 Poster: A snowHead
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Heading out this coming Saturday to Meribel Mottaret. What are the snow conditions like? What is the Grand Couloir looking like (especially the access ridge?).
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Loads and loads of snow last week. There are a few places where it's getting a bit icy, and lower down it's geting a little slushy, but that's as you would expect this time of year. Overall glorious.
The Grand Couloir scares me just looking at it but there were plenty of people going down it, with varying degrees of success.
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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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@Rhoobarb, the one that made my stomach turn upon looking down it earlier this season was the GoPro Couloir Meribel.
I'm not good with heights, to the point that I wasn't even able to go to the edge of the viewing platform they have at the top! I start getting the sweats in the bubble that goes right over it if I have my back facing the mountain.
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thanks folks. can't wait. And hopefully the sun will stay out all next week (with snow fall overnight of course - if only!).
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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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The ridge to the Grand Couloir can be a bit nervey but the run itself is fine. Should be great with the bit of light snow forecast on the weekend. The top of the Meribel Couloir is certainly another level.
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Will be in St Martin from 24th. If there are any Snowheads around it would be good to meet for a beer
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@vaughan, we will be there over the weekend from late Friday night till Monday. I am sure we will end up in the Pourquoi Pas bar at least one night over the weekend, or just and end of ski day beer at the Dahlia. PM me with your plans.
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I thought the usually slightly less challenging couloir look quite mogully from below.
Light snow tonight should freshen up.
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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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@Layne, Which one is the meribel couloir? Is it the descent to the left of the GC ridge?
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| CharlieL wrote: |
| @Layne, Which one is the meribel couloir? Is it the descent to the left of the GC ridge? |
Essentially yes. It's called Couloir Tournier. If you go up Saulire Express 2 from Meribel you will see the entrance to your left facing the mountian just before the arrival point. There is a big GoPro sign and paraphenalia. It's right next to that arrival station. If coming from the Courcheval just walk straight ahead. It's steep and rocky at the top. I've never done it. I'm sure I could but I am getting a bit old for that sort of s__t now. Like many of these runs once you are over that initial section it opens up reasonably well. As I say this is based on viewing from the lift not skiing it. On the Courcheval side there are of course the other couloirs, which are probably more attractive propositions if you have done GC.
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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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| altis wrote: |
| Yep, more commonly known as the Couloir Tournier but also known as the Couloir Tremplin or Springboard Gully |
But for this year renamed "GoPro Couloir"!
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Snow and weather conditions yesterday were wonderful. Partial sun, mostly good visibility, enough light cloud to prevent sun from softening snow.
Daytime temps about -10 to -1c between Courchevel and La Masse areas. Didn’t get to Val T but heard over in 4th valley it snowed a little middle of day.
This morning looks like a bluebird day from my view of La Tania. Forecast still showing mix of sun and cloud, probably no new snow today. May get a little sugary later on down in lower bits of St Martin and Meribel but looking like the best day of the week in prospect
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You know it makes sense.
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The Grand Couloir was in great condition yesterday, when we skied it. Perfect snow - soft bumps all the way.
The access ridge was as good as it gets. Nice, soft grippy snow top to bottom. I straight lined the end bit and made use of the uphill, "runaway truck ramp" to stop, which was exciting! 
Both Mrs B and I agreed that it's one of the best steep runs we've ever done. It's exciting to access, due to the exposure, and (despite being close to the cable car) has a nice, away from it all feel.
We then did the Go Pro Couloir. It felt (to me) more exposed than the Grand Couloir - although the info board at the top confirmed it was no steeper. However, the snow on that run was more sun-affected, so it was definitely a bit more challenging than the Grand Couloir.
Nevertheless, 2 great runs!
Snow conditions are fantastic throughout the area at the moment. As good as we can ever remember for mid March.
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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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Actually I didn't they'd created the zig zag entrance into the Couloir Tournier. I thought you had to drop in directly next to the lift. Doesn't look much different to the Tunnel in ADH in some ways.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Wonderful snow and bluebird skies across 3V yesterday. Especially good we found over Val T and towards Orwell’s.
Quite crowded and the restaurant at the chairlift hub in 4th valley was completely mobbed.
Looking like more if same today with just a little cloud cover. Should stop sun from affecting snow conditions lower down. With temps between+2 and -5, should be perfect.
