 Poster: A snowHead
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We’re a group of 4 skiers (2 intermediate happy on reds and 2 relative beginners happy on blue) booked into Morillon from Jan 2nd to 8th. I know snow is virtually non-existent in Morillon itself and I’m losing hope of much more before we arrive, but we’ve got a car and I just wondered what best options are. We haven’t booked any ski passes yet.
I thought we would get a day or two at least out of Flaine and was also considering day trips to Avoriaz, Chamonix or Courmayer.
I just wanted to check what people would recommend. Where's the best parking for these places? And logistically, what’s the best way to go about getting ski passes by the day (I don’t want to park somewhere only to find I can’t get on the lift because the only place to buy a pass is in resort)?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Chamonix valley can be ordered online if you already have cards. Only Grands Montets is open - it has it's own car park.
Courmayeur not bad. Park at Dolonne.
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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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@edallen41, For flaine just drive right down to the bottom and park in the carpark behind the aup de veran gondola. Its 3 euros a day, pay with your card when you exit.
Go up aup de veran, do the blue all the way down and then go up tete des verds chair to get you over to the other side. Saves using the carpet. Go early!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Courmayeur is definitely worth a day...if only for the lovely lunch options up the mountain. Very pretty skiing.
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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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Why drive to Flaine? Surely there'll be lift (or shuttle ) access?
For Avoriaz, either Ardent (free but usually packed) or Prodains (paid) parking.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I didn't think the lift access from Morillon was open currently. Is there a shuttle put on if that access is closed?
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@under a new name, You can't get from morillon to flaine by ski lift, there is a shuttle from les carroz to flaine (goes from outside the tourist office) but pretty sure there is not one from morillon.
edit: was a shuttle from les carroz, not sure if its running after they have opened a longer run.
Last edited by Then you can post your own questions or snow reports... on Fri 30-12-16 11:54; edited 1 time in total
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@Zorrac, I could imagine with current snowlessness the mairie might have put one on...
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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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Hi guys - I'm about to go to Morillion 1100 - new to the area. I thought we could get across to Flaine from there by ski lift? Holding off on buying passes. Any tips welcome, but sounds like we will need full Grand Massif passes?
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There's no direct lift from
Morillon to Flaine.
You need to ski a few runs and catch a couple of lifts. Then the only run into Flaine from the massif area is the tourmaline.
These runs and lifts aren't open yet as lack of snow.
Check out the interactive Piste map and you'll see what needs to open. http://winter.grand-massif.com/lift-map
Just hope for snow!!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Thanks - that's helpful. Was expecting to ski and lift across, just didn't expect that it wouldn't be possible! Come on snow!!
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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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If Morilliom, at 1100m above sea level, has problem with snow then one has to go up the Flaine bowl by ski bus as Grand Massif ski pass works for all areas of Samoens, Flaine, Les Carroz and Sixt.
If snow is poor there the neighbouring area of Les Gets and Avoriaz will be the same as they are virtually in the same mountain range. Megeve/ Les Contamine of Domaine Evasion would be even worse.
Chamonix Valley is possibly a better bet because of the higher altitude. Chamonix Valley is a collection of several resorts. Even the town itself has a small La Planards, Le Brevent, La Flegere (now linked by a cable car with Le Brevent) and the mightly Valle Blanc (skiiable peak 3842m from french side Aiguille de Midi one off piste run requiring a guide). For average skiers my recommendation is go up to Le Tour/La Vallorcine started at at 1464m level. The Col De Balme area has a skiiable peak at 2270m. Before this is the Grands Montets (skiiable peak 3275m), which together with Le Brevent (skiiable peak 2525m) are the second most challenging areas after Vallee Blanc. Both Grand Montets and Le Tour are in uphill direction after the Mont Blanc Tunnel. Le Tour-Vallorcine is the last resort beyond which is the Col De Forclaz the mountain pass into Switzerland where you can find near the bottom access to 4 Valleys (or Verbier) on the right (going up Grand St Bernard Pass) and Swiss side Porte de Soleil on the left.
If you take the tolled Mont Blanc Tunnel you can find near its Italian exit side the access to the Cormeyeur resort.
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Thank you for that. We wont have transport and are on a low budget so are stuck in Morillion 1100 but good news that we can still bus it to Flaine.
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You know it makes sense.
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NomadHare,
Make sure you buy the Grand Massif ski pass and not just a local pass confining to Morillion. If snow is good you can ski to and back from Flaine.
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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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Ok thanks. In general in reference to Le Grand Massif area (imagining snow conditions are perfect), is it recommended to get this full pass anyway, or can you get a fairly good ski week with just the Massif one? I see the later still gets up high, you just can't get into Flaine right? Thanks for the tips everyone - I'm going with a group of beginners so want to make sure I access some good skiing!
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Poster: A snowHead
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@NomadHare, if conditions are good, and you're buying a weeks pass, get the massif pass. You can upgrade to Grand Massif on the days you want to go to Flaine. Just go to the ticket desk and ask to upgrade for the day.
