 Poster: A snowHead
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The Telepherique residence at Prodains (Capfun Apartments) has a restaurant and used to do pizzas.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Quote: |
Recommendations on where to book in Chatel? A group of four adults for a 2 or 3 hour session?
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Had a lesson today with Helen Trayfoot-Waugh (based in Chatel). Three adults for two hours for 190 euros. Excellent instruction. Contact number is +33 (0) 646 83 21 63.
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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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@Oblos, Hah, yes, know her well. Nearly made me fail my BASI 2 some years ago by failing to spot a basic misunderstanding on my part of something she kept repeating without a proper explanation. It was only on the Thursday afternoon looking through videos that it became clear what she really meant, so I and another guy with a problem that had been clarified from the video went out for a last few runs to iron out the problems. We both passed, but it was a close run thing.
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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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| Oblos wrote: |
| Quote: |
Recommendations on where to book in Chatel? A group of four adults for a 2 or 3 hour session?
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Had a lesson today with Helen Trayfoot-Waugh (based in Chatel). Three adults for two hours for 190 euros. Excellent instruction. Contact number is +33 (0) 646 83 21 63. |
Helen is a friend and excellent teacher, especially with children and building confidence, but often booked out.
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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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Crazy traffic in Les Gets this evening - seems like there's only two weeks of low-season in (french-side) PdS these days... 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Lovely couple of days … staying at the Hotel du Lac in Montriond which I highly recommend. Stunning location, on Ligne M and a great little restaurant with superb pizzas / classics / good wine list. We’ve stayed here a few times in the summer, still a great option in winter. We’ve only ventured as far as the top of Planachaux over the Swiss side + have mainly skied / boarded Avoriaz, Plaine Dranse, PLJ, Les Gets + Morzine. Snow still holding up very well everywhere other than the runs below the top of Pleney (Piste B was not enjoyable) and some of the high-traffic / low areas in Les Gets. The red off Chamossierre was piste du jour, so good we did it 3 times. Lunch at L’passage was ace as always. Home tomorrow PM (the Dolomites beckon in 4 weeks) but I think I might have convinced Mrs F to bite the bullet + start looking at off-plan apartments (there seems to be a few advertised) … we’re not getting any younger 
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Enjoyed another couple of sunny days with great pistes. Yesterday to Avoriaz and the ladies downhill run. Today to Okies for coffee stop and La Terrasse for lunch. Busier than we thought it would be on a changeover day but still ok. Ardent still my least favourite run. Here until Friday.
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@Oblos, no such thing as a quiet changeover day - weekend breaks and day trippers keep it busy although Saturday was quieter than sunday.
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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 snow looking like in Morzine? Is there sufficient coverage to ski back at the end of the day?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Chatel and Avoriaz are holding up pretty well despite the Sunday crowds (it was noticeably busier today). Quite a few reckless, sans-helmet, speed-merchants on show today - what’s wrong with these people?
@fafferoo yes, Piste B is open but snow is now all artificial. I wouldn’t recommend it at the end of the day.
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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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| snoozeboy wrote: |
| Ozboy wrote: |
| @DJL, We await with great anticipation the proposed “peak to peak” cable car from the top of Follieuse to top of Culet. It’s in the Swiss side development plan and I am told by Morgins locals it is being considered as they have essentially given up on the runs down from Culet. Aparently it’s cheaper to build a cable car than a chair lift. This would fix this unreliable link for the loop which I think is drawcard for many visitors. |
I express extreme doubt that this will ever happen. 
Edit: thinking about it, whilst I could see the attraction for the swiss side, can't see a win for Châtel with this lift. It'd just mean more people in the gloriously quiet parts of Châtel. Thankfully it's sooo unlikely. |
It’s a win for the PDS circuit if it happens. The Valais tourism board have commited vast amounts to redevelop Swiss side over next 10 years as they have now formed a single entity. The first project was to upgrade La Foilleuse. I’ll post the source if i can find it. Agree it will ruin Chalet Nuef area which is also earmarked for redevelopment. Châtel needs to sort out Linga replacement this coming summer - it’s being replaced with a 6 seat chair.
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I can understand why circuits are popular, but I just don't get them myself.
I don't see what's wrong with skiing to a dead end and back, as you ski different pistes on the way back. Skiing for the sake of distance, you tend to ski crappy pistes with little incline. The PDS has enough existing options surely?
To returin on topic, super Châtel was very quiet yesterday with decent, grippy snow. Even the chalet neuf drags had no queue at all. I guess most of the weekenders prefer to ski the factory.
Anyone tried the new (since December) burger buvette "l'Ortaz" under the conche chair ? Their smash burger is outstanding. It's on my top 3 places to eat (can't really call it a resto) in the whole PDS.
