 Poster: A snowHead
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Hmmm, another place that occurred to me is Pralognan La Vanoise. Might be a bit low?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Pasigal wrote: |
| crosbie wrote: |
| balso wrote: |
| There's also the option of the Paris - Verona night train, where you could have your own 4-berth compartment for 500 euros RT or even a bit less. |
Moreover, there's the option of the Paris/Briançon sleeper train to get you in one of the various villages in the Serre Chevalier. Seems like a no brainer. |
I've done it. Have you taken it? the bunks are tiny and really uncomfortable, tbh, and if you have 6 people in the chamber with ski gear it's a complete bordel.
I've taken it to Gap several times for cycling, too. It's a hard-core experience. Not that I wouldn't do it again but I wouldn't recommend it for anyone over 200 pounds or 6 feet tall.
As I mentioned above, XC could be a bit iffy in the valley if there's no snow. |
I certainly don't have fond memories of 2nd class 6-berth compartments, and I'm only 5'10 / 130 lb. 1st class, with only 4 berths, are already better, but the French rolling stock to Briançon is really tatty. The Thello rolling stock to Italy was recently refurbished, though.
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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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@balso, I found it quaint in a throwback sort of way, to be honest. First time I did it from Austerlitz I thought there must have been a mistake given the age of the trains.
I was told by SNCF that they really only kept the Paris-Briancon Intercities run alive because that valley needed a rail link. There's also a sleeper train down to Toulouse from Paris (maybe even further to Lourdes?).
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| skichampcouk wrote: |
The cross country skiing is in Champagny le haut, a beautiful valley at 1500 metres with easy access on the free shuttle bus or a 5 to 10 minute drive. |
unfortunately closed for the rest of this season due to security issues.
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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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@Pasigal, I've done sleeper trains five times - not to Briançon tho. I'm 6'3" and just over 240lbs.
Have you tried/considered reserving the chamber for your family of 4?
Although you've done it before, at least that means you have a good idea of what's in store. Perhaps you could try 'Serre Chevalier on a budget', with picnic lunches on the slopes, and strictly self-catered apt otherwise?
And as for snow, this year is one of those '1 in 6 years are bad'. Next year will be great. 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Is the snow really that bad this year? I know it's thin below 1500m but above 1500m there is really good cover in Les Contamines (where I was last week). Les C often does a bit better than similar altitude places in the vicinity but I can't believe cover us is that bad in GM, PdS etc. Is it?
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@Pasigal, off to Monetier next week, so I will report back, as we quite often walk alongside the XC with the dogs on the pedestrian tracks. There was plenty of XC open at the beginning of the month when we left, but there's been some reports on their Facebook page (Nordic Serre Chevalier) of ice in the mornings, and early closure due to slush as the temp is quite warm right now. There's also some pistes higher up on the Lauteret and up in the Val de Clarée too.
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The Les Sybelles domain is where they sent the Soviet apartment block designers that weren't very good.
Ski area is fine, but google the La Toussuire and Le Corbier architecture.
https://en.ski-france.com/ski-area-sybelles/la-toussuire/
Not sure what the cross country is like there either.
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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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@Pasigal, I know you did say France, but have you thought about Garmisch in Germany? I've not stayed or skied there though, just passed through, but there was loads of XC along the valley floor.
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| Hells Bells wrote: |
| @Pasigal, I know you did say France, but have you thought about Garmisch in Germany? I've not stayed or skied there though, just passed through, but there was loads of XC along the valley floor. |
I have, actually. I've even been there. OK, I was 13. But I remember loving it.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@Pasigal, it was also incredibly beautiful, and it had just snowed. I wanted to get out and stay but we were on our way back home from a trip to the Dolomites.
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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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We had a few days in La Clusaz which was great. Nice short transfer from GVA, good skiing (enough for four days), plenty of XC, lovely little town and decent prices for dinner with lots of choice. A downside for some will be the lack of English spoken, but I'm happy with that even though far from fluent!
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Le Grand Bornand will have cheaper accommodation than La Clusaz- look at accommodation linked to the campsites in both however- found the snow much better at Le Grand Bornand than La Clusaz this half term- food is reasonable as well- big XC between the 2 resorts- we also end up in the Maurienne - Val Cenis every Easter- this is very reasonable- e.g.. self service lunch at La Fema including beer and wine, for family of four- c.50- 60 Euros- you could easily do peak time holiday self catering for 3000, we do it for 2/3 of that for everything (we are in our motorhome however)...
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