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Evasion Mont Blanc - Megeve/St Gervais/Combloux/Les Contamines - 23/24

 Poster: A snowHead
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@Snowysarah, it was perfectly fine on Monday. Downloaded to Bettex, as probably mostly skiable but roads to cross.

Compacted snow of sufficient depth is remarkably tenacious.
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@Snowysarah, in St G now. Things have been getting worse the last few days, with some slopes getting slushy in the afternoon then icy in the morning from an overnight freeze. Most runs skiable though, except for some west-facing ones on the Megeve side. We have voted with our feet and finished early - hence replying while having my post-ski cup of tea.

As UANN said, they are still keeping the run back into St Gervais open, presumably with artificial snow made at night.

Fingers crossed for a favourable weather change before you arrive, there may apparently be a little snow this weekend.
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Thank you! Fingers crossed x
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It rained last night, think the freezing level was too high to put down any snow on the bits that most need it but we'll see. Some of the cars in town have snow on them so will see!

The snow is nice (soft spring snow and still lots of it) over in Cote 2000.
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A sprinkling of fresh from about 1550m, rain below. The sun's shining and the beers are cold Eh oh!
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We were in Megeve last week, the run down to St Gervais was open but not worth the effort, very muddy in parts. We have been to Megeve before but this is the first time we went to Les Contamines, an easy drive and well worth it. The snow was in better nick over there. Best to start skiing fairly early as it was slushy in the afternoons.
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Back today from St Gervais. At the beginning of last week I was impressed that the pistes seemed in pretty decent nick given how long it was since the last snow. Even with bright sunshine and blue skies (and fantastic visibility, you almost felt you could reach out and touch Mont Blanc) the end-of-day slushiness was quite tolerable.

But things slowly got warmer, days starting more crunchy and ending more slushy. Worst was Saturday, in the morning some slopes had the consistency of crushed ice and turned into heavy slush by early afternoon. We did an awful lot of circuits using the Princesse gondola since those slopes are pretty well north-facing and sheltered by the trees.

As @No Style says, amazingly they kept the home run to St G open until Saturday when warmer nights meant they could no longer make artificial snow and the mud won the battle.

There was a bit of a sense of wind-down for some things. The one that affected us was the bus transfer from Geneva – we had looked at the winter timetable then online when booking plane tickets, but the Flixbus (present incarnation running it) decided to cut back services from the end of French half term meaning we would have had to hang around the airport for several hours. So we did something we had always wondered about but never done, tried the train.

Worked very easily and made a pleasant journey. There is a train every hour, you need to change in central Geneva then it is either straight through (every other hour) or change in Annemasse – both changes very efficient. Not the quickest though, Annemasse is east of the direct line and the line then crosses west of the valley to where the branch point is for Annecy. Getting up from Le Fayet was surprisingly easy, the free ski minibus does a connection once an hour which is conveniently timed about 15 minutes from the arrival of the train (it goes from the post-office, about 20 yards up the road opposite the station).

Similarly the Tramway du Mont Blanc seemed to have dropped to weekend running only – though Les Houches wouldn't have been attractive to us in slushy conditions. To be fair, we spotted the maintenance train several times, the Tramway does seem to be investing in a major upgrade including a substantial rebuild of the St Gervais station and new rolling stock due to be introduced in the summer. The three current trains (named after the then-manager's daughters) date from the fifties when they replaced the original steam trains, so they have done a decent stint.

Locals were saying they hoped Thursday would bring a return to lower temperatures and quite possibly more snow. I hope so, we would like the option of returning in April.
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Thanks. We are going to hire a car so can always go up to les C. I think there is snow forecast on Friday? Fingers crossed
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@Snowysarah, I don't see any snow forecast in the foreseeable. But looks like a bit colder ...
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I’m out Thursday with mates & stupidly we got a transfer over cars so getting up to LC is going to be a pain.
I’m assuming the St Nic north facing slopes are holding up ok & the north facing ones over at Cote2000
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belette wrote:
A sprinkling of fresh from about 1550m, rain below.

It snowed down to 1200m in the Val d'Arly on Sunday night, can be quite different between places only a few km apart. Looking a bit damp out today though.
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Well the bad news is that it's thoroughly saturated and warm everywhere in Contamines now after another night's rain (at the very top it looks like it had a go at snowing but what fell is heavy and wet) and the skiing is consequently porridgey, grabby and slow.

The good news is that there's still lots of snow so it should be skiing better if it can freeze overnight, looks like some colder temperatures due overnight at the weekend.

@rjs do you know if the resorts in the Val d'arly escaped the rain last night? We only have one day left before driving back and wondering whether to bother skiing - had been planning on praz de lys (as it's on the way back) or praz sur arly but maybe won't bother if the snow's wet everywhere. CBA with Chamonix for one day!
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@belette, I haven't been out today, the road in front of my apartment looked a bit damp when I got up this morning but it wasn't raining.
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Quote:

The good news is that there's still lots of snow

One of the disappointing things I learnt, one year when there was big snow depth but very warm temperatures is that you only ski on the top couple of inches. I thought the skiing would hold up better than it did.
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Some snow fell in Les Contamines overnight but it came with a bucket load of Saharan sand. Which was great for the low light first thing but made everything very slow and sticky.