6 seat chair to replace Linga gondola? I hope it has better capacity than the gondola as the queue there from 9-10.30am on a busy day can be horrible, possibly because the old lift keeps breaking down.
Edit: I looked it up. The new chair will move 3000p/h, whereas the telecabine is rated at 2230p/h (when it's working properly). Seems reasonable.
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You know it makes sense.
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@snoozeboy, like you I am not fussed about the PDS circuit but I can see why it’s an attraction to skiers who like a sense of travel with an itinerary while skiing (I like this about PDS especially when we have guests). One of the highlights is taking them over to Champoussin for lunch. The proposed chair will make a big difference as you say given the unreliability of Linga and the fact that it’s difficult to load each gondola to full capacity to maximise efficiency.
We skiied at Super Châtel for the new year week, due to location of kids lessons, and we ate at L’Ortaz almost daily - great burgers and service - we had to settle for vegetarian burgers, which were great, a couple of times as they had run out of meat when we arrived after kids lessons which finished at 2pm. Great addition to the SC area.
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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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| snoozeboy wrote: |
I can understand why circuits are popular, but I just don't get them myself.
I don't see what's wrong with skiing to a dead end and back, as you ski different pistes on the way back. Skiing for the sake of distance, you tend to ski crappy pistes with little incline. The PDS has enough existing options surely?
To returin on topic, super Châtel was very quiet yesterday with decent, grippy snow. Even the chalet neuf drags had no queue at all. I guess most of the weekenders prefer to ski the factory.
Anyone tried the new (since December) burger buvette "l'Ortaz" under the conche chair ? Their smash burger is outstanding. It's on my top 3 places to eat (can't really call it a resto) in the whole PDS.
6 seat chair to replace Linga gondola? I hope it has better capacity than the gondola as the queue there from 9-10.30am on a busy day can be horrible, possibly because the old lift keeps breaking down.
Edit: I looked it up. The new chair will move 3000p/h, whereas the telecabine is rated at 2230p/h (when it's working properly). Seems reasonable. |
On the very important matter of sustenance … L’Passage and Lhottys still serve great food in lovely settings / atmosphere. We also tried the small cafe behind the Hotel du Lac yesterday - their burgers are immense if you’re ever down there in the summer.
Last edited by Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name: on Mon 20-01-25 7:58; edited 1 time in total
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Poster: A snowHead
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I guess you mean chez Gaby for lunch at champoussin?. The peak-to-peak lift-that-will-never-happen would help you there.
They'd have to upgrade the whole area, including snowmaking and surely the swiss greens would object strongly. That stoney piste next to point de l'au would take a total hammering - it struggles to stand up to the current low traffic.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Just a random observation having just got back from a cracking weekend in Montriond … we are 3Vs + PdS regulars and I would say that, on balance, the latter edges it due to its proximity to Geneva but, more importantly, its all-year-round offering (there’s no better setting than sipping a glass of rose on the shores of Lac Montriond after a day hiking, swimming or MTBing).
What occurred to Mrs F and I for the very first time yesterday though is, that, in general terms, the PdS locals are friendlier and more welcoming and the vibe more down-to-earth and genuine. It might just be us but it feels like the Russian gold and glitz that has penetrated the fabric of Courchevel and Meribel has luckily not made it over to Chatel, Les Gets, Morgins and Morzine.
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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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@franga, We thought the same when we committed to a off-plan apartment in Chatel back in 2016. What we lose in altitude we gain in being located in a year round working village that is not perched on top of a mountain. We love summer there especially the proximity to Lake Geneva and all the water activities, the outdoor swimming pools dotted in various villages on ten Swiss side. As a road cyclist I have options, especially not forced to climb up a 10k hill to get home. We love Meribel as our friends have a place there but it lacks the community feel, but it does exist in the villages lower in the valley.
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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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| snoozeboy wrote: |
I guess you mean chez Gaby for lunch at champoussin?. The peak-to-peak lift-that-will-never-happen would help you there.
They'd have to upgrade the whole area, including snowmaking and surely the swiss greens would object strongly. That stoney piste next to point de l'au would take a total hammering - it struggles to stand up to the current low traffic. |
Yes Chez Gaby is the one. Sorting out Pointe de L’Au is a priority and currently being planned. The new Foilleuse is driving this as Morgins is being rejuvenated as a starting point in the PDS. Also looking at replacing the drag that brings skiiers back to Morgins from Champoussin. It’s all need snow making infrastructure which as you say will depend on environmental approval and availability of water.
