 Poster: A snowHead
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The view on Les Gets village is rain-sodden this morning after torrential rain through last night. Large puddles visible on webcams around Chavannes.
Any news on how Avoriaz / Lindarets slopes are holding up? Webcams there are poor quality. Worth driving to Ardent if anything skiable around 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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I would. Nothing to lose.
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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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Wednesday into thurs 2000m snowline was mentioned a few times, soggy mess below was inevitable. That hopefully is the worst of it out of the way.
Tomorrow will see the big change in fortune. Guys at wepowder have issued a powder alert, and also mentioned the change in track to NW for the friday low, making a 5c cooler difference....which is exceptional at such a short timeframe, but has happened for the second time in a week.....first one last week went +5 above expected.
https://wepowder.com/en/forum/topic/288417
Still some uncertainty about a brief warm up on Sat morning. GFS has a spike to 2000m, while WRF keeps it near 1400m, Arpege 1800m. Either way it's going to rain all day at village level, but will be heavy snow in Avoriaz and most likely down to 1400m.
ECM ensembles keep the mean temps at 1500m near zero on Sat, starting below and warming up steadily into sunday. But what's interesting about this chart is the spread of ensemble temps on Sat (-5 to +5), is much wider than sun-mon. So there is more uncertainty at day 3 than day 4.
What's been clear for a while is the huge amount of ppn. On the lower line it looks relentless, from fri morning thru to sunday morning.
Not much clarity for tuesday either. Probably going to start with a high snowline 1800, before quickly dropping to valleys.
But even the 2 generally most accurate models (UKMO and ECM) have vastly different Op runs, seen below. Unfortunately ECM persistent with much milder outcome (lunch time tuesday)
 
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We arrived yesterday after much travel chaos with part of our group, on an early morning flight from Bristol, getting diverted mid-flight to Lyon at midnight after waiting all day for their flight to leave. They chose to get a taxi to Châtel, instead of waiting hours for coaches back to GVA from EZ to materialise, which is €670 on the meter!!
We are here until Sunday and off towards Avoriaz today and will report on conditions later after our slow start.
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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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@Ozboy, One of my sons lives in Lyon. Now I know how much I should charge him each I go down there for something 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@OuatteDePhoque, No family rates?
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@elefantfresh, The last few have been Free - but after he graduates and gets a job, I'll bring up this €670 figure as a basis for negotiation
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Very heavy going today - we started Linga and zig-zagged our way to goat village. Lots of heavy moguls - waterlogged after yeaterday’s snow>rain event. Moderate wind and clouds staring to come over.
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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 the update. I've opted to catch up on some emails instead of heading out today, If the forecasts are to be believed those clouds are bringing snow. I've got everything crossed for that to be true!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Better than expected for me today in Avoriaz.
Nice under Choucas, and also Cases over on the Lindarets side. Lindarets bowl in particular seemed to catch a bit more snow and a bit less rain, with only the last bit of the Cases red mushy.
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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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Will keep positive, managed 30 miles around les gets today in various forms of piste but overall would say it’s “hanging on”. Big couple of days and of snow arrives be fine through rest of March.
Had 5 great days (4 bluebird, 1 soaked) but can’t complain.
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Up high it is still OK. Abricotine really quite nice all the way to Brocheaux, we did it twice coming back from the Swiss side.
Low runs certainly chopped up.
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You know it makes sense.
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Anyone knows if it's possible to get a ticket for a single Rock the Pistes that doesn't include a whole PDS ski pass (we already have ski passes)? Tempted to hop to Chavannes LG on Sunday.
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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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| Ozboy wrote: |
| Very heavy going today - we started Linga and zig-zagged our way to goat village. Lots of heavy moguls - waterlogged after yeaterday’s snow>rain event. Moderate wind and clouds staring to come over. |
Agree it was not pleasant skiing, way too much collision risk for my liking. Down to Chatel, green runs closed so beginners forced onto reds with inevitable consequences. Gave up at lunchtime and had a pleasant sunny lunch in the goat village.
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Poster: A snowHead
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@patrick!, Not quite sure what you mean, if you've already got ski passes then you don't need any other ticket. The concerts themselves are free.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| 5RED wrote: |
| Ozboy wrote: |
| Very heavy going today - we started Linga and zig-zagged our way to goat village. Lots of heavy moguls - waterlogged after yeaterday’s snow>rain event. Moderate wind and clouds staring to come over. |
Agree it was not pleasant skiing, way too much collision risk for my liking. Down to Chatel, green runs closed so beginners forced onto reds with inevitable consequences. Gave up at lunchtime and had a pleasant sunny lunch in the goat village. |
Top half of Belette (green run down the road from Plaine Dranse) was open, only the bottom section closed and the bottom part of the red piste is barely blue standard. But yes collision risk was high, not helped by those who can ski fast but unable to ski slowly in control.
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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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| Chaletbeauroc wrote: |
| @patrick!, Not quite sure what you mean, if you've already got ski passes then you don't need any other ticket. The concerts themselves are free. |
Oh - cool, thanks! Now quite chuffed the opening has been moved to our side (LG)!
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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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| DJL wrote: |
| 5RED wrote: |
| Ozboy wrote: |
| Very heavy going today - we started Linga and zig-zagged our way to goat village. Lots of heavy moguls - waterlogged after yeaterday’s snow>rain event. Moderate wind and clouds staring to come over. |
Agree it was not pleasant skiing, way too much collision risk for my liking. Down to Chatel, green runs closed so beginners forced onto reds with inevitable consequences. Gave up at lunchtime and had a pleasant sunny lunch in the goat village. |
Top half of Belette (green run down the road from Plaine Dranse) was open, only the bottom section closed and the bottom part of the red piste is barely blue standard. But yes collision risk was high, not helped by those who can ski fast but unable to ski slowly in control. |
Only problem area was run down to Linderets but other than that was usual scenario of intermediates struggling on the steeper mogulled runs.
