 Poster: A snowHead
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| BAN wrote: |
Skied Grand Montets first time on Tuesday and some great long and fast reds.
Got me wondering. What’s the best red in GM?
I’d probably plump for Faust in Flaine, but not so sure in other stations. |
Have skied grand massif for probably 8 weeks in the last 12 years. Marmottes from Tete des Saix into Samoen is my fav red. Also love Timalets into Les Carroz. My all time fav run in the area though is Sairon a lovely cruisey blue into Morillon. Skiing 1 week a year and maybe twice 3 or 4 times in last 25 years and Grand Massif is my favourite. Morillon fav place to stay. Flaine least fav to ski. Dunno why the crowds head there the skiing around Morillon Samoens and Les Carroz is excellent.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Snow on the ground in Samoens, but now turned to rain so a wet walk to the lift this morning. FL reported as around 1000m, so hoping the pistes have had a good top up. Wind perhaps might get up later?
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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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Been snowing since about 4pm last night in flaine, think the freezing level was a little variable so it might have been rain at times. Still snowing now. I reckon we've got about 25cm here at village level
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A powder day in Flaine! Average visibility though.
Forecast is for snow today and through the morning tomorrow (Wed).
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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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Yeah..... snow is amazing today in Flaine...
more snow to come overnight and hopefully a little more sun tomorrow morning 
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Well Tuesday in flaine was hard work, plenty of fresh snow but lots of lifts not running due to the risks and also due to high winds higher up. As a result the open pistes were quite crowded and quickly became very lumpy. Add in the high winds at the top of the dmc, and visibility as low as 20m from the top down to the top of Belzébuth and we made a decision to have an early finish. As we headed back we saw that Grand Vans was finally open (there had been issues with the electrics) and briefly considered going up but thought better of it
Wednesday was different with clear blue skies. As we set out we bumped into folks on the lift who'd tried grand vans on Tuesday and reported that as we suspected, found that visibility had been awful. By wednesday most lifts were running and the snow was simply fantastic. Freezing level seems to have been around 1500m as the snow above was wonderful soft packed powder, while below it was hard, icy and crunchy. For instance plein soleil in les carroz was beautiful until just above l'anfionne, but timalets was more akin to a prepared race piste
We're finishing a lazy breakfast at the moment and can see that, completely unexpectedly, snow is falling outside
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Anyone recommend a breakfast spot in Flaine?
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Don't know about breakfast BAN but we had probably the best food experience on a mountain in years at Hotel Lapiaz this week. Can recommend the boite chaude but don't expect to do much after it, unless you share.
Skied the Villages area today on a 4hr pass as our legs are suffering after full day yesterday (mostly over in Flaine).
Snow is great as the moment, above 1100m. A lot of areas are tracked out now but you can still find some fun out there. Just above
freezing in Lez Carroz tonight and looks like a possible top up tomorrow before temps are forecast to rise a little and
things settle down, weather-wise.
Tues was the pick of the week for us, we spent a big part of the day just lapping Dolomie
using the Flaine access lift as the link was broken for quite a while. No queues and not many people about. The wind kept filling
things back in so it just felt like you were getting freshies all day. Got a few face plants to add to the collection.
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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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Bistro F in forum do an English breakfast, not tried it but the food we have had there had been great
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+1 for Bistro F. Ate there several times last week. Good food, served quite quickly. ANd excellent beers on tap. Also recommend to try the Myrtille Liqueur!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Hello @philhitch, your goggles haven't been handed in. 
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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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Just a quick report as back from a lovely long weekend in Flaine.
Very glad there was fresh snow at the start of last week as generally the slopes were in great shape. We had a nice top up on Friday, but that came with very poor visibility for the entire day.
Saturday and Sunday were glorious sunshine and barely any wind. Pistes were lovely across the GM in the morning, but getting quite scrapped later in the afternoon. This was especially the case in the high traffic/steeper runs into the centre of Flaine. The likes of Faust were great for the top section, but lower down much busier and a mixture of soft bumps and scrapped sections. Jade was fun though. Only soft/sushy snow was later in the day down at Morillon village level.
This was our first trip to GM and Flaine. Liked the area, but Flaine village was quite small and an acquired taste architecturally. A good choice for a long weekend though.
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Any reports on conditions for half term week - I’m coming out with my son Tuesday evening (first sensible flight price). Looks to be warmish and no snow for the week.
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You know it makes sense.
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I rode from Les Carroz up to the top of Flaine each of the last two days. All the village runs were icy but above about 1850m the pistes are in very good condition, especially after the snow on Thursday. It was bumpy on the steeper bits of the blues by late morning but that will settle down over the next day or two. Most blacks still unpisted after the snow.
