 Poster: A snowHead
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 g@mountainaddict, good stuff.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Flaine was great again yesterday (same rules about staying high!) and they have even repaired the Lindars Nord lift ready for @mountainaddict's arrival. It's been out of commission for weeks now and finally opened yesterday afternoon.
Carroz is very quiet this week, so parking to pick up skis shouldn't be a problem at all.
Just shout if you need any on the ground info and hope to see you on the pistes tomorrow! Safe travels.....
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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 spent a long weekend in Flaine, skiing Saturday to Monday. It was a real nostalgia trip as I used to rep there for the SCGB 20 odd years ago. What struck me initially was how little snow there was outside the runs - I'd never seen it like this because, even when skiing to the last day of the season several times. However, the pistes were in fantastic condition and we had a great time. Managed to get all over the GM (except Sixt obviously), and was impressed that the runs down to Morillion were still open, though very slushy even late morning. The best snow if definitely in the Flaine bowl, and apart from Sunday, it was very quiet.
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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: |
and they have even repaired the Lindars Nord lift
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Wished I had known that; was looking forward to skiing Fred and Agate but had assumed it would be out for the rest of the season now. Anyway, great skiing elsewhere and Flaine didn't disappoint once again (apart from closing the lifts an hour early on Monday due too a big storm that never materialised!).
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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 flying out Saturday, UCPA-bound... cannot wait!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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There’s an obvious 11-2 sweet spot for snow but otherwise good times in the main bowl. Went down to Les Molliets yesterday and pleasantly surprised by how good it was, given the altitude and aspect.
Aup de veran sector my favourite at the moment, but Faust/Demon/Crystal also skiing well.
Aperol @ Pente a Jules with some funky tunes. Recommend the goats cheese bruschetta!
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Good news on the top-up front if you’re out this weekend - around an inch of fresh this am at resort level and still coming down pretty heavily.
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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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Just back from two great days skiing at Flaine  It's years since we skied there and we'd forgotten just how good and extensive the Grand Massif area is.
We parked at Vernant, on the drive up to Flaine, on both days and would recommend it. Big free car park at 1700m. 30m walk across a road to a fast chair. There's a ski pass desk, toilets and picnic room there too and you can ski right back to the same spot.
After our usual visits to Tignes, it was very pleasant to have such a short commute - about 80 mins vs 2 hrs 45 mins. Ski hire en-route in Les Carroz worked a treat (Skilimanjaro, booked online at Alpin Resorts), with easy parking outside the shop.
We had a couple of issues with our car hire (Enterprise/Alamo). The rental agreement showed one lot of damage (minor scratches, back bumper) but there was actually four or five lots. We were meant to be able to report any additional damage online and upload photos - but couldn't get those to work. The website just kept saying 'Connecting.' We ended up walking back to the hire desk, which wasn't ideal after 11pm, to be told we had to report the additional damage online. Fortunately, the system worked eventually and the photos were submitted. Hopefully we won't be charged any excess...
The second issue was that the car had no Swiss motorway sticker - which we didn't spot until leaving our hotel near the airport the next morning. So it was off back to the car rental pick up/garage. If only they'd told us the motorway vignette is now electronic when we collected the car! It's obviously changed since our last GVA car hire...
We had very mixed weather - sun, fog, minimal views, especially on day two (we're sure Mt. Blanc was out there somewhere!) - but some excellent snow conditions on north and north-ish facing runs at altitude. Overall it was very quiet on the slopes, which was great.
Snow was surprisingly good early doors on shady, low-level runs through the trees - they've done a marvellous job with snowmaking/strips of snow down to 1100m or so. Of course it was a heavy going slush-fest to those altitudes, but still good fun. It was a bonus to find (as pointed out by @sj1608) that they'd repaired the old, slow, Lindars Chair to the high point of the ski area just for our arrival  Like when royalty is coming to town!
