 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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Did the Crochues-Berard route to le Buet today.
Left from top of Floria poma at 11:30 and reached le Buet at just before 3pm.
The snow is still in good condition down to under Col des Dards, but some fairly big wet snow slides on the S/SW facing slopes underneath the Pointe Alph Fare area (I wouldn't traverse across there too late in the day!) A couple on the W facing side on the skin up to Col de Berard too.
Best of the snow, with a long pitch of fresh, was under the Aguille du Lac Blanc down the Prises d'Eau toward the Refuge de La Pierre a Berard.
Then the long traverse down to le Buet with some 'interesting' obstacles to avoid along the way down and a nice Eidelweis beer to end a good day! 
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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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Idris, I did peep in but I was with four friends and was totally knackered, even considered going down in the box, wish I had.
Your display looked impressive. I would have loved to have had a go on your beautiful skis. You were in good company next to the Plum stand.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| Touchguru wrote: |
| jbob, I got up to the top of ADM on number 14 bin around 9:45am and it looked like it was struggling to settle and they had to prise the doors open. Thought that it may cause an issue. How long was it down for? |
How did you get a number 14 boarding card? I was there just before 8am and que'd with the guides to get cards. I was the first non guide to get boarding cards and got number 21's. It really angers me seeing guides taking stacks of like 15 cards... but oh dear... gota love CMB!
SO we went for a croissant and coffee up the road and when we came back the que was moving extremely slowly. At around 0930 they made an announcment saying that all departures would be delayed. 1 mate had to bail due to work, so me and my other mate eventually got skiing by 11am. Any big plans were scrapped and we headed towards Col d'Entreves and had wonderful gentle skiing by ourselves all the way back to the crowds on the VB!
Toughguru was the track out of Berard Valley not too slow and sticky? Maybe it will just about stay in condition for a bit longer. I did it twice last week, both excellent, just incase it was finished for the season.
Now meeting more and more people coming out for Haute Route season, hope they all get a good weather 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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OliC, often they save them for the late guided parties then if they don't show they give them to whoever is next in line. One time I got 2 bins in front of my friend who was queuing half an hour before me.
Really bad by the CDMB. Not acceptable. If the guides are late they should do one and get whatever bin ticket is up.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| OliC wrote: |
How did you get a number 14 boarding card? I was there just before 8am and que'd with the guides to get cards. I was the first non guide to get boarding cards and got number 21's. It really angers me seeing guides taking stacks of like 15 cards... but oh dear... gota love CMB!! |
I just walked up after most of the guides and asked for 2 passes and she gave me number 14s. I was there at 7:15am, but then got a bit sidetracked and was a bit late getting into the queue, so was happily surprised when she gave me those 
| OliC wrote: |
Toughguru was the track out of Berard Valley not too slow and sticky? Maybe it will just about stay in condition for a bit longer. I did it twice last week, both excellent, just incase it was finished for the season. |
It wasn't too slow and sticky, but it was definitely looking tired with the tree roots and some rocks showing through. Don't think it will last much past mid next week with the warm temperatures and expected mid week rain.
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| jbob wrote: |
Idris, I did peep in but I was with four friends and was totally knackered, even considered going down in the box, wish I had.
Your display looked impressive. I would have loved to have had a go on your beautiful skis. You were in good company next to the Plum stand. |
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Last two days conditions report.
HOT ! But still good Catch each aspect at the right time and we've really enjoyed flying around the pistes. Have done GM, F & B so far. Base still really pretty amazing considering the heat in the last month. Summary - lovely spring conditions. Not done any touring as this trip we are with friends and just tooling around, but lots of people still out there. Bring on more sun !
Alex
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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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Alex A, how are the B/F pistes coping with the heat? I've been avoiding them as a few weeks ago when I went the pistes were very slushy and didn't enjoy it. Been staying on GM the majority of the time and it's all good 
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Slightly off topic, but I'm looking to go to Cormayeur at some point from Chamonix...where does the bus leave Chamonix from? Is it the train station? And how far is the walk from the Cormayeur bus stop to the lifts? Thanks
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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srogers13, GM has colder snow for sure. To a degree on a few slopes given their aspect, however they need to warm up as well !! With the off piste at GM totally rock solid on most aspects then actually I fancied a change and whilst slushy at the end of the day they were ok.. i quite enjoy fast slush though!!!
