 Poster: A snowHead
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@chocksaway, thanks for the update, looks like wait and see. I seem to remember you saying that that whole site was planned to redeveloped. Prime plot to stand idle all season!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| bobski62 wrote: |
| ScarlettInSpace wrote: |
Apologies in advance for yet another parking question but I can’t see anyone has asked/mentioned this yet & I can’t find the answer on indigo - if we pre book parking in Golf (that is hopefully *not* a measly 1.9m height or we’ll get stuck!) are we able to leave and come back or is it once we’re in we’re in for the week?
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If you pre-book then yes, you can come and go as you please. Golf still has 2.35m headroom and hasn't shrunk or been unduly affected by the Folie earthquake. |
Awesome thanks so much 
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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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@chocksaway, other mountain gossip has it that the Arbina is closed due to some sort of involvement in a large money laundering scheme, with one of the other hotels who's name escapes me.
Last edited by Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see? on Wed 2-04-25 11:03; 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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| Quote: |
| If you pre-book then yes, you can come and go as you please. Golf still has 2.35m headroom and hasn't shrunk or been unduly affected by the Folie earthquake. |
I'm trying to book Golf for later this month - but (even after indicating it will be a hire car) it won't let me proceed without a vehicle registration... 
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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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I'm afraid the below (reproduced from page 1) is the best that the collective minds of Snowheads can offer, @mountainaddict.
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Rental Cars & Advance Booking
In previous winters this was a nuisance as the booking system insisted on a car reg in advance (which you don’t usually know until you have picked up the actual car). However, other snowheads did successfully make reservations using either a fictitious reg. or leaving it blank. In the subsequent email confirming the booking they have received a code and on arrival tapped this in to the machine at the barrier to gain entry. It's also needed later on to get out again so don't discard or misplace the code! On the current booking site I did see a box to click entitled ‘Hire Car’ so maybe Indigo have reacted to the complaints. Another snowhead has suggested that on the approach to the barrier, you stick a 'trade plate' to the front of your rental car, which you bring with you!
If you have booked in advance, whether your own car or a rental, on no account should you take a ticket at the barrier to gain entry. If you do, it will trigger a brand new booking which you will have to pay for (in addition to the one you have already paid for). If ANPR does not work, use the QR code you were sent; if that does not work, use the PIN code you were sent. If none of these work, buzz the office.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@stevew, Indeed! @Dr John, Potentially,, I know there are some unhappy investors whose money may have come via Switzerland (where else) who have threatened to take the law into their own hands.
Right. Winter came back for a day. Firstly a nod to the American Forecasting system (GFS) who called todays snow a while ago and they were bang on - a few cm overnight, more over to the east, especially Pissailas - The avalanche forecast mentions 30cm in total over there by tonight (quite a lot of avi risk 2). On piste it had landed on top of what had been pisted yesterday so every turn was different and at times it was quite tricky. Someone asked about Brevieres, so we went down eminently skiable, maybe not enjoyable. But the last steep pitch above Brev is brown, it's not yet closed but it would be a tricky ask - bail out down Arcosses. We then did a few laps of La Daille where vis was better but the snow soon lumped up. After a hot choc at Rosies we did a couple of laps of Grand Pre, we occasionally saw a milky sun, nothing more. Lunch was at Marmottes, which was like a sauna inside, and then a wander round the Palet sector, for an early finish as the light was tricky and the legs were aching.
The snow will peter out this evening, it will not refreeze overnight in the villages and it will soon warm up rapidly in the mainly sunny day. There will be some cloud - but expect soft pistes and a mad rush to Le Fornet, still a reasonable breeze. All the tables will be back out on the terraces. Friday will also be warm and sunny with a mixed amount of cloud. Saturday and Sunday may see the odd cloud but warm and sunny.
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I saw on Tignes social media channel today a very wintery looking scene.
It was me that asked about Les Brevieres @Chocksawy. I think we'll spend our first day up in Aiguille Percée area re-finding ski legs, then 3 days of morning lessons. Will then try and get over to Val D'Isere.
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Thanks for the updates @chocksaway
We are heading out this weekend and staying in VC.
