 Poster: A snowHead
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i need some help deciding whether to travel to the grand massif (most likely staying in les carroz). i am getting mixed feelings about it - i have read that there is some good skiing but that the lift system is dreadfully outdated and under capacity. I have read about many 2 man wooden slatted lifts and lift queues due to slow lifts. We would be travelling in late march for a long weekend (have also read about weekend busyness due to proximity to geneva). any experience welcomes. we are good skiers (17 weeks) and our primary motivation is to ski a lot. not bothered about apres ski and dont care what the town looks like. thanks
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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backhojo, hi (homphomp here....posting on Michelle's computer!) you have been reading the wrong reviews!! Grand Massif is fine, no wooden slatted chairs that I remember. You would enjoy it
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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 have read the resort review on here and the associated comments and all the reader reviews on skiclub.
i am getting a bad feeling as about 4/5 people have said the lift system is inadequate and slow . "reminds me of what skiing was like 15yrs ago" said one reviewer "too many long slow lifts" said another.
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backhojo, but if asked, I am sure those people would say they had a great trip and the skiing was fun and varied with great runs to the outlying villages and decent lifts in the main Flaine bowl. Those SKGB reports tend to be ultra critical. And, for a weekend, less than an hour from Geneva beats flogging up the Tarentaise valleys. It'll be absolutely fine and you won't scratch the surface in a weekend. Enjoy
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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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it will be a long weekend. 3 full days on the piste. we went to la clussaz last year and pretty much skied it out in 3 days. we hate slow lifts especialy 2 man chairs !!! and i believe there are a fiar number of drags ?
we woudl not go tarentaise for a weekend - you are exactly right in that it is too far. the alternative is porte du soleil.
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backhojo, Grand Massif is a great long weekend destination. Its got a great range of pistes and easy access off piste (mind the holes). I've done an awful lot of resorts and it doesn't stick in my mind as being any worse in the lift stakes than any others. If you stay in Les Carroz and ski the Grand Massif there are a couple of bottleneck lifts on there trek over and back but lifts are quite rapid and it doesn't take as long as you'd think even if you hit peak time.
I'd stop looking at the piste map and fretting about the lifts and think more about the runs, you'll have a much better time.
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backhojo, we learnt to ski in Les Carroz five years ago and, despite going to other resorts most years, we go back to Les Carroz each year and we still love it. The Grand Massif has so much varied skiing and we have never had problems with long lift queues, particularly compared to other more well known resorts that supposedly have a higher uplift capacity. I completely agree with rich, once you stop looking at the piste map and just get on and ski the runs you'll have a great time.
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2 man wooden slatted 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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In all honesty I've been boarding the GM for about 20 weeks over 5 years and so I know all the tricks of which lifts are quick and where the bottlenecks are at what times of day, where the best conditions are am and pm in sun, snow and wind (these are the major advantages of returning to the same resort yearly). Helen Beaumont with have the same insight into Serre Che and other snowheads who return to other places will have the same knowledge of their favourite resorts.
You can't expect to get this kind of insight into ANY big resort in a weekend - I went to Chamonix for a weekend and got a really skewed view of it because I didn't know the best places to go for the conditions we got but I wouldn't write it off as so many snowheads love Cham with a real passion and I will do the Valle Blanche one day! We still had a good time cos we were out on the mountains with snowboards strapped to our feet - could life be any better?? The experience was free with our GM season lift pass too!
I guess what I'm saying is: It's a weekend skiing, you will have a great time exploring somewhere new as long as you don't get consumed with lift rage. The GM has some old lifts and some fabulous new lifts - all the villages have something different to offer - Les Carroz has a fun run called Plein Soliel, Morillon has some cruisey reds and blues and a very chilled out green called Marvel (honestly, even off pisties like me love Marvel for serious chill out time), Samoens has a few crazy blacks and speedy reds and Flaine has a bit of everything - there are great off-piste opps in all places. Oh and Cascades in Sixt is really magical in the right conditions - just don't arrive at the bottom at the end of the day - you have to bus back to Samoens or Morillon and link back to your resort from there.
I'm sure you'll have a great time. 
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Thanks - its all very confusing as many of the reviewers imply the slow and creaky lifts made their skiing challenging. i hate long slow lift rides so my first instinct was that would impact too much on our enjoyment, especially if they are the old ones without footrests (i have a dodgy knee and these lifts really hurt !). however it sounds like there are some old lifts but no more than in other resorts. maybe the reviews i have read have been "skewed" as bit ?
what i am now thinking about is snow conditions in mid / late march due to lots of GM being low down. Am i right in thinking is has a record for high snow depths in march ? however even deep snow goes slushy when it is warm i guess. would be interested in your views. We went to la clusaz last year and low down was pretty dire due to very wet snow / rain and slush.
maybe i should got to val thorens !!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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even deep snow goes slushy when it is warm i guess.
