Saw Vallons close early today. Any intel on why? Heard avi blasting which is unusual, wondered if there were avi concerns?
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
@RetroBod, as you've see loads of slides as a result of avy control, but there was a big natural slide off the Cucumelle ridge that caused them to close the link from Monetier to Villeneuve.
And then there has been a lot of heli bombing which I've not seen before, only half an hour ago looked like they were bombing above Frejus village in the Tete sector.
Pretty superb morning and on into the lunchtime and the Frejus sector and drags was so good
After it became more tracked out OH and I put the skins on and did a small climb, then I went up and did it twice more
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?
@Weathercam, it's been a long time since I've seen the heli going up to bomb.
Hopefully you'll be able to see this, basically there was another big slide on the steeps up near the old Balme lift hut by the fencing up there, and rumour has it that it was a guide from Chamonix?
I'm heading to Serre Chevalier this Saturday and would hate to miss Sunday's thrashing of City by the Arsenal. Does anyone know if there are any pubs in the area that broadcast EPL matches?
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Sorry if this is the wrong thread for my question, as it has nothing to do with snow reporting. I'm new to the forum
After all it is free
After all it is free
Bit of bonus fairy dust this morning...
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
Brann1908 wrote:
I'm heading to Serre Chevalier this Saturday and would hate to miss Sunday's thrashing of City by the Arsenal. Does anyone know if there are any pubs in the area that broadcast EPL matches?
Where are you staying?
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Snowing not too bad now which you can see on the webcam
Lazy day today will wait till tomorrow as there needs to be quite a bit more to fill in yesterday's tracks and/or I need to see where I'm going to get to the untracked that is still to be had
Think I've mentioned how I know that there are wolves very close to us, and this confirms that, pack of 7 filmed in the next hamlet one km along from us.
Last March we came across a kill zone (second time) only circa 500m from us.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Hells Bells wrote:
Brann1908 wrote:
I'm heading to Serre Chevalier this Saturday and would hate to miss Sunday's thrashing of City by the Arsenal. Does anyone know if there are any pubs in the area that broadcast EPL matches?
Where are you staying?
We are staying near a church called Église Paroissiale Saint-Marcellin. I haven’t quite caught the name of the village, but the proprietor referred to it as Le Salles des Alpes. Supposedly, it’s about a 10-minute walk to the Aravet lift. However, I can easily take the bus, walk, grab a taxi, or even go cross-country skiing (I’m Norwegian – we love that stuff! ) to reach a place within 30 to 45 minutes from where we are staying.
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.
@Brann1908, Sports Bar in Chantermerle or maybe, but worth checking the bar Les Caves de Serre Chevlaier more or less under the pharmacy in the main Pralong Villeneuve / La Salle Commercial Centre as my mate went there to also watch a big Liverpool Spurs match or might have even been Spurs Arsenal ???
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
What was that all about? Epic conditions today albeit not the best vis. Defo a large variance to the forecasted 2cm!!
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Tracks from yesterday pretty much filled in, 10-15cm in the trees, poor viz, but hey!!!!
Probably the best week of the season so far
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Bearing in mind I only get 1 or 2 weeks a year this is the best skiing I've had for 6 years. Jackpot.
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
2cm forecast has turned into something special for our last day... let's see.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Funny how often it is better than forecast
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?
@leggyblonde, I think many that live here would disagree with you on that
Though was a very pleasant surprise that threw our overnight plans out of the window.
Plans ranged from a big ski-tour to the Gardiole, to Vallons Fontenil but on awaking to the snow this morning it was decided on in-resort powder thrashing with some Swedes and a friend of theirs who is a bit of a character, an olde ESF instructor, who is somewhat well known in Monetier; we first met him (Jean Daniel) in the Summer at the La Fruitiere, no doubt @Hells Bells, has come across him over the years.
So first tracks down the pistes at Monetier and then when Yret opened up did a nice line coming in at the "lower Jackson", though I was very tempted to carry on down the Vallons and do one of our classic slack-country routes, but thought that was a tad anti-social.
After that a Vallons off-piste route via the Bergerie and forest above Frejus before coffee at Pia Mai and then return to Monetier.
Going back up Vallons lift I could not believe how many people were hiking the ridge, was bonkers!
@leggyblonde, I think many that live here would disagree with you on that
My point is that it isn't *always* worse than forecast which the main weather thread would have us believe!
I'm out on Thursday, hoping for one of the magical better than forecast days.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
@leggyblonde, presume you mean you're coming here, and how long etc?
Could have sworn yesterday that conditions were looking unsettled for the week after next, but that has now changed?