Ridge to Couchevel couloirs in one pic and bit of a whale mouth forming below Saulire top station on next one. Last one a view from Orelle side over Maurienne Valley.
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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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keep the info coming, my first trip to 3V for many a year over Easter!
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weather seems changeable for Easter week at the moment, yesterday it was a meter of snow, freezing levels high, today it's looking more sensible.
Hoping for snow overnight, warm days 
If anyone is out on the 2nd, there's a first tracks down Saulire with Alexis Pinturault (and a few others), it sounds like you won't get chance to ski down with them at the time, they'll come down afterwards, which is a shame, I'd love to see if I Pinturault could keep up with me
| Quote: |
on 04/02/2018
LE SAULIRE FIRST TRACK WITH OUR RESORT CHAMPIONS
Courchevel
A breeding ground for champions, Courchevel invites you to a morning of sport alongside some of our athletes who took part in the Olympics.
Picture this… the sun h just come up, freshly groomed runs roll out before you as far as the eye can see… the only noise you can hear is the sound of your skis beneath your feet as they glide over the snow… Making the first tracks of the day on the legendary Saulire is magical enough, but being joined by Courchevel's champions makes the experience totally unforgettable!
So, are you ready to ski with Alexis Pinturault, Léa Lemare, Anne-Sophie Barthet, Taïna Barioz, Lucile Morat and Jonathan Learoyd?
On the programme:
7.15am-7.45am: Take the Verdons G1 gondola lift up
7.50am: Last journey up in the Saulire cable car
8am-8.15am: Guests ski down la Saulire
8.15am: Champions, ski instructors and Sports Club members ski down la Saulire
Between 8.15am and 9am: Breakfast at Les Verdons halfway station (hot drinks and pastries).
Important info for non skiers! Pedestrians can take Les Verdons gondola lift between 7am-8.30am up to the top of Les Verdons to watch the champions, ski instructors and Sports Club members make their descent… and you’ll still have time to have breakfast with them too!
In the event of bad weather: the First Track will be replaced by a parallel slalom on the snow front at La Croisette, from 7.30am to 8.30am, with breakfast in the atrium of Le Forum
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http://www.courchevel.com/winter/en/le-saulire-first-track-with-our-resort-champions-n163-ev1171.html
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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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Late notice question, but I'm in Les Menuires for a week from tomorrow. Anybody got any suggested "circuits"? We're all competent skiers and reasonable off piste (Chamonix/Argentiere is our usual hunting ground).
Put another way - if you were in Les M and had some friends who'd not skied the 3V for 20 yrs and were decent skiers, where would you take them?
Thanks in anticipation
Dave
PS if anybody else is out at the same time, please shout
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@PeakyB, nice update. what time of day do you recommend the GC and Meribel/Go Pro couloirs -- I assume Meribel/Go Pro is iced up more early?
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@CharlieL,
You are right that the Meribel side can be icy first thing, especially if it is sunny the previous afternoon (which may not be a problem next week) so normally left to late morning/ lunchtime.
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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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Does anyone have any updates on the weather for Easter week? We arrive in Courchevel 1550 on Saturday 31st and looking at the wiggly lines on page one of this thread, it seems to be warming up with precipitation. Is it going to rain all week??
Just to add that i know nothing about reading these charts so am very happy to be told I've got it wrong!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@breeze11, not really any point trying to look that far ahead... more than 3 or 4 days is generally a waste of time other than gleaning a vague idea of what might be the general trend.
It will be what it will be, we have stacks of snow so one thing is for sure that wont be lacking...
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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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@simo1234, thanks for that, it’s very useful.
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Coming out tomorrow - will be staying near Méribel centre (on the Doron piste I think).
Any advice on current conditions and where is good to head for, and when? (and anywhere to avoid?) We're generally confident intermediate-plus skiers. Also one boarder who likes to find interesting things to do off the side of pistes and among trees - any good plans for keeping him happy gratefully received!!
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You know it makes sense.
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Quick family ski today, conditions are still fantastic everywhere, and generally pretty quiet on the pistes we were on. The full version of Jean Blanc is still in great nick and the ski down to Bozel was great spring snow mid-afternoon, barring one 2m section of grass...