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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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Does anyone know approximately how long it takes to ski from the stade at samoens to the stade at flaine by a strong intermediate? Asking for someone who wants to do a fleche at each on the same day. Thank you!
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Poster: A snowHead
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The main issue is lifts. I’d have thought no more than an hour.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Chariande Express -> ski down to Vernant lift - ski to Flaine Stade (next to Aup de Veran). As @BAN, an hour should be plenty if lift queues are ok. Queues for those lift can be very big in the mornings so would suggest doing Samoens first then Flaine. Allow time to come back of course, don't arrange a fleche in Flaine at 4pm!
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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 for your help. Unfortunately it's Samoens at 10:30 then Flaine at 1:15. Not the best direction especially considering the Flaine stade is on the other side. Sandwiches in the telecabin 
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Following nbt's route, if there are no queues it can be done within 30 mins by a strong intermediate skier.
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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 don't know how long the fleche takes but I'm guessing that for a 10:30 start time you should be finished well before 11:30? If so then all is good.
Or is that "the event starts at 10:30 and you have to wait for your bib number to be called"?
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For a smaller one, within 15 minutes of start.
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should be fine then
10:30 start time should be finished by 11, you can easily be in flaine by noon. 1:15 start in Flaine, you should be done before 2pm and the return journey will take maybe 45 minutes -
From Stade you can
- ski across to Aup de Veran for a play around the Flaine bowl, or
- take the magic carpets to Flaine Forum then the yoghurt pots up to Flaine Foret
- walk a short way up to Tetes des Verds and ski down to Flaine Foret
From Foret the Grands Vans chairlift takes you back towards the rest of the domain
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We made it, went to the wrong stadium a Flaine though so missed inspection and skied blind. Exciting to say the least 
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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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How is the Cascade run?
Unfortunately, we can't cancel the trip (well, we can, but we'd lose everything we paid), and we have to go during the first week of March.
On the map, Cascade is marked as open, but is the slope actually doable?
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I'm not out there right now bu there are a couple of reports from earlier this week 3 days ago as I write) on one of the FB groups
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It’s a really lovely run with lovely views and the majority is really nice. However from 9-7 it’s pretty bad. You will have to take your skis off & walk this bit. Then after you can ski the last bit but it was really icy when we did it. Between ice, thin snow & stones the last bit was pretty bad and it’s narrow which doesn’t help.
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We had to walk from marker 9-7 (400m) where the stones were coming through. After that it is artificial snow so fine. The top is really nice, worth the effort. T
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I did it on Monday and there was enough snow but only just. Got quite bare near the bottom. There was a fair bit of walking / poling along but not too bad given you’re expecting it.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| nbt wrote: |
I'm not out there right now bu there are a couple of reports from earlier this week 3 days ago as I write) on one of the FB groups
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It’s a really lovely run with lovely views and the majority is really nice. However from 9-7 it’s pretty bad. You will have to take your skis off & walk this bit. Then after you can ski the last bit but it was really icy when we did it. Between ice, thin snow & stones the last bit was pretty bad and it’s narrow which doesn’t help.
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We had to walk from marker 9-7 (400m) where the stones were coming through. After that it is artificial snow so fine. The top is really nice, worth the effort. T
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I did it on Monday and there was enough snow but only just. Got quite bare near the bottom. There was a fair bit of walking / poling along but not too bad given you’re expecting it.
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thought so..never mind...i do not want any more "adventures"
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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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@turms2, flaine can be VERY busy in half term. It will be less busy first week of march, though the slopes won't be empty
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You know it makes sense.
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| nbt wrote: |
| @turms2, flaine can be VERY busy in half term. It will be less busy first week of march, though the slopes won't be empty |
Don't expect it to be empty…i know that.. I tried to find private snowboard lessons with ESF, and there’s absolutely nothing available.
I’m a bit worried because next year, the school holidays during Carnival will coincide with the UK half-term. That means I’ll have to look for a less well-known destination for that week. But I was also considering getting the season passes for PDS (the option with the free children’s season pass).
If it’s that busy, though…i dont think PDS will be less busy as Flaine in this week
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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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I've nevr skiied OPDS but my bet is if anything, it will be busier.
I'd suggest looking at the Haute Maurienne, or Italy
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Poster: A snowHead
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Which are the least crowded slopes in Flaine? Last time I was there, many were closed due to a lack of snow.
