 Poster: A snowHead
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Official Resort Opening and Closing Dates
Aussois: from December 14, 2024 to April 11, 2025
Bessans: from November 1, 2024 to April 6, 2025 (Nordic) and from December 21, 2024 to April 6, 2025 (Alpine)
Bonneval-sur-Arc: from December 21, 2024 to April 25, 2025
La Norma: from December 21, 2024 to April 11, 2025
Val-Cenis: from December 14, 2024 to April 21, 2025
Valfréjus: from December 21, 2024 to April 11, 2025
One pass to rule them all
Haute Maurienne Vanoise offers access to its 350 km of alpine skiing and 200 km of Nordic skiing in a single package: the pass’partout.
This pass is offered to all holders of a “6 days and +” package purchased in one of the six resorts. An offer that includes unlimited skiing at the resort of purchase, one day of skiing in each of the other resorts in Haute Maurienne Vanoise and unlimited access to all Nordic areas.
177 euros per week or much less
Since the six resorts do not have the same strategy or the same prices for ski passes, the cost of this pass’partout will depend on the resort of purchase.
In Bonneval-sur-Arc, the 6-day package costs 177 euros for an adult (born from 1961 to… 2012), 144 euros for a child (born between 2013 and 2019) and 167 euros for a senior (born from 1950 to 1960).
But it is possible to pay significantly less in Aussois and Val-Cenis, two resorts that have opted for dynamic pricing. A practice that allows very attractive prices to be offered during off-peak periods and for those who plan their stay in advance. In Aussois, the 6-day pass from the opening on Saturday, December 14, cost only 83 euros for an adult (price on September 20).
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Wow - some incredible pricing there @davidof. The ski areas deserve to be better known in the UK - Mrs MA and I stayed at Val Cenis and had a brilliant time with a great value 6 day area pass (Eskimo Pass??) a few years back. We had a car and visited most of the areas. Some great skiing, on very quiet pistes. Excellent value accommodation too.
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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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Absolutely should be better known, but let’s keep it a secret 
We had a fabulous week of guided off piste there a number of years ago. Basically the same format as the SOPiB: going to whichever resort had the best snow each day.
For anyone who doesn’t know this valley runs from Orelle (the very far right hand side of the 3 Vallée) past the tunnel du Frejus (to Italy) and up through the Parc Nationalde de la Vanoise to the other side of Le Fornet in Val d’Isere.
It’s a great area for adventure, family holidays and off piste.
Also, Probably the only place a normal person could afford to buy a second ski home as much cheaper and quieter than the largely parallel Isère valley.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Absolutely should be better known, but let’s keep it a secret
We had a fabulous week of guided off piste there a number of years ago. Basically the same format as the SOPiB: going to whichever resort had the best snow each day.
For anyone who doesn’t know this valley runs from Orelle (the very far right hand side of the 3 Vallée) past the tunnel du Frejus (to Italy) and up through the Parc Nationalde de la Vanoise to the other side of Le Fornet in Val d’Isere.
It’s a great area for adventure, family holidays and off piste.
Also, Probably the only place a normal person could afford to buy a second ski home as much cheaper and quieter than the largely parallel Isère valley.
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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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@rickboden, I really wanted to go to Maurienne Valley this coming March as someone (maybe you) recommended Upguides in another thread. I enquired with them by email but they are "unlikely" to have the group guiding thing this season apparently. The chap I was emailing (Sylvain) suggested a book private full day guiding. I am travelling with my piste skiing wife so half days suit better. I ended up booking with Snoworks again. Somewhere new would have been great.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| sbooker wrote: |
| @rickboden, I really wanted to go to Maurienne Valley this coming March as someone (maybe you) recommended Upguides in another thread. I enquired with them by email but they are "unlikely" to have the group guiding thing this season apparently. The chap I was emailing (Sylvain) suggested a book private full day guiding. I am travelling with my piste skiing wife so half days suit better. I ended up booking with Snoworks again. Somewhere new would have been great. |
That’s a shame. Yes we went with Upguides and it might well have been me who mentioned it somewhere as I think the value is very underexplored especially firm an off piste. Skiing perspective . I originally booked a trip to go as a solo skier in a group of Swedes. There were lots of Swedes going with UP Guides then as the person running the company was a Frenchman married to a Swedish lady and they lived half the year in Sweden and half the year in France if I recall correctly. I wanted to go both for the adventure exploring somewhere new and for a Swedish immersion course to improve my Swedish (my wife catboden is Swedish)
It was somewhat ironic in the end from the accommodation point of view as a group of Swedes had taken a small hotel for themselves where there were no spare beds and an English friend of mine came along with me. We ended up in a hotel along with a Frenchman who was part of the group. My English friends spoke no French and the Frenchman barely spoke any English and I ended up as the pigeon translator in the middle.  It got especially difficult when the Frenchman started talking politics and kept wanting to discuss the rise of Marie Le Pen.
