 Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Surely we are due a long cold snowy winter in GM, half price season pass ready to go for 90 day max. stay again.
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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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@skier52, It’s what we ordered so it must happen! 
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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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I have to say I have never been truly disappointed in 15yrs of skiing in the GM. There have been some vintage years and some less so. Overall though, there has always been enough and I'd rather be skiing some man made sluff than drive a desk or roast myself on a deck chair by a pool somewhere ghastly like Dubai. Passes have been bought and 23 days of accommodation paid for. Bring on the white stuff...
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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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Looking good for a nice base layer sprinkle Sunday and into next week!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Season pass bought and hoping to head out around 17 Dec. Nearly always have some nice snow and sun and empty pistes before Xmas crowds. Hoping for same this year.
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Is anyone out there ATM who has a reasonable idea of conditions at Les Esserts and/or Samoens 1600? I saw that both Les Carroz and Samoens have postponed opening by a week so was wondering if the webcams were giving me an overly optimistic view of conditions? Given conditions in previous years around this time, I thought that it was looking like a very promising start to the season…!
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@rachelharrisonsmith, I've been webcam watching also. I saw on the Les Carroz facebook page that ONLY Flaine will open this weekend : Aup de Veran, Grand Vans and Grandes Platières will open
https://www.flaine.com/en/start-season-winter-24-25/
I recall Jan 2023 when we stayed at a chalet in Morillon and spent the first 5 days of our trip driving round to Flaine every day as the Giffre valley was green after that rain!
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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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Morillon 1100 also suffered at the start of the season last year and was a mud bath in mid-March 24, with no return on skis just walking along mats on the piste. Flaine will always have the best snow and over the last couple of seasons other areas of the Grand Massif have become dormitory villages when conditions are bad, with ensuing carnage in and out of Flaine and very busy pistes
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@Faust1, exactly! That’s why I was asking about the state of the slopes. I’m not there for another week but was wondering if we could get some on the ground reports from someone out there.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@Faust1, yes, we were in @rachelharrisonsmith's place early January 2023 and the entire village was green (hi @rachelharrisonsmith, that should tell you who I am - we've booked Flaine this time to be sure of snow, but at least we're giving it another go after @Mrs NBT's injury!)
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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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@nbt, indeed and good to hear from you! Great news that Mrs NBT is back to full skiing fitness. Flaine is a sensible choice given the conditions in the last few seasons. We’ve definitely seen the fall line rise in the 10 years that we’ve been going to the GM. Are you doing an extended stay?
I really should change my user name to be a little less conspicuous!!
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Any reports from Flaine’s opening day?
Any new pisteing/lifts: Gron to be upgraded at some stage?
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You know it makes sense.
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I recall reading that Gron extension will be done this coming summer.
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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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Gron replacement is supposed to be ready for next season. Some details on its new route http://forum.grand-massif.net/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=3411&start=40 Will be good that it is going to end a little higher and stop at the same area as the Les Molliets chair.
Flaine snowed pretty much all day Saturday, got heavier as the day went on. Yesterday was busier with the better weather. Whilst it was limited pistes that were open, there were plenty of options. Some icy patches in areas but overall good start to the season.
The snow cannons have been running in the villages resorts to help top up from what has naturally landed, plus there is more snow forecast from Thursday.
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Poster: A snowHead
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We're in Morillon on 31/12. It looks like there is a decent base and on the 2 week forecast there is around 100cm due between now and the end of the year.
I think I've still got PTSD from March 23. We turned up to GM in a snowstorm and had high hopes before it rained for 3 days and they closed the link to Flaine.
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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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Hi all - Am arriving with the family on Friday for a 4 day trip. Am seeing wild variety in the forecast particularly regarding temperature…
OnTheSnow app suggesting lows of -13 and -15 on Sat and Mon respectively (and even colder up the mountain). But other weather forecasts don’t go anywhere as low. I’m wondering if the OnTheSnow lows are in the middle of the night perhaps?
A little bit concerned as we’ve always taken the kids (9&7 yo) at Easter so have never had really cold weather before… I guess we can rug them up!
I know the forecasts are all a bit of a lottery but is there a ‘most respected’ of the bunch?
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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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@AliAfro, that’s extremely unlikely!
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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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@AliAfro, take a look at the 24/25 weather thread for the best indication of actual forecast. In general the normal websites simplify far too much and swing around following the models without any human interpretation. Even with a considered view, around 5 to 6 days out is the only timeframe when confidence in the forecast starts to grow.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@AliAfro, I find meteoblue to be pretty good. it's suggesting a low of -9 on Saturday ...
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Thanks all..
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Just to add that the 24/25 thread had a lot of interesting chat re. variance between different weather prediction models, specifically concerning timing and extent of temperature drop. Sounds like it may (or may not) be particularly chilly this weekend - but the it all depends on the timing and direction of movement of some competing weather systems, which is v. hard to predict.
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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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Hello all, just after a bit of advice for upcoming Feb half term (I know) GM holiday...
We are staying in Samoens, from 15th Feb and I have read some horror stories about the GME being chocka first thing and also the Chariande chair having horrendous queues. I know this week will be super busy, and we are tied to it, so I'm wondering if any experienced people have suggestions for avoiding the queues/best way to get up the mountain.
What I'm thinking of is catching a later GME up to avoid the peak, or driving to Vercland for the gondola and then catching the chair near there to the top of Tete de Saix? I'd prefer to take a navette rather than drive, but open to any ideas currently. What other tricks do people employ at this time?
More extreme, I'm wondering if moving the accommodation booking to Morillon (lesser queue access up the mountain here?) would be an idea, though we chose Samoens as it looked to have more of a village feel than Morillon
Thanks
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@jesus, We’ve done GM five or six times now staying at a mix of Samoens and Morillon. At HT you've just got to accept it’s busy and there are choke points which are unavoidable. That said I’ve never considered the queues so excessive that I’ve ever wondered what am I doing here?