Although we had no views at all over the back of the mountain due to fog, we had lovely snow and sun up there. We really enjoyed the black Agate run - it almost feels off piste, with a ski where you like feel to it.
Our one night at Hotel Totem in Flaine was excellent. Quite a swish, comfortable place, in a great location. Food was very good (we were half board - both breakfast and dinner were unlimited buffets). Plus great views from the restaurant and bar. And all made even better with the brilliant bonus of a free upgrade to a balcony room with a fantastic view of the slopes. £1300 pp for a low season week there with Inghams makes our £170 (for two) stay seem like even more of a bargain. We'd love to go back.
Once we got used to the Brutalist 1960s architecture, we actually found Flaine Forum to be quite endearing, in a strange sort of way. Everything is very compact, with bars, cafes, restaurants, sports shops and the skiing all close at hand. All very functional and convenient.
After providing our descriptions in a previous post, we were accosted on the slopes (coincidentally, more or less on arrival!) by @sj1608 and Mr sj1608. I'd forgotten to alert Mrs MA to the possibility, so she was a bit surprised to have a stranger approach her and ask "Are you here for two days?" 
A big thank you to both sj1608 and Mr sj1608, who kindly gave us a guided tour of a few great runs in the main Flaine bowl and highlighted best snow conditions, run connections etc. It was really lovely to meet you! We enjoyed our chat with you too. Shame we didn't bump into you yesterday. Do enjoy the rest of your stay!
And here we go with a few snaps of a great short trip:
Hotel Totem:
And, finally, in the words of the late, great Jim Bowen...the pic below is what we could've had!
Last edited by You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net. on Sat 29-03-25 20:29; edited 1 time in total
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Flaine is poss on the list for next jan. Flying to Geneva, roughly what is the transfer time of train to Cluses then bus to resort???
It's just 2 people so private transfer probably out of budget...
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Arrived on Saturday evening. Light dusting up top. Sunday was spent skiing in Flaine. Great conditions everywhere, got a bit slushy after 2pm, but it was to be expected. Skiing Samoëns and Morillon today. Same story - great conditions for the early birds. Pistes groomed to perfection and not a soul in sight. Gets warm and slushy by about 13:00, but who cares? Will do more of the same till Sunday and will call it for this season…
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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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Good stuff @cheburator  Are you staying in Flaine?
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| Rje66 wrote: |
Flaine is poss on the list for next jan. Flying to Geneva, roughly what is the transfer time of train to Cluses then bus to resort???
It's just 2 people so private transfer probably out of budget... |
there is a bus from the airport three times a day, you may want to consider this if flight times allow... It's 30 euros per person afaik
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You know it makes sense.
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another gorgeous day today...
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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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@Alexsas
Thanks for the heads up on bus. Hope flights link in OK.....
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Poster: A snowHead
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@mountainaddict, sorry not have replied before. It was lovely to meet you both and have the chance to give you a quick show-round. Having worked out who you both were, I suddenly realised I had no idea of your names, so 'are you here for two days' was the only way of getting Mrs MA not to think I had totally lost the plot!  Mont Blanc has been dutifully showing his face on a daily basis since you left, must be a sign you need to return......
@alexsas, that is really useful info, I had no idea there was a bus all the way, having never really needed one. Hoping a friend will come out for a few days next season and this sounds like her best route, much easier than the classic 'trains to Cluses, bus up the hill'.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Rje66,
And Go Massif do shared fair price transfers.....
https://gomassif.com/
Door to Door service from Airport to resort.
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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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| Quote: |
| Having worked out who you both were, I suddenly realised I had no idea of your names, so 'are you here for two days' was the only way of getting Mrs MA not to think I had totally lost the plot! |
And very effective it was too! Thanks again @sj1608.
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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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Tuesday = cloudless and quiet.
Where is everyone?!