Anyhow, despite the bizarre dinner conversations we had a great weeks Skiing.
I have to say, I wouldn’t recommend having a guide for one day on your own there as a good solution and you will probably be better off with Snow works.
If your wife doesn’t ski at your level Have you considered Skiing with Club Med? Their prices include group lessons or guiding and your wife could Ski with a group at her level and get instruction as you go with a guided group if that was a priority for you. It’s standard format for all guests to return to the hotel for lunch every day so you could ski in the afternoon with your wife if you wanted to. They always appear expensive at first look but as they are all inclusive including lift, pass and lessons it’s worth taking the time to do a proper comparison. They are not at all exclusively French and there is always an international group at each level for non-French speakers.
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Just a bit more information, the railway line will reopen in the first half of 2025. So the terminus is St Jean de Maurienne rather than Modane with bus transfer onto resort, like last year. It is only one stop different and only affects resorts at the head of the valley: la Norma, Val Cenis, Bonneval sur Arc etc.
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@rickboden, thanks. I’ll get to Maurienne Valley one day and will check out Club Med.
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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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@rickboden, I don't blame you not wanting to get into politics. It is Marine Le Pen btw. Or Marie Antoinette depending on which he wanted to talk about 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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HMV Season pass purchased (€418)! We have visited the valley in the previous two seasons as well as quite a few other spots but it will be our main base this year.
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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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| MAthert wrote: |
| HMV Season pass purchased (€418)! We have visited the valley in the previous two seasons as well as quite a few other spots but it will be our main base this year. |
Good for you. What a great price for the whole season.
I would be very interested hearing about your experiences especially which of the resorts are the best to live in, nightlife, facilities, etc.
Enjoy
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While off from opening but it looks like Bonneval will get a bit of a dump over the next week.
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You know it makes sense.
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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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We spent most of today in Saint François Longchamp although had to access the area from Valmorel - Doucy as we were unable to reserve a whole area pass from the StFL website and prices between SFL and Valmorel were different. Bizarre. Good snow in the sunshine but not as much depth as in the Belledonne (les 7 Laux and Allevard), about 30cm of packed snow on piste. Icy where the canons have been working and windblown at altitude with stones and bare patches near ridges. Generally good skiing for Christmas week.
Of note another avalanche fatality involving off piste skiers without avalanche gear in la Norma. Risk 3 above 2200 meters today. We saw a lot of people obviously not equipped skiing off piste in SFL including a dad leading his 8 year old down quite a steep slope on the Lauziere.
Driving back the road up to the Vanoise was rammed all the way back to Montmelian and no doubt beyond to Chambery.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Glad you are enjoying SFL, we visited last year but wasn't a favourite. La Norma is the first resort of our season, and there are not many days to go now! Getting Le Tunnel on 8 Jan. Another tragic incident, I had a look at the avalanche incident report and it was a big slide. I know that area a little bit, I haven't done that run myself but the slope angle of that whole slope is over 35 degrees, given the weak layer and wind-loaded snow you can see how it ended like it did.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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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Happy New Year Maurienne ers! I'll be out in Val Cenis once again, from 1st February, with a couple of days up at Bonneval. And despite this being my 60th year on earth, I'm actually the fittest I've been since the multi fractured vertebrae incident 4 years ago, so I'm really looking forward to it.
Conditions don't look so great so far......
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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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| davidof wrote: |
This may be of interest to anyone touring in the Haute-Maurienne in the next weeks. Remember these PWL can become active again later in the season
https://pistehors.com/q3x1UJQB1g7SdbHcIekS/meteo-france-warns-of-terrifying-avalanche-situation-in-the-haute-maurienne
this information has gone into today's bulletin which notes
"Au-delà de 2400 m, ces plaques peuvent venir solliciter une couche fragile enfouie (grains anguleux), déclenchant en cascade une avalanche de grande envergure (cassure de plus d'1 m 50, taille 3) voire exceptionnellement une taille 4 (très grande)." |
Thank you for this information! Do you know if this finding applies only for the Haute Maurienne or is this a broader feature over the Western Alps?
