 Poster: A snowHead
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Now 21/22 is over thoughts turn to 22/23. We have a place in Morzine and spend a good few weeks there in the season, and I was thinking about making use of the "skidecouverte" system where you can get three days in other areas on your PdS season pass. Grand Massif is the obvious one to start with as it's well under an hour's drive - but was wondering where GM experts would recommend accessing the area from. Morillon 700 is the closest (I guess) but is it worth driving up to 1100? Or is there any benefit heading over to Les Carroz?
I guess we'll only go if the weather's decent as we'd want to cover as much of the area as we can. I skied in Flaine a couple of weeks many years ago but don't think we really went anywhere other than the Flaine bowl (and that delightful tow in the Gers bowl - shudder...).
So - any top tips on access and where to go to see the best of the area in a day!
Thanks!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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On a powder day Gers is my favourite ever place to ski, long tow notwithstanding
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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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| rungsp wrote: |
| On a powder day Gers is my favourite ever place to ski, long tow notwithstanding |
We had a pretty epic week as I remember - snow every night so we spent a lot of time in there!
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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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If the roads are clear the remote Combe de Vernant car park gives you access to the middle of the GM.
Otherwise I'd just head to Samoens main car park and take the gondola up. After skiing you can then hop in the car a few mins and visit the old town.
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Thanks @ski3 and @HilbertSpace.
Is there a benefit of going up from Samoens or Morillon particularly? Morillon is a bit closer to Taninges.
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No particular advantage either way really, both routes you make your way through Tête d Saix to go onward towards Flaine etc.
Samöens definitely no ski back down, can be que for telecabine at day's end because of this.
Morillon, is on the way to Samöens (closer to you as mentioned) and just as convenient to park there and telecabine up.
Free choice really, some good cafe etc at Morillon on the way back down if you want that, I'd rather ski down into Morillon at the end of day generally as it's a nice run from Tête d Saix along the ridge, turn right into Morillon and cruise all the way back to 1100. Extra 500mtrs altitude stashed in naturally, it's a good sector to ski down through.
Samöens nice to stretch your legs around after a day on the slopes (as mentioned above) but very simple to get there from Morillon anyway.
I really like this valley  no real downside to either choice.
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Cheers @ski3 - looks like Morillon is a good option.
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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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What's the best way to get into the Gers bowl? I remember having to ski along the ridge from above Flaine - is there a way in from Tete des Saix or Grand Vans?
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@andy from embsay, Veret drag lift (if it is running) on the left handside of tormaline (sp?) and then straight on over the back. A few cliff bands you have to watch out for, don't follow tracks as its a fave with those parachute skiers.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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We spent 3 days in Morillon early April with the idea of skiing Flaine. It rained all the time plus very windy so the upper lifts were all off so we got as far as Les Carroz one day and had gondola up to the snow line plus 2 lifts in Morillon the next day. We had our worst ever skiing abroad in over 30 years and 120 trips! Best run was a 5km green that snaked down the slush. Only go when there is good 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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Morillon is too low to be a good choice for April - and it was particularly warm this year.
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@mogulski, thanks - as we get 3 days in other areas (plus 4 in Verbier) on our passes and are fortunate enough to be out in France for 30-40 days over the season we'll certainly choose our day trip days carefully. So this will be an out of school hols, decent weather, decent snow trip - otherwise we'll stay in PdS and go to the pub!
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You know it makes sense.