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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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@EarthWindandWater, not sure where you are skiing, but Flaine seemed empty this morning....until I went to Samoens, Morillon and Carroz and it felt as if I was the last person on earth (apart from speeding ESF instructors  and lifties!). Conditions in Flaine still excellent and the villages were better than I had expected, assume it was a degree or two colder last night.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Even a fairly misanthropic person like myself is feeling lonely on the slopes…
My son and I were the only two people skiing down to Les Molliets at 15:30 today. We have never seen it this empty.
Villages are holding remarkably well. Morillon is closing this weekend so make the most of it. It is actually really good, with only the last 100m at 1100 getting ropey. Les Carroz actually is the iffier of the two, with the west facing Plain Soleil suffering a bit, but they will conjure some magic, I am sure. Samoens and Flaine have enough proper snow to stay open till May and beyond with ease if they wanted to…
We are staying in Samoens but will go and ski Chamonix and Avoriaz courtesy of our season pass (3 free days in participating resorts)…
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@cheburator, that sounds very encouraging. We are popping over tomorrow for a few days and I was debating whether to venture out mid Thursday morning given the temperature. Your report has spurred me on!
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| sj1608 wrote: |
| @EarthWindandWater, not sure where you are skiing,.... |
We were all over the GM, was unusual to spot other skiers, even from the lifts!
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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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I was out today in Morillon, Samoens and Les Carroz and there were a fair few lessons happening, but other than that, it was very quiet. I was skiing corduroy on a blue slope in Morillon (next to Stade) at lunchtime!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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How were the pistes today? Any recommendations for tomorrow - and any places to avoid?
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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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Cheers, much appreciated!
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You know it makes sense.
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Is the precipitation falling as snow there?
Tempted to dash over, but concerned it may be raining by weekend!
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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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Poster: A snowHead
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until today? i thought it was till 30th September...
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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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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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yes it is so...strange...i thought i saw somewhere it was available till 30th September...never mind...
indeed....last year was till 30th September.
https://www.grand-massif.com/en/grand-massif-season-pass/
For winter sports fans, the cost of your Season Pass has been frozen for the 2024-2025 winter season. Prices are the same as for the previous season.
Enjoy the mountains and the joys of the ski slopes at a discounted price thanks to our web-exclusive offers on the Grand Massif season pass.
– PREM’S offer (-50%) until 30th September inclusive:
Standard tariff (ages 26-74): Winter – €621 / Winter + Summer – €711
Reduced tariff (ages 8-25): Winter – €414 / Winter + Summer – €504
Mini tariff* (for those aged under 8 and 75+): €59
– PROMO offer (-45%) from 1st October until 15th November inclusive:
Standard tariff (ages 26-74): Winter – €690 / Winter + Summer – €780
Reduced tariff (ages 8-25): Winter – €460 / Winter + Summer – €550
Mini tariff* (for those aged under 8 and 75+): €59
– Public tariff from 16th November onwards:
Standard tariff (ages 26-74): Winter – €1242 / Winter + Summer – €1422
Reduced tariff (ages 8-25): Winter – €828 / Winter + Summer – €1008
Mini tariff* (for those aged under 8 and 75+): €59
Last edited by You need to Login to know who's really who. on Thu 17-04-25 11:03; edited 2 times in total
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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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@alexsas Would love to be skiing there today! Any idea of outlook for weekend?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@turms2, I'm guessing that the prices for 25-26 will be higher than 24-25, so buying today at the 24-25 price will represent a discount on the 'until the end of September' price......but that's just a guess. It could be that they'd just lie the cash in their pockets sooner and will offer the same price again later.
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@sj1608,Yeah, I really don’t know either.
A bit sad, to be honest, because I was hoping to wait until September – but if that’s how it is, then so be it...
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Yes, and then you have to take the exchange rate into account....
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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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| sj1608 wrote: |
| Yes, and then you have to take the exchange rate into account.... |
i live in Germany so thats not a problem (at least until now)
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| BAN wrote: |
| @alexsas Would love to be skiing there today! Any idea of outlook for weekend? |
It shows rain but here’s so much snow, it should be fine
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