 Poster: A snowHead
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Morning skiing up at Jaillet and lunch in La Giettaz. Visibility isn't great, it's been snowing on and off (but not loads). Fortunately a lot of the runs are below the treeline and therefore good options at the moment for the contrast. Pea souper at the top of Le Torraz as its above the treeline. Plenty of snow down to La Giettaz 1200m, although it's noticeably heavy snow on the last little bit, maybe 1400 to 1200.
Quite a few ungroomed red/blacks leading me to slightly regret taking super narrow slalom skis, but the forecast looks good for piste skiing next 3 days.
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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JayDub wrote: |
Hi Folks, we are based in Les C for HT. what is the best way to get to St Gervais and Megeve? We have car and are happy to drive if this is the best option. Thank you. |
For StG you can drive, there is free multistory car park in town center or at Goldola but as with all things at HT they do get busy. You also have to option of the Y84 bus if you want a beer.
For Megeve, if you want to go to the town then only option is to drive down to StG then round to Megeve, if you want to ski Megeve, you can do that from StG uplift, perhaps easier to Drive if you are going to La Jaillet area, car park at station.
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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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Rowlski wrote: |
@bobmcstuff, I reckon Bar Pizzeria des Alpes will have the rugby on. Had sports on when we were in there. It has a great selection of beers and we really liked it, much more to our tastes than the fancy high end bars you mainly find in the centre with the Gucci clad crew! |
Main issue with this is it seems to close at 10pm and today's game starts 2115 local. Although since it's France playing I assume a lot of places will have it on anyway.
Went to Bar S last night for a quick couple on arrival and was very annoyed to be paying 12 euros for very average beer. 7.50 at the place by the slope in La G. I keep thinking there should be a pubby ski resort bar somewhere but apart from the tabacs I don't really see anything.
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Jonny996 wrote: |
@Chico, it’s a stunt to say that you CAN ski down to the village, it’s rarely worth doing. |
Haha, yes, fully agree after seeing the state of it on the gondola up to Bettex! The tunnel with no snow in it may prove extra challenging for people.
A good first day but visibility was poor all day so a bit of route finding fun in a new ski area for us, but some snow around lunchtime was welcome. The snow was in pretty good condition though and even in some of the more well trafficked areas there didn’t seem to be too much ice.
Meant to be colder tonight and a clearer day tomorrow. Looking forward to it. Now off to find somewhere to watch the rugby.
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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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@Chico, we had the same problem orientating ourselves in a new area with barely 10 yards of visibility at times but still enjoyed the day. Fingers crossed those forecasts are correct as the snow (on and off piste seems fantastic).
We did go on the run home. As you suggest it was more of an obstacle course than ski run but quite good fun and we were happy because for the first time all day we could see where we were going.
Enjoy today.
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@Jonny996, thank you for your help.
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Was busy up the Mont d'Arbois side today. Some runs scratchy in places but generally good overall.
Ref getting into Megeve from Les Contamines - couldn't you also go to St Nicolas or Le Chattrix lifts and access from there? Not sure what parking is like but skiied down to Chattrix today and I liked the runs down there.
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bobmcstuff wrote: |
Was busy up the Mont d'Arbois side today. Some runs scratchy in places but generally good overall.
Ref getting into Megeve from Les Contamines - couldn't you also go to St Nicolas or Le Chattrix lifts and access from there? Not sure what parking is like but skiied down to Chattrix today and I liked the runs down there. |
From les Contamines, with or without a car, main Lift in St Gervais is easiest and quickest.
Busy even in Cote 2000 today, realy busy for accidents all over our side of the resort. Nothing major luckily.
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@Idris, I have no proof of anything but I do feel like it’s been busier in StG village than in previous years, interesting to hear you say that it’s been busy even in Côte 2000
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I wondered if the valley had got all the day trip traffic today that couldn't get to the Tarentaise.
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 snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Had a good day today. Headed over to Megeve side with the aim of getting to Cote 2000 but got a bit lost so didn’t get quite that far along the mountain. Was still a great morning above the clouds. Heading back to Bettex we saw one of the green runs into Megeve looking very worse for wear with basically exposed mud in the steeper places lower down.
Things still seemed to be holding up nicely on the St G side though and we lapped Finances a few times and it was in good shape.
Aiming for Mont Joly tomorrow as long as we can improve our map reading!
As for the town, it seems busy, although I have nothing to compare it too. Most of the restaurants seem to require a reservation though, so obviously there are enough people here to make that a necessity.
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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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@Chico, at the top of the key lifts they had long yellow signs with cote 2000 and arrows on them when we did it a few weekends ago, so keep an eye out and follow them!!
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@kitenski, Sadly we realised this too late! It was a fun morning though.
