 Poster: A snowHead
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cavershamlad, Best view from the Aiguille Rouge chair - for a camera shot might be better where Rhododendron splits into Rhododendron and Petit Col (ish)
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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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You can tell Tigski, didn't venture out today! However, I think he was right - there was 15-25 cm overnight but what arrived did so at 75kph. I tried to walk up the Rue de la Poste at 7pm and had to retreat to the Palafour gallery to avoid ending up in Lavachet. Any way there was a suckers gap this morning which I fell for which lasted till about 2 minutes after 10. After that it was flat light and snow (its still snowing) so we tried La Daille - but so did everybody else. On days like today La Daille could certainly do with a new high speed lift - the old bubble, Funival and chair don't really crack it. So back to Tignes and a late lunch - there was some nice snow around - unfortunately it was virtually impossible to tell it from the rest.
We should get another 20cm for today and tonight and its going to be very cold tomorrow - so for any half termers there is already more than enough!
As for the draining of the lake it transpires that EDF are refurbishing the whole hydro system (from the Dam tp Bourg) as they have to replace the turbines that are in the dam all the water has to go - so should be lots of chances to see the old bridge and the remnants of the Old Les Brevieres. No doubt there will be some vigils when the old place appears (sadly its just the footings and the odd bit of wall - the village was destroyed ahead of the first flooding of the lake.
As we now seem to have started a dam spotting site here is a link (in French).
http://energie.edf.com/hydraulique/hydraulique/carte-des-centrales-et-barrages/unite-de-production-alpes/vie-des-sites-49204.html&open=3
Last edited by You need to Login to know who's really who. on Thu 7-02-13 8:58; edited 1 time in total
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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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Apologies for the thread drift!
However if it was not for the building of the dam, Tignes would probably not exist in it's present form as a ski area.
Back to skiing in the morning. Still snowing.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Up early yesterday to pick up car from Le Lac, pack and drive home. The snow and flat light which you enjoyed in Tignes manifested itself as blizzard conditions between Lyon and Troyes. Not pleasant. Fingers crossed the wind hasn't been too bad and that all that lovely snowfall hasn't been blown awaay.
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Bright blue skies today but very chilly - a little bit of snow overnight covered a few tracks up but added little extra. However, with the unseasonable chill in the air (-16 this morning) the snow has kept beautifully both on and off piste. There is still powder to be had - this morning around the Grattalu & Palet sector it was great and even the bus stop was in good nick at 1130 despite being in the sun all morning. Trolles was a little narrow this morning as there is a speed trap set up so all the budding speed skiers/riders can come down one at a time (helmets and goggles mandatory) and clock a time the fastest I saw was 84kph - be interesting to compare with some of the outlandish results obtained from some smartphone GPS apps.
We are now preparing for the onslaught of the school hols from tomorrow - the authorities are forecasting 23 000 cars going down the hill between Moutiers and Albertville and 32 000 coming up - and that's before the French holidays start next weekend. Could be some long queues - luckily the weather shouldn't be too inclement tomorrow - still cold and a bit of snow in the late afternoon.
As for the airports there is some sleet forecast in the UK but it should be OK. At this side of the channel the forecast is a bit unsure at the moment but here goes:
Chambery light snow showers in the very early morning which should have cleared by the first arrivals
Lyon - light snow showers all morning - so depending how much they may have to do some snow clearing causing some delays.
Grenoble - Snow showers until 1000 hrs ish - so may be some delays depending on how heavy and how long the showers last.
Geneva - light snow showers on and off through the morning - so a similar story.
Good luck and I'll update later if anything dramatic changes however there is a comedy night at The Loop tonight with Ed Byrne headlining so any late night updates are likely to be gibberish 
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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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Recovered from a good night at the Loop - luckily the audience were broad minded - and it was definitely after the watershed!
