 Poster: A snowHead
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A late start lazy day in La Chapelle for us with the kids (kids! - 20s/30s) who had 3rd day achy legs. Started at Cret Beni which was very quiet and the runs near the drag lift (Huskye and Hermine) were in perfect condition. Lapped those for 90 minutes before a coffee then a couple of runs off the chair (not in good nick) and down to the bottom. Then over to Braitaz - virtually deserted and barely skiable with earth patches and stones. Run down to Torgon surprisingly enjoyable.
Verdict: enjoyable sunny day with no crowds. Ski area really needs snow. Can’t see Braitaz staying open much longer without.
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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 returned from a lovely long weekend in Morzine. First time in the area and loved the Portes du Soleil. Have skied plenty of places with ‘more snow’, but always knew that was part of the deal and in fairness the resort has done incredibly well with what it’s been given. Despite the visual effect of the green bits the pistes were kept extremely well and great to ski on. It wasn’t quite t shirt weather, bergfex telling me it was going to be 8 degrees on the mountain was a little out, but it was certainly warm in the middle of the day, though the wife’s eternally cold hands remained just that.
Favourite areas were long reds; Arbis, those off the top of Ranfoilly, Linga and a great experience at the Swiss wall. Generally all in decent nick. Many thanks to those who shared their knowledge before I went.
Hope the forecasted snow arrives to give those working the resort a slight reprieve.
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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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There's a big sign at the morclan lift that says words to the effect of "difficult pistes, reserved for good skiers only", @Ozboy.
You seem to be complaining that some mountains are steep. 
Either way, there are lots of other options aren't there?
Maybe the proliferation of easy blues and reds that are just blues throughout the PDS give the idea that anyone of any ability above nursery slope should be able to ski anywhere, when this patently isn't the case in most resorts.
I agree that the snow can be a bit crappy, but there's very little artificial snow in the area aside from the bottom of conche.
The often crappy snow, the proper reds at morclan, the drag lifts, the dead end (closed or crappy pistes ) before you get to Morgins... all these gems keep the place quiet which is why I love it there if conditions allow. I've had some of the best powder days of my life lapping onnaz or culet, when the unwashed hordes were tracking the feck out of happy valley.
If your intermediate guests (I assume) want what I call factory skiing (crowds, chairlifts, gunned snow, no trees, idiots going faster than their ability), there's plenty of it in the PDS in the other direction, "you know where".
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@snoozeboy, Harsh mate  . Just suggesting an easy way down from Morclan would be helpful! I do know it says piste dificile but does not mean they could do done work to make it pleasant to some who are progressing at Super Châtel. My guests don’t want factory skiing - this is why they come to Châtel and stick with us at Super Châtel.
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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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Sorry if harsh, it wasn't intended. I was more bemused, like the time a Dutch guy once rented my place and complained that the path to the village was uphill. 
I assured him it was downhill on the way home.
Take your friends to Grands Montets for a day. Morclan will be a walk in the (Vondel?)park by comparison.
Seriously though, it's no steeper than the reds to Torgon or the top of Linga, is it?
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| snoozeboy wrote: |
Sorry if harsh, it wasn't intended. I was more bemused, like the time a Dutch guy once rented my place and complained that the path to the village was uphill.
I assured him it was downhill on the way home.
Take your friends to Grands Montets for a day. Morclan will be a walk in the (Vondel?)park by comparison.
Seriously though, it's no steeper than the reds to Torgon or the top of Linga, is it? |
I am referring to Chermillon Superieur that starts at the end of the path that goes to the right of the hut on top of Monclan. I think might be steeper than upper Linga, as the top is convex but awful snow and gets muddy by lunchtime (they are the ones visable to the left at the top of TS Conche).
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Imho part of the issue is that Linga and Torgon are (wide) gullies, whereas Morclan is a dome, which somehow makes it look worse than it is - and the surface is often horrible.
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Yeah I know the one you mean. It's can be nice when there's new snow, but it's often horrible.
Should it be a black though? For me, a black is a run where a part of it has consequences if you fall. Chermillon, you won't slide far, so it's not dangerous, but I agree the surface is usually horrid.
The run down the other side of morclan from the chair, Foliere, always spooks my wife. It's not even steep, but as @Matt1959 says, the sides of it fall away making it look narrower and airier than it is.