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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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| snoozeboy wrote: |
| I can understand why circuits are popular, but I just don't get them myself. |
Circuits aren't the be all and end all but are good for getting to know a new, large ski domain, giving you a taster of what each individual resort area's like. They are also good when you have a 'bag of cats' group and get bored of discussing which run you're going to do at the top of __every__ chair. Do a circuit and someone else has sorted the itinerary for you so there's no debate and the 'team leader' can just enjoy their skiing, without people complaining X run would have been better/they always pick the run Y wants to do/this way they can't go to Z's favourite toilet stop/etc.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Ozboy wrote: |
| ... I’ll post the source if i can find it. |
I googled around and found some reports of a "plan directeur intercommunal", but absolutely zero detail of what it's supposed to do. Apparently, the (I guess, paper) documents were available for consultation at the respective communes until Nov 2020. The fact that there is no sign of them online is wonderfully village.
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@snoozeboy, All posted on the Remontee Mechanique forum in the PDS section but you will need to trawl through many pages.
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@snoozeboy, thanks for the tip on Buvette L’Ortaz.
Now marked it up as a ‘must do’ lunch stop for our trip in two weeks time. 
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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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| Richie_S wrote: |
@snoozeboy, thanks for the tip on Buvette L’Ortaz.
Now marked it up as a ‘must do’ lunch stop for our trip in two weeks time. |
I'll add the caveat that the place only really does burgers, fries from real potatoes, not McCain, decent drinks menu, two desserts, both excellent. If you or someone in your party doesn't like burgers, go elsewhere. They also do vegburgers, which apparently are decent.
If you like burgers however, it's perfection. During a quiet period there, being a boring fatbastard I geeked out with the cook (Florian or Florent, can't remember), about smashburger superlativeness - the need for ground beef with higher than 30pc fat, the absolute requirement to use crappy American cheese (think of it as an additional sauce, not a cheese)... Etc.
I was so happy that a decent place opened near me in superchatel, as food wise, there's not much to write home about in the area.
I've said it many times here, the pds has many good and very good restaurants, but really not much excellence. The only other place I'd call excellent is chez Nannon above Morzine. There are many joint third placed eg la reserve, chez Gaby, le coquoz, that place next to the drag in Les gets with the terrace, but none of these are excellent in my opinion.
I almost lose sleep that standards will slip as the season wears on, as the owners are not that experienced. Les folies de neige being an example starting really well then rapidly becoming an average tourist place. Why work stupidly hard when the tourists will still come?
The prices are fairly cheap, the portions moderate, but you're going to feel satisfied after all that beef juice and the impending heart attack. It's not about quantity; it's about perfection.
The terrace is nice, too. Being slightly off the piste gives it a sense of being in the know, similar to chez Dany in Verbier (though nowhere near as posh, obvs)..
Go early -1130am. The word is out, they have limited capacity and the place gets busy. At 1330 they often put up a "no more food" sign.
Last edited by You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net. on Mon 20-01-25 13:05; edited 1 time in total
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| Ozboy wrote: |
| @franga, We thought the same when we committed to a off-plan apartment in Chatel back in 2016. What we lose in altitude we gain in being located in a year round working village that is not perched on top of a mountain. We love summer there especially the proximity to Lake Geneva and all the water activities, the outdoor swimming pools dotted in various villages on ten Swiss side. As a road cyclist I have options, especially not forced to climb up a 10k hill to get home. We love Meribel as our friends have a place there but it lacks the community feel, but it does exist in the villages lower in the valley. |
Good for you. We’re about to tentatively embark on the same journey. You only live once and all that …
Just out of interest - any UK-based owners on this thread that rent their apartments / chalets when they don’t use them?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@franga, We don’t rent as ours not an “investment” decision especially as we use it during the peak weeks throughout the winter as we are bound by school holidays. It’s quite expensive to run with all the bank interest (at current rates), taxes and service charges but we see it as a year-round lifestyle choice - but we save on ski holidays. The biggest benefit is all the new friends we have made including families with similar aged kids in our block and in the village. There are a lot of posts on snowheads as to the investment value of embarking on this journey.
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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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@franga, When we bought in 2016 (mid 50s, able to work from Alp, adult children etc) we thought that we had a set of criteria that covered everything.
The one thing that we missed out, and by pure luck dodged, was aspect. Having a south facing apartment means sunshine pouring in, terrace clearing itself of snow, low heating costs.....
We now think that the view and the sunshine are one of the best things about our place. Fyi we are in La Chapelle d'Abondance, next village down from Chatel.
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@snoozeboy, thanks. Checked the place out on Google reviews and can see the focussed menu. Had to explain to one of my group what a Smash Burger was, but have been salivating at the thought all day. Never seen a place with so many 5* reviews and positive comments and one of the few negative comments was only about the fact they had run out of food on one day at 1.30pm - which seems understandable given the apparent type of place it is.
