 Poster: A snowHead
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OK. they provide alternative evidence to that given by the pathological liars normally tasked with compiling a resort's snow report.
But what can you actually see ?
You can tell if there is snow there from the white bits - but not how much snow, or what type of snow, in most cases.
You can also tell if there is mist or sunshine, if you are lucky.
I reckon webcams are about as much use as photos taken on a ski holiday - i.e pretty limited. Everything tends to look the same - unless you are stood in front of a sign, or the Matterhorn. At least with photos you have proof that you have been to a place and a record of what you all looked like in that particular year.
Far better than webcams, in my view, is the sort of tv programme they have, in places like Heavenly, where a bloke actually skis down the slopes.
You can see and hear how the snow is and he can tell you where the good and bad places are.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Quote: |
OK. they provide alternative evidence to that given by the pathological liars normally tasked with compiling a resort's snow report.
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Isn't that enough?? 
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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.
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I find webcams immensely useful. There are clues in the way the snow lies, and how smooth it is, that give away the depth. Especially if the webcam is pointed at things like roofs and trees.
The webcam doesn't lie, and not just because it can't be pathological.
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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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Latchigo, because I can look at them in the morning and decide where to go skiing that day. Do the maths.. I pay 50 chf for a day ticket times two if Mrs Ise goes out, what's the cost of webcam? Couple of hundred CHF tops, stick one up and you get the local custom, you only need half a dozen people in Geneva to glance at the webcam for, say, Leysin, decide it looks nice and go and the station are up on the deal.
Sorry to disappoint you but they're not really for the benefit of someone sat at home somewhere flat 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| ise wrote: |
Latchigo, because I can look at them in the morning and decide where to go skiing that day. Do the maths.. I pay 50 chf for a day ticket times two if Mrs Ise goes out, what's the cost of webcam? Couple of hundred CHF tops, stick one up and you get the local custom, you only need half a dozen people in Geneva to glance at the webcam for, say, Leysin, decide it looks nice and go and the station are up on the deal.
Sorry to disappoint you but they're not really for the benefit of someone sat at home somewhere flat |
If I am correct, you seem to be saying they are a marketing tool for the lift company. I would not disagree with that.
However my question was intended to be 'what use are they to potential punters' Answer is still 'no use' - apart from the fact that you can see white stuff on the ground.
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| David Goldsmith wrote: |
There are clues in the way the snow lies, and how smooth it is, that give away the depth. Especially if the webcam is pointed at things like roofs and trees.
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Sherlock Holmes probably says the same thing before he heads off to Meiringen for a fortnight with Dr. Watson.
For me ? Webcams are about as much use as Paula telling me the weather today will be 'Scorchio'.
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| Latchigo wrote: |
| ise wrote: |
Latchigo, because I can look at them in the morning and decide where to go skiing that day. Do the maths.. I pay 50 chf for a day ticket times two if Mrs Ise goes out, what's the cost of webcam? Couple of hundred CHF tops, stick one up and you get the local custom, you only need half a dozen people in Geneva to glance at the webcam for, say, Leysin, decide it looks nice and go and the station are up on the deal.
Sorry to disappoint you but they're not really for the benefit of someone sat at home somewhere flat |
If I am correct, you seem to be saying they are a marketing tool for the lift company. I would not disagree with that.
However my question was intended to be 'what use are they to potential punters' Answer is still 'no use' - apart from the fact that you can see white stuff on the ground. |
If you define punters as people who travel on package tours then you're probably right, but I don't know and don't care. For those of who just ski and live close by they're very useful, you can determine the conditions from looking at the webcam, saying otherwise is just obvious nonsense.
If you're saying because that a punter who has pre-booked to go to Chalet Poubelle with Crystal for a week in March doesn't derive any benefit looking the webcam then who's to say you're wrong?
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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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ise, hence why a lot of TV channels have early morning feeds from a variety resorts. Helps people decide where to go.
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I use the resort webcam to find out the current conditions - which can be vastly different at the base to where the cam is at 8,200 ft. ie - is it still cloudy, foggy, blowing like crazy, all of which mean different equipment from the locker, and I don't want to have to ski down because I'm cold, or have the wrong goggles on!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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What other point do they need except I can look out at the view of were I will be going, and it helps me pretend I am not really stuck in a basement wrestling with horrid SQL sub queries!
My desktop is an array of live updating webcams from the Chamonix valley bliss
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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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| Quote: |
| wrestling with horrid SQL sub queries! |
Poor b*****d. 
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I think there are there just to make us jealous of anyone who can be seen skiing past it. I have been known to sit there on a quiet day at work and go through the webcams on the resorts I've been to, thinking how lucky their are. Normally as I stare out my work window at the delights of the three power station towers!
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You know it makes sense.
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Only a fool would rely on a webcam picture to make a decision about whether to buy a lift ticket for the day.
