 Poster: A snowHead
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Just wondering whether the resorts in the Chablais close to Geneva are fully open daily (snow permitting), or whether they run limited lifts during the week. I'm specifically looking at:
- Thollon
- Bernex
- Hirmentaz / Haberes
- Les Brasses
- Abondance
- La Chapelle d'Abondance
- Roc d'Enfer
- Praz de Lys / Sommand
...as I thought it might be nice to spend a week touring some of them in January. But obviously this wouldn't be so good if they were only fully open at weekends! It's difficult to find info on the resort websites, particularly as the current season has finished.
I didn't anticipate this being an issue, but then found out that several resorts in the Bauges region and nearby are partially closed during the week during termtime (e.g. half of Le Semnoz, part of Seythenex, large parts of Aillons Margeriaz & Le Jeune, La Feclaz & Grand Revard, half of Mont Saxonnex... and probably others). Is it the same in the Chablais?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I stay in La Chapelle d'Abondance every March and it's certainly fully open every day (conditions permitting). So is Abondance and I'm fairly sure Saint Jean D'Aulps is too although I've only ever skied there on Saturday afternoons after arriving in Geneva.
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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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I have a Thollon brochure, it looks open every day to me, have only been there for a weekend myself.
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The ones I know, thollon, bernex, hirmentaz, roc d'enfer, praz de lys are open daily in a normal winter .......they would be open almost as much as PdS season to season....they're all 800-1800m range top of my head.
Some of them have different micro climates  to the others.....so even though they are within a 20-30km radius, the likes of Hirmentaz and Bernex are closest to the lake. I've driven past them in heavy snow on the way up to PdS only to find clear skies higher up.
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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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Thanks all. Between you all that's most of the list covered - looks promising (if there's an exception, it can be assigned to one of the weekend days, or Wednesday when I think some local schools are also off). The idea is currently to stay in the Abondance valley and dip into the PdS with the cheaper Liberte pass, plus some of the resorts from the above list.
I'm not too concerned about snow conditions as we'd be visiting at the end of January. If it turns out to be an exceptionally poor mid season we can buy the full PdS pass instead, and access the circuit from Chatel.
Now it's just a question of when to bite in terms of finding a good accommodation deal...
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Bernex is where the big secondary school in Douvaine send all their 12-13yrs in mid Jan to try skiing. They all get 4 days passes, instruction and ski hire paid for by the state. Very nice black run up there
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@denfinella, what a great idea! you could consider basing yourself in Vacheresse which is quite central With access to Bernex etc, the Abordance valley ski stations and easy access the Vallee D’Aulps via the Col du Corbier.
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@Ozboy, There is a nice hotel in Vacheresse.
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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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@Ozboy, Vacherasse would be perfect as central location. However, in case of very heavy snow I'd quite like to be based somewhere with direct (or nearly direct) access to at least some slopes, which is why I'm leaning towards Abondance or La Chapelle.
They're also very close to Chatel in case snow is poor and we decide to get the full PdS pass.
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@denfinella, i’d choose La Chapelle as you are straight into the PDS circuit via TC La Panthiaz or jump on the valley bus to Linga or PLJ.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@Ozboy, yep, think that's our first choice at the moment.
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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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@denfinella, http://ot-peva.ski/?s=alpin if you then click on the results if will give you the lift/piste status for Abondance, CdA, Bernex and Thollon, useful if you are touring the area.. Also the facebook pages for Bernex and Thollon advise of lift closures due to bad weather.
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@BergenBergen, excellent! Thanks - I've bookmarked it.
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You know it makes sense.
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@denfinella, Just a note on Vachresse as a base. As a family, we spend a lot of time in Vacheresse, certainly >100 days pa. Access to Bernex is 12 mins, Abondance 10 mins, Chatel 25 mins, Morzine 40, St Jean 30 mins. Even in serious snow, everything moves well, the issues start further towards Chatel where some drivers in snowy weather find the conditions trickier than others, delays then occur, but nothing too bad. Vacheresse is quiet though, it's a normal french village not geared to tourism compared to say compared to La Chappelle or Abondance, but depends on what you are after. If you want an Airbnb or small hotel it would work. The biggest issue with the satellite resorts on your list is snow-sureness, early and late season sometimes tricky but mid-season no problems with daily skiing available.
We always ski out of Chatel, using Linga or PLJ access points, depending on the children's ski Academy/racing commitments.
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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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I’ve skied most of the resorts on your list from Chatel. Generally a 45 min drive or less. Without exception they are all worth a day or two (or more) so I reckon your plan is sound. They tend to open the full week in season. I agree with @Ozboy, La Chapelle would be a good base.
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Poster: A snowHead
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uploading other pics this morning I found this shot from about 6-7 years ago, was mid december, hiked up to Pointe d'Hirmentaz at 1600m, looking south along the valley (Rte des Grands Alps) towards Roc d'Enfer, PdS, Mont Blanc
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Thanks everybody - all useful info.
@polo, lovely photo too.
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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, please let us know your plans in due course and how you got on. Sounds like a fab idea and one I would like to do one 1/2 term in the future with the kids out of Chatel.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@denfinella, we stayed in Chapelle d’Abondance a couple of years ago in January. It was really to spend a bit more time skiing that end of the PDS as we were based in Les Gets at the time. Answering your original question re midweek opening, yes all open, and certainly too in Roc d’Enfer/SJD, and Praz de Lys/Sommand. The latter was quite a favourite of ours from our easy access in Les Gets although a couple of years ago there were problems with access as the road was being rebuilt. Just meant restricted hours. I am sure that must be sorted by now.
I shall also enjoy reading your report at the time, as I did your Italian stay in March.
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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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@denfinella, We have lived here since 2005 ( Col Du Corbier ) and have visited all apart from Les Brasses.
Our experience was that they were open every day, and all within 25 mins of here ( as are Morzine and Chatel).
The Liberte pass is a great shout, there used to be one called Evasion, which was similar in coverage, included Torgon, Chalet Neuf etc..
We normally board La Chapelle / St Jean at half term when it's busier elsewhere.
Buying the passes daily is not super expensive, and it means you can choose based on the weather.
Thollon and Bernex offer great views across the lake when the weather is nice, and if the weather is a bit shonky, the Roc D'enfer circuit is quite well protected once you drop off the Col du Graydon.
If when you say "touring" you mean skinning up, then the Col Du Corbier has plenty of trails and as all but one lift have been removed, you have the place to yourself.
(It used to be a thriving resort with 9 lifts and about 16 runs.)
There is also a route down down into Abondance - But you can't get back 
If you want lifts to take you up the hill, then go ski elsewhere.
That being said, it's a good base for all of these places, and there's loads of cheap accommodation.
I can PM you details of many owners who rent privately.
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An update on our trip planning - we've now booked an apartment halfway between Abondance and La Chapelle.
Originally we had a place in La Chapelle itself, but the owner cancelled.
Looking forward to touring the Chablais on a budget next January from our cosy base 
@WindOfChange and Pamski, thanks for your earlier replies, lots of useful info. I must have missed them before! By "touring" I mean driving to different resorts, not skinning.
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