Day off-ski today as the lurgy has caught up with me and body metrics are saying I'm fecked
Big ski-test tomorrow & Tuesday in Monetier so hopefully will be feeling a little better for that!
Again does look like another busy weekend judging by what I saw yesterday and the various parking areas and watching the ants ski down the pistes from here.
@Weathercam, yep, Thursday to Monday. I owe you a beer...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
@KenX, and I were at the ski-test yesterday and was very good.
Totally different vibe to the UK one, and some very good skiers on the mountain, as if you think about it, many of those "professionals" testing may not have had the self-discipline etc to try to become ski instructors etc and or preferred freeride, but just could not make the grade to jump to the pro level.
What I was gobsmacked at after missing out on Sunday was how skied out everywhere was, there were faces and chutes that you never hardly ever see skied and there would be 12 or so tracks, can only think must be groups over from La Grave etc
We saw going up on the lift skiers taking lines that often slide and sure enough the sluff that started turned into mini slides.
Back up this morning for the corduroy, ironic or what given that I'll be testing touring skis today
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.
Just an observation, but I felt Serre Che was much busier last week than I have ever skied even in half term weeks. Maybe I'm just getting old and grumpy but for the first time ever I felt uneasy about the speed and apparent couldn't care less attitude of some skiers on busy pistes.
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
@Weathercam, FINGERS CROSSED
Does look like something coming from the East, depends as always how far in it will push or whether a drive towards Italy is in order.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
@RetroBod, again, a bit of a generalisation, but many of those making you feel uncomfortable were the same demographic as those that probably caused the slide(s) and I witnessed going into some very questionable terrain without safety gear, as well as bootpacking, and subsequently trashing my skin track, and many were from the likes of the former Yugolavia, and could be termed Eastern Europeans, though I know Slovenians hate that description.
And this week @RetroBod, is even busier, though with a slightly different demographic, who all probably have their free bus passes, though I can talk, but you're only as old as you can ski. That said the chair(s) did keep having to stop with various issues relating to them
The camping-car parking at Monetier was rammed with them.
As a friend said, they are wisely getting their week in before the mayhem of next week onwards..
Another brilliant day at the test centre and we felt so welcomed by all the brands, with not one instance of why are the Brits here
I concentrated on ski-touring skis as many of the 25/26 skis are meant to be able to handle groomers and hardpack well, and I was amazed at the performance of most of them, on a par with some of the All Mountain skis I skied yesterday, think 13 skis in total over the two days.
This was the new Explorair 95 from Scott which was one of the lightest skis I've ever skied, and not one instance of chatter and it kept and edge as good as any of the skis I used yesterday.
I also used new Boa boots from Fischer and Salomon.
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.
Day off-ski yesterday and both of us are fighting the lurgy still, taking time to write the various reviews up from the ski-test.
Though I can only take one day holed up (dog walking doesn't count), so decided on using the e-mtb to get to the skiable snowline, saving around 90mins of climbing.
Was a tad concerned to see so many tracks but deduced it was two groups from a couple of days ago and they split after a couple of km with one lot heading Granon way, so then had around 8 or so old tracks but the beauty is that there is just so much terrain up there, and groups tend to stay together and ski together
They, fortunately, missed the best options coming off the Gardiole so my earlier paranoia was unfounded, the snow was creamy and smooth (transformed cold snow), turning to Spring snow lower down, all in all a damn good sortie
The usual Gardiole shot.
Didn't see anyone up there
Over on the other side of the valley I hear pistes are excellent, and everyone getting their last couple of days or cruising in before the hordes arrive. In fact many of the geezonaires get out of dodge and leave the valley!
As ever forecast keeps changing and don't think we'll even see a dribble
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
Looks like further change on the forecast front.
Interestingly I had a text from a mate in La Grave asking how windy it was here in Serre as it was blowing a hooley over there, and I read that just as we were going up on first lifts from Monetier, and it was calm, and then only a slight breeze atop Yret.
Had a superb corduroy ripping session down from Yret and two Vallons and everywhere was so empty.
We packed up just after 10:30 and the parking was filling up - I really don't understand why people get to the lifts so late in the morning when conditions are nowhere near as good as first thing, and looking at most they're not exactly the party-animals late night early hours demographic
Back to the forest and dribbles have returned pretty well for everyday next week, so would imagine going to be very flat light.
We're still full of cough & phlegm so that rules out beastings on the XC track
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
It was blowing strong in Briançon throughout the day at town level. Wasn't up today so not sure what it was like up there this side of the mountain. Lifts open from 8.30am tomorrow, should make for some nice shredding before the crowds mosey their way up.
