 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi
Booked flights to Geneva for this weekends pre-opening but cant decide where to go. Was thinking of Morzine or Les Carroz/Grand Masiff?
Accommodation is easier and cheaper in Morzine but Facebook and Instagram pic's of Les Carroz look fantastic.
Also, does anyone know the difference between pre-opening and official opening?
Any help or advice would be great.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Avoriaz is open from Friday and looks gorgeous
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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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The snow level (so far) ((at least in Chamonix)) has been around 1,200-1,400m which is fine for Chamonix as most skiing is >1,800m. I cannot speak for PdS or GM but I would probably be going a little higher myself.
I'm also not 100% sure what will open.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Avoriaz maybe the safest option.
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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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@Andy_Nuco, tbh, Avoriaz does not looks as though it’s had all that much depth ... hard to tell from the webcams http://www.snoweye.com/?resort=fr_avoriaz - les Carroz likewise - the image I saw this morning overlooking Brevent looked better.
At this stage though, there should be a steer on what’s actually going to open by Friday. I would wait and see what will be running (and if not publicly announced there may be well founded “rumours” on here).
I don’t imagine you are going to find accommodation a major problem.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Pre-opening in Les Carroz means not every chair is necessarily open. I can't exactly recall which ones were not running last year and it will be different this year as I assume it is based on snow depth in different locations. Often they do not bother to open the drag lifts, apart from on Coin Coin. That said, there were so few people last year it did not matter as we could wend our way about, checking to see what was open. We skied happily over to Flaine. One thing to remember is that Les Carroz does not have a 'hopping' apres scene.
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@under a new name, Avoriaz only really had decent snow on Sunday and temperature means they've not been making much (certainly not judging by the webcams). Personally I'd be looking to go higher/somewhere that's had more of a base.
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Avo (and Flaine) require a lot of snow on their pistes - these are on rocks.
Morzine/Les Gets, and I suppose Les Carroz, only need a bit as you ski on smow covered grass. But of course they are lower...
Anyway, pre opening means not all pistes will be open. Typically Les Gets will probably only have Chavannes - but they also say the link to Mz will be open so I suppose Plateau de Nyon or Pleney will be on too?
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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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Oh, and Les Gets fully opens on the 22nd
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Thanks for the advice it's not going to be an easy decision. Where would you suggest higher?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Les Carroz have just announced their runs for the pre-opening. It is on the ESF Les Carroz facebook page. Partial opening only. But hey enough for us to do, fingers crossed we get more snow and it stays cold.
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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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Cheesie168 - Nice one, thanks I'll check it out now.
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@SnoodlesMcFlude, I know, we were watching rain and snow lines out of our lounge window in Cham.
@Andy_Nuco, really depends who opens what.
I’d personally (with what I saw online this morning and what was going on over the weekend think Brevent-Flegere or Grands Montets (or a day on each) depending on what CdMB deign to open.
If SERMA pull their fingers out and Avoriaz is open down as far as Lindarets plateau, that’s good for a weekend, especially if link to Plaine Dranse is working.
Equally, Flaine could be good esp. if accessible from Carroz.
Buts:
- what was the wind doing? It was pretty gusty in Cham town and Geneva...
- how motivated are they to open on a quiet weekend? I know Avoriaz has a festival but that’s presumably music oriented
- Just how much snow! And prep being done? Not sure there’s much cover below 1,400m
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You know it makes sense.
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Oh and without stating the obv, would be interesting to know what e.g. Espace Killy is up to. But that bit longer of a drive...
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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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Having seen pictures of people out touring in avoriaz this morning- I’d go to Avoriaz
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Poster: A snowHead
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@under a new name - It's a tough one, Val d'isere and Tignes is probably the safest bet but that then means hiring a car and driving 3 hours rather than a short transfer. That journey eats so much out of the three days.
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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, yeah sorry, should have made it clear that I was just agreeing with you  I'm off to Avoriaz at the end of the month and have been flicking on to the webcams every now and then, was interesting to see how quickly the snow retracted when it rained last week.
If the OP is only doing a weekend then it's a bit tricky as presumably they'll want transfer times short. If it's a week then I'd be looking to head round the Moutiers/Bourg side of Mont Blanc, maybe as far as Tignes which has had a bucketload.
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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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@under a new name, by Saturday virtually all the EK will be open, including down to 1550. La Daille was gone today.
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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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@Andy_Nuco, from elsewhere, Chatel opening PLJ upwards including link to Avoriaz. Apparently really quite a lot of snow, at least high up. That would be quite tempting and short transfer.
CdMB being very silent on what they're opening despite the cams looking very fine up Brevent and Flegere. Pity the decent cams up GMs were attached to the old cable car... my suspicion is that they are way down their priorities!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Just one thought about altitude...
Altitude is better PROVIDED THERE IS ENOUGH COVER for the rocky terrain that you get high up. Lower skiing is on meadows and needs a lot less snow to work. Early season, if the weather is cold but the snow accumulation is relatively small then lower and grassier CAN bet better. Les Contamines is opening this weekend and has ~ 60cm which is plenty for its grassy slopes.
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Thanks for all the advice and info. My friend and i have opted to go for Avoriaz. Its that bit higher, decent value for money accommodation and from what I've read on various websites there is quite a bit of snow plus the majority of the lifts opening over the coming weekend. The weather forecast is not looking the best but I'm sure we will have a great time.
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@jedster, no question, and my favourite argument...
but when you've spent the last two weekends watching it rain up to around 1,600m and chuck down snow on and off from 1,600-1,800 upwards ...altitude is surely your friend.
Not always and my word I would not have wanted to be anywhere higher last weekend...breezy!
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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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Les Gets also opening for this weekend.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@Andy_Nuco,
What's pre-opening?
Doesn't that mean nothing will be open? 
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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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With the forecast for sunday showing significant rain up to 2000m early Might I suggest Val Thorens to be a better bet
25 lifts open and reporting packed powder.
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Les Arcs currently has apartments at €3 pppn.
Practically free.
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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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Perfect Sarurday!
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Poster: A snowHead
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PdS before early January is always risky. This year, especially so.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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but when you've spent the last two weekends watching it rain up to around 1,600m and chuck down snow on and off from 1,600-1,800 upwards ...altitude is surely your friend.
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fair point!
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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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FAQ
