 Poster: A snowHead
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@mountainaddict, yes in Tignes debating currently due to return on Saturday. This one was definitely not stuffed looked like the nearby restaurant was keeping him very well fed.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Got back from VDS on Sunday, a strange week. 2 bluebirds days on spring piste's which I like. Then a rainy day with snow higher but nasty white outs, flat conditions which just made it crap. did an hour or so then pulled the pin.
Then the snow started on Weds and went all the way through to Friday morning, lifts closed. We did some silly stuff around the beginners slopes on our boards then spent the afternoon ion the pub.
Thursday was a bluebird, but as the lifts were gradually opened the queues were appalling and I had some proper rows with people who were so entitled they felt it was their right to climb straight into the front. Three elderly french women literally skied to the front and started pushing in in front of about 200 people, I shouted, get back in the queue. A French guy joined in and stepped out in front of them and stopped them getting on and made them go back. A 20 year old girl did the same, 4 people put their poles in the ground and faced her off shouting get back, but she totally blanked them and just pushed and pushed until she was in. The front of some people is mind blowing.
Saturday was still 2m of powder, bluebird and half empty so a great day.
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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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Quieter still today. Lovely spring snow this morning. Started snowing about 15:30 and still is.
Skied the top half of the Sache - rather agricultural where it joins the main run and it was skis off to negotiate the mud just before the Boisse bubble.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Heavy rain all the way from Geneva, early evening last night. After rush hour queuing to the border; a slow drive in awful spray; grocery shopping in Albertville; dropping family members en-route to Val Thorens in Moutiers; a McStop in Bourg St Maurice; thick fog; a dodgy 200m stretch of the road up to Tignes running like a river (Tarmac bubbling up and a complete covering of rocks and debris from a waterfall pouring onto the road. It felt quite dangerous  - like driving over a rocky river bed); and quite heavy snow above Les Brevieres, we finally arrived in Tignes about 23.00. Phew!
The streets and roads were clear, with a bit of wet snow starting to accumulate on cars and trees. Hoping that this will have improved conditions by we finally get out skiing at some point later today. We need to collect hire skis (£58 for two for five days via Alpinresorts.com, so better than easyjet ski carriage) and we're a bit shattered after a long day yesterday and bed at 01.45. Plus, the weather is currently a bit murky.
Having not booked the parking in advance - due to the hire car vehicle registration altering shenanigans via your online Indigo account (I couldn't be @r5£d with it...  but should really sort it in future - see below) - we just turned up at Golf car park in Val Claret, to find you have to convert your hourly-rate entry ticket to a long stay ticket to benefit from a better rate. We didn't need to do that in November. Unfortunately, we couldn't initially see how to do that... 
We spent ages at midnight trying to suss it out near the car park entrance (pressing the assistance button, to no avail etc) before spotting (by chance) a sign on a door near the exit pay machines. This told us to go to a pay machine in the stairwell, one floor down. I'd thought the 'payment machine' was the card machine at the exit barrier - ie where we paid last time we used the car park. I knew nothing about the payment machine one floor down. Sorted at last! (Though our 5 day stay cost the same as a 7 day stay, at €105. Serves me right! I must sort the advance booking and hire car lark - but they don't make it easy  )
Onward!! Things can only get better! 
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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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@mountainaddict, to add to your woes, there is virtually no parking restriction enforcement this week. It’s irritating when, like us, you have already payed. Folk (including a motorhome) have been parked outside our block and others all week when they are supposed to be used for loading only!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@mountainaddict, hopefully todays weather and snow have helped to make up for a long day.
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@Ski lots, I find a note on the windscreen saying I will report you at 0800tomorrow to the Police Municipale normally makes them shift! There are only 2 slots to unload outside my block so if they are full of parking dodgers it is very frustrating when I’ve been shopping.
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@chocksaway, too many spaces in our neck of the woods. The local police, gendarmes and the tow truck were at least shifting cars that were parked in the VC bus station as we came off the slopes.
