Maurienne 2018

A snowHead

Anyone out there, or going? La Norma for us on 12 Jan, visiting Bonneval, Val Cenis, Aussois etc, then a few days in Italy at Melezet. I will give some snow reports when able

A snowHead

@cstreat,Not heading out to Val Cenis until the 17th Feb but any reports will be read with interest. Friends in Val Cenis say the
Conditions are fantastic at the moment, certainly in comparison with the last few years, and the Maurienne got very lucky last Christmas compared Tom eveywhere else.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Heading to our place in Valmeinier, but not until late March. Very jealous of all those going earlier, damn work!

You need to Login to know who's really who.

Haute Maurienne due a massive dump on Monday, but freezing point high as well; Bonneval predicted 1.4m in 24 hrs!!!

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

La Norma had great snow higher up today, plenty of untracked off piste, tiny bit of crusting. Still and slightly overcast today, I missed a sunken side track today at pistes edge and took my shoulder out, landing on hardback on it from a decent height for a 52 year old, so sore this evening.
Lower down was typical artificial packed stuff, melting at resort level. Due another big dumping Tues and Wed, but rain at 1300. There's a big Base though. Hope to be recovered by Thurs, to get up to Val Cenis and Bonneval Fri. Then through the tunnel to Italy for a few days.
Cheers

You'll need to Register first of course.

Great day yesterday, mostly sunny, snow softening in afternoon, no wind, virtually empty.
Today is overcast, windy, snowing above the tree line. Massive dump has not transpired!

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

Rain at 1300m today, fresh snow above, high winds tomorrow, went snow shoeing up a red for some aerobics

After all it is free

50mph winds, hard to tell if snow is going up or coming down at the moment, lower drags working, little uns being blown across ski front

Road to Val Cenis and Bonneval sur Arc now shut due to avalanche risk, lots of drifting powder on an icy base. Tomorrow looks promising

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

Snow all day today, wind dropped, reasonable visibility, La Norma upper slopes all shut, crowded with visitors from other resorts, 30cm of fresh so far

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

Val Cenis yesterday was excellent, when the sun was out. It was very windy above the treeline, stripping the latest snow, but in the trees it was as good as it gets. Termingnon was quiet, 15cm of fresh over pistes, not even icy lower down.
Now in Bardonecchia, so that's all folks.

snow reports

Drizzle when we arrived this morning in La Toussuire. We ummed and arred but decided to risk it. Visibility came and went but the rain stayed. Just before midday it started to pour so we dived inside for lunch. Still raining when we came out so managed a few laps on the buttons giving Mrs A standing-on-one-leg lessons then gave up at three. The rain intermittently turned to snow but was still wet. Even my knickers were soaked. One of the most miserable day’s skiing we’ve ever had. Still plenty of snow on piste but off piste everything had a soft crust and was soon avoided.

You know it makes sense.

Happy to report better conditions today in Valloire. Cold but sunny most of the morning but over lunch in the salle hors sac under the restaurant at the top of the Cret de la Brive the clag came in. Sometimes in the afternoon it was very thick. A recent dusting of snow an no wind made for some decent skiing. Best conditions were on the Crey du Quart area. Fairly crowded, especially compared to yesterday but mostly they were good natured. Got annoyed with some young race clubbers pushing their way to the front but a pole planted firmly between the skis soon sorted that.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

Great day today in and around Le Corbier. Started off cold (-3) and bright. Virgin fluffy white stuff around the top of Edelweiss early on and good soft stuff off the sunny side of Les Perrons until lunch. Then it started to get heavy so we migrated to the shaded, northern side where there were plenty of fresh lines to be had. Even coming back over the flatlands there were occasional patches of soft to be found - look north. Late in the afternoon we could see clouds developing around the valley but all we had was a bit of haze. Have to marvel at the amount of concrete they managed to get up the dirt track of a road but Le Corbier is definitely growing on us. If we were here for a week it would probably be worth the drive up to St Sorlin but for just a day then Corbier is probably the best place to attack Les Sybelles.

A snowHead

Another great day, this time in Albiez-Montrond. Cold but with wall to wall sunshine except for the last couple of hours when there was a light dusting of snow. They’ve moved the ticket office from the base of the lifts to the tourist information in the middle of the village. Makes more sense really but we ended up walking back and forth. Other changes include the closure of the Teppes chair to add to the chair on the far left that closed a few years ago. Perhaps they are getting ready for the mooted link to Les Karellis.

Snow generally good with plenty of pockets of untracked off piste. Found some glorious powder left mostly untracked in a bowl off to the left of Plan Corbe. Lots of nice stuff in amongst the trees too.

Best of all, absolutely everybody was polite and considerate and there was nobody huehning about. In the queue for the very last Poma at the end of the day, everyone quickly formed a snake exactly one person wide without anyone needing to organise it.

What this place lacks in size it certainly makes up for in snooky little places to enjoy yourself and general standard of behaviour.