I think it works out more expensive if you do this everyday - you'd be better buying a weeks grand massif pass, but for a day or two, the above is the way to go.
There's a fair amount to explore without Flaine, but still worth a trip over there if you can, has a different feel about the place. Just be warned, go on a day with good conditions, it's more exposed for one, and secondly if the wind picks up, the returning lifts may close , leaving you a long bus journey back. Rare-ish but could happen.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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ROSCOPICO22 that is really useful local knowledge, thank you so much 
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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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@NomadHare, If snow conditions were normal I'd say your group of beginners would only need to ski in Morillon/Les Carroz which are both covered by the Massif pass. If they were having morning lessons they would not have time to get to Flaine anyway. However given that there is not much open in Morillon/Les Carroz at the moment, if they are not booked in morning ski school and you are prepared to drive to Flaine (40 mins from Morillon) some days than maybe you should get the Grand Massif pass.
In terms of other resorts within driving distance of the Grand Massif I'd imagine the options are currently Avoriaz, Les Saisies or through the Mont Blanc tunnel to Courmayeur (but that adds another cost). We skied in Les Saisies on Saturday and there was enough open to keep us happy for a day.
Last edited by Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see? on Wed 4-01-17 19:53; edited 1 time in total
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@NomadHare, if you do get stuck in Flaine when they close lifts during the day they lay buses on for free to get you home. They usually appear (along with big banner signposts) at an amazing speed after the closure. That means that it's not such a big issue as it would be in some resorts where getting stuck due to lift closure becomes your problem.
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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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Check out the Grand Massif weather thread - things are holding up well in Samoens (north facing) and I was impressed with Morillon - Sairon into Doina all the way down to the village. It is currently snowing in resort as I type!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Check out the Grand Massif weather thread - things are holding up well in Samoens (north facing) and I was impressed with Morillon - Sairon into Doina all the way down to the village. It is currently snowing in resort as I type!
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@NomadHare, if the snow improves and they open the link to/from Flaine it's worth going to Flaine for a day as the two beginners will like the cruisey blues from top to bottom of Flaine, assuming they really are decent blue run skiers. I'm biassed, and others will disagree, but I think Flaine has the best skiing. They built it for a reason. The blue down to Flaine (tourmaline) and the blue coming back (Dolomite) can get cut up and a tad challenging in places which is why I say "decent" blue run skiers.
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Thanks Billb - most of the group are complete beginners, so I wont be taking them over the Flaine unless they are naturals! But thanks for your opinion of Flaine area. Best wishes
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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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Bumping this thread rather than starting a new one - We are in GM for a trip in a few weeks. We've bought lift passes in advance on an offer of a 6-day pass for the price of a 5 day pass. All is well and good with this, but we have 7 ski days. and the lift pass does not cover the last Saturday.
We could of course just buy a day pass )or even ask at the lift officew about extending our existing passes), but we could consider a day trip somewhere else.
The killer point is that we won't have transport - we're staying in Chalet Brio just outside of Morillon and have booked transfers with Go-Massif. This probalby leads to us just staying in the GM, unless someone knows of anything that might suit - a bus to a nearby resort, or perhaps one of the local ski schools / instructors might run a trip to do the Vallée Blanche perhaps? If anyone local (Zorrac?) fancies some company for pootling around pistes either in GM or elsewhere, please feel free to get in touch by the way
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@nbt, I think you’ll be staying in the GM. Not the end of the world.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Most obvious destination would seem to be Les Gets. Bus to Taninges then probably change and then to Les Gets.
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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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@nbt, I will be incredibly impressed if you have skied everything the GM has to offer in 6 days! 
It's not that easy to get to another ski area using public transport, so I'd just look at extending the ski pass. Depending on when you're coming, you may find there are some Saturday special offers around which may or may not be cheaper than just adding a day to your existing pass, but well worth checking.
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@Timc, more hassle than it’s worth, IMV.
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You know it makes sense.
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I'm aware we'll probably be staying in the GM (and there's plenty to go at, this isn't our first trip there), but if you don't ask...
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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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Chalet Brio. A fine choice.
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Poster: A snowHead
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@under a new name, I agree, but the question was asked
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@nbt, I'm a big fan of skiing elsewhere in addition to your "main resort" - adds another dimension to a ski holiday. There are lots of potential options *but* the fact you don't have a hire car (and that you'll need to get back to resort for your transfer) probably mean it's not worth it.
Otherwise, nearby options would be Les Gets, Praz de Lys, St Gervais, Combloux, even La Clusaz... and lots of smaller resorts between the GM and Geneva.
Les Gets probably the easiest by public transport, but still a hassle...
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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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@denfinella, 1hr 30 each way to Les Gets...
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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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@under a new name, ok, and your point is?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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as expected, we didn't bother travelling elsewhere in the end. Would have been €41 to extend the pass for one day, but since they closed the entire ski area on one day due to a storm (the one day I was too ill to ski), we got a free one-day extension
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@nbt, result!
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