 Poster: A snowHead
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A thoroughly miserable day today. There was a bit of snow higher up, light was flat and it felt quite cold. I suppose it wasn't all that bad - it was just the contrast. However I don't have a headache at the end of the day, so that's good! 
the snow is holding up quite well considering, and the Cretes is still very nice. I didn't go above that today, but the lower slopes were also OK, and l'Y was a bit hard in places on the way down. Not icy though. Pic of l'Y looking up from the bottom. Isn't it funny how they never look as steep in photos as they do to the naked eye? 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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easiski, Our friends had a great week in L2A last week.
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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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easiski,
Even when the Jandri express was busy, it was never bad - seen a lot worse at other larger French resorts and not just at the busy times. The one day when the queue was a bit bigger than normal we just took the white eggs (Jandri lift) and the telepherique above it to the Jandri midstation, which avoided almost all the queue. The mid station was never bad, presumably because lift 42 (Teleseige des Glaciers) takes up some of the slack.
The one lift we did have a problem with on a couple of occasions was the Lutin drag last thing in the evening - we needed it to get a bit of height to get back to our chalet. But it was my own fault - I hadn't realised the white eggs were still open as it was quite late in the evening. If I'd realised we could have gone up in that and then come down Valentin or Demoiselles and avoided the 1/2hr queue at Lutins.
Another possiblilty for us to get up the hill and avoid the Jandri express would have been the Teleseige Village which was close to us. It never looked busy either, but mornings we were dropping kids off at the ESF and after lunch we never had a problem with the Jandri being busy, so we never did use it.
All in all I was well pleased with LDA, second time i've skiied there, last time was a few years ago though when I was a much weaker skier.
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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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easiski Keep up the good work - reports much appreciated. Watching the clock now, it's about 50 hours until we set off for Manchester Airport!
Hope it's not getting too icy - or there'll be one more snowboarder spending a week on her ar*e.
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JanA, It looks as though there may be some snow next week. Yesterday's snow didn't amount to much, although it did give a lovely soft cm on top of what off piste was still skiable above 2,400m.
Sunny and warm again today, and some lovely soft spring snow on Posettes at the end of the day. We found very nice snow also on the off piste sections of both parts of the Thuit and also La voute, although tracked out on the whole, much nicer than on the piste + hardly any peeps!
Pic of the Thuit early afternoon - sorry for the blue cast!
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easiski keep the sunny pics coming please, your much hoped for snow is on its way, don,t think we'll be using my camera next week. And what does 11cms wed (and all the other cms look like ?.
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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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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Hot and sunny again today. Everyone is expecting some snow at the beginning of the week.
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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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RachelQ, I thought it was only 2 years ago - have I lost a year? 
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You know it makes sense.
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easiski, I thought that it was two years ago.
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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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easiski, Kramer, you're right, sorry 
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Poster: A snowHead
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RachelQ, thank goodness for that!  I was afraid I'd lost a year somewhere!!
It was pretty hot today, and I spent the whole day down on the nursery slopes - luckily I didn't put on too many layers! Forecast to snow tomorrow, but I'm not sure where the snow/rain level is likely to be, and unless the temps plunge I'm afraid it will rain down here.  Of course the snow higher up is already good, so it's not so important up there. We could do with a little more down here though - the cannons work most nights, but last night was the exception. It was 4 deg on my balcony before 08.00! Still, as the photo shows, there's still plenty on snow on the lower pistes. This was taken from the Gentianes poma looking up towards the Diable and l'Y.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Thanks easiski for continued reports.
I've got these figures from another ski web site which may help.
7-Day Snow Forecast Mon25 Tue26 Wed27 Thu28 Fri29 Sat01 Sun02 Mon03
Weather
New Snow (Upper Slopes) - - 12cm 1cm 2cm 2cm - 1cm
New Snow (Lower Slopes) - - 12cm 1cm 2cm 2cm - 1cm
New Snow (Resort) - - - - - - - -
Snow down to (m) - - 1890 1740 1870 1830 - 1890
Max Temp 3°C 3°C 3°C 4°C 3°C 3°C 10°C 4°C
Min Temp -3°C -2°C 1°C -5°C -1°C 0°C 0°C 1°C
Max Freezing Level (m) 2300 2230 2220 2370 2260 2200 3520 2320
Min Freezing Level (m) 1140 1350 1980 920 1590 1860 1640 1900
Wind Direction SW WSW NW SSW WNW NW WSW SSW
Wind Speed (km/h) 2 4 6 3 11 22 6 2
http://www.j2ski.com/snow_forecast/France/Les_Deux_Alpes_snow.html
Cheers,
Llew
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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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Now I am starting to worry.