Freezing level tonight is reported as 3000m so not expecting a great day tomorrow.
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@Jonny996, yes the runs were OK around St Nicholas except at the very bottom, and for most of the Rochebrune-Cote 2000 sector (though a few runs presumably must face a little more south, and near the bottom was inevitably worse).

As the bus expert (!) you can take the 0835 bus which arrives at the LC main lift at 0900. Or wait until 1015 (time from memory). There is a convenient bus back at about 1645 - from the same stop, the bus does a one-way loop to return.

Fingers crossed some more snow arrives Thursday and Friday for you.
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@j b, good man, thank you for bus timetables. Let’s see what we arrive to
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@Jonny996, we did the bus today and JB is right. Return is 1650 from the same place it drops you in LC.

€3.50 per person each way, cash only!
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@j b, "As the bus expert (!) you can take the 0835 bus which arrives at the LC main lift at 0900. Or wait until 1015 (time from memory)."

Do you catch the bus from the telecabine station or somewhere else?
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@Snow Monkey, 0835 is the time from the roundabout as you come into town (near the new bridge). It then loops on the road behind the telecabine (where there is a stop) and on to the ice rink (another stop) then right at the top roundabout (another stop opposite the post office, and more at intervals along that road). As @doorman_tom says, cost €3.50 unless you are a cheapskate when you could get out at LC village centre (cost €1.50) and take the free ski bus.


Last edited by Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do. on Wed 16-03-22 14:54; edited 1 time in total
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@Snow Monkey, the round about at start ofnew bridge or the post office dependant on which end of town your staying
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@j b, @Jonny996, Thanks both. We're very close to the telecabine so that'd be easiest stop for us. Useful to know as I don't always have the car.
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
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Oh no! Sounds like the snow is awful. We are coming out on Thursday and it looks so warm. We will have a car so can travel. Where is best at moment?
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Snowysarah wrote:
Oh no! Sounds like the snow is awful. We are coming out on Thursday and it looks so warm. We will have a car so can travel. Where is best at moment?
The snow has more or less turned in most resorts … Mrs F is in Val Thorens at the moment and is reporting classic spring conditions. But good coverage on-piste even at low levels. I’d wait and see what it’s like when you’re in resort. Conditions always seem worse before any trip. Avoriaz still has great coverage and I will definitely keep it as an option. And possibly Flaine (in the main bowl).
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How far is the drive from st g to flaine?
Please keep reports coming ..
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An hour
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Apologies since this is nothing to do with snow ... but the first new rolling stock for the Tramway du Mont Blanc was reported as being delivered today. https://actu.hautesavoie.fr/explorez-actu/tramway-du-mont-blanc-marie-la-nouvelle-motrice-est-arrivee

By lorry - being narrow gauge it couldn't come on the regular rail tracks.

Interestingly they have kept the female names for the trains, which were apparently the daughters of the manager of the TMB at that time. There is to be a fourth train where previously there were three so perhaps there are plans for an increased service (it seems that Marguerite was a daughter not previously honoured, the other names which stay the same are Anne, Jeanne and Marie).

I couldn't see anything on the fate of the old trains which have served since the fifties, but one of the previous steam engines is preserved at Le Fayet station so I hope at least one of them is kept.
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 So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
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Since there has been a couple of dustings already this month on Mont Joly and more expected in the next few days its time to start looking ahead to the new season. Ive updated the pot on the first page but here is a summary

2022/2023
Megeve Partial Opening on the weekend of the 3rd and 4th of December snow permitting. Les Contamines open on the weekends of 3rd/4th/10th/11th snow permitting. Partial opening (Megeve & St Gervais) from the 10th onwards. General opening on the 17th of December including Les Contamines.

Princesse gondola is open until the 2nd of April, Mont d’Arbois & Rochebrune open until the 10th of April and the Cote 2000 area will remain open until 16 April depending on snow conditions. Les Contamines is open until the 23rd of April 2023.

New
The old green chair Arbois in St Gervais is going to be replaced with a new 6 seater now called TSD6 Nants. Work has begun on the Cote 2000 side on the new TSD6 Lac, TSD6 Crêtes & TKE Prés lifts which will be completed next summer.
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You know it makes sense.
@devilabit, do you know if any of those Cote 2000 lifts will replace the lanchettes tow, that is always a bottle neck in getting back
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Jonny996 wrote:
@devilabit, do you know if any of those Cote 2000 lifts will replace the lanchettes tow, that is always a bottle neck in getting back


Yes that button tow is being replaced as is Roche Fort and Jardin.

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Good stuff, thats going to make getting there easier, hopefully it doesnt get busier , always like it over there
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Just back from a visit to St G, we spent about a week there plus a moderately leisurely drive each way with overnights. We arrived in time for the Foire Agricole, happening again after a two year break, not that we had knolwn that when planning our trip. On Sunday morning (16th) we were woken by cowbells and mooing as the first cows were hitched up just outside our windows.