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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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On refunds for the 17th April, got 1/7 refunded (I'll let them get away with that on the 6 day passes which allow for a 7th day) on the passes booked via the Tignes Reservation agency that sorted out our accomodation. Put in the claim via the website linked earlier and it rejected those passes that we'd bought through the agency (hence claiming that way subsequently) very quickly, but not heard anything yet about the two passes we did actually buy through the ticket office.
EV2 refunded 1/6 on the ski school lessons too without any more than a polite friendly letter required. Tom at Ultimate says their Ts & C's don't allow for refunds due to things outside of their control (fair enough) so am claiming via insurance for that (I think it is claimable, but I don't buy expensive policies so it might fail) as well as for a day of ski hire, but as we got that through AlpinResorts it was ridiculously cheap anyway.
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to add to your woes, there is virtually no parking restriction enforcement this week.
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I'm sure there would be if I chanced it
@Ski lots! 
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hopefully todays weather and snow have helped to make up for a long day
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After unpacking, sorting the apartment etc, we ended up not going to bed until about 01.45, so were knackered this morning. Ended up buying a Tignes half day ticket at 12.45.
After a gloriously sunny morning, we headed up the Grande Motte via Lanches. By the time we arrived at the top of the funicular (by chairlift), the top of the glacier was fog bound, so we didn't go up the cable car. Some lovely snow on a virtually deserted Genepy on the way down to Val Claret. After that, visibility came and went as we did a circuit via Tichot, Grattalu and Grand Huit lifts to Le Lac, then Chaudannes, Marais and Toviere lifts, finishing back in Val Claret.
Snow cover is extensive for the time of year; pistes were mainly very quiet; and snow conditions varied from packed powder at altitude to total mush in the sun. All the fun of the fair! And tomorrow's forecast looks quite decent too.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Today in the former Espace Killy was a repeat of yesterday - sunny morning, followed by cloud bubbling up and an overcast afternoon, with sunny spells and cloud on the tops. Went to the top of Le Fornet and back - some lovely snow conditions at altitude and very impressed by the new gondola. Just a bit of an upgrade from the old sardine can! And the speed feels like Concorde in comparison Loads of snow up there for the time of year - absolutely no sign of any tarmac yet on the Col de L'Iseran road.
Very quiet overall on the pistes. Even Santons gully was relatively quiet. Another plus point was Julian Clary piste down to Le Lac being as benign as I've ever seen it - very soft snow and no slick bits Mustn't grumble!
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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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You know it makes sense.
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And 200km of slopes open, great time to go I've often thought the long weekend at May could be a hidden ski bargain weekend
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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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@mountainaddict,
Shouldn't that be 'Ex-space Killy'?
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Poster: A snowHead
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| larkim wrote: |
On refunds for the 17th April, got 1/7 refunded (I'll let them get away with that on the 6 day passes which allow for a 7th day) on the passes booked via the Tignes Reservation agency that sorted out our accomodation. Put in the claim via the website linked earlier and it rejected those passes that we'd bought through the agency (hence claiming that way subsequently) very quickly, but not heard anything yet about the two passes we did actually buy through the ticket office.
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I got rejected by the STGM because we bought our passes at the reception of our residence (CGH Lodge des Neiges in 1800). Issued them an e-mail then, but haven't heard back yet.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Rather wonderful spring snow available all over the place today. Lots of options for the last week.
An extremely respectable showing from the Black Shoes telemarkers, never seen them attract so many. Huge procession of them down from the glacier. Some great fancy dress costumes - our favourite was the Roman chariot.
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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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@mountainaddict,
Shouldn't that be 'Ex-space Killy'? |
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| An extremely respectable showing from the Black Shoes telemarkers, never seen them attract so many. Huge procession of them down from the glacier. Some great fancy dress costumes - our favourite was the Roman chariot |
So that's what was going on @Ski lots! I saw a nun in ski boots at the bus stop - so convincing I didn't know if she was a real one Didn't manage a photo, but got one of this impressive telemarker yesterday - had to double check that it wasn't @Peter S on his way to Folie Douce below for a magnum of champagne 
And as you said, @Ski lots, some lovely snow conditions today - wintry packed powder on the Grande Motte. It looks more like January than nearly May at altitude!
