 Poster: A snowHead
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Needing a long weekend skiing in January (well it was my birthday) we booked two flights from Luton to Turin, took the advice of some snowHeads and decided on Serre Chevalier, somewhere we'd never been before. We knew from the webcams and snow reports that there'd been some serious dumping, and as we drove up from Turin and through Montgenevre, we could see how much snow had fallen. Happy was an understatement  It was dark by the time we arrived in Le Monetier, but the snow was piled up high along the roads, and sitting deep on the roofs - very pretty.
We were well chuffed when Chris, snowHead and resident of said place, offered to ski with us on our first day to show us around the huge area. We met Chris at quarter to nine on a bluebird day and went skiing. The snow was beautiful, it squeaked and there was lots of it, and the sun shone all day. Chris took us all round the place, in and out of the trees, on and off piste, which was lovely, but not the powder of the previous few days.
This is looking down at the valley, from somewhere I can't remember.
and Chris and JohnQ when we stopped for lunch - it was warm enough to eat outside.
The wind picked up in the afternoon, but only up high on the ridges and a few lifts were shut because of that. Getting off a couple of chairs the wind was fierce and blowing the snow uphill and into our faces - it felt like the only time we'd skied in Scotland many years ago, when it was hard to move forward against the force of the wind. As soon as we got down just a bit, the wind died down again. We had a quite scary couple of minutes in a gondola where we were being swung around quite a bit, and just as we arrived at the top station, a gust caught us and the prong underneath that guides the gondola into the terminal bashed against the rails. We were happy to get out when the doors opened!
We went back to Chris and Mrs Chris at the end of the day for a drink in their lovely house, and fed their beautiful tame birds in the garden with peanuts direct from our fingers - a great experience.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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The next day was just as lovely, although after a bit of a big night in the hotel bar, we were quite late getting out. It had been good fun though, so it was worth it. John and I skiied mostly round Le Monetier all day, it was Saturday and really quiet - we got a bit miffed when we saw anyone else on our runs.
So it was quite amazing that I came across a guy lying on the piste bleeding profusely from a gash above his eye. He was quite dazed and I'd had to pick up various bits of kit as I skied down to him. We then realized that a bit further down the piste, which was the red Yret, there was a little bundle of people, with some skis crossed in the snow, and a few minutes later the blood wagon arrived. What is it about empty pistes and the magnet factor 
On Sunday we'd arranged to meet Charlotte (Easiski) at La Grave at midday, so we just bought a three hour pass and skiied round Le Monetier for a couple of hours before jumping in the car and driving over the Col de Lauteret to La Grave. On the way I took this picture of the snow that had been ploughed at the side of the road. I don't know how long those snow poles are, but it dwarfed a Range Rover in front of us.
This was driving into La Grave, taken through the windscreen.
La Grave feels like a real proper ski town, with gnarly looking mountain people walking round with harnesses. I was pretty nervous actually, hoping that the skiing wouldn't be too much for me, but we'd skied with Charlotte before and I knew she wouldn't take me anywhere I couldn't cope with, so I just ignored the butterflies! We went up the two stage lift - each 'cable car' is a connected group of five gondolas - which look like this (bad picture, it was so bright I couldn't see the screen, so just pointed the camera and clicked). The picture is actually two sets of gondolas passing each other.
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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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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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RachelQ, nice.
"but not the powder of the previous few days". Did I get to tell you about how good the powder had been the day before you arrived? 
It seems like a long time since your visit.
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RachelQ, great pics, you're making me feel 'homesick'
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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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And so it should Helen Beaumont, it's a wonderful place to have a home. This was the view straight out of our hotel window (bit of a pain when we were trying to have a bit of a kip one evening and the bells rang from 5 - 7!). It really is a lovely village, I can see why you chose it.
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RachelQ, were you stopping at the Rif Blanc? Stopped there one night last year and then a couple of nights at the B&B hotel next to it.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Sounds and looks brilliant. Im rather jealous.
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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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RachelQ, nice pics - looks like a good trip. Nells has promised to take me skiing in Italy soon.
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RachelQ, thanks Rachel. We're heading to la Grave next weekend, I can't wait to get back there, it's been 12 years!
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You know it makes sense.
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Nice. Looks like that trip had lots of "big grin" factor.
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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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Shhh
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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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RachelQ, Lovely pix and great report. It was bril to see you and John and will see you again soon.
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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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RachelQ,
Those pics are great. Glad to hear that SerreChe is having another good season. 
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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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RachelQ, nice pics. Would love to go there
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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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Nice pics and TR, are they a pair of Missions strapped to your back
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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RachelQ, nice pics
Looks like we'll be Serre Chevalling it next Christmas, so you've got me in the mood a little early! Still, Verbier next week and Morzine in March for me, so I won't complain!
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RachelQ, nice report and photos. Reinforces a commitment to try to get there in March and reaquaint myself with the place.
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Nice pics RachelQ. Excellent way to celebrate a birthday
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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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RachelQ, Nice to see a bit of class amongst all those gnarly La Grave dooooodes.
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sigh - you've made a nice end to my day. Must get insist we come here next season - it is just not normal to miss a trip.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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FAQ