I still say though, one shouldn't assume to be able to ski all of the mountain at a limited level of ability. It's the PDS. There are hundreds of other options.
In any case, what work are you suggesting they do to make it pleasant?
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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It’s hammering down with rain down here in Prodains.
can anyone let us know how is it in Avoriaz village (and above) this morning please?
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Can't help with Avoriaz but I am lying in bed in Petit Chatel (1300m) listening to rain on the roof. Eased off a bit just now so maybe a 1000 start and hope it's white up top.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Taking an entirely unscientific approach, looking at the webcams it’s snowing down to at least Lindarets.
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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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@Robbyroo,
I’m in Avoriaz and it’s snowing. I’ve not been out the Apt yet. My guess is delayed opening for Fornet and the Arare areas
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@Robbyroo, snow on the balcony does not seem very Cohesive. So that might effect avalanche control and delays
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You know it makes sense.
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Chatel right now - sleety snow with some fat flakes. Ooh flakes definitely falling now - proper snow! Due to stop around lunchtime. My last ski day today - will have a late start.
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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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Down at Les Perriere's the steady overnight rain has just changed to wet sleet in the last 30mins.
I think I will get a Mont Chery pass today, higher base and cheap.
Update, a minute later and it's suddenly eased off.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Thanks everyone.
It’s snowing in Avoriaz and above and was a good depth of powder up there but now being compacted down.
Visibility is OK
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Our balcony in Chatel at c. 1270m is white and looks like snowline will hover aroud this elevation to lunchtime when ts expected to clear and winds abating a little. Should then be dry until Sunday when the second of three storm fronts pass through our area.
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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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Turned from rain to snow around 0900 over this side at ~1330m, now stopped and getting brighter. Just a cm or so settled on the car roofs at this level, temperatures four or five degrees higher than those of a couple of days ago. Looking up towards the top of Foilleuse it's clear that there was a lot more from a couple of hundred metres higher.
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Around 10cm of fresh at the top of Chalet Neuf. Powder it wasn't!
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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 wrote: |
| Our balcony in Chatel at c. 1270m is white and looks like snowline will hover aroud this elevation to lunchtime when ts expected to clear and winds abating a little. Should then be dry until Sunday when the second of three storm fronts pass through our area. |
When is the third storm due through? I'm arriving next Thursday for a few days.
Also, if it snowing next Thursday morning will the Morgins pass be easily driveable?
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| ciderinsport wrote: |
| Ozboy wrote: |
| Our balcony in Chatel at c. 1270m is white and looks like snowline will hover aroud this elevation to lunchtime when ts expected to clear and winds abating a little. Should then be dry until Sunday when the second of three storm fronts pass through our area. |
When is the third storm due through? I'm arriving next Thursday for a few days.
Also, if it snowing next Thursday morning will the Morgins pass be easily driveable? |
Looks like the Wednesday morning. Morgins pass is cleared regularly during snowfalls and and you should be fine on Thursday especially if you are renting a car form the Swiss side of Geneva airport with winter tyres.
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Thanks, I'm driving down and do have winter tyres!
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@ciderinsport, Just to reiterate that the pass, which is just a couple of hundred metres from here, is kept cleared in all but the heaviest snowfalls. So if there's a metre or snow falling in a couple of hours it might take them a while to properly clear it. Even on the couple of occasions I've known it like that it's never actually been closed (although it may have been signed as such down in the valley) so I've always managed to get through with the LR Defender. But I stress it's very unlikely to be a problem.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Anyone driving from UK to Chatel via the Morgins Pass in a LR Defender are going to have to worry more about their ears bleeding and their fillings falling out, than the pass being closed.
In 20 years and countless passes of erm... the pass, the only time I've seen it closed or impassable to a normal 2wd car with winter tyres was due to Covid. Its 1369m, not Scott and the Antarctic.
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Hasn't there been landslips or potential landslips that have closed the pass recently.
New climate change fear unleashed
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@BergenBergen, There was a huge rock fell on the road just the other side, a couple (or 4?) of years ago. Was closed briefly, the reopened with single line traffic. Similarly the road was closed for a few hours when the Gabelou lift collapsed a year or so later. Both freak events, not something one should try and plan for 
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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, Hah! It's not that bad actually. Drove over to Greece in it a couple of years ago and regularly do the ~250km between here and Alsace. A bit noisy, can't really hear the radio very well above around 130kph (it drives happily up to a good 150kph), but that apart not really too tiring.