Vercland can be a good option, I’ve not been since the new gondolas were upgraded, the old egg ones were a fun experience in themselves! Parking can get a bit tricky at Vercland but one of the real benefits is you can visit La Reposette right by the lift for après which is superb for food, service and atmosphere. Vercland easily allows you to drop down to coulouvrier lift upto Têtes de Saix.
Samoens is definitely the better village, has more going in and I prefer it, it also allows you quicker access to Flaine. From Morillon access to Les Carroz is easier.
My one top tip if you have kids or anyone of a nervous disposition is to avoid Perce Neige at the busy times.I learned to plan our days around this when the kids were younger and wife quite nervous as frankly it’s like the Wild West at half term as the link from Têtes to Carroz and Morillon. The bottom section of Marmottes is always carnage too just too busy and gets mogulled easily.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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We have always stayed in Les Carroz and I think it’s the best option for combining a pleasant village and good access to the whole ski area. We haven’t been in half term though. Les chalets de Jouvence is good accommodation at the foot of the piste and I’d get to the gondola when it opens before ski school if possible. Or potentially you could park at 1500 (Les molliets) if you aren’t in a ski to the door location in Les Carroz. There may also be a ski bus that goes up that far but can’t remember as we’ve always had the car.
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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 also like the mountain restaurants best in the Les Carroz/Morillon sector.
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Best in GM off side on Grand Crêt piste.
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You know it makes sense.
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Samoens is charging for parking at the GME for the first time this year at around 9€ a day (or 45€ if you go over 8h!). Thoughts are it will push many more people to park at Vercland and unfortunately scupper the easy access route.
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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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@Faust1, that’s pretty awful imo. The parking at Vercland is very limited at the best of times. Is the car park at Morillon going to be charging too? If not I’d be inclined to start from there or just have to mess about with getting the navette. To have to pay for parking is taking the pi55 on top of rising lift tickets, and then you’ve gotta rush back to depart within 8 hours!
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Poster: A snowHead
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Nothing mentioned about Morillon charging. Just checked and the 45€ at GME kicks in at 10 hours, apologies. It should absolutely be free and will only cause issues elsewhere
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Were there as well maybe we'll bump into you !
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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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Thanks all, useful info. I am resigned to queues but I obviously want to mitigate these as much as poss! I think we are committed to staying in Samoens now and I don't mind using the navettes so hopefully we can move around a bit to try and find the sweet spot for starting out!
I have only ever been to Le Grand Bornand during the dreaded half term which wasn't too bad.
I wish the lifties would ensure chairs are full, but we can all live in hope!
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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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@jesus, as said above, the lift at Vercland, followed by a good run down to Coulouvrier, is a much better option to get to Tete de Saix. Much smaller queues and the bonus of getting an extra ski run in as part of it. If you can get a bus easily to Vercland, even better.
And yes, I will add the obligatory recommendation to go to La Reposette at the end of the day, it’s directly opposite the bottom of the lift and is great.
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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 do wonder if the parking charge at the GME is designed to get more people on the navettes up to Vercland. Last year’s ski bus service was the worst I’ve ever seen (in 20 years!). I did feedback back suecuducs when surveyed.
Agree with the above comment that Coulouvrier lift is your queue busting option.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| snowymum wrote: |
| We have always stayed in Les Carroz and I think it’s the best option for combining a pleasant village and good access to the whole ski area. We haven’t been in half term though. Les chalets de Jouvence is good accommodation at the foot of the piste and I’d get to the gondola when it opens before ski school if possible. Or potentially you could park at 1500 (Les molliets) if you aren’t in a ski to the door location in Les Carroz. There may also be a ski bus that goes up that far but can’t remember as we’ve always had the car. |
No ski bus goes up to Molliets from Les Carroz anymore, they tried it for a season a few years ago but it was rarely used as it was not advertised well, we were there in Feb half term that year and used it every day, half full and they first on Molliet lifts, a great week!
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Just a quick update - nice dump over the last 36hrs. Avi danger 4/5. Sunday the resort was shut due to high winds and zero visibility. There was a bit of an opening today, but no links with Flaine. Snow depth above the knee everywhere. Skied down Gran Cret despite a Ferme sign. Wasn’t the only one. Skied down Marmottes and in Morrilon - the usual suspects like Bergin, Sairon and even skied down Doina to catch a bus back to Samoens.
Tuesday should be an epic bluebird day.
Disappointed with the pistes though - no attempt was made to get Grand Cret ready, Doina was equally left alone - no base, no nothing. Charging for the car park at the GME is really scraping the barrel and taking the wee wee..
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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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General poo-poo show at Samoens this morning.
Tried to get first lifts but wife had to buy a pass. Queue not moving. And found out there was a computer failure and they couldn’t sell passes. My son and I went to Samoens 1600. Next problem , Chariande express closed. Huge queue , no one telling people it’s not reopening anytime soon.
They put a piste closed sign at top and that was it.
We gave up waiting an skiied down first part of grand cret then aoulia down to colourvrier lift.
And…… it’s closed. No closed sign on piste. No one here. Some people with skis off walking up Chars ? To Morillon ? Surely not as that’s a long walk. But I don’t know any other way.
Eventually (15 mins after arrived ) 2 lifties arrive. Not one word to the people waiting and they trying to get it open. Cleaning all the snow off chair by chair. But it keeps stopping and there are 155 chairs. Stopped as we speak and has been for a while.
I know things go wrong, but the total lack of organisation and care is unreal.
All this on a bluebird day and Xmas eve.
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@Ghanny, That is complete
Pants!
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