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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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| Tristero wrote: |
Thank you for this information! Do you know if this finding applies only for the Haute Maurienne or is this a broader feature over the Western Alps? |
it seems to be to do with the thin snowpack in the interior ranges, but the avalanche bulletin will mention the PWL. It is mentioned for the Vanoise and Haute-Tarentaise currently but not the Beaufortain which has deep cover at altitude (well as high as the Beaufortain gets).
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@Tristero, the Val d'Isere avalanche, as well as some of those reported in the Hautes-Alpes over the weekend, were almost certainly due to this PWL.
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@davidof, thx
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Just back from a great few days in this fabulous Maurienne valley. we skied in Valloire on the 2nd jan then 3rd we went to Val-cenius. for the next week we went to VT but back to the valley for the last day on the 12th, we went to Orelle and just skied that area , mainly off piste for the 4 hrs before we had to drive back to Lyon.
I must say I'm very impressed with this valley and only found out about it this season which luckily for us a fellow snow head recommended.
I may even look to getting a group of friends together to buy something out there, only 1 hr 40 from Lyon airport as well, train connections in the valley seem possible as well.
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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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| davidof wrote: |
This may be of interest to anyone touring in the Haute-Maurienne in the next weeks. Remember these PWL can become active again later in the season
https://pistehors.com/q3x1UJQB1g7SdbHcIekS/meteo-france-warns-of-terrifying-avalanche-situation-in-the-haute-maurienne
this information has gone into today's bulletin which notes
"Au-delà de 2400 m, ces plaques peuvent venir solliciter une couche fragile enfouie (grains anguleux), déclenchant en cascade une avalanche de grande envergure (cassure de plus d'1 m 50, taille 3) voire exceptionnellement une taille 4 (très grande)." |
Indeed we have been at La Norma this week and have been riding off-piste trying to stick to safe terrain but that PWL is definitely going to be on my mind this season.
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PWL sorry to be lame but could you enlighten me ?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@bigtoe, PWL = persistent weak layer.
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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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It has been a great week with beautiful weather. Snow has held up well on the North facing slopes. Might go to Ausois over the weekend to enjoy the sun not sure what the snow is like over there.
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At Bonneval at the moment some fresh snow overnight hopefully it hasn’t blown away which seems to be affecting high altitude snow cover this season. Lot more on the way over the next couple of days not sure how dense it is.
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You know it makes sense.
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[quote="bigtoe"
I may even look to getting a group of friends together to buy something out there, only 1 hr 40 from Lyon airport as well, train connections in the valley seem possible as well.
It’s a great valley to own a place in and yes trains to the valley are possible, the Frejus tunnel reopens on 1st April so will be able to get trains into Turin once again.
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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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Looking good for next week; anyone out in the Val Cenis area next week?
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Poster: A snowHead
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Quite a good article in the (FT apparently) about Orelle
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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We were at Val Cenis and Bonneval last week. La Norma/Valfrejus this week and next.
Had a great time riding off piste in the trees today.
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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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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Bluebird day in Val Cenis today, great snow at top and through Termingnon sector. Looks to be sunny all week.
I normally come in mid January when it's definitely quieter, never queued before. Generally not crowded on pistes
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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We’re in Val Cenis this week after a week of chasing our adult kids around Serre Chevalier. Will have a day at Bonneval and possibly La Norma on Saturday. We were actually surprised how quiet VC was yesterday, compared to SCV and our 10+ previous visits here during February half term. The pistes were in lovely condition, Ramasse was probably in the best condition I can remember, but the powder off piste was very thin in places.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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We haven't been to the Maurienne for a few years so it's probably time to return. It's nice to hear of the good conditions but news of this PWL does not inspire confidence.
Now we are both retired we're hoping for an extended stay of probably 3 weeks around the end of March into early April. As usual, we'll be driving down so will have the use of a vehicle. But we'll need somewhere to stay - probably in the valley somewhere. These days we are more comfortable looking after ourselves so we're on the hunt for a small apartment to rent. Anyone got any bright ideas?
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@altis, have sent you a message.
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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 very sunny, best 2nd day skiing I've ever had, fitness wise, despite it being my 60th year! Probably because I can't remember. Pistes excellent at altitude. Light snow Friday and Saturday predicted; Bonneval for us too Thursday and Friday
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@altis, we have always stayed in Lanslevillard and used the same private French landlord for years. This time, as there are only 2 of us, we used the resort accommodation finder https://www.valcenis.com/en/ to select an apartment. As another option to consider, last year we had a second week at the end of March and went to Orelle, for the higher altitude. We booked a cheap apartment and our lift passes via the Orelle website and got a free upgrade to the full 3 Vallées pass.
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FAQ
