 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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A great day for those leaving tomorrow, so the slopes were very busy today as the 'cabin fever' turned into a 'Friday Frenzy'. The sun shone through the morning and even late afternoon. The pistes are in fabulous condition, today the team sampled Toviere and Bellvarde. Off piste is a mixed bag as the foehn wind has moved things around and contributed to a lot of settling, but there are still good patches to be found if you know where to look. The avalanche risk remains at 3 thanks to the foehn and also at some stage in the last few days we had a blast of the Sirocco which kind of got lost in the snow. But as it came from the Sahara it has left a layer of sand which will act as an unstable layer in the snowpack. On previous occasions it has been much easier to see, maybe when the top layers melt a bit it will become evident. All in all it makes avalanche risk assessment more tricky.
Meanwhile over in Val the pisteurs pay dispute rumbles on, Radio Val reports that the offer is about €65 a month, Le Dauphine reports that they are asking for €150 as their salaries are 20% below that of other pisteurs in the region. So some distance to go, the next clashing of heads will be on Saturday night.
The weather forecast remains changeable as does the weather itself. The low pressure seems to have skowed down a little but be prepared for lots of wind, cold temperatures and a snowy Monday. In detail tomorrow, will start with a thin veil of cloud, thickening through the afternoon. It will be windy in the morning and this will get stronger through the day; the freezing level will also be a little lower so definitely a layer or two more in the morning. Expect the top lifts to close and keep an eye out for the links to close between Val D'Isere and Tignes, stay close to home after lunch! It should also start snowing as the lifts close.
This snow and wind will continue well into Sunday, but don't give up entirely; there should be some sunny periods in the afternoon and the wind will drop, it will remain chilly.... On Monday we expect the majority of the snow (15-25cm hopefully), it will be a grey old day, so one for the trees of La Daille or Le Fornet in Val D'Isere and Les Boisses or Les Brevieres in Tignes. Tuesday will start sunny but then cloud over, it will still be cool, after that it will appears unsettled. It may be march on the calendar next week but it will still be winter in the Espace Killy!
For those flying tomorrow, conditions should not cause any delays, save for the chance of a light snow shower at Leeds or Newcastle. Geneva will be fine; but currently there are no airfield forecasts available for France (I wonder if they are on strike!!) on any of the systems but it appears OK from the general forecasts. If you are arriving late by car then you may need snow chains as it will be cold when it starts snowing.
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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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I'm surprised that one of the more expensive resorts in the region pays the pisteurs 20% less, it's rather disgraceful.
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The winds have already started blowing at height, currently the sky has a thin veil of cloud.
And for Tigski the forecaster at Chambery has come to work - its going to be a nice day with a northerly wind, so no real problems. But the pilot may elect to do a circling approach to land on the northerly runway, entirely safe but you may get some dramatic views out of the window!
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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, Cheers. Just about to take my first 757 of the day.
The bus from outside the hotel to Leeds/Bradford!
Mrs T is panicking about the weight of her hand luggage after shopping yesterday😢
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I should have added - the dramatic views will be for those in seat A-C - on the left
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The thin veil of cloud soon thickened and from mid morning on the light has been flat. The winds on high have strengthened and close some lifts in both Val D'Isere and Tignes, a few were also prohibited to pedestrians, a sure sign of windier weather to come, not such a good day for the altitude restaurants. The pistes are still in great condition, off piste (in the Aiguille Percée area above Tignes Le Lac to be precise) was more varied with a cheeky crust to trip the unwary. I elected to go and watch the Pisteurs have a training exercise with the avalanche rescue dogs. The are had already been prepared when we arrived (they blow up a big balloon and push snow over it to create the caves) so we needed some victims, step forward a couple of families and some instructors:
You then get a piste basher to cover the whole lot:
Meanwhile one of the canine wonders waits (actually they were going nuts as its just a game to them - this was about the only time one sat down!
And in no time at all, they are on the scent and digging for all they are worth:
There were quite a few sites around, so he wasn't cheating by watching. It was interesting to watch how the dogs are an integral part of the digging to pinpoint the victims, the pisteur with the shovel doing some of the big stuff lead by the dog who is then trained to jump in with the victim:
The big shovels then come into play to get the victims out.
On to the forecast - all change (as I highlighted yesterday nothing is certain!). The snow intensity will increase tonight, along with the wind speed. Tomorrow now looks light being a whiteout all day with the snow line climbing from 1300m to 1700m by the end of the day, so perhaps a bit slushy down in Les Brevieres, sadly no sun at all. It will be a day for the trees (and the brave) and a progressive opening of the lifts as the pisteurs rearrange the snow into an eye pleasing and safe fashion!. Monday will be windy in the morning, but cloudy, there is a good chance of light snow, this could of course increase. Tuesday is currently showing as a mix of sun and sunny periods, as it stands the best day of the week. From Wednesday on it looks very unsettled with wind, snow and sunny periods but its too early to offer detail. But I can see 40-60cm of snow over the next couple of days, followed by a similar amount in the latter half of the week. As ever, no promises 
For those flying tomorrow, no real issues with the weather. It might be a bit bumpy in the London area and grey and miserable in Scotland. Over here, Chambery and Geneva look fine (just the chance of an odd shower. Lyon and Grenoble are still not issuing forecasts.