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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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Skied first lift and last lift (only, not in between) at les Houches today - no one! ok I was early and late, but saw maybe 5 people in the morning and 0 in the afternoon - still found untracked piste at 5pm - everything I skied still had reasonable coverage - if you are looking for mellow skiing with NO crowds, Les Houches is the place to ski at the moment!
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And La Plagne...................not many people around out here either......................its great!!!!!!!!!!
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You know it makes sense.
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Skied Les Houches today and the change on piste from Sunday morning to now is really apparent.
Large areas of bare ground on the mid to lower pistes however you can still ski down to Prarion (just via a small sliver on snow on skiers right on the runout before the bottom lift station)
All varying degrees of slush but still great fun to mess around in with hardly anyone around....and I am not in an office!!
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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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Went to Le Tour today and, not surprisingly, it is in much better conditions overall than Les Houches.
Fairly firm at 9:30 but by 10am most of the areas were really good skiing and the slush only really made its presence felt after 1pm on the west and northerly aspect slopes.
Still some fun tracked off-piste to be had under the Tete Du Balme telesiege, but I stayed mainly on piste for another fun spring skiing day.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Just been out for a lunchtime slide in Les Houches, not much left - the top has ok coverage, all the lower runs are closed and are only passable by walking in mud  Best snow is either the top of Bellevue or Le Crozat, but even then it ain't great.
Lift operators say they are planning on still being open till the 21st - unless we have a change in weather there won't be much left to slide on by then!
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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 thought I saw somewhere that B/F were closing on 14th April (could be wrong!)...if that's the case I can't see how they won't be closing Les Houches around then either!?
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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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srogers13, i was under that impression too
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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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How bizarre. Per CMB website, everything bar GMs and LHs closes 14th, LHs closes 21st... Optimisim rules OK
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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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| under a new name wrote: |
| How bizarre. Per CMB website, everything bar GMs and LHs closes 14th, LHs closes 21st... Optimisim rules OK |
Trying to maximise revenue!
Maybe they will just keep the top frontside section open down to the Maison Neuve chair with Chamois and Le Cha pomas on the other sides as below that is toast!
Le Tour was good-ish again today. Definitely already felt 'stickier' this afternoon than yesterday but at least you can still ski to the bottom fairly problem free. (unless you happen not to like slush!)
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Should be heading to Chamonix in 1 week time, looking at temperatures and forecasts, starting to hesitate. What would you guys in Chamonix at the moment advise? If only the Valee Blanche remain skiable, would it not be better to change the plans?
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Grands Montets will definitely be skiable! As mentioned the other areas are closing on the 14th, but you can get a good week's skiing in at GM and if you do the VB then that's another day's skiing sorted.
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mooney058, conditions as good or better than one would expect at this time of dear...
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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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Went to GM today...the initial thick cloud covering the slopes meant that the icy pistes hung around longer than normal. Whilst I was there the 2/3 mogul fields off the Herse chairlift were closed due to the hard-pack ice and long slide risk (I believe). Majority of the other moguls had very marble-like snow which made it difficult and felt like I was a beginner again...fell over a couple of times when I wouldn't normally in that position!
Called it quits at 2pm and came home to watch the rugby and football.
Booked onto the VB tomorrow so will let you know how that is after the lack of snow recently!!
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Hi - I will be in chamonix over Easter weekend. In need of a partner for ski mountaineering. Anyone interested, let me know?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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srogers13, any recommendations on guide company? Never been to Chamonix before, discovered there are many companies in the area. thanks a lot for the updates and encouraging news to all you guys! Cant wait to get to "Mecca"
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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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I ski'd at Brevent this morning and it was pretty good actually. Though the usual Cham style piste bashing had taken place, i.e- lumps everywhere.
I hope srogers13 gets on ok doing the VB. I heard yesterday people que'd for an hour just for the gondola!
Otherwise, besides skiing and work I've been upto this:
http://chainmark.blogspot.com
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You know it makes sense.
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I can't really recommend particular guide companies as today was the first time I've hired a guide, and that was from "Mont Blanc Ski Guide Compagnie" which encompasses a few ski companies to deliver the VB tour.