A snowHead

A dusting of an inch or so in Val Cenis this morning to freshen up some of the vary hard pistes low down. Above 2000m conditions are still very good although we have found everything from powder to spring like conditions off piste. The pistes in the Mont Cenis sector are in superb condition but there is also widespread evidence of what must have been very frightening avalanches earlier in the season.
Like Altis arrived to rain last Saturday but has consistently got cold since and only precipitation since has been light snow. Clouds now clearing so should be a good day.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Well, tha was unexpected. 5cms at best in the village turned into boot to knee deep powder up on the mountain. A bit Scottish at times seeking out the wind blown powder but a fantastic morning. Almost seemed like a very localised and mini retour as it just kept on snowing all morning in the Mont Cenis sector where the weather was coming through the pass from Italy but otherwise it didn’t get any further and the visibility stayed good as a result. Off back to find some more of those home den stashes!

You need to Login to know who's really who.

Well that’s odd. Down the road in Les Karellis, apart from a light dusting first thing, we had sunshine all day long. But it was getting very cold on the long chairs in the shade by the late afternoon.

We arrived about 9 to a car park with perhaps 20 campers and a couple of cars. By the time we left it had obviously been full and they were parking down the road.

Conditions on the slopes were okay but pretty much all the off piste was well tracked out. Interesting to compare Valloire where it seemed that 99.9% stayed on piste to Karellis where it must approach 50-50. Even the tiny tots in lessons were venturing between the pistes. Trouble was all the best, north-facing, slopes were thoroughly trashed and the south-facing stuff was quite crusty. The best bits were virtually level as they’d caught little sun or traffic.

Had a decent time but it was hard work pushing through all the choss. Also had a few tumbles where a crust suddenly appeared from nowhere and tripped a ski or made it run straight.

The runs down to the front de neige were hard and icy at the end of the day and not improved by the few that insisted on straight-lining it. But, as we’ve noted before, the general standard of skiing is quite high.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

@altis, if you can make it to Termingon tomorrow there is still plenty of untracked to be had and knee deep in places even between the pistes. We were over there this afternoon with a guide doing a group ski with MGS who we are with but most of what we did wasn’t too far from the ski area. Finished off skiing down under the second chair up from Lanslebourg-Mont-Cenis and stuff was buried to a depth we haven’t seen for a number of years. Was cold though on those pomas at Termingon but well worth it.

You'll need to Register first of course.

I have booked to go to Val Cenis, for Easter. Have booked lessons with ESI and staying at Residence Les Valmonts. Really looking forwards to a change as we have been to La Plagne for the last 2 Easters. It sounds like the snow will be plentiful. Is parking easy in Val Cenis or should I book?

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

Hello- keep quiet about going - Val Cenis is a gem at Easter so we don’t want everyone picking up on it! Parking is no problem!

After all it is free

The secret is safe @Pierresel,

@frozennose, perhaps we should have ventured further. We got up the road as far as La Norma. There was plenty of snow about but most of the pistes were packed hard - as usual. We tested out some new touring gear with a skin up from the top lift to La Norma itself. Of course, although it had been sunny, the clag came down just as we started. Vis came and went but we had a brief view from the top. As we started our decent the cloud got thicker again so despite thick, hardly tracked snow, we had to inch our way. There are steep drops on either side and we didn’t want to fall off. As we got lower the vis improved but then I managed to snag a ski under a buried layer and took a tumble. Anxious few minutes while we dug around trying to find it. Headed back to the piste, a black, only to hit a patch of sheet ice and swiftly hit the deck again. Managed to grab my ski as I slid past it but carried on sliding. Eventually got my good ski downhill and managed to get an edge in. Confidence knocked we pottered around a bit but, at the end of the day still found some decent snow off Clot. There’s probably plenty of good tree skiing to be had but I’m wary of just following tracks. Bit of a mixed day but it had its moments.

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

Finally got to Val Cenis on Friday and had a great time. Spent much time in the Most Erotic Terrain under the Met chair. Perhaps not as deep as we've seen before - found a few rocks - but none the less good. Bit cold and windy on the col but also had a good time around the Lima next to Lac above Termignon. Only 3 behind us on last lift then a lazy run all the way to T. A great week but the forecast is for bitterly cold next week.