If you have read the last couple of pages from this thread, I let you know Im going to LDA in mid March, Ive been on two ski trips before and it hasnt snowed once. Is there anybody else who has had this type of luck? How much will people pay me to stay away from their resort next year?
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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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  BOREDINWORK, You shouldn't worry - actually if it snows the whole week it's a pain in the a*se! Locals say it will be very cold in March - don't really put that much credence in it, but you never know.
It was an odd day today as it started out with heavy cloud, but not particularly cold, and got better. Around lunchtime the sun came out, but by 16.00 it was flat light again. snow on the Cretes was fantastic first thing this morning, just about perfect corduroy, but it did get slightly mushy and sticky around early afternoon. I started to ski back down the Demoiselles, saw the second leg and popped off the side onto the top section of Les Posettes which was actually quite nice, but a bit heavy. Bottom of Valentin was revolting - thick and heavy porridge, with extra porridgy bits masquerading as bumps. At least it wasn't icy I suppose, but not much fun. the nursery slopes were very slow this afternoon (which was good for my ladies however).
they're now saying it will snow tomorrow - always tomorrow at the moment. However it may rain in the village.
First pic shows Diable on the right and l'Y on the left showing how much better the condition on l'Y is than Diable. The second pic shows the Vallons and the 'corner' where they could put a red run down. It would be good if they could, but there is a big cliff just over the horizon, so safetly is an issue. It would also need cannons as it gets a lot of sun.
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easiski, i'm off to L2A on saturday with a group of 9 other skiiers of a similar standard (very comfortable on reds, still working on blacks). don't suupose you could recommend a couple of good routes for us could you?
(feel free to tell me to just read the thread if it's all in ehre already!!)
thansk!
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 marctimms, It's a bit difficult to recommend routes per se, as we don't really have them. Also some of our blues are red, and some of our reds are black. You also don't say whether you're talking on or off piste. If you want to go over the piste map with me once you get here just give me a bell - number on website and in tourist office, and we can meet up. It's not that it's too much hassle - it's just too difficult to explain! If you go back a few pages there is a photo of the face with all the runs (or non-runs) named on it - sorry don't know which page it's on. Also www.les2alpes.com (tourist office website) has links to the google earth 3d view of the pistes and also downloadable maps and interactive ones.
A bit more cloudy today, and it was deffo a little bit chillier./ It had rained int he village, but there was 1-2cms of fresh on the Cretes and maybe more above, but I can't say on that score. The clouds were moving around a lot, but the sun didn't totally come out for long. I took a pic looking up to 2,600 from the Cretes with rather pretty fog on it! A few snowflakes later in the afternoon, and it looks as though it might snow later on tonight, but I wouldn't think it'll be much. Still, every little helps.
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Thanks for the updates Easiski, we're coming out on sunday. Am getting a little panicky about the brown patches you can see on the lower runs webcam. Just hoping it will snow from now until we arive  Are the nursery runs still in good shape for beginners?
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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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easiski, awesome, thanks very much for the tips. checked out the map and that looks useful, as does the main website. which website is your number on? is there some way of veiwing members profiles?
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| marctimms wrote: |
| easiski, awesome, thanks very much for the tips. checked out the map and that looks useful, as does the main website. which website is your number on? is there some way of veiwing members profiles? |
http://www.easiski.com/
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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thanks bh1, was just on the way back to say i found it and was clearly being a muppet when i asked, but you beat me to it!
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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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Pwarner, the nursery slopes are fine because of the snow cannons. the brown patches are on the lower runs (black) that have no cannons and are not pisted. Combe Valentin has good cover, but with the busy hols here I'd be an idiot to ski it I think! Cretes and above are fine so far, and although I did see 2 stones today, on the whole the snow is very good and plenty of it. We're more thinking of later in the season for wanting a bit more. That and just liking powder of course.  
bh1, thanks - don't know where my sig has gone - I'll have to check that out, but of course the answer is on the LDA website under skiing and ski schools!