I have made a few modifications to improve it, sound-deadening, throttle return spring re-sited to minimise foot pressure, drivers seat raised and moved rearwards, centre armrest, heated windscreen... I'll be fitting a cruise control (plugs into existing ECU) at some point, before I do another long trip.
Apparently the Puma engined, post 2006, models are better on most of these things, but then it's got much more limited passenger and cargo space compared with the side benches and tilt-forward rear seat row of the TD5.
Oh, and the pass was not closed during the COVID lockdown. All French/Swiss borders were briefly closed, for the first couple of weeks, but then the border post is some distance from the pass. TBF we were in Alsace for most of that time anyway...
Last edited by And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports. on Thu 23-01-25 18:56; edited 1 time in total
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The Abondance valley road was closed a couple of weeks ago due to more rock slides. The department is in the process of spending millions to stabilise the mountain and build galleries over the road. I avoid the valley road in heavy rain if possible.
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You know it makes sense.
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@Ozboy, That was another rock much lower down the valley, a ten-minute diversion was briefly in place but it was reopened to single-line traffic within a day or so. All gone now, apparently.
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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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Ha ha, all good to know! Each time I've been in the past it's been warm and sunny, so no problem!
Just for your amusement, my car is the least fun vehicle in the world - a VW Sharon and it will have 4 fat blokes in it and a trailer with 4 fat bikes on behind!
Yes, for the 3rd time in the last few years we are heading to Chatel in January to ride fat bikes on the snow! I have to wait a further 4 weeks till I get my skiing fix this year...
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Poster: A snowHead
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| snoozeboy wrote: |
Anyone driving from UK to Chatel via the Morgins Pass in a LR Defender are going to have to worry more about their ears bleeding and their fillings falling out, than the pass being closed.
In 20 years and countless passes of erm... the pass, the only time I've seen it closed or impassable to a normal 2wd car with winter tyres was due to Covid. Its 1369m, not Scott and the Antarctic. |
It was closed once in 2013-2014 winter to most cars, but the gendarmes let me through in my heavily modified Defender on proper snow tyres. It was an extremely eventful drive - mainly because a) my heating wasn't working (heated windscreen was, luckily), and b) I stopped to tow a Peugeot, driven by a local, out of a ditch. Driver was absolutely hammered. This was at about 8am. I assume he didn't die on the way home, as there was no news - I checked. I should have left him where he was, on reflection.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Chaletbeauroc wrote: |
@snoozeboy,
Oh, and the pass was not closed during the COVID lockdown. All French/Swiss borders were briefly closed, for the first couple of weeks, but then the border post is some distance from the pass. |
It was, if you were coming from the french side.
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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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QED - it's been closed twice, excluding COVID, when people didn't travel anyway, in as long as anyone here can remember.
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Can anyone report on this morning's conditions in Les Gets and Morzine please. I'm thinking of moving on today as the bottom of Les Perrieres piste is rock hard and I suspect it's the same up top. I'd rather not spend €47 to confirm it as it's no fun on a board without grip!
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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.
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@BoardieK, you might have moved on by now but we were over at Mt Chery (again) today and it was delightfully quiet and the snow was firm and grippy. Sun out all day and so lovely to be able to see.
Yesterday was just horrid and after a few runs around the Chavannes and Rosta, well very few actually, we called it a day and came home.
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@Pamski, Mt Chéry rocks (as always)! Don't tell anybody
@BoardieK, nice one, must've been lovely by the lake this afternoon. come back up Mon/Tue after the crowds have gone and we've had some more snow!
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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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Hi, can anyone tell me what it like in Lindarets at moment, as will be there in a week? I'm still a very much a nervous beginner, after just a few days of lessons last year and I have started late learning to ski. I have lessons booked, but would appreciate suggestions of a piste I can get to from the Ardent lift and just practice and build some confidence.
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@Biscuit4321, Conditions should be good in a week no need to worry. There is a nice beginners slope with a drag lift on the Linderets plateau to get you going and also the long green.
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FAQ
. Although it might be closed for wind.... 
but 5 weeks remaining 