It was certainly warm today, but not sure this was correct at the bottom station of Bollin Chair this afternoon
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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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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Wouldn’t a proper nun have got her wimple tweaked if she had be telemarking or indeed engaged in any snow based entertainment today?
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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 bet she was heading to the Palette de Deux Boules!
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Pretty good conditions continue, despite the lack of a deep freeze overnight. A bit lumpy from late morning for some of the lowland beginners that have turned up. But that made it quiet this afternoon.
Bit irritating that there was some disruption to the Toviere lifts this afternoon (and again tomorrow) to accommodate a concert. The place is in danger of forgetting it is a ski resort.
Currently showing 26’ on our balcony.
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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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| Bit irritating that there was some disruption to the Toviere lifts this afternoon (and again tomorrow) to accommodate a concert. The place is in danger of forgetting it is a ski resort. |
Agreed @Ski lots! We saw a notice at Tommeuses that it would be closed to normal punters from 15.45, but open to ticketholders for the concert at the top. Non-ravers were advised to use Mont Blanc and Borsat chairs to get back to Tignes - so a bit unfortunate if you unwittingly skied down to Tommeuses after 15.45 and had to hike back up to Mt. Blanc chair
Since our last Tignes visit in Jan 2023, we've noticed quite a change in the music situation there. I know I'm showing my age here, but practically every place on the mountain that plays music, now blasts out modern-day, hypnotic, tuneless rubbish, aimed at 18 year olds. Is there no such thing as lyrics these days FFS? Are they all just copying Folie Douce?
It has been particularly horrific skiing past the restaurant at the top of Bollin Chair anytime after about 3pm. Incredibly, no sooner had we ordered après ski coffee to sit in the sun outside Dahu restaurant near Tufs Chair in Val Claret, then the same racket started - at gig volume naturally. It was so bad, it was actually funny.
Angry of Val Claret
Still, we've had a brilliant time Another great day's skiing today. Absolutely deserted skiing down to La Daille on soft snow this morning. Ditto down Santons gully and also (incredibly) on Solaise this afternoon. Everywhere else was very quiet too.
We even witnessed the phenomenon of fresh snow over towards, and at, Le Fornet while there was none at Solaise and La Daille. I managed a few fresh tracks turns, in an inch or two of fresh, at Le Fornet
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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To be fair I think that has been taken into account. The MB is officially closed but it has been reopened for a couple of hours yesterday and today to cater for diverted folk.
Another stunning morning.
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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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Meant to query this during our Tignes stay (now on the way home from MAN)...Does anyone know the rationale behind no longer being able to board Fresse chair at the same boarding point/shared station as Bollin chair in Val Claret? Instead you first have to take Bollin, get off that, then board Fresse chair at the Bollin top station. This is clearly a permanent thing, as they've removed the Fresse turnstiles at the bottom (Bollin being a free lift).
As people boarding at the bottom are now getting on every other chair (as the Fresse ones remain empty), this has seriously exacerbated queues first thing on a morning. Must be great in peak season
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@mountainaddict, I think the reason is that they were having so many problems with the complex mechanics that caused so many stoppages that they just gave up running as two merged lifts and now operate it a two separate. It is difficult for small kids to climb up to the Fresse, but it does seem to stop less.
Another stunning day today with great spring.
Some very serious blasting going on this evening after lift closure. Can’t work out where it is at the moment.
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You know it makes sense.
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Angry of Val Claret - the rot set in when David Guetta (who I had never heard of at the time) 'played' after the NY fireworks (think 2009?).