The unseasonable cold snap continues (-14 at the top of the Tommeuses at 1530). The good news was the weather did what it said on the tin with enough sunny spells to give enough light to see everything (most of the day). The pistes are in a fabulous but squeaky state and off piste the snow is still soft enough to make it easy - very few fresh tracks left sadly. However hopefully that will change over Sunday night and Monday with quite a lot of snow forecast (but no change on the Baltic-ometer).
Shouldn't be any problems over here with the airports for the Savoie and Haute Savoie - some very early morning fog at Grenoble should have dispersed by first light thanks to an increasing wing and there may be some snow late in the afternoon at GVA. As for the UK there are lots of sleet showers forecast with a chance of snow and fog at Leeds Bradford Geoffrey Boycott International - so a chance for some snags with the return flights - however the temperature doesn't have to change much for sleet to turn to snow so no promises..... I'll have a look at the late evening forecasts and advise further if it changes.
EDIT: Later forecasts now showing snow showers for the London airports and Birmingham from late afternoon, also at this end with snow arriving late afternoon onwards. Lyon have also popped in a chance of freezing fog till breakfast time - so a chance of problems there for early flights.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Light snow and poor vis so had a day at the gym. 5cm of new snow arrived overnight and it has been snowing lightly all day - similar tomorrow. But there are 2 bits of good news - it has warmed up to reasonable temperature levels and the big yellow thing in the sky should make an appearance on Wed and Thu - yippee.
Well done England!
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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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Off out in march for trip number two of the year! Getting webcammy excited already!
Girlfriends second holiday, she has booked onto a development clinic with Progression ski, anyone heard of them? Any comments positive or negative?
Am looking into booking some guiding for the other 3 of us, all pretty experience, some have own kit, others would need to borrow? Any good (good value also!) recommendations out there?
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| Quote: |
| Any good (good value also!) recommendations out there? |
Been looking at the same thing ourselves ADubya. We've previously skied with the excellent: http://www.alpineexperience.com/pricing/ - but you have to get to Val D'Isere to meet up with their groups. They are great value at €55 per person for a morning. Our trip with them included loan use of a transceiver.
We'll be staying in Tignes in March, so are considering using Evolution 2 - assorted day trips off piste for about €90, or three mornings for €165 per person (prices include transceiver, shovel and probe):
http://www.evolution2.com/tignes/en/off-piste.htm
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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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The Perfect Day - almost.
The sun came out this morning - with just a few annoying thin clouds and the wind was almost absent until the afternoon. Fresh tracks were to be had just about everywhere so we started by skiing the sunny side of the Aiguille Percee down to the Bluets piste. A couple of laps of the Vallon de La Sache followed - the second involved a longer traverse to find the untracked. Luckily a couple of ESF groups had been down before us to do all the hard work cutting the traverse  . Even the exit down the Sache piste was better than normally - moguls covered in enough snow to make it relatively easy.
After those exertions it was time for one of Rocco's hand crafted picante Penne Arrabiatas (may be mixing up the languages of pasta there) at the Jam Bar which are not for the faint hearted - but I left feeling like the Ready Brek kid (Ok that dates me!).
Face de Grand Balme followed where the snow was a little heavier and we emerged into the post lunch break lift queues in VC - so Bollin and Tufs to dodge the crowds (the Telepherique was open for the first time this week - so it looked way too busy up there). As a nod to the now tired knees we decided to do some gentle slopes between the Borsat and Genepy (Val one) pistes - just about back onto the piste when one ski stopped and there was an expensive grating noise under my right boot - after a few choice words to the ski god's it was time for a gingerly leg back to see Jean-Charles at Ski Fast.
Siesta - and an early night!
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Poster: A snowHead
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chocksaway, great report, out there next week, can't wait.
PS Hope you stuck a hazard pole at that rock for me
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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 suspect I'll go and paint €30 on it in big red letters!