See for yourself :-
www.skiclub.co.uk has a selection from various countries. Choose a resort you know. Try looking at the relevant webcam before you would need to set out on your ‘theoretical’ journey. That will be in the morning, before the lifts open, when nobody is about .
God knows it is hard enough to tell what some runs are like when you are on a chair lift going over them. Never mind making assessments based on a crappy little picture of the top of the mountain.
You might as well make your mind up by looking out the window as your plane flies over the Alps.
The amusement of deskbound ski obsessives is a bit closer to the main function of these devices.
As for ‘punters’, that is basically everybody who pays for their lift tickets. The lift companies don’t care too much where you come from, provided they get your ‘dosh’.
If it makes you feel superior that you are not on a ‘package’ so be it. In my book the locals that really have something to smile about are the ones that have cheap season tickets - or better still, free skiing.
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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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Latchigo, I am local, I do have a cheap season ticket, I ski so incredibly often that I don't just go to the either the local station down the road or even just to the stations where I own property. So I don't really need to look before my theoretical journey, it's a real journey.
Let me have some links for Meadow Hall or the Milton Keynes shopping centre webcams and I'll see what the pointless kit buying conditions are for a theoretical shopping trip.
You've not quite grasped the importance of day ticket sales for a ski station either, or indeed that there's more ski stations than packages reach.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| ise wrote: |
Latchigo, I am local, I do have a cheap season ticket, I ski so incredibly often that I don't just go to the either the local station down the road or even just to the stations where I own property. So I don't really need to look before my theoretical journey, it's a real journey.
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Well DING DANG DO !
Top man!
I bet your s**t don't stink either.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Latchigo, the only free skiing in our resort is if you're less than 5 yrs old or more than 75. As I'm closer to 75 than 5 it's my ambition to ski for free. I just have to wait for a good few years. Oh, I suppose I could get free skiing on the 3 button lifts on the beginners slopes but I'm sure I'd get bored very quickly. Help me here, where else can you get free skiing, unless you skin up and I can't be bothered with all that old malarkey.
Last edited by Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person on Fri 3-12-04 23:21; edited 1 time in total
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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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Latchigo, you asked whether they are useful. Some are, some aren't. But locals know which ones to check out, and along with word of mouth, local forecasts, and a quick glance out of the window, the decision is made as to whether to go skiing for the day or not. That's the way it works - local custom is very important to the resorts, so they would be foolish not to exploit every angle, just as the local punters would stupid not to use them if they are available. Cams at resort level show the evolution of conditions very clearly - if you check them regularly.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| David@traxvax wrote: |
| Latchigo, the only free skiing in our resort is if you're less than 5 yrs old or more than 75. As I'm closer to 75 than 5 it's my ambition to skis for free. I just have to wait for a good few years. Oh, I suppose I could get free skiing on the 3 button lifts on the beginners slopes but I'm sure I'd get bored very quickly. help me here where else can you get free skiing, unless you skin up and I can't be bothered with all that old malarkey. |
Sir,
The Yanks will be your best bet.
They know how to look after 'seniors'.
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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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Not not worth going there just for free skiing.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Webcams are ski pornography.
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snowball, voyeurism? You can see, but you can't ski?
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Web cams are an good clue like everyhting else. Not an absolute but helpful.
It will not tell you if the snow is poor but at least it will tell whether visability is worth the trek. I would not plan or postpone a trip on the basis of one but it might help me to decide where to ski for the day.
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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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Latchigo, you need to relax man!
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I reckon webcams are about as much use as photos taken on a ski holiday |
What 'use' do you expect of holiday snaps except to remind you of where you were and what you saw?
'cams can do the same... "there is the lift I used last week" or they can help you get in the mood for an upcoming trip.
I think they probably can be used to help pick a resort if you are of the "last minute flight" brigade, though I don't think anyone thinks that is there main aim. They are cheap to run and fun... why do you look for more?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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If you're a local deciding whether to go skiing for the day, whilst it's true you can't glean a lot of detailed information about snow conditions, you can get a feel for weather conditions etc.
If you're a
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deskbound ski obsessive
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as I am, then webcams provide an important window on the resort of choice which helps to build my excitement, but more importantly I feel they really bring the weather forecast to life.
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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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| JT wrote: |
Web cams are an good clue like everyhting else. Not an absolute but helpful.
It will not tell you if the snow is poor but at least it will tell whether visability is worth the trek. I would not plan or postpone a trip on the basis of one but it might help me to decide where to ski for the day. |
Actually that's a good point, as well the snow conditions, we look to see the visibility, it's not obvious from home where the cloud level is at and it makes a big difference to where you want to go that day.
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I found the Plan Maison web cam extremely useful. It told me, days before I got there, to avoid that area at, or just after lunch time. I'd have found out that info. on my first day, but thanks to the web cam, I didn't have to worry about it any day.
We've also used the Cervinia & La Thuile ones to decide what days to visit from Courmayeur before (as you only get limited days away on the local lift pass, you don't want to "waste" them on the really cloudy days.
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FAQ