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Right. However, Flaine is at 1600 - not exactly low. You could go to Avoriaz - also easy from Geneva. Or Les Contamines, where the best of the skiing is at the top, and east facing.
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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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backhojo,
There are no lifts in the GM without foot rests.
I'd need a crystal ball regarding your snow question - but hey, I've boarded the last weekend of the season (around April 16th-ish) for 3 years in powder so go figure. This year in the 2008 season, February was more like spring conditions and Easter was more like midwinter - methinks the God of Snow was having a joke with us.
Wherever you go, you'll end up doing a snowdance in the hope of good conditions - some things you just can't control.
I understand your concern about snow, height and lifts and such when time and holidays are precious and a ski trip is pricey but I'm sure you'll feel happy about the decision once you've booked because you'll be in the hands of the snow gods and you can just focus on having a good time and making the best of what you've got.
FS
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backhojo, Our weekend in Les Carroz was last weekend of March and late afternoon WAS a bit heavy/slushy but not everywhere. The villages may be lower than others, but the skiing in Flaine and Samoens for example, starts at 1600m - really (without the benefit of clairvoyance  ) doubt you'd have a problem
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You know it makes sense.
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| pam w wrote: |
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even deep snow goes slushy when it is warm i guess.
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Right. However, Flaine is at 1600 - not exactly low. You could go to Avoriaz - also easy from Geneva. Or Les Contamines, where the best of the skiing is at the top, and east facing. |
you are right - 1600 is not low. i was referring to the whole area - i think there are a lot of slopes below 1600 arent there ?
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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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backhojo I ski the GM every year and I think you are worrying too much. No-one can guarantee it but the GM normally has an excellent late snow record. As for the lifts, there are some older ones but overall I would say it was comparable to most French resorts if not quite up to some Austrian ones. The extent and variety of slopes is fantastic- I have never got bored of it. Some of the lower slopes may well close but you will have over 265KM to choose from! Enjoy. 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Worried about lifts, worried about snow, worried about height, worried about reviews written by the literary equivalent of bloke-in-the-pub?
Just don't go there, go to VDI, La Plagne or La Rosiere like all the other sheep.
The Grand Massif will be wasted on you.
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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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rungsp,
Is that some reverse psychology I see before me? Lol!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| rungsp wrote: |
Worried about lifts, worried about snow, worried about height, worried about reviews written by the literary equivalent of bloke-in-the-pub?
Just don't go there, go to VDI, La Plagne or La Rosiere like all the other sheep.
The Grand Massif will be wasted on you. |
not sure what "tone of voice" you are writing this with as its impossible to convey this in type...however you do seem a little harsh !
Our ski time is very prescious to us and want to maximise our slope time. We dont go for apres ski and nice looking towns with good shopping so skiing is the most important factor. We tried somewhere different last year (la clusaz) and whilst it was OK there were certain aspects that we didnt like. the last day was a washout due to rain. if we coudl have got higher than 2300m then we woudl have got some sking but we couldnt. we are also trying Alpe d'huez for the first time this year. We have tried the sella ronda and andorra. we dont just stick to the main tarrentaise resorts like the "sheep".
what spoils our holiday is queues on lifts. In 17 weeks skiing i only ever recall one queue longer than 5 mins. we also dont like being trapped in a low down small area (if the links to flaine are closed how do we get out of the les carroz ski area ? i have heard the links are often down ? again this could be just a couple of people who hit it on a bad week - but then knowing my luck this will happen to us !!)
bloke-in-pub opinions is why i come into the forum. anecdotal evidence can be helpful , likewise it can be skewed if someone had a bad day.
VDI - we are looking at this simply to give us more snow-sureness and height options. also not likely to go there in the next few years with the family as kids very young and i believe some of the home runs are tricky for kids
La ros - never been and dont want to !! not big enough and challenging enough for us
la plagne - been there loads of times and like it but want a change
cheers (& "Baa" ! )
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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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ps - my "attention to detail" and "tenacity" when purchasing anything often gets misconstrued as "worry". It usually pays off in the end though and means we get more "bang for our buck" !!
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backhojo, "got higher than 2300m" Top of flaine is 2500m. Its not height that counts but orientation.
It is very very rare that you can not get to flaine, but there are two lifts (go to same place) that are 2 man chairs and slow, then a 8 man chair. The 8 man chair can be closed due to wind at the top. In that situation you are better in the trees in les carroz anyway. You can drive up to flaine as les carroz ids on the road to flaine, there is also a bus (paying)
The red timalets run back to les carroz base is usually open all season, and they do actually state that on the website, or you can download on the gondola.
les carroz is actually a reasonable looking town however, so based on your comments above may not suit you
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dont care what the town looks like.