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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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We had a pretty enjoyable day on the sector between Plaine Dranse and Linga, but we barely ventured lower than Plaine Dranse. Pleasantly surprised by the snow, although everything did get very mogulled - we've all improved our mogul technique no end today, and have now got very tired legs!
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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 am now more optimistic about coming out tomorrow. I am now confident we will have something to ski on and ski school in les gets for the kids should be okay as they are all flocon up to 3 etoile so will be up the mountain
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Woken by heavy rain at 0100, then it stopped I think and now just on the point of turning to sleet at 1300m. Imagine there will be plenty of snow up high.
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Left for airport at 7, absolutely hammering down with rain in les gets. Fingers crossed for higher up but doesn’t feel that cold and trees didn’t look snowy from what could see. Flight 2 hour delay already so happy Friday….
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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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| rinky75 wrote: |
| Left for airport at 7, absolutely hammering down with rain in les gets. Fingers crossed for higher up but doesn’t feel that cold and trees didn’t look snowy from what could see. Flight 2 hour delay already so happy Friday…. |
2 hour delay all you need, we’re flying this evening so hope they catch up!
I don’t fancy a soaking getting up the mountain to spend a morning wet cold and zero viz so think we will potter, sort out the apartment and head down to the airport early.
Enjoy the fresh guys, hopefully sun will follow the deluge.
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@DJL, Starting to clear up now. Looks like theres fresh stuff at St Jean, so the Col de Graydon powder field beckons as it takes a while before it gets tracked out.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Some new snow in Avoriaz as well, although it's white windy.
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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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Snowline only starting to drop now, should be down to 1300m soon this morning and staying low all day. Tomorrow still huge uncertainty despite what some popular publications are saying, it’s possible it might stay around 1700m (GFS) which would be useless for M/LG. On the other hand WRF has 1200m all day, so 500m difference in just 24 hours time.
Unfortunately it’s going to rise very early in the morning, pre lifts, so all the nice overnight snow will be getting wet lower down. Sunday will be good for Rock the pistes, great to see it come to Chavannes, first time I think.
And Tuesday still looks good for low level snow, although GFS is probably over excited (vs others)
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We drove to Verbier this morning and it was snowing heavily when we went over Pas de
Morgins at 1400m. It was sleeting at home at 1260m.
It’s now showing as we go up gondola from Le Chable below Verbier village.
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You know it makes sense.
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@Ozboy, Have a great day up there mate - please report back on the home run to Medran, as thinking of popping over on Sunday.
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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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@OuatteDePhoque, Couple of inches of fresh on the cartrack to village and 30cms lots of fresh snow at the top.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| OuatteDePhoque wrote: |
| @DJL, Starting to clear up now. Looks like theres fresh stuff at St Jean, so the Col de Graydon powder field beckons as it takes a while before it gets tracked out. |
Whilst I really like the Col de Graydon, now is not the time to ski it. There really isn’t a base. The exit would be a total nightmare.
There is so little open now at the Grande Turche that the lifties are working a four day week, the extra day off unpaid. Not easy, on their money.
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Fri 10-03-23 13:07; edited 1 time in total
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Lots of lifts closed today but made it to Lindarets via Super M. Windy up top, and still snowing lightly down to just above Ardent car park. Star Wars run down to Ardent is lovely today - but have a mate’s tired daughter with us so there will be a lot of café stops…
Chaux Fleurie and Cases closed so we’re just going to do a few laps in the trees.
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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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Arrived at Ardents car park 9:30ish in the rain, practically empty of cars. Rain turned to snow at the top of the bubble, and what a difference a bit of snow has made to the "look" of the valley - no green on show. Unfortunately wind has closed lots of lifts - Mossettes, Cases, Chaux Fleurie in Lindarets; Stade, Lac Intrets, Grandes Combes and all of Fornet bowl in Avoriaz. Not many people out, but some of the runs felt busy because of the limited access. Lots of beginners, poor visibility and soft snow caused chaos in some places.
The fresh snow up high is great, with some off-piste skiable in the trees, but the pistes have suffered in places from the rain yesterday with the base feeling quite slushy, and gets sticky lower down. Its almost like spring skiing, but without the sunshine. If the higher lifts open tomorrow, the snow up top will be amazing.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@rondo101, windy again tomorrow I think? Maybe not as strong as today but still blowy.
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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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| andy from embsay wrote: |
| @rondo101, windy again tomorrow I think? Maybe not as strong as today but still blowy. |
Lower winds, but no idea if still too high for some lifts. I'll be on the first bubble up to find out!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Sounds like I didn’t miss much today. Currently sat at GVA with a 90 minute delay. We should have been in the air by now but the inbound plane is still somewhere just south of Dijon.
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Currently snowing heavily in Châtel 
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snow settling as expected below 1200 now, but who knows how far up it will rain tomorrow morning....most models point to 1600-1800 but WRF sticking with 1200. Must be right on the border of mild air to the south. ECM has corrected back towards the other models for tuesday, not entirely, but getting cooler on each run. GFS mean has tues 9 degrees colder than tomorrow at 1500m, +3 sat vs -6 on tues - wed. Will start higher, but by lunchtime tues it should be turning much colder
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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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Fine snow falling fast in Les Gets
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Woken to sound of avalanche bombs ans around 10 cms of wet and heave snow settled on balcony in Châtel. Most of Châtel looks open and on our way to Linga to start our day.
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