Are the slopes around Aujon and Grand Grenier the best options to avoid the crowds? Is there any blue or red slope that is a "must-try" in the way to Les C.? Or is it better to stay in the Flaine bowl?
i suppose i will be alone till midday (or not even ski till lunch time) and with the kids together after 13.00 pm
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@turms2, below are my favourites, it might be difficult to avoid all the crowds, Serpentine and Mephisto can get busy, but at least they are wide for the most part. Tourmaline is best done early in the day before it mashes up and the hoardes start coming back from the GM side after a convivial lunch on tired legs.
Coming off the top of the Desert Blanc lift you have several options (blue, red, left, right), so it should be easy to pass a resonable amount of time in that area without getting too repetitive.
Flaine side…
Blues: Mephisto , Serpentine
Reds: Demon > Almandine, Faust, Aujon > Celestine, Diablotin
GM Side…
Blues: Dahu, Sairon, Marmottes (into LC)
Reds: Marmottes (into Samoens)
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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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Mephisto , Serpentine i know they are busy...i want to avoid them at least when i am with the kids.
I will see about the reds, according to the conditions...
theoretisch they are ok with reds (even blacks) so maybe better to go a level up in the slopes difficulty, but with less crowd around us
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I think Almandine comes down under the Tete d Verds chair... for the most part is is wide, flattish and fun. It gets narrow and steep under the lift, which is why people seem to avoid it more than Faust. Kids don't always seem to mind narrow steep!!
Faust is great but can get cut up and bumpy at the bottom, so another one wihich is far more fun early on
Have a great trip!
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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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thanks a lot...it will definitely not be the best (probably the worst but because of other factors), but a ski trip is a ski trip
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| jirac18 wrote: |
@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. |
Now we are back home, a few comments on the half term week in Samoens...
We heeded the advice and took the navette up to Vercland in the morning - around 9.45 we were there and there was never a queue (perhaps we were late?) and from here you either go to the Chariande Express or take what turned out to be a tricky red/blue down to the Coulouvrier chair. Perhaps because it was busy, but this run was not enjoyed so we only did it once and then took the Chariande queue on the chin. But boy was it a big queue, an easy 20 mins from joining to sitting on the chair.
We thought the grading in the GM had some blues which were more like reds, across the resorts. Fave runs were Marvel and Soiron. In fact Morillon was our favourite area - the snow held up quite well, and especially in comparison to Les Carroz which got very slushy and chopped up as the day wore on. Getting to Flaine was a bit of a pain as there is a single access point: the Verand lift. The last day getting back from Flaine to Samoens saw significant queues at every linking lift - Grands Van, Carabalanches(sp?) - this was a spectacular queue. We thought the best area in Flaine was on the right hand side of the resort - Mephisto, etc.
But good variety and a sense of travelling between areas, meant an interesting week ski-wise.
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according to the web cams there is some fresh snow, and for the next week the prediction says only bluebird days...relative warm but at least without rain (by our last visit was the opposite)...
at least it will be prefect for the kids
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Heading to Flaine for the first time on a week, March 8th. Kids will be in ski school for 2.5 hours in the mornings.
Just wondering if we'll have time to get out of Flaine and back before their lessons finish? Would like to get to Samoens, Les Carroz etc but we'll be on a tight enough schedule and have no idea how long it would take. Any guidance?
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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Assuming no chairlft queues (French School holidays finish 8th March) and skiing without any refreshment stops - Grand Vans chair out of Flaine, Dolomie blue run to Corbalanche chair on right up to Tete des Saix at 2120m should take 25 mins max, If Corbalanche closed, take Portet blue run, then Tete des Saix chair which will also get you to top Tete des Saix but an extra 10 mins. From TdS ski down to Samoens on choice of blues, reds or blacks and back up on Chariande Express Chair (15-20 mins) OR ski to the top of the Kedeuze Gondola (Les Carroz) via Perce Neige blue which leads onto green run, return to TdS is via blue run down to Molliets area and take TdS chair back to top (30 ish minutes). The return to Flaine from TdS is past the Croc Blanc Restaurant onto gentle blue run joining Dolomie blue (be careful, although now a wide blue, it is a busy one that can get mogully/icy later in the day), take the Vernant chair up on your left and then take Tourmaline blue all the way back to Flaine (again be careful on the lower half as can be busy/Mogully/Icy), the return from TdS to Flaine will take around 25-30 minutes. So Flaine to TdS and back about 50 mins, add on a quick return to Samoens at 20 mins OR add on a quick return to Les Carroz at about 35 minutes. Good luck.
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@skier52, did you do that all from memory? Impressive! You should get double points for restaurant naming!
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