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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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Half a day today folks - thought I would go to Bourg before tonight/tomorrows snow (5-15cm forecast) and before the hordes arrive next week for the 1st week of the French Hols and all the Brits. Cupboards now stocked! The authorities are forecasting 35 000 cars between Albertville and Moutiers going up the hill on Saturday and 31 000 going down - so standby for the controls to be in effect at the usual places. The good news is that the weather is good for Saturday and after a bit of snow sun night it is going to be a good week - sun and a few clouds. It will also be quite a bit warmer during the day - so time for lazy lunches in the sun  . There is more than enough snow on piste to ensure it will be a fab week with the juniors.
As Vallon De La Sache was so good yesterday - guess where we went today? Yip - it was still good and all was going well until the exit (back onto the Sache piste where it gets steep). For those that don't know it you have to traverse through some trees and it is a steep gulley below you. As you would expect it is only one skier wide and can be bumpy and have tree roots - so it is normally one at a time. The front two of our group alerted me to 2 snowboarders who had slipped off the track - luckily they had stopped sliding but had to get back to the track. I knew there was a non equipped group behind us (and by their routing relatively clueless) so I stopped on the bump before the 2 lads - one of whom had a dose of 'disco knee' as you would expect. I signalled to our 'rear gunner' to stop and put a big red hestra mitten out - a la Les Flics. This was clearly not enough for the group behind who tried to push past until I yelled stop/halt/attente! After we were all safely back on piste It transpired the group behind had given our back marker grief and told her to move on - luckily she is made of sterner stuff. In this scenario impatience could have been very serious - some people should not be allowed out!
There was a big queue for the Brev gondy - so we went up the old faithful chair - where we could see one of the chalets in the summer camping site (100m above Brev) had had a bad day. The weight of the snow had 'broken the back' of the roof and all the doors and windows had popped out- looked a bit like a bomb had gone off. It was then the high variant of the 'Bus Stop' where the snow is still great but tracked out and a little heavier than a couple of days ago. Hopefully we will get a good freshen up of snow tonight!
Good luck to those travelling out - airport forecasts this time tomorrow,
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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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chocksaway, to be fair, I've seen the odd group stop for ages in the midst of a traverse, so unless they had chatted to your back marker how were they to know you weren't stopping for a picture/tea/wee break????
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I think my body language, strength and pitch of voice would have come across in any language - plus the inherent danger in slipping on a narrow track (which to be fair to you is difficult to describe in words) 
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Does anyone know where i can get an up to date piste map for Espace Killy. Also are there any green runs near Le Lac? my friend who i'm going with wants to start very gently he's not been skiing for a few years.
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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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Voila:
http://www.tignes.net/en/skiing-in-tignes/ski-run-map-28.html
There are two green runs in the village ideal for beginners (Rosset Piste and alongside the Lavachet drag.) But they are only about 400m long
If you want a longer true green piste get the bus to Val Claret - up the Fresse chair and there is a long green down to the Tommeuses chair - ride up that and then Piste Henri is blue but relatively gentle down into Val Claret - if not ride down in the Aeroski back to Le Lac.
Enjoy 
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Not much to say today apart from the fact the sun didn't come out as forecast (in fact its still snowing now at 1700 as the lifts shut) so just a bimble round - the odd perfect turn followed by a thousand imperfect ones as I collided with a snow bank/hidden mogul/lump/hollow.
To the airports tomorrow:
UK - Fog may well be a problem tomorrow - whilst it should be OK for takeoffs aircraft arriving early from elsewhere (Eg those that originate from Geneva) may well have snags landing early in the morning especially at Leeds and Birmingham (In fact Leeds doesn't look good until after lunch). Gatwick and Heathrow look a bit better than Luton. Further north Newcastle and Edinburgh look fine for flying if a little damp. Fog is a tricky thing to forecast though and can easily drift in and out making it a bit of a lottery.
For Geneva - all looks OK, Grenoble should be OK if a little misty, if the early morning fog lifts at Lyon fine - if it doesn't buzz off on cue then might be the odd snag with early flights and Chambery looks good.
Safe flying and remember it may be a slow transfer but it will be great when you get here - promise.
