 Poster: A snowHead
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Just looking at the 12z models so far, in general it looks like lots of snow from Sunday onwards until the following weekend when high pressure takes over. I'm doing a week in Avoriaz from Saturday 21st, so great news in terms of snow cover by then. Week starting 21st likely to be dry but quite cold. Plenty bluebird days but, being very picky, I love to see falling snow and beginning to think there might be none the week I'm there.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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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@Ozboy, On another thread somebody saying that they skied Chalet Neuf today, so it is open!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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I’ll be in LG Fri night - sat morning sans famille, so anyone who wants info / pool lessons get in touch
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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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@polo, I like fromage
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@elefantfresh, well you’re gonna love it next week….get the reblochon burger
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It's currently raining in Montriond (just below lake). Whiteout in Avoriaz. Dog and I are going out to perform snow dance in a bit.
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Light snow in Les Gets too … suspect it will turn wet when the temp starts creeping up. Doesn’t look very inviting out there (dark and gloomy) but we’re not here to lie in bed.
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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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Have a great day folks - hope its good for ye - we're snow dancing back home - see y'all Sunday!
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Some sunny spells trying to break thru lower down the valley, but it does look wet and windy up there, tough conditions. Should get a break soon according to radar.
The wind is going to be even more of an issue over the weekend, with gusts up to 70-80 kph possible sat-mon.
WRF show the possibility of light snow to the village later today. And interestingly have a FL of -16 on monday.....school boy programming error.
Cham meteo (yday) said snowline down to 1200m today and much lower next week with potential 60-80cm at 1200m.
Looking at how low the snow next week might fall, the FL bounces around from 0 to 800m all week with 1500m temps potentially going to -12c. The models will not be able to forecast how much snow and when exactly it will fall, but the risk is clearly there for significant snow to lake level. I would say we get snow at 400m on average twice a winter and it usually melts quickly. But next week is not usual.
Next weekend does look settled, maybe even from Friday......temps will remain below average for a while longer though so should be very nice conditions....sunny and cold.
3 main models paint a similar picture with the atlantic lows cut off to the north and likely a med low to the south, so still chance of small showers, but largely dry here, and possibly staying relatively dry into the week after, with nothing too mild showing up.
  
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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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@polo, Thanks Polo - keep up the good work
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| under a new name wrote: |
| @StretfordEnd1996, welcome to SHs. Way too far out to guess what the weather is going to have done by then. Also way to far out to start worrying about it, so don't! |
Hah thanks for your reply - my original question wasn't so much to ask what the weather would be like from February 4th in specific detail, but more to just ask if it's likely i'll avoid grass slopes and half closed resorts etc.  I don't mind if there's no snow at resort level just hoping at least most of Les Gets/Morzine will be accessible - I'm guessing at that specific time of year it's extremely unlikely to be like it has been recently but who knows these days..
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You know it makes sense.
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Raining in LG 45 mins ago. We went for a wander after gearing up and riding the ardent bubble to Lindarets. It was sleeting there, and the cloud base was right there, so we went back down. We have another 2 weeks, so getting soaked to ski blind wasn't a pressure. We felt for those on their last day- been there, probably felt they HAD to ski!
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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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@Charliegolf, We had that on our last day in Tignes in December - boarding in the rain sucks but it sure beats working!
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Charliegolf wrote: |
| Raining in LG 45 mins ago. We went for a wander after gearing up and riding the ardent bubble to Lindarets. It was sleeting there, and the cloud base was right there, so we went back down. We have another 2 weeks, so getting soaked to ski blind wasn't a pressure. We felt for those on their last day- been there, probably felt they HAD to ski! |
Currently in the Passage at Lindarets having a late lunch. We were on the Ardent bubble at 11:30 (lazy morning as we didn’t get to LG until midnight last night). Sleet turned to snow halfway up. We’ve spent 4 hours lapping the chairs in the trees / the Stash and also made it down to Crozets. Piste snow very good with a top layer of about 5 cms. Overall, a great first few hours to kickstart our 2023 season. Snowing heavily in Lindarets as I type.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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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Hi - complete Newbie to skiing here. Due to arrive at Morzine tomorrow afternoon to ski from Sunday onwards. Based on the current forecast whats the likelihood of the lower altitude slopes being open? Will it take a good few days for the pistes to reopen following the snowfall or can it be skiable fairly quickly, e.g. next day? Is avoriaz beginner friendly? And then in contrast.. how much snow is too much?  Seems to go from 0-100
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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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@DomEvans8,
Hi and welcome. I think it will take a couple of days to open up the local Morzine (Pleney) skiing because it’s 95% closed at the mo and there’s going to be a lot of snow. Pleney beginner slopes are on the top of the mountain and are still open so you may be in luck. Are you having lessons somewhere?
There are also easy slopes on the other side of the valley on Super Morzine. They have been open on and off, so will be ready to go pretty quickly.
Avoriaz is ok for beginners but not as good as Morzine and Les Gets.
