 Poster: A snowHead
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Gonna be really warm from Friday!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Warm Friday and Saturday, dipping again after that, then rising on Monday. Normally I wouldn't be too worried about a forecast that far ahead but there does seem to be a degree of consistency in the various forecasts. I suppose it couldn't last for ever.
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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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18 degrees here in Chatel today, snow still amazing though.
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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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Great session with Mark from AASS this afternoon - skied Les Crozets and down the "waterfall run". Tracked but still mostly soft snow. Wonderful two days of blue sky - fantastic.
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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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MontriondSkier, make sure you go to Mont Chery tomorrow!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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We are heading out on the 4th March and I have been informed that there will be a big dump (100cm) around the 2nd March
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russ_e, you will have a lovely time and there is plenty of snow. But I fear that your source is being a tad optimistic as 2nd March is way too far away for a reliable forecast.
The GFS model is showing a reasonable probability of 5-20cm snow around 27 Feb, but that the forecast model isn't reliable much beyond. (Read this thread if you want to understand the GFS model.)
As I say, though, there's plenty of snow.
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This is a really stupid question, I know that and apologise in advance as it's a almost totally a 'piece of string' thing but.......I'm going to ask it anyway and justify it by saying that I don't have any experience of how the snow generally holds up end of season in Les Gets.
What are the chances of there still being reasonable cover the last week of March? We live in Switzerland so could go somewhere higher up but really like LG and it's great for the small screamy things.
There's no point in us taking a week if we know it's going to be utterly pants but if it will be skiiable I'll book the cheap self catering apartment I've found.
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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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No source here just me being hopeful!
To be honest I would rather it be warm than cold when it has not snowed for a while. I hate hard packed ice (being a cool snowboarder)
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MeMyselfandI, there will be LG experts along in a bit (surprised there haven't been already) and I'm sure they will tell you it will be fine. Snow depths are at record levels and even last year (when they were at the opposite extreme) there was still ski-ing at the end of March. Spring ski-ing, but ski-ing nevertheless.
If in doubt however why not hang on a bit longer?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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MeMyselfandI, without being a LG expert - we have spent the end of March through to whenever we feel like going back to the UK in Les Gets for the last few years and generally been fine.
We had a bunch of friends to stay a couple of years ago who were not going to arrive till 1st April and I was concerned, as you always worry about your guests whereas we take it as it comes - but in the event it was all ok and we didn't go further than LG and Morzine for the week.
But at that stage in the year I am sure you will be able to find something to rent closer to the time.
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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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MeMyselfandI, we've been going every year since 99 (apart from last year) and regularly go the first (or sometimes even second) week of April - this year included. Last week of March = no problemo.
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You know it makes sense.
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Nadenoodlee, We went up to Mont Chery this morning, did one run and the wife & kids bailed saying their legs were too tired from days of lessons.  They spent the late morning/early afternoon chilling whilst I did silly stuff down Point de Nyon, Chamossiere, etc. This afternoon my sister's family arrived from Switzerland to celebrate her birthday. Should be spending a quiet, pootley day around the Linderets bowl tomorrow inc lunch at La Cremellaire in Les Linderets.
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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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And there was me under the impression that Mont Chery was the are to avoid absolutely! 
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Poster: A snowHead
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Thanks everyone. I'd love to leave it later but, at the risk of erroneously suggesting I have a life, I need to plan other things around it.
I suppose even if utterly kak I can just spend the days drinking up the mountain. There's a silver cloud to every dark lining 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Having spent most of the day off-piste, I can confirm that there is little to recommend it at the moment.
We skied the "secret" couloir into Les Crosets; the Couloir du Mort and the Vallee de la Manche. We hit the two couloirs just right in terms of snow conditions, but hit the Vallee de la Manche a little too late (11:30), which meant needing to be very conservative on route selection. I did, however, manage a good argument with an ESF instructor at one point and I managed to wee wee him off enough that he "phoned me in" to the ski school 
* The "secret" couloir is neither that difficult to find, nor that that secret. It's just that it isn't actually on a piste map that I've seen. It's definitely marked and controlled though. From the top of Mossettes, ski down Abricotine and take a hard left at the end of the fencing just after the cross on your left.
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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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We went to La Grande Turche today as brother and his total beginner gf have arrived - what a great area for beginners! Snow was good, snow was tremendous! Gemma can now manage snow plough turns hurrah!
The red run down to the base station was a bit icy but pretty empty - think my little brother only had one fall 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Nadenoodlee, You are so right about La Grand Turche!
Our friends (Paul is one of the lads' trip regulars) have been there with their kids and another family the last two half terms. Perfect for beginners. Gondola lift right to the nursery area so one parent can get all the kit in a backpack and there is none of that fraught herding cats exercise that is so often seen. Nice spot for lunch at La Licorne. Enough for parents to go at whilst kids are in lessons. Relatively cheap and a pretty friendly spot.
Great skiing down the runs back to La Chevrerie, some nice off piste stuff throught he trees from the top and I love that little restaurant beyond the Col du Follys when you are heading round the circuit.
All in all a great little area and now a regular for a day out on our lads' trips.
FlyingStantoni, we had a look down the "secret" couloir over half term. Just a look mind - as we had the kids with us (cough) we didn't go down it. Seems pretty steep.
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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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| FlyingStantoni wrote: |
Having spent most of the day off-piste, I can confirm that there is little to recommend it at the moment.