VB was great today, incredible weather and great views in every direction! Even though I've been out here for 10 weeks, it was the first time I've done it because I've always held out for a big drop of powder, proceeded by hot sunny days, but never worked out. Although the routes are heavily tracked out, it was still a joy to do and it wasn't busy at all. Didn't queue at any part of it. OliC, I imagine it was so busy yesterday because of the weekend skiers coming out!
I think our group did the Le Petits Envers du Plan which is more difficult than the classic route. Snow was quite hard-packed, but not too icy, and there were moguls between the crevasses but don't think you'd have to deal with these if you did the classic route.
Here's a photo from the top at the station and then another looking up to the seracs and crevasses we weaved our way through -
http://s29.photobucket.com/user/steve_rogers13/library/VB
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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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Has anyone been over to Courmayeur recently? Keen to know what the conditions are like. And does anyone know when it's due to close? I haven't found the dates online yet...
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Poster: A snowHead
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fixx, I can't imagine the conditions are much different from anywhere else except you might have more snow underneath what you're skiing on. I expect it closes 21/4/2104.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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under a new name, thanks. I might head there on Monday for some morning/lunchtime skiing, and a wander round the town after...
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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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It just so happens I went there today fixx!
I enjoyed it, the earlier you head there the better, although I still stayed there till 4pm There is a lack of snow when you arrive from the cable car and have to walk to the gondola or chairlifts initially, but generally the snow cover is really good. There are a few pistes closed such as the home runs and 1 or 2 runs from the Mont Chetif station on the right.
The Checruit side (main slopes) have the sun on them early doors and are good fun in the morning, whereas the runs on the other side (Plan de la Gabba chairlift) were VERY icy this morning. Did them a few times, but stuck to the sun-hit slopes before they turned slushy and then did the Lazey, Internazionale, Gabba and Rocce Bianche runs in the afternoon as they were no longer icy. These runs were superb for an hour or two!
And yep, it closes on 21/04.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Thanks srogers13 for the guide!
Two of us headed over there yesterday, and got some really enjoyable skiing in. It was a bit daunting getting off the first cabin and seeing the brown, mud, and general lack of snow, but once we headed further up we found some great slopes in very skiable condition. We looped the runs around the Plan de la Gabba chair and Bertolini from around 12 - still a few icy patches then, but nothing to worry about, and it was nice the feel the snow change over repeated runs. The place was deserted too, so really enjoyable high speed cruising!
We met up with a couple of others in town itself for a late lunch though - that was a very weird deserted feel, there was barely a soul to be seen wandering through the town, very different from Chamonix.
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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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How are things up on GM now? Will be in Les Contamines for a few days from tonight and was thinking we might drive round for a bit of altitude at some point.
Thanks, J
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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GM was in good shape on Friday, but I haven't been up there since. Bit icy first thing, and you can't ski to the chair at the bottom of Pierre a Ric any more - you have to take skis off a walk the last bit - but plenty of skiing still to be had. I'm intrigued to hear if it's got busy since the other areas closed, as Friday was pretty quiet with no queuing.
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fixx, I'm going to Cormayeur again in a couple of days so will be good to be at a deserted place...GM is now very busy! Busiest it's been since February I reckon and a number of lifts and pistes closed so everyone is being 'ushered' to specific areas. Pierre a Ric is now completely closed and I wouldn't advise skiing it as there are bare patches across the whole piste. The Retour Pendant chairlift on the right is closed because the bottom pistes are bare, so if you decide to do the Chamois black run off the Bochard gondola then you need to veer right and go under the bridge.
jedster, GM is very icy in the mornings now and every time you take the lift up you're bound to see someone on their backside sliding down the whole piste. Combes are Bochard are the only open red runs I believe, with the latter being rammed since the other Chamonix areas were closed. I wouldn't advise doing the black runs off the Herse chairlift until later on as the moguls are difficult on the ice! The pistes are in best condition between 12 and 2, then the lower areas get very slushy. I'm not going to head to GM any earlier than 11 now, and I've been packing it in around 3pm.
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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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Expecting dust on crust this morning but headed up unusually early due Wx forecast. Surprisingly pleasant off piste for fist 50% or so off Bochard. Herse a bit scrappy. And quite sunny.
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FAQ