Skied Tignes a couple of times now but never spent long over in Val, so want to make the most of the skiing over that side and up the pisaillas glacier. What’s the best route over from VC to Le Fornet & the glacier please? Assume it’s perfectly doable there and back in a day?
Thanks
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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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Thanks @bobski62. Nothing is ever straightforward!
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@EvieTee, It’s doable there and back in a morning! From VC take Bollin and Tufs, then ski down to La Daille and get the bus to Laisinant. This avoids Val centre at rush hour. Up Laisinant, ski down to the new spangly Vallon gondola and voila down to Cascades chair. Do all 5 runs and lunch at Cascades resto.
If it’s not busy and the Team is up to Face de Bellvarde, (Santons may well be shut by then) you can do Bollin, Tufs, Marmottes down Face, Solaise bubble, Glacier Express, the ‘up and over’, Vallon Gondola but the bus route is quicker to get ahead of the crowds at Pissailas.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Amazing! That’s so helpful thank 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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I think I am going to invoke my inner Joanna Lumley - Absolutely Fabulous!
Armed with the knowledge of more snow to the East, ski bud and I set the alarms and were in the 2nd Tov Gondola (pesky instructors exercising their rights). The skies were blue with a few contrails and it felt warm. In the first few down to La Daille (non stop obvs) and just missed a bus! On to Laisinant and up the Vallon to Pissailas - @EvieTee, we were there by 1005! Had a first run down between the pistes which was a bit varied but very good. But the word was out and the Cascades queue had grown large and there was a lot of the reckless no idea and no gear brigade flying around. So we left them behind and headed to Grand Vallon which was just great - boot deep and powdery - not light and fluffy generally which is not surprising given the winds and the temperatures - but very flattering skiing and only half tracked out. So we did it again, even in that 45 minute gap the snow had compacted a little so we decided on an early lunch at Cascades. Another 2 runs including right to the top of the T Bar (got to get the stats in with the visitor!), the pistes up there were divine, the snow silky smooth and, well, pick your own description  . Then up and over to Arcelle which, to be frank is now well past its sell by date. Lower down there are brown patches and is generally in poor condition, which was a bit of a surprise. Home via Rhone Alpes - good condition, OK/Orange - good with lots of blue lines from the racing and Trolles which was also good.
Out to an Immersive Experience in the Maison de Tignes tonight - basically a VR tour of Tignes from the air (I think!)
Tomorrow will be warmer and there will be variable amounts of cloud and sun - the forecasters can't decide. The US think there may be light snow showers late afternoon. Saturday - more of a consensus warm and sunny with a few fluffy sheep on the peaks (Cumulus Type 1). Sunday - the same. Again for the next few days its going to be above zero during the night. So the early bird will get the worm on the nice pistes before they chop up, keep an eye on the sun and be ahead of it in directional terms.
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Love it
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You know it makes sense.
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I'm keenly aware that we don't want this to become a Tignes/VdI parking thread, but I wonder if anyone had any thoughts or knowledge of what happens if the Indigo Neo website won't let you pre-book because EVERY carpark in the EK is listed as full for the coming week. I'm trying to book for Brev, but could relatively easily park in Les Boisses or even Le Lac if needed (via the bus). Do you @chocksaway, think they will relax parking on street in the stations, or is it just a dastardly ruse to prevent us getting the discounted prebook rate and to charge us by the day on the drive-up rates, and there will actually still be spaces?
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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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@rainman, To be honest I don't understand. Most of the car parks are half empty this week, and the 'motoring forecast' is for not many more cars next week. The vast majority of season pass holders have gone home but they don't offer a chance for us to declare we've gone (eg gove me E10 for every week I chop in and charge a E100). So there will be plenty of places through the resort - Brev is not over blessed with places though. Frankly I would just rock up to the parking office in Le Lac if you can't get in in Brev at the Barrier.