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Well book in to Flaine then. Plenty of fast lifts out of here (DMC, 8 man detachable) The more peripheral yyou are in the system the more likely to run into a 2man chair, but there are very few of them now except off the Samoens plateau. Top of Grand Platieres has arguable the best view from a peak in the Alps (ducks the flack...). Fall out of bed onto the piste, huge area, scenic, tree lined in some areas, rollers, moguls, Its really got it all. Theres only 1 resort in France I'd rather be in for a weekend
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dont think i will be able to source catered accom in flaine for a long weekend ? i am lead to believe it is mainly self catering ?
i have a good offer from Marcellus and Kandmchalets in les carroz. if we decide we want to go to the grand massif i think this will be ideal for us.
thanks for all your help and advice - it is appreciated. off to go and talk to the other two members of the party and give them all your views to consider. cheers !
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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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Worried about lifts, worried about snow, worried about height, worried about reviews written by the literary equivalent of bloke-in-the-pub?
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He has a point... how bad will it be for a weekend, you will find something you like. Book
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I seemed a little harsh....you got my tone spot on.
If I seemed a little harsh it's because I thought your worrying was excessive.
The GM is a fabulous ski area, huge and varied.
Flaine is one of the most snow-sure places in Europe, even though it is not one of the highest (all in the orientation and micro-climate).
Lifts are MANY and varied.
Yes! You might even have a lift queue! Would 10 minutes put you off, and ruin your whole trip? If so...then don't go there, in fact don't go anywhere!
You want to have easy access for a weekend (note just a weekend) and not in peak season.
If you go you will have a great time.
The vast majority of Brits seem to go to 3V, VDI/T and La Plagne.
The rest of us spread out.
P.S. If the Gers sector is open (and if you are a good skier) then go and enjoy one of the best long, steep, unpisted (did I mention long and steep?  ) black runs in europe.
BUT it does have an equally long and steep drag lift to get out.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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rungsp, .... but he wants more "bang for his buck" 
I do agree... too many worries overe a huge area. It's not like its a tiny little resort in Bulgaria!
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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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| Libertine wrote: |
rungsp, .... but he wants more "bang for his buck"
I do agree... too many worries overe a huge area. It's not like its a tiny little resort in Bulgaria! |
I agree with the sentiment of OP. It's for a long weekend only. Painfull & difficult to arrange & pull together all the threads.
It *is* important to not have surprises like taking the 1st hour each day to get to the 1st proper run of the day, and then being bogged down with loads of slow lifts.
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You know it makes sense.
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Lou, missing the last lift back over isn't the end of the world. We did it accidentally once. The lift attendants let all us stragglers stew for a while then opened the lift back up to ferry everyone back over. Best run ever back down, virtually empty all the way right back to the town.
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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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I've bitten my tongue long enough!!
If I have any guests who want to get to Flaine and the links are closed then I'll load you all into my 4x4 and drive you over the col myself.........I can get 12 in all with seat belts so no problems there....there is one proviso....THAT I CAN SKI TOO!!!!
Come to think of it the Vallee Blanche could be on the cards too if the conditions are right.....................
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Lou, yeah they definitely milked the situation for all it was worth. They told us to get the bus and watched us stand at the stop like idiots knowing full well the bus wasn't running.
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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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marcellus,
Count me in!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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marcellus, Can I come?
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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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Freestyle, Anniepen, of course you can!!
I see another angle here.......................:snowheads: do the Vallee Blanche!!!
the question is when?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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| petem77 wrote: |
| Libertine wrote: |
rungsp, .... but he wants more "bang for his buck"
I do agree... too many worries overe a huge area. It's not like its a tiny little resort in Bulgaria! |
I agree with the sentiment of OP. It's for a long weekend only. Painfull & difficult to arrange & pull together all the threads.
It *is* important to not have surprises like taking the 1st hour each day to get to the 1st proper run of the day, and then being bogged down with loads of slow lifts. |
excuse my "forum speak ignorance" but who is OP ?
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| backhojo wrote: |
| petem77 wrote: |
| Libertine wrote: |
rungsp, .... but he wants more "bang for his buck"
I do agree... too many worries overe a huge area. It's not like its a tiny little resort in Bulgaria! |
I agree with the sentiment of OP. It's for a long weekend only. Painfull & difficult to arrange & pull together all the threads.
It *is* important to not have surprises like taking the 1st hour each day to get to the 1st proper run of the day, and then being bogged down with loads of slow lifts. |
excuse my "forum speak ignorance" but who is OP ? |
It means "Original Poster", or sometimes "Original Post".
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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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backhojo,
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Last year in la clusaz (not for from the GM) i did say that i would not go to a resort below 1800m in march again
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Why? What was the problem? Snow is often better in March, particularly last year ............
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the lower slopes were very heavy and damp. by the middle of the afternoon many lower slopes were skied out and then on the last day it rained !!!
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FAQ
I think it was the Diamant Noir. Again from memory there was a long slow one called Perdrix not far from there but easily avoided. I wouldn't listen to reports that the lifts are outdated (apart from the yoghurt pots, see below), as with anywhere, there are lifts that are best avoided at certain times of the day. The skiing there is fab 