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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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| mountainaddict wrote: |
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| Bit irritating that there was some disruption to the Toviere lifts this afternoon (and again tomorrow) to accommodate a concert. The place is in danger of forgetting it is a ski resort. |
Agreed @Ski lots! We saw a notice at Tommeuses that it would be closed to normal punters from 15.45, but open to ticketholders for the concert at the top. Non-ravers were advised to use Mont Blanc and Borsat chairs to get back to Tignes - so a bit unfortunate if you unwittingly skied down to Tommeuses after 15.45 and had to hike back up to Mt. Blanc chair
Since our last Tignes visit in Jan 2023, we've noticed quite a change in the music situation there. I know I'm showing my age here, but practically every place on the mountain that plays music, now blasts out modern-day, hypnotic, tuneless rubbish, aimed at 18 year olds. Is there no such thing as lyrics these days FFS? Are they all just copying Folie Douce?
It has been particularly horrific skiing past the restaurant at the top of Bollin Chair anytime after about 3pm. Incredibly, no sooner had we ordered après ski coffee to sit in the sun outside Dahu restaurant near Tufs Chair in Val Claret, then the same racket started - at gig volume naturally. It was so bad, it was actually funny.
Angry of Val Claret
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Angry of VC,
We probably has the same complaints from old fogies when we were age18 and listening to The Sex Pistols, Dead Kennedys, The Damned, Stiff Little Fingers, Souxsie And The Banshees et al .
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Poster: A snowHead
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| We probably has (sic) the same complaints from old fogies when we were age 18 and listening to The Sex Pistols, Dead Kennedys, The Damned, Stiff Little Fingers, Souxsie And The Banshees et al |
I'll look forward to anyone who was on the slopes around 1978/80 confirming that Pretty Vacant, New Rose and Alternative Ulster were blasting out full volume from mountain restaurants
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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 don’t recall any restaurants blasting out music in those days in Tignes/Val.. In Austria in small bars on the mountain there’d be some local tyrolean music which added to the unique atmosphere of places like St Johan. Nowadays with 90% wearing helmets I’m surprised anyone can hear much anyway. But I’d better not start a debate about my main criticism of helmets..
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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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| Quote: |
| I think the reason is that they were having so many problems with the complex mechanics that caused so many stoppages that they just gave up running as two merged lifts and now operate it a two separate. It is difficult for small kids to climb up to the Fresse, but it does seem to stop less. |
Fair dos
@Ski lots. Thanks for that.
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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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Presume they're going for the Ischgl type end of season concert vibe to attract people in. Probably a good idea from their perspective, probably gets a lot more money into the town than skiers at this time of year would. All for it provided those who want a chilled bite and drink are still catered for.
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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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Another glorious day today and again very very quiet this afternoon.
Did the T d Charvet this morning, which was interesting - great snow at the top, a bit of skis off skis on and fording the river at the bottom.
Looks like the weather is going to breakdown for the final weekend.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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what is the slush level / time?
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@8611, Today slush was developing on east faces from as early as 10:00 and certainly slushy at the top of Bellvarde and Toviere by late lunchtime. Most folk seem to pack in at lunchtime leaving unskied slushy corduroy at the sides of many pistes. We didn’t finish until well after 16:00 today abd it was great.
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Someone mentioned in another thread that slush is fine as long as there isn't too much traffic which makes it chopped up. Is it remaining better quality at 3000m or is sun just to strong at this time of year?
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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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@8611, I suppose it is better above 3,000, but we weren’t that high yesterday. Apart from a couple of heavily trafficked pinch points eg under the Bollin, the the amount of ‘chop’ seems to be self-limiting. Folk ski it once and stop. Other places such as the runs from the Merles seem to get little traffic and remain pretty smooth.
The more you ski the slush the more you build up tolerance to it.
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Is it remaining better quality at 3000m or is sun just to strong at this time of year?
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Grande Motte upper slopes (facing east-ish) were staying pretty decent into the afternoon earlier this week and the north-facing glacier at Le Fornet was even better No slush at either location, just soft snow.
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FAQ