Short term there can be too much snow but one of the advantages of this area is there’s not much mountain above the pistes if you get what I mean so there is less avalanche control for the pisteurs to do before they can open things up.
HTH
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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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@DomEvans8,
I’m not back out in resort yet but I would imagine the pisters need some time to sort lower slopes and sustained cold temps to also make new snow with snow cannons to really sort a base out.
Sustained low temps are forecast with some significant snow next week but it might be a while yet for the lower slopes to all be sorted.
Avoriaz has some brilliant beginner terrain and the 1st thing to prioritise as a beginner is good lessons.
Have you got your lessons booked up?
Hope your not relying on friends, family or loved ones to teach you. That most likely will cause friction.
(Like teaching a loved one to drive).
Deffo an idea to have lessons sorted.
ESF group lessons are normally the most cost effective but other ski schools are available.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Both very helpful, thank you. I've had a 3 hours crash course (I live local to the Snozone, close to Leeds) so understand the basic principles in controlling speed and turning in snow plough. Went on a weekend so I got plenty of practice at dodging children! We are going with family and friends who are happy to help here and there, if we still struggle we will look into some lessons. Would Tuesday/Wednesday be realistic for some reopening?
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@DomEvans8, if I were you, I’d be booking lessons for the entire week. You won’t be skiing at anything like the speed of your skiing family/friends, ans whilst they might be happy to spend an hour or two patiently with you will definitely slowing them up. But the main reasons to get lessons are that you will improve a lot quicker, and the instructors will know exactly what sloped to take you on and when.
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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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@DomEvans8,
Glad you have the absolute very basic principles started and without being harsh and to be honest in 3 x hr lesson at Castleford you will have mastered very little. (I’m a qualified instructor).
I’m not knocking what you have already done. Brilliant that you have been to x scape and had a lesson.
I’d strongly recommend you get some more lessons booked up.
Getting back to the slope question.
It does not matter if the top middle or lower slopes are open. Some resorts the lower slopes are actually harder that the top slopes.
What you want are the right slopes for someone who has done 3 x hr in a Snowdome.
With that in mind there will be appropriate slopes open and guess who would put you on the appropriate slopes……. Yep, an instructor. Who can monitor your ability and progression and help keep it just challenging enough to be fun, rewarding etc etc.
Trust me, you and your friends and family will have a better holiday if you get some lessons.
6 x mornings with ESF in a group is less than €200. What have you got to loose by booking up some lessons?if it’s not for you you can always bail out?
If you book lessons I guarantee you will be a better skier by the end of the week and will have seen more of the slopes/resort than not booking lessons. Is that worth less than€200??
Plus you will have reduced your chances of hurting yourself or someone else dramatically.
https://www.ski-school-morzine.co.uk/
Last edited by You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net. on Fri 13-01-23 18:00; edited 1 time in total
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| @247snowman wrote: |
@franga,
With the current strong dollar it’s probably cheaper as they are fully catered in a ‘quality’ Chalet.
That sort of service in the U.S. would cost them big bucks.
Have a blast. |
Off topic, but I've wondered about this quite a lot (when up in Mammoth in CA) - is there not a big market opp there for a reasonably priced catered chalet type affair?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Have to agree about the lessons. You might well encounter very difficult conditions, especially poor visibility - real slopes aren't much like skiing in a fridge. An instructor will know exactly where to take you and will breathe confidence into you.
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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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Yeh, @DomEvans8, get the lessons. Apart from the obvious stuff @@247snowman, states about being a better skier for it and being taken to the appropriate slopes, your mates will have all spent 1-2K+ each on a 6-day holiday so it'd be a bit unfair for them to feel obliged to look after you no matter how generous their intentions are.
Also, in lessons you get to legitimately push in to the front of the lift queue! It's worth it just for that.
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@Rois1980,
The way the Yanks have explained it to me is that you would have to ‘private hire’ the Chef which does not come cheap.
I’ve done stacks of holidays to North America over the years and it’s generally a bit of different concept.
Big bucks to stay in resort or ‘on the hill’ and very quiet if you are in a Chaket/condo on the hill.
Or 30 min drive down to the nearest town and lots more lodging options.
Or sometimes an hours drive to a larger town with the option to beach input from there to multiple resort.
The yanks that I know who have visited the Alps love it.
Much better food on the hill and in resort , larger ski area, cheaper ski pass, and yep their dollars are going a long way this winter.
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You know it makes sense.
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Prices of ticket prices in the popular US resorts are eye-wartering. A 2-day adult pass in Vail is $495 according to the website and almost the cost of a PDS early bird season pass in comparison!
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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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@DomEvans8,
Well done again for getting into Castleford and getting started. Final one fom me on lessons.
and sorry to bang on. (And Yep, welcome to snowheads too)
I hope you have a fab week. Hope your friends do too. To be blunt again, your mates should have know better not pushing you (as a newbie) to get lessons booked up.
@ben76,
states it well. They probably have very good intentions to be good pals and help out but they only have a limited amount of time on the slopes and their holiday is costing them a wedge too.
