Poster: A snowHead
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helenjane, It shouldn't be much different from when we were there, so there will still be snow there. Obviously, the higher you get then the better the conditions will be.
The problems with the ferries is having an effect on the trains and we were delayed by about an hour going out. The buses the day before had been delayed by nearer 3 hours. Going out for us was very uncomfortable as we were right behind the driver so had no leg room at all. Coming back was much more pleasant as we were upgraded to club-class as someone had injured his shoulder and had to fly home. If it isn't too late, and you haven't done it, I think the upgrade to club class would probably be worth it.
I didn't think that I got any sleep to speak of on either of the journeys, but saying that, I felt fine to ski when we arrived and although a little jaded now, I am not exhausted by any means. I guess the only thing is to expect to get no sleep and then anything will be a bonus. We took a portable DVD player, which wiled away the small hours.
Last time we used the hire shop in Hotel Verseau, but for some reason this time they gave us vouchers for SkiSet at the Gondola in Brides Les Bain. The "technician" there set my daughters bindings on 5.5 (she is a tiny 13 year old, weighing 5.5 stone with size 3 feet). I thought this was high and queried it. All I got was a shrug of the shoulders and he offered me the screwdriver, saying "if you know better, change it yourself". When I had the chance to re-check them on the charts in the hotel hire shop, I saw that they should have been set to 2.0. Moral here I guess is to have an idea of your bindings settings before you go!!
I'm sure you'll have a good time whatever. Start early and get the best of the cooler weather. Then, hopefully you'll be able to sit on a terrace in the sun and enjoy a nice lunch watching the others on the slopes before you do a few final runs to finish. Hope you have a great time.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Maybe he thought you said 55 kgs and not 5.5 stone?!
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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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PG, the worrying thing was he didn't ask anything about her apart from "has she skied before".
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Ray Zorro, thanks - have already booked club class so should be ok! Was there any food on the coach?
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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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helenjane, no, just coffee or beer. They make a couple of stops at service stations, so you can get something then and there should be chance at the channel tunnel too.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Well, we were expecting to get up for the first gondola and ski early then as you said relax for the afternoon. Matybe they changed the ski hire cos it was Easter and busy? I've size 3 feet but am definitely not 5 1/2 stone so should be ok! Resigned to water skiing already, still will just be good to be in the mountains for the weekend with no kids! (no guilt either, they got theirs in La ROs in Feb!) Will make the most of it.
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Helen,
The current snow-forecast.com 6 days has snow on and off this week above 2000m, then it does look like there will be a freeze at night, with the F/L hovering around 2000m during the day, which fingers crossed will be much better than the recent extremely warm temps!
cheers,
greg
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Ray Zorro, It's a small world. On reading your messages, I was probably right behind you (or technically behind your daughter) on the bus on the way out there. Did your daughter happen to leave a cudly monkey and a DVD on the bus (on the way back?)?! The bindings things is concerning, but matches the experience that some people in our group. In such cases there should be significant liability upon the hire shop to get the settings right. In our case, the best was a colleague of mine that was given a pair of matching skies but different bindings. He didn't notice till on the mountain, and ended up skiing with them all weekend.
gregh, In terms of the forward forecast, I am not sure how much confidence I would place on snow-forecast's forecast. It was saying similar things for when we were out there, but it seemed to significantly underestimate the temperature. We had 10C at 4:30pm at 2200m (and prob 15C at midday) on a day when the forecast was for a max daytime temperature of 4C at that altitude.
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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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kamikaze, It is indeed a small world, as yes, that's right, she did. A monkey, 5 DVD's in a wallet and a notebook!! After many phonecalls, we managed to catch up with the coach again as it was parked up in Dartford!!
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It's snowing again today, with the radio forecasting the snow/rain line dropping to 1400m which would be nice.
PG - I haven't been down as far as Meribel due to the conditions but if I do get down I'll let you know. There was a slalom course in Mottaret that seemed to be in good condition.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Good news for the many snowHeads coming to VT this weekend - continuous snow yesterday (down to about 1800m) has transformed VT and, with temperatures lower, conditions look good. Hope to meet up with some of you - PM me a contact number if you want to meet!
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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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That's great! We are coming to Meribel this Sunday. Any news on the weather there for next week? Goggles...sun glasses...? :~/
Can't seem to please anyone...if the reports say cloudy and snow then everyone moans...no sun!!! If it's sunny...everyone whinges about the snow!!! As the holiday organiser is a pain!!! :(
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Just as it felt as though the season might be coming to an end, it's snowing heavily here now. With the freezing level dropping this should be good for anyone coming this way.
Good to meet up with so many snowHeads during the last week - hope you all enjoyed yourselves.
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You know it makes sense.
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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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Saturday was incredible! Ok so viz was crap but who cares...60 cms of powder...just awesome! Get your skis and go now! You lucky things...ths sun will be out for you this week! :D
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Poster: A snowHead
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fingers crossed it hangs around and snows again next weekend, I arrive in Courcheval Sunday 17th.
cheers,
greg
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I had the Saturday experience at 1850. Amazing. Snow forecast says its going to be stronger winds today, sunnyWednesday and .....wait for it....snowing on Friday. Enjoy gregh.
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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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mowgli, agreed.
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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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Left Val Thorens sunday morning having had arguably my best powder day ever on saturday .... couldn't see a thing on some runs but the snow was oh so good and the lifts almost empty. The snow was still falling and the clouds clearing yesterday morning.
If you're free this week head for the three valleys, you won't be disappointed
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Hey nog, were you on the Lac Blanc coming down from the top of Funitel Peclet? If so are you one of the people in this picture:
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Once again the snow has arrived just as things were looking a little bare in places. Good snow and empty slopes sould make for a good week ahead.
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how much are the locals predicting Alastair? I fly out to Courcheval tomorrow
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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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gregh, (brief pause while he wanders across the tourist office) the official forecast simply says HEAVY SNOWFALL; I wouldn't argue with that at the moment.
Courchevel was looking a little tired in places a couple of days ago but I expect this current dump will improve things just as last week's did, when tired and closed slopes suddenly reopened. Have a good week!
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thanks alot!! hopefully the forecast also calls for heavy snow Sunday then sunshine/showers later in the week, which could turn out to be a cracking closing week!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Some of the best snow of the season in VT yesterday with fresh powder. Weather due to warm up over the next few days, unfortunately.
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