It is actually a massive operation. The roads were blocked off all day between the roundabouts at each end of the centre. As well as eliminating cars a lot of the smaller street furniture was removed: bollards, barriers, tubs of flowers. A thick layer of sawdust was spread over the market square, and a set of poles were installed with wire ropes between them to which were attached the hitching points. A show ring was created by the Salle du Mont Blanc, with the steps at the back making a sort of amphitheatre. And market stalls set up all along the streets between the roundabouts, with street food, beer tents and produce around the square and other goods along the road extending out. Lots of people, helped by fine weather.

It is really all about the cows and not just any cows, only those of the Abondance breed (the brown ones with white faces and splodges of brown over their eyes that make them look as if they are wearing sunglasses). However there were a few other animals as a diversion, sheep, pack-mules, horses, and ponies to provide rides for the children. The cows were fitted with their best collars and bells and were constantly groomed to keep them looking their best. There was a very serious judging operation in multiple classes according to age, ranging from calves a few months old to established milkers. There were some very young calves which could be led into the ring by children, while the older ones were clearly a handful and needed coaxing by their handlers to parade as requested - quite entertaining since there is a lot of power in a bolshy cow who wants to go in a different direction from her farmer. As well as the judges with their clipboards there was a commentator explaining to the audience the finer points of cow appreciation, pointing to favourable features of the hindquarters, legs, etc (caveat: I worked out what he was talking about from his gestures, to understand the details would have needed technical French far beyond my schoolboy level). The winning cow was awarded a tricolour ribbon, tied around the horns or the collar. At the end all the class winners were brought back, and one cow became La Championne des Championnes with a second ribbon around her tummy. Finally the cows were shipped off, and the farmers and everyone else involved came back for a meal and party in the Salle du Mont Blanc.

It took a small army of council workers several days to restore the square to normal, though I guess that was also part of getting things in order for the winter season. The hitching points and sawdust were removed, the whole surface was hosed down and then pressure washed, and the missing street furniture refitted with the plant tubs having been newly planted.

There was a lot of other refurbishment activity around the town suggesting confidence in the coming ski season. Lots of chalets and apartments having work done, a couple of restaurants being substantially renovated, one of the hotels getting a new roof. The Tramway station now looks impressive following the work over the summer, and a couple of the new trains went up and down on what were presumably training trips. Interestingly the old trains appeared to have been repainted too (Anne was parked up at Col de Voza, the others were down in Le Fayet) so perhaps they are not being pensioned off entirely.

The good autumn weather persisted so we enjoyed some walks, the best of which was probably a loop from Les Contamines planned to allow lunch at the new(ish) Refuge des Pres on the recommendation of this forum (credit I think to @jedster though it might have been @Idris). And when drizzle arrived at the end of the week I was able to do a couple of jobs on the apartment that had been intended for a while.

Thanks @devilabit for that map of the planned new ski lifts for Cote 2000, it looks as if it is not just the drag lifts that are being substituted but a couple of chair lifts (Petite Fontaine and Jardin). It is going to be a lot of work! And thanks for the dates. It is frustrating that Princesse stops early, those north-facing runs through the trees would be good ones to keep running in April but I guess that gondola is operated by the same company that runs the Combloux lifts where the snow is likely to be first to disappear. Relevant to us since we are hoping to ski the last week of the season, it is the only week when our daughter can get away with us.
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Thanks for that entertaining report, @j b. I've been to the similar festival in Annecy, which is absolutely packed for the occasion with all kinds of processions.
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I had a quick tour from Bettex to Mont Joux yesterday the 11th and I certainly wasnt the only one. The pistes are well covered now and are being prepared for opening on the 17th. Weather should be good the first couple of days after opening but the current forecast is that it gets rather mild, lets see.



Last edited by You need to Login to know who's really who. on Tue 13-12-22 5:48; edited 1 time in total
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Thanks @devilabit, all optimistic news - though hoping the forecasts are erring on the warm side a week out. All I've been able to do is check the webcams...
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Thanks @devilabit.

Can't wait. Will be there in 2 weeks.
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Most of today I spent riding a bucket/cage on the front of a piste basher. Setting up runs, but with no lifts available yet.

Weather foul, rain, sleet and heavy rain. Snow thin porridge to almost set concrete. Unpisted runs knee deep and a real challange to stay upright, especially lugging around 50-100kg of gear.

As you can see from the huge mounds of man maid snow (this is the very bottom of Rochebrune) we have plenty of snow to open the main runs. Tomorrow is supposed to be clear, freeze and then a dusting on top. We will open on saturday. For the off piste my recomendation is don't.....VB in Cham might be nice though.

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Thanks for posting Idris, much appreciated.
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Had a quick tour over in Combloux today. There isn't a lot of snow below 1500m but above that is fine. Very few pistes I went by are prepared for skiing but some did have huge mounds of man made snow. Roiteletes was patchy and getting slushy when I came through.
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And only one week of warm weather between now and the crowds, hopefully things change
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