 Poster: A snowHead
|
hi there
Mrs C and i are off to Vaujany for a 3 day trip tomorrow.
Been reading about the area and like the sound of the Sarenne run down from the top station at 3300m or so down to Alpe D'Huez.
Anyone done this one? Mrs C thinks as it's a black it might be terribly difficult. Most of our time is spent on reds but out of choice really - can get down most blacks without any problems but prefer runs that are not too difficult.
Anyone know for example how the Sarenne run would compare to some of the runs in the 3Vs - Mont Vallon for example or the red under the big Saulire cable car up from Courcheval?
Thanks......
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
Personally I didn't find it that hard, but conditions were relatively benign. It had just been freshly pisted the first time I did it and though it had moguled up a bit for the second go it still wasn't bad. Some of the steeper pitches at the top can be avoided by tracks if you don't like the look of them. Also bear in mind that though it is quoted at something like 18km long it consisits of two sections, initiallya fairly steep series of pitches to the valley floor and then basically a long flat section along the valley bottom. Friends did it a few years ago when it was thigh deep unpisted powder and it took them all afternoon - but i can imagine a 10km walk in thigh deep powder along a basically flat valley floor wasn't a lot of fun.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
Dave Horsley, thanks for that, we'll try and get a conditon report locally before we head off......
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
Avoid the really nasty bit at the top by getting the Marmottes 3 bubble and dropping into it from there. Very nice run from that point on, shouldn't disturb people who spend time on red runs. Enjoy!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
The very top can get a bit mogulled but it's worth going up Pic Blanc rather than Marmottes for the views.
In general, it's black because there are a couple of steepish pitches (neither of which are long) and because once you're in it, you have to ski the whole thing.
It's a great run - if you get a nice day definitely do it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
thanks for all the advice guys, i'll keep my fingers crossed for a blue sky day on Sunday and try and get some good pics!
only 16hr25mins until we are due to take off YIPEEEEE
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The first time we did it we took the Marmottes route as the pic blanc bus was closed. In the afternoon we did it right from the top as they had opened Pic Blanc. I prefered it from Pic blanc as I liked the steeper un pisted pitches down from Pic Blanc, but these could be avoided by a pisted red track. Nice run in the conditions we did it in, just make sure you retain plenty of speed for the long flat section at the bottom or you'll be doing a lot of polling or skating. I'd recomend it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
And a lovely, sunny bar/ restaurant at the bottom for a much-needed cold one, if memory serves?
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
/\/\/\ my tip - get there by 12.30 and order the daily special
mmmmmm 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Arno, rainman,
can you remember name of restaurant or is it fairly obvious and easy to find?
thanks
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
rainman, We didn't go that far, AFAIR we continued in the valley past where a couple of other runs joined, but caught the wierd chairlift that has two tops and and lower middle and loads at all three places and in both directions in the middle 
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
Roger C, La Combe Haute, IIRC.
It is pretty obvious - most of the way along the long flat run out. A little bit past where some pistes from the Auris area join the run out.
Enjoy!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Heh, maybe it's not as obvious as I thought because Dave Horsley would have skied past it on his way to that chair. Keep your eyes open and look out for it on your right hand side
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
Roger C,
Re the Sarenne
A bit bland but the views were worth it from the top. Its a red run and a path IMV
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
| JT wrote: |
Roger C,
Re the Sarenne
A bit bland but the views were worth it from the top. Its a red run and a path IMV |
I agree I think its only a black because of its remoteness and length. I'm a boarder and found the flat bit at the bottom blardy hard work. Worth it tho so you can say you've done the longest black run in europe 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
Arno, I thought it was pretty obvious, but my radar doesn't allow me to miss too many slopeside hostelries!
Roger C, I'd agree that the run is more like a challenging red, with a long path at the end, but is definitely worth your time. The views are fantastic and there's plenty of fun to be had if the snow's good.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
Arno, I must be very unobservant, but we don't stop in slope side hostelries - were cheapskates and head back to the chalet for lunch, a beer and to take the kids out for the afternoon - so I must have tuned it out.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
Just back from a great weekend staying at the Hotel Rossiou in Vaujany (run by Ski Peak). Plenty of good snow on most runs in the greater Alp D'Huez area. We visited most of the outlying places including Oz and Villard Reclusas.