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Poster: A snowHead
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@chocksaway, no, it's peculiar. Thanks anyway!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Firstly, the Immersive Experience last night in the Maison De Tignes (top floor). It's very good and is free to all - but there might be a queue. Its a VR thing (first time for me) you start with looking around Tignes as if you are in a drone and then you go back in time via a CGI "Wallace and Grommit' time machine and jump forward through important stages of Tignes History from 1926 onwards. It's a mixture of drone footage, CGI and old photos with commentary in English - well worth the trip.
This morning was warm so we popped up to the top of Vanoise (cable car busy) and tried the off piste but it was still too firm at 945 so we stuck to the beautifully groomed corduroy of Genepy which was empty. I then spied some folks coming nicely down the North Face of Borsat. So Tufs and Borsat and down we came in partially tracked compacted powder - a few stones on the traverse in, but essentially fab. By now we became aware of student groups emerging so we opted for an early lunch at the Corner for a Yummy Sausage Roll and then went in search of the elusive spring snow on the pimples in the Chardo Bowl. Not perfect corn snow but pretty close - maybe tomorrow. By now the temperature was really up so we retreated to the pistes and went for the top half of Sache which was good. But we aborted down Arcosses as we saw how bad lower Sache was the other day. As for Arcosses I'm just glad we were there early afternoon and not early morning as the moguls are horrifically shaped, not a run for kids! To finish off the day it was up Tov down Creux and back down Trolles.
There was quite a bit of cloud late afternoon and I'm not ruling out the odd flocon early evening. But by tomorrow morning the skies will be blue and it will be another hot day with light winds, there might be the odd cloud about. Sunday will be the same. Monday will thankfully see temps drop a bit, sunny periods and a bit more cloud.
For the travellers, firstly the ventilation system in the tunnel out of Moutiers failed this afternoon failed for a couple of hours causing jams as they had to shut it, that is now fixed. So if you hear rumours don't worry. We are expecting 24k vehicles coming up and 20k going down the Tarentaise, a few more than last week so really another quiet week. Goinf down difficult to see queues building up at all. Coming up, you might have to wait for the lights at Aigueblanche for a few minutes.
For the fliers, no real problems forecast. Maybe a bit bumpy early doors in the UK and a bit misty at Luton. So all should be good Extinction Rebelling permitting!
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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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@rainman, what are your arrival and departure dates? These can have a bearing on what shows as full or available.
As an example, if you head to book Brevieres Nord, and land on the booking page with the default dates of starting today and ending today, it will be "complet" because pre-booking on the day is not allowed. Soon as you change to, for example 12th-19th April, you can go ahead and book.
I believe there's also a cut-off for pre-bookings of the Thursday of the week before your stay, which you may be falling foul of
Just to reassure you, the carparks are rarely full during the last month of the season, so just rocking up should be fine too, especially in Brev.
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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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@bobski62, I think it may be the cut-off we’ve fallen foul of. Will keep fingers crossed. We’re arriving tomorrow!
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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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Out in a couple of weeks. What’s the collective thoughts on getting ski’s serviced? Was previously in St Martin back in February and had them serviced beforehand. Bases good but edges not so.
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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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Is there a free beginners lift in Tignes 1800 or nearby? We'll arrive next saturday and my wife wants to check out if she is able to ski after she twisted her knee in january.
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@Tristero, 2 linked magic carpets.
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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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@Looleeuk, @Grizwald, You could follow what I do.....
@Tristero, Yes, there's a couple of magic carpets just above the Gondola station with gentle nursery slopes. They will be slushy post lunch and might be a bit patchy by next week. You could also get the free bus to Lac where there are a number of free lifts - in order of knee assessment, magic carpet, pass on magic carpet go to Rosset Chair, pass on Rosset Chair go to Almes Chair, pass on Almes Chair - go to lift pass office at foot of slope. There's also the Lavachet Drag which is a nice wide easy slope. Good luck to Mrs Tristero.