* The "secret" couloir is neither that difficult to find, nor that that secret. It's just that it isn't actually on a piste map that I've seen. It's definitely marked and controlled though. From the top of Mossettes, ski down Abricotine and take a hard left at the end of the fencing just after the cross on your left. |
We had a look at that last week - but there seemed to be a huge crowd of people waiting to come down it, so we just went straight down under the Swiss chair which seemed appropriately steep. This was Friday last week and the snow was ace.
When you say "marked and controlled" I didn't see any markers - d'you mean marked as in coloured poles down it?
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| andy from embsay wrote: |
| When you say "marked and controlled" I didn't see any markers - d'you mean marked as in coloured poles down it? |
Yep, there are yellow poles down it, indicating that it's an itinerary.
| DJL wrote: |
| FlyingStantoni, we had a look down the "secret" couloir over half term. Just a look mind - as we had the kids with us (cough) we didn't go down it. Seems pretty steep. |
The first couple of turns require commitment, but it's reasonably mellow when you get into it.
If you want a more mellow option then you can traverse across the top of the first one and drop into either of the next two.
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FlyingStantoni, What was the argument about?
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| under a new name wrote: |
| FlyingStantoni, What was the argument about? |
The ESF instructor thought that we shouldn't have been skiing a line in the Vallee de la Manche. He claimed the south-facing slope that had skied was unsafe and that we had endangered his clients.
The slope was actually north-west facing and he chose to ski his clients under our line (we were there first and clearly visible). Neither the ESF nor his clients had any arva. On the way past Trace and our friends he gave them a bollocking (I was still on the slope).
I decided to catch up with him and share my view that he ought to look after his clients' safety before criticising others.
He decided that I was probably guiding illegally and "phoned me in".
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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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Did you slap him with a copy of the Telegraph FlyingStantoni,?
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| FlyingStantoni wrote: |
| the Couloir du Mort |
Don't care what it's like, just have to do this so I can say i've done it.  You out first week of April, FlyingStantoni?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I'll make a banner!
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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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| Nadenoodlee wrote: |
| I'll make a banner! |
What? "Free the FlyingStantoni one!"?
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You have a PM andyph.
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You know it makes sense.
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| FlyingStantoni wrote: |
| under a new name wrote: |
| FlyingStantoni, What was the argument about? |
The ESF instructor thought that we shouldn't have been skiing a line in the Vallee de la Manche. He claimed the south-facing slope that had skied was unsafe and that we had endangered his clients.
The slope was actually north-west facing and he chose to ski his clients under our line (we were there first and clearly visible). Neither the ESF nor his clients had any arva. On the way past Trace and our friends he gave them a bollocking (I was still on the slope).
I decided to catch up with him and share my view that he ought to look after his clients' safety before criticising others.
He decided that I was probably guiding illegally and "phoned me in". |
I would be quaking in my boots. Or something.
A sad case of red-jacket-itis I fear.
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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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News on Swiss radio just now of another avalanche in the ski area of Les Crosets, Valais, no casualties reported. Anyone any more info?, I am assuming that it is the PdS Crosets.
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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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Scary, looks like the full depth has gone and that's a piste I ski several times each season. Was it open when it went? I guess so. Anyone on the spot?
Hope the report is correct and no-one was found because no-one was caught.
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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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No luckily no body caught today according to the guys here in Champery who were searching. Be very careful tomorrow as more are likely to go too with the current weather . Was a big slip and full depth just on red off Mossette down to Crosets. Just on the narrow flat bit with netting before the last steeper bit into Croset.
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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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We did a quick out and back to Super Morzine yesterday via Chatel. Great snow cover everywhere with only a very, very few places where there were brown patches. The snow is what you'd expect on a typical spring day - icy on northerly slopes and soft on southerly ones. Run of the day was down the front of Super Chatel, which had lovely soft snow on a firm base - giving endless grip. Worst run of the day was the black bump run down to the top of the Petite Chatel chair - icy and unforgiving as bumps get.
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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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| Quote: |
the narrow flat bit with netting
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Thanks summer, I was trying to work out where it was exactly. Back out from 10th - 13th so hoping nothing else "lets go".
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summer,
This article:
http://www.24heures.ch/vaud-regions/Une-avalanche-descend-sur-une-piste-des-Crosets/story/15291415
suggests that there was also a slide of the same kind in the same area (Grand Conche rather than Mossettes) on Saturday. Obviously both are the same aspects and there were some impressive "crevasses" showing bare earth when we were in that area at half term (and Christmas for that matter). Anyone see anything there?
FlyingStantoni,
That black down to the Petit Chatel midstation is my quick way home if I don't fancy the faff of all the drags along the ridge to the top of the Torgon chair and the ski down the Barbossine red runs. Given your comments it doesn't seem the way to go with tired legs at the end of the day! IIRC there is also an awkward sort of slant on it which doesn't help. It was closed when we were there at half term though I guess that was avalache risk rather than ice.
Does the 3 am post suggest you are heading back to London today or was it a good night out?
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| DJL wrote: |
| Does the 3 am post suggest you are heading back to London today or was it a good night out? |
It does indeed.
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As mentioned we are heading out on the 4th March and should get 4.5 days on the slopes. We are staying Morzine at the Bonne Valette and wondered if it is worth getting a full PDS pass or upgrading for a day or two?
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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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FAQ
Generally absolutely fine (2011 apart 
). We always try to go in April but luckily that was the one year we didn't so we struggled in Les Arcs instead.
