 Poster: A snowHead
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I went down the Vallons de la Meije this afternoon with 3 clients, and it was fine. On the whole the top was a bit rockier than last year after getting off the first open snowfield. (The traverse in from the restaurant was well dodgy!) You had to be careful which route you took, and some of the "normal" bits were either impassable, or only with care. The snow on the top section was fantastic - pwdery, but packed.
We took the valley all the way down to the ice cave, which was fine, with some interesting varied snow from hard windcrust to almost powder, passing through breakable on the way! We were able to ski through the little gulley below the ice cave and thence on to the hut where the Derby de la Meije finishes. this was rocky, but much less so than last year later on, and then the last bit before the path where you pop around all the little moguls and stumps etc was really good 'cos IT WASN'T ICY!  this is the first time I've ever skied it not icy!!! Great. The path was awkward as ever, but not icy, and access to the meadow was slightly more interesting than usual, however the snow on the meadow was great, and the walk up from the river about the same as normal!
We found the beer and the coffee in the Hotel Castillan quite up to the usual standards ......... and the taxi ride back for 4 people was still only 45 euros.
All in all a very pleasant afternoon. 
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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, Charlotte, that was fun to read!
Later in the spring do you usually take clients back up the bubbles and over the Dome back to Les 2 Alpes, or is the taxi usually preferred?
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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, very jealous after my abortive trip there last weekend
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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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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One day, Charlotte, one day...
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Damn - I need to practice jump turns  And all the other basics first hehehe
Cheers all for the info and pics.
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Setting the mood nicely for a bit of off-piste next week in St Anton.
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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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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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easiski, fingers crossed for that heavy snow, off to Serre Che on Sunday morning.
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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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Poster: A snowHead
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GrahamN, Aah - but then I prefer the valley route rather than the P1 route anyway! That bridge is a bu**er isn't it?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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LG top lifts (i.e. above P2) were shut all day due to high wind, and unstable snowpack. Our hotelier reckons it'll be shut for another couple of days. We didn't ski here today (went over to Serre Che) because of that, but it looks like visibility in LG is pretty much zero at the moment (can't even see P1 from the village)
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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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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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easiski, i'm told it's the best cover from top to bottom in years. sorted myself out with 3 guided days there the weekend after next which i am looking forward to greatly  i'd better watch out for people practicing for the Derby...
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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easiski, sounds brilliant. We should have been there, we left a day too early 
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Arno, It's certainly the best I've ever skied it (but then I only go over when I can). Yes - peeps practising for the Derby are VERY DANGEROUS!! Unbelievable speeds some of them go over bumps and rough snow.
RachelQ, Soooo sorry you missed it - got a an extra beer in at the village as well ('cos I f***ed up the taxi planning).
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easiski, well i'm going to instruct the guide that i'm not paying him to do the classic routes - i can find my way down them myself (cue nannies telling me NEVER TO SKI OFF PISTE WITHOUT A GUIDE ) - so we should avoid them
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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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davidof,
Great pics, seems very steep from angle of the photographer
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dupe..!!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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davidof, I'm surprised so few Brits ever make it to the Vercors. It's not as if it's difficult to get to with direct flights to Grenoble. Door to resort door, Grenoble St Geoirs airport to Villard de Lans for example 1 hour 3 minutes according to ViaMichelin. And what a great resort - you're actually aware you're in France for once!
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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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| Quote: |
| I do mostly take fairly moderate skiers down the Vallons de la Meije, so they're pretty knackered after one descent anyway - it's a big trip and lots of photo stops for people wholve never been anywhere like that before |
easiski - guess i must fall into that category then !!!!!
it was more knackering walking back up to the car park than coming down........
trip down was spot on - perfect bluebird day etc...could say much more on the subject, but it will only depress me
anyway will get some photos uploaded once i work out how to do it - which should hopefully show just how it was
btw - mrs iarm74 spent the pm with the tiddly peep and told me i was the 1 who missed out!!!!!
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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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Any updates on the conditions in La Grave? What does it look like this weekend?
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Poster: A snowHead
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Diarmuid, Can't say how much has been lost low down, but I'd be surprised if there was any problem getting to P1 - there was so much snow last week.! Best phone them I should think.
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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...! Will give em a buzz
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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 can report that a LOT of snow fell on Saturday. Face shots were achieved on the Vallons de la Meije. Turned to rain lower down (about P1 level I would say) but very skiable all the way down. More snow has fallen since. We decided to avoid the feeding frenzy at La Grave in favour of Alpe d'Huez for the last couple of days. Unbelievably good
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Arno, Glad to hear you had a good time - did you actually get "over the head face shots"?
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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, not quite - but flying snow hit my face which is good enough for me
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easiski, or anyone else for that matter!... has anyone done the trip under the lake; diving under the ice?? love to hear back from anyone who has tried it especially there!!
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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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sarah@alpedhuez, saw the lake, and the entry point...but it looked hellish cold to me, so no way!
(OK so the water is going to be warmer than the air above the surface, so in the drysuit you're probably OK under the water, but getting in and out must be chuffing cold).
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FAQ
- too much waxing for plastic 
) freed things up. From about 11:00-midday snow softened up and was really flattering to ski - all the previous ice is clearly well covered - and held up fine even low down right to the close of play (although we were too knackered to ski the bit below P1 and bottled out and took the last lift down that bit). Not much powder around, but we did find a couple of pitches to make some nice fresh tracks.