Right, as today was transfer day it was blissfully quiet. So, having a visitor means you have to summit the Grande Motte at least once and as I avoid queues then it was this morning. Blue skies with a bit of haze in the long distance. A few clouds bubbled up in the afternoon and it was warm warm warm. So up Paquis and the Funi and up to the top in the 'second can' of folks - a touch of sightseeing and selfies and then we did "The Ben Plus 6". Thats from the top of the Motte (3456m) to Val Claret (2105m) non stop - 1351m of descent which is 6m higher than Ben Nevis. (I'll get my coat). Following that we decided to go off Piste and do the Grande Balme via Col de Ves chair. The traverse is a bit bumpy but the main face was still reasonable to good, snow wise, the chalky snow has suffered a bit in the recent heat even though it's north facing. A restorative hot choc at the Aspen and off to the Pimples for Spring Snow - a bit earlier than yesterday as it was warmer and we had 2 great runs. As it was now approaching lunch we came down Palafour - getting chopped up - up Tov and down JC to Lavachet - good snow even on the steep bit. Bacon Butty and mug of tea at La Catine. Top. As its too late to do further off piste after lunch (at this time of year - in my book) we did a Paquis and then back up to the Grande Motte where the snow on piste is still great, a descent to Vanoise from the top then up and back to Val Claret where the last 100m vert was softening up (3pm). We got the bus back as we didn't fancy the slush fest down Palafour.
Okey dokey - the weather - tomorrow same as today. Monday will be mostly sunny and should be 3 or 4 degrees cooler and there will be a few more clouds about during the day but the sun will still be shining through between them. Tuesday back to the sun and similar temps to Monday.
For the travellers, no problems forecast for flying.
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| brovert wrote: |
| Out in a couple of weeks. What’s the collective thoughts on getting ski’s serviced? Was previously in St Martin back in February and had them serviced beforehand. Bases good but edges not so. |
I've just picked up my off-piste skis from Vallon Blanc and Damien has done a nice job on them, as usual. They have a monster Wintersteiger machine and a tech who knows how to use it. I've also found any of the Precision Ski outlets are fine if you want something fairly standard - all the skis to be serviced go down to their workshop in Seez to be done overnight on a machine.
Vallon Blanc are just across the side street from the Escale Blanche restaurant by the snow front in Tignes Le Lac. They close for the season 13th April tho.
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You know it makes sense.
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Scorchio! Blue skies and sunshine and really warm out of a light breeze. So, it being Sunday the idea was to go to Fornet before everyone else found it. So down to La Daille, bus to Laisinant and onwards. On the Cascades chair by 1001! We did 5 laps (including the Montets T Bar 3 times) before it got busy. The pistes have now hardened, but still very enjoyable but not quite the velvet corduroy of last week. To kill a bit of time we even did the mini boarder cross twice (What do you want to be when you grow up Chocksaway? Dunno, I think I'll leave that a few more years.) Lunched at Cascades in the sun and then down to Fornet village which was only soft for the schuss into the village at 1300. Back via Bellevarde and Tommeuses.
After a quick change, we then drove round to Reculaz and walked down to the lakeside to do a bit of Chock's tour guide for the visitor covering the Dam etc etc. The 'top village' was just visible but still very evocative despite the waters not being low enough to see the original village of Tignes.
Back home and its QDC tonight - what a tough day in the Alps!
Tomorrow same as today - maybe 2 degs cooler, one or two forecasts have a bit more cloud.
Tuesday - same as Monday - bit more cloud in the afternoon.
Wednesday - sun with fluffy clouds.
Very little change till Easter 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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@Ski lots, @chocksaway, great advice, thank you both! We'll have a car, so might as well be going directly for Le Lac.
Another question, do you have a recommendation for a restaurant in 1800? We're with three families, so all in all 13 people, youngest is 8 plus three other pre-teens. Should be nice, but not too chic, if you know what I mean.
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Poster: A snowHead
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@Tristero, I think you have very little choice in 1800. Only a couple of places to eat at the moment. I’m not sure the pizza place would be suitable for your group and the ‘1800’ place is distinctly unimpressive in my very limited and a little dated lunchtime experience. I would have thought you would be much better a jumping on the bus up to Le Lac/Lavachet where you have much more choice. Also nicer places in Brev.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Came across a uni student yesterday who'd never skied and for some reason got straight on the Toviere. Tried to help him but he couldn't even stand up in skis without falling over. Not sure what he was thinking, have a feeling he may have been egged on by his friends who promptly deaerted him
Fortunately an ex-instructor came along and after suitably chastising him managed to at least show him how to snowplough.