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

@altis, We were up there yesterday afternoon as well. I think the recent snow made the top look deeper than it was if you didn’t know which lines were effectively the gullies. Earlier in the week you could see it had been wind scoured earlier in the season. Further left dropping down to the top of the Solert chair was much better and well over the knees. We had a guide who then took us across to drop down below the Mont Cenis liaison where it was loaded and pushing waist deep. Then down into the trees was very nice but I agree they were tracks I wouldn’t have followed normally without someone who knew where they were going.
Cracking afternoon Thursday as we headed into the backcountry off the top of the Met and into the ‘secret garden’. We lucked out with visibility which had not been great and there were still loads of untracked lines which is the gem of Val Cenis days after the usual suspects have been tracked out. Then had dinner at the Ranova and skied down by headtorch to then finish off with some night skiing under the floodlights in the village.
When we left at 6 this morning there was probably 10-15cms of fresh light powder in the village and I think it was forecast most of the day. Provided the wind played ball could have been a cracking day but will certainly be good this coming week, although cold.
For those going out at Easter things are well set up and we are tempted to head back. All in all another fantastic week and confirmation of why we still go back after first heading to Val Cenis 28 year’s ago. The juniors have insisted that next year is already booked for half term!

snow reports

Its fair to say conditions have been 'satisfactory' in the Maurienne this week, though care is needed on steeper angles as evidenced by a few skier-triggered slabs today (this afternoon's warmer temps should help...):

Val Cenis Sunday/Monday:

ValFrejus Tuesday:

The forecast initially looked quite variable for the week, as it turns out we have had mostly really good visibility and snow...

Bonneval:

Today ranks right up with the best days work of all time, with a classic 1300m descent to the road at Bonneval with untracked knee-deep cold powder all the way!

Warm-up run part 1:

Warm-up run part 2:

Happy team half-way down our 1300m descent:

Atmospheric couloir action at the end:

One more day to go... Best make the most of it as temperatures look like they are going up this weekend (rain?? Sad

)

Has anyone been to Les Sybelles recently?
Thinking of heading out on Saturday. Will be first time to area. Which is most snow sure resort? Will there be enough snow?
Other option is Orelle by the lift pass sooo much more pricey!

You know it makes sense.

I suspect Val Cenis is the most snowsure resort in that area. I'd go there. I haven't been to les sybelles so hope someone else can answer your query on that.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

Arriving in Val Cenis Saturday. Can anybody help with the best blur run in the area that is easy to get too, staying in Llansvillard, looking at ski map want to get to escargot run on the sunday. We have only done beginners lessons?

A snowHead

Hello- there's some greens in the village to get your legs in- you can then take the green to the telecabine vieux moulin- take the blue from there- it's basically a track in summer, then join the escargot (which you will soon get fed up with!)- or you can take the 2 chairlifts up - columbier then arcelles and join the Rhodes- again this is basically a track in summer- you can cut across the reds and it's nice and wide- to be honest there's a blue off each lift from the Lanlesvillard!

A snowHead

@Snowysarah, Les Sybelles will be fine - as will every other resort in the Maurienne (with the possible exception of Aussois 'cos it mainly faces south). If you want to stay somewhere central then head for Le Corbier. Les Sybelles are well strung out so getting from one area to the next can be quite an exercise in itself. Best snow is usually on the St Sorlin side.

That said, you'd probably be better of at Val Cenis. This has a great variety of pistes and scenery.

@louiscrow, shame you didn't ask earlier or I would have pointed you towards Albiez-Montrond instead. It's a little further down the valley and is absolutely perfect for your level.

The easiest way to do Escargot would be to use the bottom bit to get to Lanslebourg and the Ramasse lift and then start at the top.

For nice blues I'd suggest Mont Cenis which you get to via a drag from the top of Ramasse and, best of all, Bleue du Lac which you get to via the Turra chair which starts from the same place as Ramasse. Don't get the two mixed up as they're right next to each other! And don't be tempted to ski back down Traverse if there hasn't been fresh snow - it gets very icy at the bottom.

On a clear day, make sure you use the Met chair and go and see the view from the top.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

@louiscrow, You've got a few options really.
1. Take the gondola, then use Tetras/Familiale (Blue) and drop onto Escargot (Green)
2. Jump on the Navette (free bus) to Lanselbourg, take Ramasse Chair, and then use Escargot (Green)
3. as above but after Ramasse, take the Mont Cenis drag to the top of the Tetras run, and then Tetras and Escargot all the way to Lanslevillard.
4. As 2, but part way down Escargot, take the Arcellins chair to the top of Tetras, then run down as no 3.

You need to Login to know who's really who.

@srobbo, @altis, Hi Both, thanks ever so much for the guidance. I presume that the Escargot from Lanslevillard to Lanselbourg is steep enough to move?

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

@Pierresel, Thank you.

You'll need to Register first of course.

@louiscrow, If you have a decent pair of waxed skis l'escargot is ok. It can get heavy going in the afternoons in mild weather. We had some duff hire skis the time we went to val cenis and went out and bought our own skis after struggling to move through the afternoon slush on escargot!

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

@louiscrow, Yes it is ok, unless it gets very slushy near the bottom, but as long as you can carry some gentle speed around the corners you should be able to cruise down easily

After all it is free

Thanks again all. Looking forward to our first visit.

Stacks of snow still in Toussuire today, but very warm - very heavy off piste and very sticky on piste in the afternoon...

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

We ended up in Orelle but will be watching this thread - maybe a trip to somewhere in the Maurienne next Feb half term.

Help!!

Maurienne 2018

snowHeads Forum Index >>> Snow Reports - weather - snow conditions