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@mogulski, I'm not sure you can attribute rain and wind to the GM. We had a few days of vile weather in Chamonix in April as well ... but who skis in the rain 
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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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| under a new name wrote: |
| @mogulski, I'm not sure you can attribute rain and wind to the GM. We had a few days of vile weather in Chamonix in April as well ... but who skis in the rain |
I've skied in plenty of places around the world and almost all of them can be dogshit in the wrong weather. A perfect pow storm can get rained on at the end resulting in lethal deathcrust for days after, a hill can go from brown dirt in torrential rain to 3 ft deep in pow overnight, wind can scour and polish good spots and deposit fluffy goodness in the most unlikely places and of course lifts can can closed out for days while you stand waiting for an opening/any opening. Just part of the 50+ things I hate about you that make the good days so good.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| under a new name wrote: |
| @mogulski, I'm not sure you can attribute rain and wind to the GM. We had a few days of vile weather in Chamonix in April as well ... but who skis in the rain |
That's what pubs are for, innit?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@mogulski, of course wind and rain isn't exclusive to the Grand Massif, but if you go to somewhere 1) that has a very low base height, 2) is on the exposed NW fringe of the Alps 3) relies on an exposed connection to reach the higher slopes 4) ...in April, then the risk is will be much higher than many other resorts.
(edited to add intended recipient)
Last edited by Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person on Wed 4-05-22 2:40; edited 1 time in total
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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, yeah, but it's not just the GM innit? The subtext seemed to be, "we went to the Grand Massif and it rained, don't go to the Grand Massif cos it rains". If it's raining in Morillon, it's probably raining in Morzine, Les Gets, - if it's the dates I'm thinking of, probably up in Avoriaz as well (looked to have gone at least as high as 2,000-2,200 judging by the snow afterwards around Chamonix).
@andy from embsay, exactly
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| denfinella wrote: |
| Of course wind and rain isn't exclusive to the Grand Massif, but if you go to somewhere 1) that has a very low base height, 2) is on the exposed NW fringe of the Alps 3) relies on an exposed connection to reach the higher slopes 4) ...in April, then the risk is will be much higher than many other resorts. |
But the OP is based Morzine 100 mtrs lower than Morillon entry point, surely they'd know enough about the prevailing local weather conditions and snow depths coming from just around the corner.
If they'd asked about a high altitude alternative I could see why the response would be different, but as it's a trip to a very specific location (and using one day outbound allocation from season pass) then the point is moot as far as I can see. It's either ski GM for that pass allocation or not, they aren't intending to live there. 
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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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Has anyone actually done a "skidecouverte" day?
I believe you have to turn up at a ticket desk with your season pass and proof of purchase. Is it quick and easy to arrange? And how do they keep track of your used days?
As I understand it you get first day free at each resort/area, plus half price for a second day. Although Chamonix is only half price for the first day. No idea how they keep track of it all.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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@HilbertSpace, In previous years you got a booklet of 3 vouchers, and they'd tear off a voucher & strike thru the areas you'd used. We always used 2 never the 3rd 
Oddly we didn't get any in Chamonix this year. I kept meaning to query, but we probs wouldn't have used anyway.
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@under a new name, PdS passes you get QR codes for 4 days in Verbier and Alestch(?). But differey system for Ski Decouverte - turn up with your pass and proof of purchase.
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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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@andy from embsay, can't recall how Verbier worked this year, Previously we got vouchers or maybe something to stamp? wasn't paying a lot of attention. Maybe that's why we didn't get vouchers this year 
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It was QR codes on the confirmation email. Gives you a summer day too - looks like it was 5 days in Verbier.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@andy from embsay, I believe “Mont Blanc Unlimited” is required for top of Grand Montets and Aiguille du Midi.
@under a new name, I didn't get any booklet when I bought GM season passes (then again I didn't get anything -- just reloaded some old passes and received confirmation email).
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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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Ah, I see @HilbertSpace. Though you can (certainly could) buy a separate ticket for the top cablecar at Argentiere and I don’t think I’d use one of my 3 days to go up the Midi!
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@under a new name, I agree with you! I was really just suggesting to mogulski, politely, that if you choose somewhere like Morillon in April, experiencing rain / poor snow is quite likely. (And Morzine would indeed have many of the same issues.)
@ski3, sorry, I wasn't replying to the OP, it was in response to mogulski.
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You know it makes sense.
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@HilbertSpace, "top" * of Grands Montets still out of service, no real horizon on its replacement.
* Well, technically, the bottom.
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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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@denfinella, I wasn't getting at you, honest!
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Poster: A snowHead
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@under a new name, 
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