On a related note, does anyone have any intel on the Chevreuil red run down from Mont Joly? I’m quite keen to give it a go but my friends are a bit more hesitant. I don’t want to take them on something they can’t ski safely or that would put them off. How ‘red’ is it?
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 You know it makes sense.
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@Chico, it is fairly red! To be fair we skied it in less than ideal conditions last Saturday, it was blowing a howling gale up there and the snow was pretty cut up.
If you have nervous people with you it's worth being aware that there's a very narrow stretch which a few people were struggling with, then fairly steep and mogully for a bit after that. I would say that it's definitely a harder red than many in the area. In good conditions after some nice fresh snow it might be a bit more benign but would be wary with nervous skiers.
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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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@Rowlski, thanks for the intel. I tried replying earlier but had shaky signal. We decided not to do it in the end. Your insight ,and a chat with a chap on the chair lift who’d done it yesterday and said it wasn’t fun, was enough for us to change our plans.
A lovely day today though, once I’d got used to the ‘Sunday drivers’, some of whom drive every fast! Last day tomorrow sadly. We’ve had a lovely time here and would definitely come back again.
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 Poster: A snowHead
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Chico wrote: |
@Rowlski, thanks for the intel. I tried replying earlier but had shaky signal. We decided not to do it in the end. Your insight ,and a chat with a chap on the chair lift who’d done it yesterday and said it wasn’t fun, was enough for us to change our plans.
A lovely day today though, once I’d got used to the ‘Sunday drivers’, some of whom drive every fast! Last day tomorrow sadly. We’ve had a lovely time here and would definitely come back again. |
Same for us! Just a 4 day trip for us.
Re: needing a reservation, I managed to get a reservation for bistrot megeve on the day yesterday but only if I did it all in French! The maitre d was turning lots of people away but she let me book at about 8.15 (after the rugby) for 9, but without letting me say a word in English (if i tried to say one word in English she made me start again in French). My schoolboy French held up better than I thought it would. We had a very nice cote de bouef and a bottle of rhone red, which was also lovely. The bill was not cheap though...
Nice little place and I like the town, but I could do with a wider range of budget options - I like a nice expensive meal as much as the next person, but maybe not 4 nights on the trot. Apart from a couple of tabacs I've not found any more pubby type bars eirher, normally in ski resorts there's something a bit more dive-y with a younger crowd (I went to Verbier last year - wasn't my choice - and that's probably got an even posher rep than Megeve, but there was still a proper pub style bar that had sports on).
Due to hangover and a comedy of errors it was a late start today. Cote 2000 was really nice, good snow and very quiet compared to Mont d'Arbois and Rochebrunne. I guess people are put off by those two drag lifts, but having skiied a lot in Scotland they really don't bother me.
Unfortunately took a wrong turn and ended up in St Gervais, and got an uber back to Megeve as the bus route was convoluted... add it to the list of errors today!
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Chico, no problem, glad it helped and that charlirlift guy agreed! Glad you had a good time, we did the same with a 4 day weekend. Decent skiing area but...
@bobmcstuff, definitely agree that it could do with a few more choices, particularly on the bars. Too many places that were a bit over the top. The Chez Olivia creperie / fondu place was a restaurant we found that was a bit more down to earth but could do with more like that and less Gucci/Prada style establishments
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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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Rowlski wrote: |
@Chico, no problem, glad it helped and that charlirlift guy agreed! Glad you had a good time, we did the same with a 4 day weekend. Decent skiing area but...
@bobmcstuff, definitely agree that it could do with a few more choices, particularly on the bars. Too many places that were a bit over the top. The Chez Olivia creperie / fondu place was a restaurant we found that was a bit more down to earth but could do with more like that and less Gucci/Prada style establishments  |
We really liked A La Montagne - small burger place - but it is very small so good idea to book. Seems to be the chef's passion project and has an open kitchen.
Lovely up at Jaillet today and very quiet - most runs in pretty good nick.
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Got back at the weekend after 2 weeks which seemed to include most types of weather - snow, rain, foggy, cloudy, sunny. Amazingly the snow remained in reasonable skiing condition throughout although if the rain had lasted longer (gave way to snow overnight) it would surely have suffered.
Our own skiing was decidedly unambitious, my wife had had a loss of confidence after two falls last year (neither actually having anything to do with her skiing) so it was about her having lessons and then consolidating things on slopes of her rather than my choosing. By the end she had recovered her style and was happy to head all the way over to La Giettaz one day so things are looking up.
It was our first experience of the new L'Alpin gondola which seemed to be pretty good at soaking up the weekend crowds. The builders clearly have to come back to finish the top station, for example there is roofing felt but no tiles, but all the functional aspects were in place. One question is whether the increased capacity will overload the upper lifts; it is interesting that the Clairiere run (from top of the Monts Rosset chair to the Nants chair) has been downgraded from red to blue, presumably a ploy to encourage more people to use that alternative route to the ridge.