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Has there been two clear sunny days together this season? It seems to have been very windy throughout the season so far.
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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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Not since New Year!! Well maybe the odd pair. Yes it has been a windy season, again after Noel. December was unusually settled, warm sunny and still - I guess we are paying for it...... Looking forward to another high pressure period - it makes forecasting easier and a lot less time consuming!
Meanwhile, we have so much snow on the roofs now, the canopy over the Embuscade entranceand windows fell off completely yesterday, luckily no one was hurt as it was 8.30am 
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@chocksaway, thanks for the photo series on the rescue dogs. Loved it!
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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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had a week of sunshine last week in january 
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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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@vipul, we were there Jan 9 for a week. One day of sunshine but fantastic snow when you could see it. 
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Poster: A snowHead
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any sign of a shift towards more spring like weather
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Looks to be chucking it down with snow .. again!
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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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| kb36 wrote: |
| any sign of a shift towards more spring like weather |
We had spring at Christmas and New Year
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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coming to tignes for a week on Saturday the 5th of march. should i be concerned about the possibility of a strike?
also my fist time posting and first time to tignes, we are a large group of intermediate skiers staying in la Lac looking for any tips on getting the best out of the resort?
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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.
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@malac, From the information available publicly it is difficult to tell whether the strike will go ahead. It will only affect Val, but I suspect a lot of people would be bussed round to the slopes in Tignes making it busier. Hopefully they will work towards a resolution at the meeting tonight but the mayor was met by a 'silent guard of honour' last night so it maybe fair to say that there was some distance between the sides last night. As for intermediates I would try the Palet sector for the first day - so the blues and reds served by the Palafour Lift if you are in Le Lac or Tichot and Grattalu in Val Claret. These are linked by the Grand Huit and Merles chairs depending which way you are going. A trip down to Boisses and Les Brevieres is good on a bad weather day and can be accomplished on reds and blues. After that a trip over to bellvarde in Val and the Grand Pre area. These 3 trips will give you a feel for the area and then you can expand your horizons, have a look at the piste map to see if that all makes sense.
Well, the weather elves threw a curved ball again. There was a lot of snow overnight, 30cm in Tignes Le Lac, 50cm on the Grand Motte, 40cm in Val D'Isere. As the Le Fornet sectored didn't open all day (with the exception of the Cable Car and a chair) for security work and a lot of pistes over that way are closed for avalanche risk I suspect they had a whole lot more! The light was poor this morning and there was a sharp breeze, but there was an hour where blue skies and the sun were spotted, so fresh tracks for all, on or off piste! But it was quite warm this morning so with the depth of snow it was quite tricky.
The snow has now returned and will continue through the evening. Tomorrow now looks cloudy with a freezing level around 2000m but it will be windy so it will feel cold, the avalanche risk remains 4 out of 5. I suspect there may be the odd flocon or two floating in the wind, particularly in Val D'Isere. Tuesday looks like the best day of the week at the moment as a ridge of high pressure pokes towards us from the Azores, this will also mark the end of the Retour D'Est (the easterly winds and snow). So Sunny periods will be the order of the day, the freezing level will be at 1500m, so a hint of spring perhaps for a day. As Wednesday marks the return of weather from the northwest, so more snow and the odd sunny period in strong winds. Thursday will be pretty similar, and for that matter so do Friday and Saturday. Is it possible to have too much snow???? 
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Thank you for the reply, its is way more than i could have hoped for. I will follow your advice, as we are staying next to the Palfour lift. Ihave to say i will be very disappointed if i can not ski in val d'sere. If it all right with you I will contact you before the weekend for an update. 
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Misty this morning, with the odd teasing glimpse of a blue patch, the old RAF phrase 'suckers gap' springs to mind.
Negotiations continued over the pisteurs strike in Val Last night, there was no official word from either side but some of those leaving the meeting said the offer was below their claim. Negotiations continue today (Radio Val).
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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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Mist or fog obscuring the village this morning but the webcams are showing sunshine at altitude
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EK is getting some terrible weather this year. Hopefully Spring, when it arrives, will deliver some more settled weather 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Sounds like arriving on the 6th could be interesting from both a snow and strike perspective!
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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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am hoping for some sunny days from 6th
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+ 1 to that!
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You know it makes sense.
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a week is a long time in the mountains, weather forecasts much more than a day or two ahead are not worth reading really
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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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@Peter S, But at least we have a lot (and I mean a lot) of snow, the bluebird days have been a bit sparse but that's better than skiing on grass (IMHO of course).