For my sober brother, the availability of an Alcohol free IPA (rather than the standard 0% Heineken) is also a positive!
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You know it makes sense.
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I agree the circuit's skiing is often meh, since by nature it's about travelling horizontally not vertically. Hence even more meh for boarders. However, it does give the day a sense of purpose, has amazing views, orientates newbies about the geography of the PdS; and Mjit's observation about it stifling endless route-choice faff is valid. (If you want to spice it up, an old ski-bum challenge was round one-way in the morning, lunch at your starting point, and back round the other way in the afternoon. Lots of schussing required!).
I guess a Linga chair will be progress, but fully-loading chairs is it's own problem, at least bubbles don't stop every few minutes with people seemingly unable to load/unload without carnage! And the opportunities for young-lovers to join the mile-high club get fewer and fewer as all the bubbles disappear ....
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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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@snoozeboy, You're right, it's a race to mediocrity for most new restaurants. That precious absence of oligarch/super-rich bling in the PdS has it's downside when it comes to fine-dining.
Here's a new one for you to try: https://le-passionnant-hotel-morzine.eatbu.com/?lang=en , open evenings only except Sunday lunch. It's not on the piste though, the best way to get there on a Sunday lunchtime would be to hire a horse-drawn carriage from outside the Morzine Tourist office, and arrange to be picked up and delivered back to the lifts again after!
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Poster: A snowHead
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The Linga bubble stops every few minutes, because it was built in 1984 and keeps breaking down.
I've no strong view on cabines vs chairs, though it does annoy me when chairs aren't filled during busy periods. You don't notice it so much with cabines as you can't see.
The foilleuse fixed chair was replaced by a cabine, for some reason, if the trend is in the opposite direction.
I read somewhere that they decided on a chair for the Linga replacement because people prefer to keep their skis on.
Anyone else noticed that they put some new cabins on the superchatel gondola? Comfier seats, scratch free windows (for the moment) and non slip flooring. Quel luxe.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@franga, Swiss based but we used to airbnb our apartment at Nyon.
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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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Thanks for the recommendation @Shep. It looks interesting, except the bit where they serve supposedly A5 Japanese wagyu "snacké"  I'll try it one day though (the resto, not the way to put the mockers on expensive beef).
I don't mind leaving the pistes, if the food is good enough. Also gives me the chance to show off my oligarch bling bogner gear around town.
Oh, atelier de Jacky in la chapelle also deserves a mention. I'd put it in the good/very good category, though it was better when it opened as it was also stupidly value-for-money in those days.
Edit: by the way, I'm not talking about fine-dining. An excellent resto doesn't have to be fancy. Chez Nannon for example, is excellent.
Last edited by Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see? on Mon 20-01-25 19:21; edited 1 time in total
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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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@shep, not bothered abut fine dining when in town but take me back to when Hideout first started doing ramen and the bang bang caulifower… god that was good
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@Nadenoodlee, Yes I remember, they'd gone too far down the "fusion" route for me, last time I ate there
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@snoozeboy, The Foilleuse is completely automatic and unattended by staff. It’s the second one of its type and I assume these headcount savings make it attractive for cabins which can also take upto three MTB’s in summer. I also noticed the new SC cabins which are the black ones randomly placed on the line.
I do like to lap the Linga cabins and its tree lined runs on a crappy windy snowy day when others are high getting blown around.
As for restaurants we have our favourites, Crepy, Mamo’s, Gaby’s, Changabang and now L’Ortaz. If all fails a chicken mayo baguette and fries from the bar at the Plane Dranse self-service (the one decorated from 1974) is ace.
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| Quote: |
super Châtel was very quiet yesterday with decent, grippy snow. Even the chalet neuf drags had no queue at all. I guess most of the weekenders prefer to ski the factory.
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We also skied Super Chatel on Sunday - crowdless bliss.
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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 @Matt1959 @Nadenoodlee many thanks for your responses, good to hear. I won't hijack this thread to talk about property as there are plenty of specific threads on SHs.
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@Oblos, @snoozeboy, I really enjoy SuperChatel and it’s our preferred starting point. What is missing is an easier route down from the top of Monclan for intermediates. The current reds to the top of Conche are steep and have bad snow (should be black) - people often are mislead by the nice piste that runs along side Morclan lift only to find themselves on top or a steep rocky/muddy run. The alternalth is to take the cat track towards Barbossine and down to Onnaz which is not easy for someone progressing from the SuperChatel. Unsure if there is a solution given the topography.
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FAQ