And we enjoyed the amenities of the town (well our favourite restaurants and bar) as usual, having fun meeting up with a few folk including a couple of Snowheads. Only problem was me getting a hacking cough which wouldn't go away - in the end my wife decamped to the sofabed to get some sleep. It is at last slowly going.
@Chico, @Rowlski, you didn't miss much by avoiding the runs off Mont Joly. I sometimes wonder whether they only exist so they can claim a highest point of 2570m - and even that is a con, they give the height of the peak of Mont Joly and the chair only reaches a couple of hundred metres below that. Nearly half the red is a narrow steep track which isn't much fun, and while it does open out into quite a nice pitch you then end up on the runout to return to the rest of the area or back to the chair. The black is rather windswept and is convex meaning you can't see quite how steep it gets ahead of you. There are plenty of much more enjoyable runs.
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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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Quote: |
that's probably got an even posher rep than Megeve
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I think only with posh English - and maybe Megeve likes to stay posh and ensure the Hooray Henrys go elsewhere. You don't go to Megeve for budget eating out but you can buy lovely stuff to fix your own meals reasonably enough.
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@bobmcstuff, I'd forgotten about La Montagne, we went there on the Saturday evening and koved it, great food. We somewhat pigged out though with a large burger followed by more beer somewhere else and felt like lapsing into a food coma!
@j b, I did do the red run off Mont Joly and know what you mean. We also got absolutely wind blasted on the chair on the way up to it which wasn't the best experience though it was quite cool and interesting to see little tornados forming on the ridge before they dissipated 10 or 20 metres away, had never seen that before!
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I also agree about Mont Joly. The worst part about it was the archaic lift up, which kept stopping. But we were happy to tick the run off and move on. Everywhere else was brilliant and we especially enjoyed Cote 2000, which seemed a bit quieter on Sunday, apart from a 200 metre queue on the linking drag lift mid morning. Once we were through that it was a terrific day.
Home now sadly (hairy minibus trip back last night as queues on the roads put our check in time in jeopardy) but had a great time. Thanks to all on this thread for your extremely useful insights.
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Coming out for a trip for 4 days from Thursday, we have a hire car and staying cheaply down in the valley near Sallanches so can be flexible to travel around a bit in the area, is it worth going further up the Valley to Praz Sur Arly at the weekend to avoid the bigger crowds? Any insight on the current conditions or benefits of heading over there instead of Megeve?
We've previously skied all of the evasion area on a couple of trips and have really enjoyed it but potentially keen to look further afield for at least one of the days.
Many Thanks!
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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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Got back last night after a great trip. Really enjoyed the area and the town, although was surprised at how booked up the restaurants in town got. Will definitely book ahead next time round as there were a couple of places we wanted to try that we just couldn’t get in to.
Thanks for all the great tips from everyone. Hopefully there will be some more snow for people coming soon.
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am considering contamines at half term, never been there before, a couple of q's is there enough to go at for a week..... my family ski mainly piste rather than off, whats the snow like as some of its quite low and I remember a trip to megeve some years ago which was very green...... cheers
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 snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@ajc2260626, Les Contamines punches well above its weight - but its weight is that of a 100km (from memory) resort. Almost all of its pistes are really satisfying to ski and make you want to go right back and repeat them, but it would be a lot of repeats over a whole week. It would be most unusual for you to encounter much green in the main ski area in February, snow usually stays good there when it is suffering elsewhere, though the home runs (downloading is more common) may be slushy at the bottom.
It would be easy to plan a bit of variation with a couple of days skiing from St Gervais (assuming reports are of decent snow there). Obviously if you are driving the link is easy, but even if not the bus service is pretty frequent. You wouldn't get that early a start, the first reasonable bus is 0900 from the Les C telecabine (a bit later from other bits of the village) with buses back 1617 and 1722. (If you buy the Evasion Mont Blanc pass both areas are covered).
@jedster is the local expert.
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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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@j b, thanks for that, will have a car so travelling is an option.
Obviously feb half term so will be busy, but how busy is busy? We usually go Tignes and although busy seldom a lift queue but bigger area and less accessible than contamines……..
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Quote: |
Any insight on the current conditions or benefits of heading over there instead of Megeve?
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No insight on current conditions - and unfortunately you're heading into French school holidays - but I guess PsA could be less busy than Megeve and there's a big car park at the bottom of the main 6 man chair up the mountain. It's only a few miles - you could soon see how busy it is! Once you're up the top you can ski over to Notre Dame de Bellecombe (using the short Trois Coins draglift) and that's usually pretty quiet. I think it would make a nice change, if you know Megeve well, and the lunches will be cheaper! But to get to some of the Arly Valley runs you really need not to mind challenging drag lifts (the Trois Coins isn't challenging). If conditions down low in the Arly Valley aren't great, better skiing will be in NddB.