It was yet another really quite pleasant day (after yesterday's weather said snow tomorrow)  I went up to the top of Bellecombe, down the path to 2,600 and round the Goulet du Grand Nord and back to the Cretes. All fine but loads of bumps and washboards all over. The snow was soft at getting on for 14.00 but not slushy up there. Later I skied my peeps down the Grande Pente which was very nice soft fairly deep, but not heavy slush. Much better option that Valentin with 6,000,000 other peeps heading that way. The Chemin des Demoiselles is now closed BTW.
OTW it's still fine, just looks worse than it is. I'm afraid I (again) got so involved with my peeps that I forgot to take a photo today. I really will try to remember tomorrow. Mea culpa. 
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easiski,
I skiied Valentin most lunchtimes and evenings to get back to our chalet, and didn't find it too bad. When I did think there were too many people skiing it too fast I just skiied over to the left (looking down) where it hadn't been pisted. In the bumps for some reason there was always many fewer people and those who were skiing the bumps did so at a much slower pace. Though if it was open I prefered Sapins, but would then have to use the Lutins drag to get back to the chalet.
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You know it makes sense.
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Dave Horsley, Valentin is fine if there aren't many people on it and the condition is not too icy. I never ski it after 15.30 in the afternoon though. Yesterday we went down Grande Pente which is my favourite, and because it's not marked, and it's enormously wide (not pisted of course) that's also very quiet. The bumps at the side of the Valentin are actually the Belle Etoile. they are never pisted ever and can get quite big on occasions.
today was a bit cloudy and little spits and spots of snow. A bit of drizzle in the village though. It was quite chilly in the foggy moments, but pleasant the rest of the time. They say it's going to snow tonight and tomorrow, and some of the forecasts are talking about snow most of next week - we'll see!
2 pix today from the ice grotto when I took the kids in this morning - quite lovely in there. Captain Hook looks suitably horrified about being swallowed by a crocodile!
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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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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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easiski, we had to change hotel so now at Le Souleil Or but cannot reach you on your phone??. Hope to see you tomorrow.
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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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  Gregd, Sounds good, and very nice to meet and ski with you too. Good on you doing your practise! The Spark was the one I couldn't remember the name of. How did you find the Aztec? If you're coming in the summer be sure to let me know - it's sooooo good! The earlier the better from the point of view of skiing though.
lordjohn, I've left a message on your ansaphone, if I don't hear from you this evening I'll phone the hotel in the morning.
Today was the first morning when the snow on the Cretes wasn't up to much. The last couple of hot days (very hot today) and the rain low down on Friday night didn't do us any favours. The snow higher up is still OK though, so all is not lost. I skied down the Grande Pente which was OK but there are quite a few grassy patches low down on the left (photos looking up and down). However there is better cover right in the middle, but alsio some bumps which I avoided. All that was fine, and then I got to the Lutins slope .......... Oh boy! Really dreadful snow - thick, gluey, wet and very, very heavy. Roll on some colder weather and some snow. the down photo looks down at the nursery slopes, and shows that there's plenty of cover where the cannons have been working.
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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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easiski, great pics!
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Gregd, Sounds like a plan!
eng_ch, thanks
Sunny so far this morning, but a little colder than the last 2/3 days
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easiski,
thats good for the coming snow then..
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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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easiski,
You posted a picture of "the hidden valley" toward the top of this page.
It looks like an excellent route, but where is it?
Thanks,
Llew
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Llew, You drop into it from the bottom of Serre Palas just before it divides and the Breche heads off to the right. Turn right off the piste at the junction, and under the Glaciers chair (you can see it in the background of Easiski's photo). That's all there is to it really, once you're in it's a natural gully and difficult to go wrong. It spits you out halfway along Les Gours, just above the long flat bit.
Alternatively, there's always Chalance... 
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FAQ
Was it really three years ago that John and I skied the hidden valley with you and filled a water bottle up at the waterfall, which we had to climb up to and reach in deep.?! It was the most delicious water too. Must do it again sometime soon 
