will pick up through the evening to potentially very strong levels. Be careful if you are out late it will be wild. This will continue tomorrow with the wind increasing again and the snow level dropping into the valley. There may be road closures (avalanche prevention) and precious few lifts open. The Avalanche Risk is 4 tomorrow and is forecast to rise on Tuesday as we are expecting a storm blown 50cm of snow tomorrow - so standby for the very rare black flag (Risk 5) and very limited activity around the village. The storm will abate slightly through Tuesday but the wind will be very strong creating a really difficult situation for the pisteurs - please do not ignore any signs or any directions from the police - they will direct you to a place of safety if your building is deemed to be at risk. There will be the odd glimpse of the sun - don't be fooled - it will not herald the start of a nicer period. Routes to the places of safety should be displayed in all buildings. It does not get much better on Wednesday - but the snow will be more showery in nature. Thursday should be a bit calmer, but there will be more snow - I think that's far enough on the forecast. I did promise not to shout too often last week but Please be careful over the next 2 days and follow the experts instructions.
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@chocksaway, I will add a thanks for your posts, we followed them for our trip to Tignes last week, very helpful.
For us the week was as you said, some sun, but a fair bit of flat light and poor visibility due to stowering.
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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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Just had a colossal snow shower with high winds. The lifts out of the village are open but Palafour has just been closed, I think its going to be a wild afternoon, more later.........
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You know it makes sense.
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@stewart woodward, perhaps the safe place to be will be in the bar? 
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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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I am in the 3V next week. Have a Tignes season ski pass. I believe I get 2 free days in the 3V with it. Does anyone know what the procedure is when I get to the 3V? I assume I have to turn up at a pass office and get a 2 day pass. Cannot find anything relevant on the STGM site. Have emailed them
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Been out this morning and afternoon. The snow is fantastic if only we could see it 😀😀
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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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@Mark1863, I've only done St F and Les Arcs on that system - but yip I just pitched up at the office with the all important 'juscatif' bit of paper and had a pass issued. The trick will then be hiding you EK pass so the sensors don't get confused - this was not a problem at St F as they still had an old fashioned human on the lowest lift.
A wild old day, but a bit of a first last night, I called in at the Embuscade where they had exotic dancing - 2 South American ladies doing a belly dance with a vaguely Asian twist. Not the usual Savoyarde Folk Dancing that normally counts as entertainment up here
There is a lot of new snow on the pistes (with 15cm in the villages and 20cm higher being reported for yesterday) so I expect they will be in very good condition but, with the odd bright period just to lull people out as an exception, today has been a whiteout. Gusts in excess of 150kph have been reported from the top of the Grande Motte, even 135 kph on the Solaise. The snow has been showery in nature but some of them were very intense. Meteo France have downgraded the amount of snow for today and tomorrow to 25 cm - we will just have to see when the bloke with the ruler goes out in the morning. This means that we have escaped Avi Risk 5 tomorrow - it is 4 but they have a warning for very large avalanches so again be very careful and remain on the pistes.
The snow will continue through the night when there will also be very high wands which will calm a bit by morning so tomorrow will be pretty much like today but the snow level will be down towards Bourg so driving will be a bit more tricky. Wednesday will still see snow - but more showery, the winds will abate a bit but with the drop in temperatures (snowline at 400m) it will feel bitter. Thursday looks like the least worst day this week (but it is very changeable) with a chance of seeing the sun - the clouds will return in the late afternoon to bring more snow. Sunny periods and snow showers pretty much covers Friday and Saturday but it will be colder still - definitely putting the B into Baltic. Beyond that the met computer models are disagreeing so I have little chance! But we will still be under the Jetstream - so unsettled.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Did 10 funivals today .... You might say boring .... But you couldn't see much for the first half of the run so it was different every time !
Pretty challenging but lovely snow once it had cooled down and the rain at resort had turned to snow.
All other lifts were closed and face and Santon's shut too .... So bus back to chalet from la daille.
Another tough day tomorrow .... Guide booked for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday ..... Interesting if they can see more than us !!
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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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Looking forward to going out this Sunday. Unfortunately my wifes new snowboard boots are not going to turn up. Anyone know if there are any Salomon snowboard dealers in Le Lac? (Wife is looking for Salomon Ivy Boa's)
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Are loop bar doing happy hour this year? If so does anyone know what the deal on beer is?
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3 big Tonka toy ploughs, seemed to have just re-opened the road between Le Lac and VC.
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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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@chocksaway, 150mph, now that is a 'Windy Miller'
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FAQ
Which I guess is why nothing is open and there is an awful lot of explosions at the moment. I spoke to a pisteur in the pub last night, he said they were expecting to release some spectacular avalanches on the Toviere this morning - shame we can't see it. He also said the maximum gust at the top of the Grande Motte yesterday was 240kph or 150 mph in old money.
