Who do you trust and why - snow depths

A snowHead

I have been religiously checking snow reports from Weather.com/.co.uk; Skiclub gb and the official website - in this case Tignes - whilst there is little dispute on whether there is snow or not (thankfully no problems there but you would hope not in March.) there is quite a range of views - clearly the rep on skiclub ballsed up with her (lower slopes/higher) 257/240, the official website gives (146/230) although the lower figure is for 2100m so acceptable difference there, the weather websites have it around (142/187)

I tend to go with the Skiclub as they seem the most likely to have access to the truth if they have a rep in resort and unlikely to embellish it as the resort may.

Anyone care to share their opinion/advice - I know snowheads love to give advice

wink

A snowHead

Normally the Rep is a guest of the tourist office and has to give their snow depths - they don't go and measure them anyway. Reports musn't stray too much from the "TO line" but you can maybe get a fairer picture of conditions from the SCUK by reading between the lines in the Rep's report. "Best skiing on upper slopes" is the classic line. Generally means it is unskiable at resort level except for the last return of the day.

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

The actual depths don't mean so much, other than when used as a year-to-year comparison within the same resort, like you get at the SCGB site. I wouldn't put too much faith in the simple depth data from any one source. Also comparing different resorts gives some strange figures, depending on where the depths are measured, and the definition of "lower" and "upper" slopes in that resort. Also the ground underneath is important, with grass requiring less depth for coverage than rocks obviously.

More important is the last 2-wk snowfall, current temperature, 3-day forecast.

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Thanks Monsieur D, I was specifically talking depths though, and I am pleased to say I haven't seen the aforementioned and I agree overused line about where the snow is good for about a month with regard to Tignes! Shock

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Plake - Valid points re depth - I believe in bragging rights though - so they can matter! But agree with last two weeks etc - fingers crossed all this snow we've been seeing binds nicely before I get there.... Confused

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Kaiser, you want bragging rights? Check out Snowbird. Smile

SKGB rep figures and descriptions may vary greatly, depending on how drunk they were the night before, etc. (this is based on speaking to reps in less "popular" resorts, who did what they had to, but not always with much accuracy)

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

Foxy, at the risk of starting a whole new argument - "America doesn't count"
Shock

After all it is free

Kaiser, OK, but you didn't specify that at the start (oh, and the answers are: 312cm at mid-mountain and 972cm season to date)

That is quite impressive wink

but the Alps have never suffered from that much snow and frankly - I'm glad. They also don't suffer from the host of other, in my opinion, negative detractions of the Americas. But things do seem to be shaping up nicely on our doorstep, you must agree. Going been or happy not to be?

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Frosty the Snowman, Laughing

snow reports

Personally I would look at the minimum depths you have found and treat those with a little scepticism. When I was in Scheffau some years back I found the snow depths were being decided arbitrarily by the hotel receptionist and the tour operator rep without any reference to the actual snow conditions. Now I never believe any snow figures unless I can see the snow for myself or it's somewhere I've been previously and have an idea how the real and imaginary figures compare.

Kaiser, when are you out there? We are going 1/4/06.

Kaiser, when are you out there?
We are going 1/4/06.

You know it makes sense.

Kaiser, it's only "suffering" with snow if you or the resort is unable to cope with it, otherwise, it's exactly what I want. If it's ice you want to ski on, then go to iceHeads.com! Wink

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

Nick, I am heading out on the 17th until 25th, so sadly we will miss you - but am sure this will in no way spoil your holday, enjoy.

Foxy - you go ahead and ski in blizzards if that's your perversion - I'll stick to the sunny slopes and take my chances on the quick stuff! Twisted Evil

A snowHead

You should go to the Ballon d'Alsace, they have 3.5 meters of snow at the top of the pistes - a 40 year record. The whole of the Vosges has enormous quantities of snow at the moment.

A snowHead

Mr D - Sell it to me - bearing in mind unfitness, slovenliness and cheapskateness plus a propensity to overindulge.
Confused

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

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So earlier concerns about lack of European snow seem to have been allayed then....

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

My favourite snow report is the simple phrase beloved of tour operators 'It's Snowing !'

This may well be true - but not necessarily in the resort they are promoting, or even on the same continent.

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Last March we climbed several wooden steps to Roxi's mountain hut/bar above La Thuile. 10 days ago we climbed down 3 steps in the snow to be greeted by the top foot of the stair handrail peeking through the snow

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Latchigo- Agreed - and the worst presumably "some stones peeking through" and "hard packed runs back to resort" Still imagination can't be expected after a hard day in the pub - I mean ski guiding.

After all it is free

Frosty the Snowman, So you have been in Roxi"s bar for 11 months rolling eyes

,that is some session. Laughing

with snow drifting the depths vary enormously - some roofs round here have 1.5 metres, some scarcely any. There are some windblown areas and some big cornices. What matters in the short term is what kind of condition it is in - and today it was the best I have ever seen, anywhere (but then I have never skied in USA) and the sun shone almost all day. Not the kind of day which happens too often. I don't think I have ever seen whiter trees. Magic.

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In a few places we go in Canada, we occasionally notice small fenced-off areas in sheltered locations with depth markers in them. These markers are just a (very long!) stick marked in metres and centimeters. Whilst we've never been there is summer to check that they read zero when there is no snow, it feels good to be able to check for yourself that the reports aren't telling porkies.

But never seem them in Europe. Have you?

snow reports

Meteo France has some weather stations which measure snow. this is a link to the one which happens to be in our resort. Their don't seem to be many of them, though and sometimes the data stops coming through for a time (hours, rather than days) http://www.meteo.fr/temps/france/nivose/pics/SAISIS.html

oooo....that's nice looking data Very Happy

You know it makes sense.

This is the Meteo France station for La Plagne

http://www.meteo.fr/temps/france/nivose/pics/BELLES.html

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

for Tignes snow reports I'd read the diaries of Alpine Experience in the link below. Whilst they are based in Val D'Isere and mostly do off piste it's the most honest and up to date reporting I've seen on the real snow conditions for that area.

http://www.alpineexperience.com/news.html

regards,

greg

A snowHead

Gregh - excellent - just what I was looking for - another source of info to further whet my appetite! Only another 9 days and 10 hours to go!

Help!!

Who do you trust and why - snow depths

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