Saw him a few times as we lapped the area and he'd managed to get down to VC without killing himself or someone else which was something of a miracle.
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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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I've seen this lots of times before down Henri off Tovieres in the first week of April when there seems to be a lot of Uni trips.
Then again I also saw an Apex 2100 race kiddie nearly wipe out a toddler last week as well by choosing to do a close pass at warp speed.
I think there should be a yellow/red card system attached to lift passes and any instructor with a professional qualification in France should have the power to issue sanctions. Admittedly difficult to police but I've seen so many incidents over the years something does need to be done.
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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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@Tristero, I agree with @Ski lots, . I don't normally do poor reviews, just good ones as recommendations. But we went down to Boisses and were disappointed with O1800 and its sister bar CavO1800. The resto is very average and heavily overpriced compared with Lavachet and Lac.
Another glorious morning but there was a bit more cloud than expected this afternoon. A reasonable breeze got up which meant some of the firmer slopes softened up earlier. The area close to the villages is busy with kids and some distinctly average skiers moving down the mountain in hordes. In soft conditions this is a bit of a recipe for disaster so we knocked of at 2 as they all came out again!
First off we went marmotte spotting behind the Bec Rouge, you can get quite close there. As we went up Palafour again we spotted a couple getting amorous - seemingly "comme les chiens" is the modus operandi, to use a French phrase. 
After that we popped down to Boisses for some peace and quiet and then up Marais and round to Val Claret via Merles. Grand Pre next and unfortunately the pisteurs were having to look after 2 folks who had twisted their knees getting off the Chair in two separate incidents.
AN early lunch at Rosee Blanche in the sun (plenty of snow down there - especially if Raye is open as its shaded!). And then it was to the top of the Motte for a run down to Vanoise, up and then Genepy and home via Trolles. The runs up there were a little softer but still great. The proglacial lake where Rossolin used to be is now starting to show water. There is also quite a lot of avalanche activity about, some really big ones (Super Arcelle) some on closed pistes/naturides (Epilobe) and some that have started as surface slips due to heating that have then 'cascaded' the "Full Monty" right down to Ground level.
The weather tomorrow will be similar today with sun and varying amounts of cloud, especially later. The breeze should drop a bit. Wednesday will be more sunny periods and a bit cooler with increasing cloud late afternoon and maybe a dusting up high, more so to the East where there may be 3 or 4 cm of snow. Spring returns fully for Thursday and Friday with warm sunny weather.
Be careful off piste.
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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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I havent seen a single marmotte yet - normally we spot them under Bollin/Fresse, Tichot, Chaudanne, but not seen a single one this year 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Great spring skiing off-piste with ESF this morning in Tignes, lovely soft snow over in the Sache area. We then skied down to the bus stop between VC and Les Lac. Really enjoyable spring snow/corn snow all morning. Lunch with the son then laps with him on Les Lanches until we were done. Some people skiing under the P1 and P2 couloirs where there had been some considerable spring slides, it looked risky at 3pm..
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@Extremophile, Shhhh, under Palafour before 10 or ski down the blue just behind Bec Rouge, turn right just before the entrance to the mini snow park. There was about 15 this morning. Managed to get a video of two boxing. Again early bird wins, if they hear you they may disappear, but if you are patient they soon come out.
@JayDub, Your last sentence may win this season’s understatement of the year prize!!
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Looks like no snow forecast but maybe rain next weekend ? i hope the snows still good from next sunday - getting a little concerned. Do i need to be or is there plenty of 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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Still plenty of snow at the moment, pistes are lovely in the morning, obviously softening up pretty early in the day especially lower down but still perfectly skiable. I'd imagine the pisteurs will keep everything good for a while yet.
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| Charlie333 wrote: |
| Looks like no snow forecast but maybe rain next weekend ? i hope the snows still good from next sunday - getting a little concerned. Do i need to be or is there plenty of snow ? |
Apple weather is saying there is some snow forecast next week? not sure if this has changed overnight
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FAQ