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 You know it makes sense.
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@ajc2260626, we have been there about 5 times at HT it has always had good snow on piste, never an issue. It gets more snow than other low resorts because of its location next to the MB massif. The massive queue in Les Contamines is the morning is the one pain, cracking little resort though..
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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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Access from Belleville is generally easier - but only if you're over that side!!
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 Poster: A snowHead
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@ajc2260626, I agree with @JayDub, the half term problem is a queue for the telecabine. You need to get there early, or let the numbers dissipate. Unlikely to be a big problem on the slopes.
Depends a bit on where you are staying in Les C, if you need to drive or take the navette to the telecabine anyway you can go a little further to the alternative telecabine (La Gorge). Parking is usually easier there, the issue is that at the mid-station you need to walk across the piste to the station where you get the second gondola (the Montjoie gondola arrives in the same building as the next one leaves). Or you could ski a couple of hundred yards and take the chair.
St G has also had queues in the past at half term, but the new gondola this winter has a significantly larger capacity so it will be interesting to see if things improve.
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@j b, my gut tells me that they have merely moved that queue up to Bettix, but those in the know, know to get off there.
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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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Yes @Jonny996, the new lift does make the second gondola look old and slow. I don't know whether they are planning to do anything about that. The Mairie newsletter suggests the next project is to replace the ricketty old St Nicolas chairlift.
But as I commented above, the regrading of the Clairiere run to blue suggests they are positively promoting the alternative route up via the Monts Rosset chair.
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@j b, yes on our recent trip Monts Rosset was a must in the morning (and at other times).
An upgrade of that St Nicholas lift would be welcome. We loved the area but were put off going down there too often as that lift was so slow and the alternative was a drag further up.
Would also be good if they could upgrade the Mont Jolie lift but I realise they can’t do everything!
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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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Last Sunday I went to St Nicolas and forgot my ski boots... I still walked to the top of Chatrix to watch a race, knowing that the downhill wouldn't be fun.
This Sunday I'll go again but (1) with boots (and a Bettex ski pass) and more exactly (2) touring gear. I'll only use the skins to get from Mt Rosset to Mt Joux.
So here's the question: lunch options that side? Cabane à Leo? La Causette? Grand Pre? Le Boitet?
And here's the fun discovery of the day - made me chuckle: anyone has tried the chalet Sous Les Freddys? The website on GMaps has interesting links... (careful as NSFW).
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@patrick!, I think that might not actually be the restaurant's website? None of the other links work ...
On the other hand, Chalet Sauvage? https://www.chalet-sauvage.com/#club-daltitude - a magnum of champagne sir, that'll be a mere €60,000 thank you very much.
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@patrick!, Cabane a Leo and La Causette are favourites of ours for low key home cooked lunches. But to be fair I don't think we have eaten at Grand Pre, and Le Boitet (new this year) is untested. Sous les Freddys is even more basic but fine for what it is.
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Thanks, I'll check La Causette, assuming we can't find something quick at Le Boitet.
Chalet Sauvage is out of my price range!
Sous Les Freddy's bogus website seemed legit (if outdated) until one noticed the "you can bring an escort" part. I clicked on it from work, ouch.
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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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@j b, @JayDub, if we go we are thinking of staying at the MGM residence called chalets laska, I dont know where that is in relation to the info above.... we generally arent on the sloped that early, if we are skiing for 10.00am thats unusual so maybe the initial lift wouldn't be an issue if its near the residence..... at the mo im looking at either contamines or la plagne we like to try other resorts on one or two days so am guessing we could have a go over les saises or Chamonix as well for a day
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@ajc2260626, as far as I can see from their website Chalet Laska is between the main Les Contamines village and the outlying development of Le Lay which is where the telecabine is. In which case you will most likely take the ski bus (it isn't walking distance in ski boots), it is hardly worth the hassle of parking given the ride is so short.
I think the queues should have died down by 10 since they will be those heading for ski school plus those wanting a parking place close to the telecabine.
For skiing other places, St Gervais is the easiest and you can ski from there over to the Rochebrune side of Megeve as well; with a 10 o'clockish start you would have time to take the ski bus across Megeve town to ski Combloux. Or you could drive to Combloux, about 20 min beyond St G. Alternatively you can ski Les Houches (normally accessed from the Chamonix valley) from St G using the mountain railway which is quite an experience in itself, though it takes 45 min to reach the top. (It is on a different ski pass, so you need to plan which pass you are buying for which day). For the other Chamonix ski areas you would have to drive down to the Arve Valley and then round, it is quite a way and would need an early start.
The closest access point for Espace Diamant is Praz sur Arly, about 30 min drive from St G. Les Saisies is the other end of that ski area so a considerably longer drive. @Origen describes what you could reasonably do from Praz sur Arly above.
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