@kb36, I'm not entirely sure what the weather is going to do tomorrow or Wednesday but so am I
Well the gap lasted a bit longer than I thought, but it was quite odd as the fog drifted up from the valley and a layer of cloud blew in on high from the North. So it was a bit like being in a sandwich but the meat got thinner and thinner through the morning. We burst out of cloud at about 2300m, so decided that there might be some nice snow down Vallon de La Sache towards Tignes Les Brevieres, and we were right. It seemed to have dried out over night and was quite light and fluffy as we stopped adjacent or above the piste. As we entered the tree line we also entered the fog, despite the trees the definition was not good "I'm sure there's a village down here somewhere!!" As the sandwich got thinner, we decided to head for Col De Ves but the fog started shooting up the hill and as we skied down the Grattalu piste it was a real pea-souper or as they mutter out here "C'est un brouillard a couper au couteau" - "Its a fog to cut with a knife". So discretion took over in the form of a bus back home, it really was a day to twist a knee. As we got back I did notice on the webcams a small break at the top of the Grand Motte - if you timed that one well done!
The weather forecast remains a bit of a lottery. There may be a few flocons through the evening, but the clouds should mostly clear by first light tomorrow leaving a sunny day with breezes around the villages but winds on high, so standby to be warm on the lowers slopes and terraces in the sun and chilled on high as the freezing level will be at 1500m. Wednesday will be a mixed bag with snow showers (some heavy), cloud and the occasional sunny period, it will also windy above the villages. Thursday will be similar but with more wind, but maybe slightly longer sunny periods. The wind should drop on Friday but the weather will again be a mix of sunshine and showers. After that - throw a dice but enjoy tomorrow!
Just realised my cheap Chinese watch does not realise its a leap year Hopefully that means I can't be subject to an unwanted proposal
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Poster: A snowHead
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It's just been announced by the Val Pisteurs on their Facebook page that the negotiations were a success and the strike has been called off. Happy skiing folks!
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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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Wow, what a day. The fog was a little slow to clear this morning but when it did, it was like a perfect January morning. Chill on the face, fab snow on piste and great off piste. Not surprisingly it got very busy and although both resorts were close to fully open there were lift queues at tines, a little local knowledge goes a long way though!!.We skied all around Tignes and the first trip up the Grande Motte for a couple of months, had to check the view out with a mate who is here for 3 days. Later in the afternoon we had a wiz round the Bellvarde in Val D'Isere. There were beaming smiles everywhere, but some crazy busy pistes and with all the soft snow even the blue runs became mogul fields by mid afternoon. Around 1530 Mont Blanc donned his hat - a sentinel of things to come.........
There are a whole string of fronts gathering in the North West to attack us over the next 4 days. Not surprisingly some of the apps are going mad, I would opt for 50-70cm between now and Saturday, as ever the passage of the most active parts of the fronts will determine how much we get. At least it will be shared equally with all the resorts in the Tarentaise. Val will not be able to claim it all this week.
The sky will progressively cloud over tonight and it will start snowing later, this will continue with a short break around day break. Initially, the snowline will be around 1600m so a bit slushy in the lower villages. The winds will pick up quite dramatically after lunch - stay close to home and the snowline will plunge down to 800m. So wrap up warm after today and don't forget the low light gogs/shades. Thursday will be very windy and snowy, there may be the odd glimpse of the sun, but expect the high lifts to be closed and a lot of avalanche activity. Friday looks pretty much the same. Saturday is a long way off but looks less windy with snow showers and the odd sunny period. Hope you enjoyed today!!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Out on Sunday for my last week of the season with 14 espace Killy virgins. Please could I order some sunshine
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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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Sadly, it was announced late yesterday that a young French seasonaire was killed on the La Combe de la Petite Balme, he fell 20m on a slope that was stony, he thought there was a decent snow depth. Despite wearing a helmet he banged his head and was fatally injured. RIP.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Third week of skiing always needed Tim
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| Gary67Cox wrote: |
| Third week of skiing always needed Tim |
12 weeks would be handsome😄❄️❄️
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Welcome to snowHeads @Gary67Cox
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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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Looks like more snow started on the webcams. Wonder how much this storm will bring.
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@Timg60, Looks better from mid week on for you (cheques in the post). Not sure how much we will get tonight or where it will land as it is really gusty at the moment.
There was a few rays of sun this morning and some good skiing early doors. But the cloud soon started to descend and after lunch the wind started to blow hard, this has closed some of the higher lifts. The snow intensity has varied, currently it is moderate (on the chocksaway scale) and could soon become heavy. Between today and tomorrow something like 35cm would be a mid point guesstimate!
The snow and high winds will continue until tomorrow afternoon, expect delayed openings and much blasting from about 6am. Also I imagine the high lifts will probably remain closed. By lunchtime the freezing level will have only made it as high as Bourg St Maurice, so a day of many layers and watch out for frost nip on exposed skin, because of the wind chill. Spring is most definitely not here - "froid de loup" - as cold as the wolf (?!? or maybe the chilling effect of a wolf's cry) as one of the café owners describes it in Tignes Val Claret.
Friday will be a couple of degrees warmer and there will be less wind, especially lower down but it will be cloudy with light snow most of the day. Saturday will be a couple of degrees cooler and there will be snow showers through the day with maybe an odd glimpse of the sun, snow tyres or chains looks like being the order of the day. Sunday looks more showery so a real mixed bag, detail is a little tricky at the moment.
Edit: 1610 hrs - now snowing heavily, I can see about 200m and the flakes are big and fluffy and the size of 2 Euro pieces (no more tuppeny bit banter )
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