Did the Satenne on Sunday. V good views from top as mentined by other Snowheads in this thread. Run itself was v nice at the start but was a bit bare on some of the moguled bits in the middle.
Had a great lunch on the terrace of the La Combe Haute so thatnks v much Arno, for the advice! We got there about 12.45 after skiing a nice black (Col de Cluy?) and within 15mins all the tables were taken.
We'd never visited this area before but will certainly be going back. Also it's worth mentioning that the service in general and the food particularly at the Hotel Rissou was excellent.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
Roger C, glad you enjoyed it! I've been to the Combe Haute twice when I have had the last available plate of the special. The look on other disappointed punters' faces was a picture.
That said, ADH is very well served for nice mountain restaurants, especially when you consider the town's reputation for being a bit "unlovely".
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
Arno, we didnt really spend any time in ADH itelf other than waiting for lifts!
Mrs C had a great chilli (i helped her finish it off!) and i had a great Spag Bol.
Really enjoyed the ski area as you feel you are "travelling" around which is one of the reasons we often go to the 3Vs.
Vaujany was a great base, nice small village with v good access to ski area via huge cable car.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
I'll be in Alpe D'Huez for a week on Saturday - any tips?? Particularly good runs? Good bars? Restauants?? We will definitely try the Sarenne & restaurant mentioned. Any other ideas??
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
sazza42, didnt really go anywhere in ADH so cant recommend any bars etc
Skiing wise we enjoyed the run down to Villard, a blue called couloir from the 1st stop of DMC also the reds from the top of second cable car above vaujany were good.
This weekend snow was mostly good even lower down......
Have a good time!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
sazza42, you can't go too far wrong skiing down to any of the subsidiary resorts. have a play on the glacier if the weather's good before doing the sarenne. if there is fresh snow and off piste is your thing there are lots of fun lines around there which aren't committing.
as far as restaurants are concerned, i'd give the one at the top of "1ere troncon" (AKA the intermediate stage of the DMC) and the one at the top of Marmottes 1 a miss (unless you just want a quick ham sandwich and then to get out, in which case I am sure they're adequate). other than that, they are all pretty good IMO.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
sazza42, If you get over towards Vaujany try La Fare, lovely black run, easy to miss though. In the Vaujany/Montfrais area Les Airelles is a good restaurant with a nice sunny terrace but it can get very busy. Spoke to friends over there last night and it was snowing with more forecast so conditions should be good for you!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
sazza42,
Try the Tunnel black if its open and conditions are good.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
Thanks for all the advice - just checked out the weather forecast/webcams - looks like we will have some fresh snow to play around in next week!
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
Nick Dawes, i agree the La Fare is a nice black and was very quiet when i did it. Head down the blue towards Montfrais from top of Vaujany cable car. After a few hundred metres the black goes off sharp left and the blue carries straight on.
Ends at a strange little lift that takes you up to catch the main Vaujany cable car back up......
sazza42, Snow was reasonable all the way down on Sunday so should be even better by the time you get there!!!!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Roger C,
I agree its (La Fare) nice, but was a bit disappointed the first tim I did on it as we'd had about 6inches of powder overnight and we did it first thing. It was almost untracked, but had been pisted. So we had untracked cordoroy instead of the 6 inches of untracked powder 
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
Dave Horsley, maybe that's the way they bring the piste basher home!!?? Bloody annoying though i bet.....
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
sazza42, One other to try, if you don't mind having to make a bit of effort, is the Chalet du Lac Besson. It's tucked away down a cross-country trail, which runs off the Chamois piste. It requires a bit of a hike (10 mins, although flat) (or skate) back to the slopes, but the food is fantastic (and very reasonable), it has an amazing terrace and you can't even see the pistes from the restaurant.
The other is the Cabane de Poutat, underneath the Marmottes gondola. A bit more expensive, but real gourmet fare. Perfect if the snow comes in!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
Roger C,
Bit like this year, the snow was a bit thin resort wide. I think they wanted it packed down on the piste asap to improve conditions, cos they had pisted the majority of runs we tried at all grades the one exception was Tunnel which is always unpisted. We did find some nice unpisted areas between pistes, but not much.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