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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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Russeh,
Here's some advice on good beginners' runs I recently sent to a friend, based on my last visit to Tignes and my memories as a beginner there 5 years ago:
'The 'nursery' slopes are Lavachet (served by a button lift) and Rossett (chairlift), both in Tignes 2100. Both of these lifts are free. Lavachet is a green run and Rossett is a blue, and similar gradient to the ChillFactore. The Rossett chairlift is a good one to learn how to get on and off a chairlift if you've never been on one before, as it's quite slow and is well supervised as lots of beginners use it.
Most of the blue runs on the right side of the valley above Tignes 2100 served by the Palafour chair are also very amenable, and my instructor said that this is one of his favourite areas for taking beginners. The blue run served by the Grattalu lift is also very nice. Very wide and just about the right amount of steepness. I'd avoid the Grand Huit chairlift though until you are well-practised getting on and off them as it is very fast!
My favourite runs from my first trip to Tignes as a beginner were the blue Prariond served by the Fresse chairlift from Val Claret, and the runs on either side of the Grand Pre lift, which is at the top of La Daille in Val d'Isere. The top of the Prariond is a little bit steep, but is nice and wide and is a good one to work on.
Henri (blue) from the top of Toviere is also good, but you have to keep an eye out for the signs to follow it, as it crosses a few other runs, and if you go the wrong way you will end up on a red or black run!
All the green runs in the 'Ski Tranquille' area above La Daille are also good, although they are all more like blue runs than greens, and parts of the Verte e.g. the bit down to the Tommeuses lift are fairly steep. The Diebold blue is alright too.
Runs to avoid:
The Santons blue into Val d'Isere is notoriously hard and is more like a tricky red run than a blue. It goes down a long narrow icy gulley, and is often very busy too. A beginner would really struggle to get down it, as you need to do short, quick turns to tackle it (snowplough turns won't do the job!). It's graded blue for marketing purposes, as all the other runs down to that village are blacks or reds.
The Isolee from the top of the Fresse chairlift in Tignes is also thoroughly unpleasant, with a tricky narrow, steep and icy entry, which I remember gibbering down on my first trip, after that it has a very long flat section which involves tedious and strenuous poling.
I also thought that the blue Melezes that goes down to Tignes 1800 wasn't particularly nice, as it was fairly narrow and icy in places.
If you explore further into Val d'Isere, the Mangard blue down to Le Fornet I thought was more like a red than a blue. Its pretty steep in places, and not that wide either.
I can't comment on most of the other blues on the Val d'Isere side, although it does generally have a reputation for runs being undergraded, which is not the case in Tignes.'
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thats excelent CathS I've made a note of the runs mentioned that should give us plenty to get on with.
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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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Russeh
There is plenty for beginners in the EK. Virtually the whole bowl above La Daille, and accessible from either the Aeroski (T Le Lac) or Fresse (Val C), is good. Most of Le Fornet at the far end of Val D'I is gentle (although some poling on the really flat bits). As indicated most of the runs into Val are not for beginners - don't be shy in using the lifts to go down if you want to have a look in Val D'I, La Daille or Le Fornet. I agree that Santons is a no-no for a beginner level skier.
Tignes. Probably start off in Val C. Going up and down the Grattulu chair (reached via Tichot out of Val C) is a good way to instill confidence on a nice wide flat-ish blue. There is a steep bit going back into VC but could be avoided by taking the Tichot down. If going up to mid-station of the Grand Motte the Genepy provides a nice rolling gentle run down, It joins the Prariond and you follow that down to VC. Some poling as stated but the whole run from the Motte midstation into VC is about 4km and will keep a beginner interested for a while.
If you want a bit of a jaunt then go up Chaudannes out of T Le Lac and follow the blues down to Tignes Le Brevieres. Bottom bit is on the mountain road but it makes you feel your out in the sticks. If people say its icy down the bottom don't bother.
CathS has covered most of the other suggestions I would make.