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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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Just came back from a week in Meribel/3 valles. The last few days (Wed-thu-Fri) have had the absolute worst snow conditions i've ever encountered! It was pure sheet ice with some moguls on top everywhere! Courchevel, val thorens, all the same... There were only 2 days with ok snow(still bad but ok), it was Monday and Tuesday... And today, i saw some huuuge "bald" patches on the mountain between mottaret and meribel. What can I say...avoid if you can, the season has ended it seems?
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Atissa wrote: |
| Just came back from a week in Meribel/3 valles. The last few days (Wed-thu-Fri) have had the absolute worst snow conditions i've ever encountered!... |
Really?
| Atissa wrote: |
| ...What can I say...avoid if you can, the season has ended it seems? |
Again, really?
Your report seems to be at odds to all others. 
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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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Yeah! I wish it wasn't true! I dunno where others went or what they did, but in those days I went riding at Mont Vallon in Meribel, as well as Saulire in courchevel, and the "col" in VT (among other pistes), it was all the same  Was so horrid.
Also a lot of skiers zoomed acrossed the ice with no problem somehow, I guess if you are a skier the ice is not an issue? And mogul fields is a ski thing too I've heard.
Anyway, I feel very objective about snow conditions, because i've seen/done both in the past, the grey ice hell and the powdery on a cloud heaven.
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@Atissa, I am gobsmacked. Objectively these are some of the best late March ski conditions I have ever experienced. In fact, I’d go as fas to say it doesn’t even feel like the end of the season is anywhere near close.
We had an epic day yesterday. I can’t think of one bad run. In total, including lifts, we did 80 miles (Mr P keen to beat the 77 miles we did a couple of weeks ago). It doesn’t feel anywhere close to the end of the season. No bare patches at all. A couple of mushy bits, but minimal. The pistes were firm but grippy. I did see ice, but can’t say I ever felt I skied it.
Highlights? Pretty much everything, Allemands towards Les Men, Mouflon down into Mottaret, Creux, all of 1650, Saulire all the way to 1550, back up and down to Le Praz, 2 circuits of Jockeys, Folyeres down into La Tania (empty and glorious), back up to Saulire and down the black to Mottaret (groomed and superb), even Aigle was passable by normal standards.
Think VT and Orelle are the destination for today.
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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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@Perty, I think it must be a wind up from @Atissa,
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Could it be that you are just expert skiers, so you go almost straigt down and don't notice the ice? I think it's very different if you have 20 years or just 4 of experience.
At the end, on Friday, i was so tired of ice I was happy to encounter 300 meters of slushy "crystals" down ar meribel center. At least in slush you have some grip...
But yeah, I've learned that amount of snow does not equal quality!
Sure, at the station the roofs and other flat surfaces have at least a meter of snow, but what's the point? If the pistes are ice and off-piste has an icy crust :0
The bold patch is between Mottaret and Meribel center, you can easily see it from Mottaret if you go a little bit above the village on that green run(or in the area) and look at the opposite side of the mountain towards Courchevel. It's there.
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Just back from an epic week in Les Ménuires and 3 vallies. Fantastic weather, fantastic piste conditions and fantastic snow conditions. Some of the best we have ever had.
Bald patches 😳😂, worst conditions ever? 😁🤪 it’s not April the 1st yet😂
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Are people always so defensive on this forum? O_o I saw what I saw, I wish i could take you there in person and show you the ice and the patches..... Why are you trying to make me feel bad for it? I don't understand.
Also that awful sound of ski/board scraping over the ice... Are you saying you haven't heard it once?
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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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It's not actaully ice - it's hard-packed snow. Ice is frozen water and is a translucent / blue-ish colour. It is is very different and is fortunately not often found on piste.
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@stephen buck, I see. In that case the ice-ice was only in a few places, when it was visibly dark. Mostly it was while surface that felt and sounded like ice... You could even slide on your ass very fast on a mellow run xD
Just in comparison, in other times, it was mostly good snow in places like Tignes, Serre Chevalier, Valloire, AlpesDhuez, Chamrousse, Hemsedal(best snow ever), Les 2 Alpes. It was grippy, made the swooshy sound (not scrapy) and I thought that was staple of good snow and that it was the hard packed snow, because it wasn't powder either, it was pisted!
On the white "ice" I'd rather not ride at all. it's just not fun. But this was the first time i've encoutered it all over the mountain.
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FAQ
.Strange, then, that we can't wait to get another 2 trips in (for 4 more weeks skiing) after this.