If you do book lessons then the location of the lessons could be an important factor both logistically and also to see some of your mates at some point.
Where you are staying in Morzine could effect the lesson choice location and where your Pals decide they are skiing too.
The best skiing for anyone who is competent is currently up in Avoriaz so your Pals are likley to head that way. That might change by the back end of next week and linked runs between Morzine & Les gets slopes might be in good nick. I looked on the App today and more of Les Gets seems to be opening.
For now I would say that Avoriaz (Including Les linderets) is the best area to head to an probably where your Pals are heading.
With that in mind these are a few recomendations.
4 x day course with Avoriaz Alpine Ski school (AASS)starting Monday. You would need to be on Super Morzine gondola which departs the centre of Morzine very early on Monday Morning. It starts running at 08:30am. then use zore and a very quiet green run to get to Avoriaz via proclu chair. This would give you Sunday to find somewhere to cement what you have already learnt. Getting to AASS meeting point for 09:15am on Monday would be a challenge both in timing and as more or less a complete newby but not impossible (Im guessing you have lots of confidence). Maybe use Sunday to go that way and find the AASS hut if you do book lessons with them
As started Super Morzine gondola would get you that way or the 08:30am 'A' bus to Prodains and then use 'plateau' chair and you would make it.
AASS run a 4 x day course with very small group numbers so you would advance very quickly. 298 euro
https://www.avoriazalpineskischool.com/adult-groups
Other options are ESF from top of Ardent Gondola (the 'M' bus would get you to Ardent) booked with ESF Montriond
https://www.esf-uk.co.uk/ski-school/montriond-les-lindarets/
Or ESF Avoriaz. Their meeting point is opp the AASS point up on the platueau. If their group lessons start at 9am then that would be a challenge for you to get there on time but it looks like they have afternoon options too.?
https://www.ski-school-avoriaz.co.uk/
Other ski schools that might be able to help and have stuff running
https://www.britishskischool.com/bassresorts/morzine
https://thesnowinstitute.com/
https://evolution2.com/en/morzine
Also, if there are other people with you who are of a similar standard then sharing a 'private' instuctor can work out very well. Anyway, have fun and hope the holidays goes well.
Morzine/Les gets piste map
chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.morzine-avoriaz.com/medias/documents/documentation/documentation-PPMG-FR.pdf
bus timetable
chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.morzine-avoriaz.com/medias/documents/documentation/documentation-29NAVETTE-FR.pdf
Plan of Morzine/Montriond
chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.morzine-avoriaz.com/medias/documents/documentation/documentation-20PLANVILLAG-FR.pdf
Piste map of Avoriaz in Ardent and Linderets
chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.morzine-avoriaz.com/medias/documents/documentation/documentation-PLANAVO-FR.pdf
Again, I hope its a blast and good luck.
EDIT
Link to the brouchures and stuff
https://en.morzine-avoriaz.com/brochures-hiver.html
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Poster: A snowHead
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Made it to Morzine. Enjoying the town even i if it is quite quiet (possibly a good thing). Currently raining but hopefully that means it’s snowing up top!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Individual model runs as usual all over the place with snow quantities, especially the rogue model that feeds the apps. The most important driver is pressure, and it’s going to be low. Storms and their fronts like sun-tues probably easier to calculate but in my experience the models underestimate snow under slack low pressure. Wednesday - Thursday most likely for steady cold slack snow, without getting blown around…. Best snow when it’s all quiet.
@kinger123, Yep should be, and it snowed a bit above 1400m earlier
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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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| polo wrote: |
Individual model runs as usual all over the place with snow quantities, especially the rogue model that feeds the apps. The most important driver is pressure, and it’s going to be low. Storms and their fronts like sun-tues probably easier to calculate but in my experience the models underestimate snow under slack low pressure. Wednesday - Thursday most likely for steady cold slack snow, without getting blown around…. Best snow when it’s all quiet.
@kinger123, Yep should be, and it snowed a bit above 1400m earlier |
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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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@polo - thanks as always. Sorry if being a little dim, but is this good news for snow fall next week, especially end of week? Any early thoughts on ski w/c 23rd??
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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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@Russ1447, snow sun - thurs, then looks dry, cold and sunny from Friday
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Chatel lift openings published for next two week. The whole area opens with the exception of a few lifts. Link to Morgins is closed.
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Les Gets not as busy as on a normal weekend tonight. I still bloody love it though. Such a lovely town, less than 6 hours away for us (door-to-door). Closer than Cornwall (we live in Cheshire). Grass coming through on the lower slopes (anything below the Chavannes plateau). Morzine looks strikingly green. BUT the snow above Lindarets was lovely today and, of course, the whole area is set to transform next week. Every time I come here I am getting more and more convinced that we should at some point buy a little place of our own.
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@franga, where do you stay/find accommodation in Les gets?
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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, Thanks for this. Think I'll ski Super Chatel tomorrow!
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@Matt1959, I reckon Britaz and Torgon link might also be open. Let us know how you get on. We arrive late on the 19th and should be even better.
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FAQ