I hope to be in Tignes Le Lac from 2nd March to 23rd March
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Quote: |
It's transfer day so whilst the roads may be manic the pistes will be quiet
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Spot on - can you give me tonight's lottery numbers oh sage like one!
As there were no queues today (on the pistes and not at the peages - 6 to 10 km waits as you approach Albertville from Chambery and Grenoble respectively at 1620) we headed off to Le Fornet where the anemometer at the top of the lift station on the glacier was not moving which is rare to say the least. A couple of trips round Pays Desert where there was still plenty of scope for fresh lines although the powder was not as deep as expected (from experience around the rest of the EK). On the way we were treated to an empty Santons - so quite a lot of swooping and whooping - same on Piste L on the way back - bet we can't to do that tomorrow.
The resort is now rammed with cars unloading - peaceful areas may involve a walk tomorrow - might be a time to do a couple of the longer tours whilst the avalanche risk is limited (2) - although there have been some slips today most originating from points below exposed rocks in the sun.
For those travelling by air tomorrow there should be no weather problems in the UK (and yes the fog didn't appear this morning) and providing the 30% chance of patches of freezing fog around GNB CMB and LYS don't hang around any longer than forecast (gone by about 0900-1000) then all should be OK this end (GVA looking good).
For those arriving tonight a reminder that Guerlain Chicherit will be doing (hopefully) the first public back flip in a car at 1700 tomorrow (Sun) between the open air car park and the Tichot Chairlift 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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Mark1863, Thanks, made a note of those too. My friend is not an absolute beginner he's just not skied since jan 2010, but we can make use of all the suggestions for an easy start. Only 3 weeks to go 
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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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Russeh,
Less than 2 weeks to go for me (2nd March). Quack has to OK me these days despite being only 54 (spinal issues) - assuming he does that on Weds I will be on the Eurostar overnight Friday week. Staying in the Alpaka in Tignes Le Lac. There until 23rd March. Pop in for a beer if you want - I don't tend to stray far at night.
Already been in the resort for 4 weeks this year (Dec-Jan) but have some friends coming to Tignes on 9th so that means all my skiing will have been in the EK this year. Its a hard life!!
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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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Bluebird day today - the pistes are in fabulous condition - off piste is tracked out but the lumps are still soft because it is still quite cool for the time of year. As the whole of the resort was open there were few queues (except for the mystical draw of the Telepherique). Another sunny day forecast for tomorrow - but there could be quite a bit of snow over the weekend - watch this space.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Mark1863, Ill drop you a pm 
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Been flat bound today trying to shake off man flu. However, yesterday's report applies - not a cloud in sight. The heavy snow forecast for the weekend now seems to want to pass just to the south of us - which is great news for those on Sat transfers - but by then we could do with a bit more than a few flocons. However, that's still a long way off in weather forecasting terms so we will see. Back to the Lemsip (other brands of lemon based paracetemol are available )
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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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Same again! Blue skies but man flu downgraded to snivels. Again little queuing (only significant one was Grattalu at something over 5 mins). La Daille was almost deserted and the pistes still in very good condition. Off piste tracked out and starting to get a bit lumpy as temps have increased and sun getting quite strong - some natural avalanche activity below sunny warmed rocks evident today.
As for the weekend weather the forecasts are contradictory - so it could be sunny or it could be snowing - one things almost for sure - there will be a plague of fr0g$ as Zone B joins Zone A on holiday for next week. 
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Doctor ticked the box. All things being equal will be back in Le Lac from 2/3 for 3 weeks. Last ski before my bodywork goes in for a major service. Things will have to go well for me to ski in the 2013/14 season.
It's been a great season and I am expecting good conditions. It just worries me that an epic holiday might just make the very long wait for my next ski almost unbearable
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FAQ
i think the short ones will be fine just for him to find his ski legs again. The chalet we're staing in is very near the Palafour lift and not that fair from the Aeroski. Are those blues at the top of those easy?
Maybe you should have had a few more 