Changeable forecast for the next two weeks, looks like that cold front that hit UK & Ire is making it's way down. Hopefully presents some decent top-ups throughout the next couple of weeks. Surprised how busy it's been this week, and I hear in two weeks time is near record levels of rentals out the door in some of the rental places here in Briançon.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Lots colder today than yesterday, the weak sun didn't manage to soften anything O could find all day! Mostly decent piste conditions though.
As Weathercam has mentioned, crazy how many normally hardly skied off piste lines are now tracked. Must be the La Grave effect
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
leggyblonde wrote:
...As Weathercam has mentioned, crazy how many normally hardly skied off-piste lines are now tracked. Must be the La Grave effect....
And it's not just here but the likes of Claviere and Montgenevre, you only have to look at SkiersLodge FaceBook, and I must admit to beginning to feel a tad aggrieved at it all, I haven't even ventured up to the Lauatret and Galibier sectors yet !
And we were talking last evening how many groups have been staying at altitude in the likes of the Refuge Buffereie, as looking across from the top of the Gardiole into the valley and surrounding Cretes I've never seen so many tracks. So for instance 3 groups / 3 guides that's 21 skiers, and they'll do one line in the morning and one in the afternoon, no wonder it's tracked so much.
The hire shop in La Grave must be doing an amazing trade on touring gear!
Only plus point is that hopefully the next four weeks they will not be so active as the many places will have been booked in advance, and we do notice that powder hounds tend not to be around that much in the high season, famous last words
But first we need some more snow, and the various models are somewhat more optimistic for this week.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
We lucked out today! 10cm or so in the Monetier sector (9.5 more than forecast) this morning which made the getting first tracks on smooth pistes worth it. We chose the right day to be guided too, plenty of knee deep areas to be found all day
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?
@leggyblonde, strange, nothing like that showing on the trees in front, or on the webcams, you must have had that up top?
Last edited by Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see? on Sat 8-02-25 19:17; edited 1 time in total
@Weathercam, yes, maybe 5cm at the bottom but a good 10cm most of the way down from Bachas. Montagnolles was pretty much filled in 3/4 down the main bowl! No gopro 360 proof but a few pics showing the day's variation on my wife's Instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/DF0wYRXujFZ/?img_index=6&igsh=MTI5ZHl5OWVuYnE1bA==
@KenX, we used Richard, the snowboard (and ski) moniteur-guide who is with the ESI sometimes. Takes the snowboard group on the SOPiB.
@Hells Bells, it really was. Richard had warned us not to expect much... that quickly changed!
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
@leggyblonde, aaahhhh I suppose as you snowboarders are for ever kneeling down it always seems more
Seriously though does seem like you lucked out
I was with a friend who drove over from La Grave and he said there was nothing too much going over the Lautaret.
Just goes to show always worth going up to take a look.
Should be brighter conditions tomorrow so might be some slack country on offer.
After all it is free
After all it is free
@Weathercam,
I'm heading to Montgenevre, hoping for something similar...
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.
@leggyblonde, go early as it's a Sunday and if the weather looks good the parking will be rammed with Italians.
Body metrics nigh on back to normal, but one more day off hard exercise so not to agitate the lungs, so will make do with a first lifts piste bash to see if I've managed to sharpen my edges well?
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Nigh on a bit of a domestic this morning when I tried to change my earlier decision of going piste in favour of slack-country.
I then capitulated and we hooked up with @KenX, at Monetier for first lifts and then went into sulk mode when I saw the 5-10cms armed only with my GS skis, but one quick outing into the "fresh" in the poor light and I was quite happy to switch back to the piste, which were lovely and quiet, but the flat light was a bit of an issue hindering going into full gas mode.
I'd arranged to hook up with a mate coming over from LG at Pointless and we had a couple of decent descents down there in much brighter conditions whilst waiting for him to arrive.
Then think we did a couple of Vallons and then headed back over to Monetier, and he and I had a couple of excellent thrashes down the groomed slalom piste with him whooping with joy at the empty brilliant lines down the piste.
Then we all met back at Sno and then were joined by some other friends from LG (Yank) and some Swedes so twas quite an International mix.
Beers started to flow and as I said to KenX later another beer or two and I would have been on the red wine and would have been game over
Good craic.
As for forecast a case of one day at a time and see what it's like in the morning.
Does seem far quieter than we expected, probably they're saving it all up for the horrors of next week
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
) to reach a place within 30 to 45 minutes from where we are staying.
