 Poster: A snowHead
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We are going week after next for a cheeky mid-weeker and would like to know more from someone who has been. I have read a lot about it but want a more practical take on it.
Can you help?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Peter Leuzzi, Where are you staying? There can be avoidable queues at the bubble up in the morning by using the lift at the head of the valley, the second stage of which is extraordinarily cold as you go over to Gressoney. Happily lots of mountain huts around the moutain for hot choc or coffee. Take a very wide angle lens for your camera to get all the views in. Its a special place. Enjoy!
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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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Martin Nicholas, Hotel Ayas through Ski2. Do you know it? Apparently its a walk to the lift? Whats the lift at the head of the valley called?
Whats the skiing like? We are intermediate cruisers and loved Cervinia last year.
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Peter Leuzzi, what do you want to know? Lift at head of valley bus accessible, col de Frachey. Ayas should be fine, but a bit of a hike to the lifts.
Skiing? - very intermediate cruiser. All of it. You won't find anything you won't like.
Are you catered in the evening? Let me know if you need evening recommendations.
Whatever, no big gourmet lunches, but on mountain food generally good. New restaurant at top of Frachey chair (to the right, not the self service) is very good.
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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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under a new name, we aren't catered for in the evening as it happens. Your rec's would be appreciated.
Martin Nicholas, under a new name, I am told there are two access points up the mountain. Which is the best, quickest route (Frachey?)? Which is closest to our hotel? Is the second choice so bad? I just hate to faff in the morning and wait for buses, people etc so any tips appreciated.
Is it really as uncrowded mid-week as I have read?
Is there enough skiing to keep us happy for 3 days?
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Peter Leuzzi, You can leave your skis at the base station on the village, so walking in in through the trees is a really pleasant hike in outdoor shoes. The bus up the valley to Frachey is a hike and really a ski school queue avoidance route, although good to do once. The place really is empty midweek, with few queues. Skiing - theres enough for 2 weeks!
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Martin Nicholas, music to my ears 
Are you saying avoid Frachey? Or avoid the other one?
Do you have any fave restaurants for me to take Mrs L?
Do have any favourite runs that we should check out?
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Peter Leuzzi, you should be quiet enough mid week not to worry about queues so no need to bus to Frachey. Your hotel is a good 600m (I'm not exactly sure where it is as it's not on the "main" road) walk to the Crest gondola. As Martin says, it's quite pleasant.
One of my "All time favourite" restaurants anywhere is "Le Sapin" at the bottom of the Crest Gondola. If you like rare beef, the tagliata is not to be missed. The Churen does good pizzas, etc. If you're there on a Tuesday night, Herman at the hotel Castor (near where you're staying) often organises a "music" evening - with various folk jamming. Bars are diminishing (boring) but Golosone beside the Churen is OK. There's also a newish cocktail bar but I haven't been in very often.
You'll have quite enough skiing for 3 days. No particular fave run as such. You could easily ski most of the system in 3 days.
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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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under a new name, I am aware that apres is down to making your own fun, but where is the most likely place to go and get a deserved beer (aren't they all  ) when finishing for the day?
Another question, if I may - can you ski back to bottom station? If so, how difficult/easy is that run in?
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yes you can though it does get quite busy at the end of the day.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Peter Leuzzi - the Frachey lift is useful if you're heading over to Gressoney - it cuts out a fair bit of faffing on lifts if you go from the gondola. If you are with Ski2, they'll give you a lift any time to the Frechy lift - just turn up at theur office. They also have their own ski/boot storage at the foot of the gondola, so it really is a pleasnt stroll in the mornings and evenings 
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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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Peter Leuzzi, The run back after a beer at the mid station end of the day is most pleasant, and the run down an easy red but busy at peak times. Just 150m down the road from the Ayas is the Hotel California - a bizarre bar for a good beer. We didn't explore bars in town being there as a group. ajpaul, good comment about Frachey chair, I had forgotton ski-2 do a shuttle service, just let Simon know the previous evening, & put on 1 layer more than you need for the "refrigerator" lift over to Gressoney.
Have fun
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Martin Nicholas, now I'm confused. Where is the Ayas? the description I found put it across the river from the Castor. Which is not 150m from the California. 
Peter Leuzzi, I completely forgot, there's a bar immediately on the left hand side of the stairs down from the gondola which is quite civilised for post ski beers. Or the Galion (sp?) across the road. Pachamama had great promise but I think I'm now "over-age". You only get in if you were born after 1990. We usually drink in either the bar of the Castor or in the Golosone.
ajpaul, is correct that the Frachey route cuts out some runs, but that's only IMO important if you are slow or it's busy (which it won't be).
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You know it makes sense.
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under a new name, Martin Nicholas, ajpaul, papasmurf, thanks for your inputs. Its always exciting going somewhere new, but I also like finding out about it a bit prior to cut through the stuff that can be avoided by just asking people like you.
Off in about 10 days time, so lets pray for some more snow, eh?
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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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Peter Leuzzi, any more snow and the roads will be closed! be careful what you wish for.
(Joking, but not by much!)
sis & bro in law skied knee deep pow yesterday. There's more snow than they have seen, ever, (in 28 years). (2 weeks ago it was only more snow than they'd seen since their teens...)
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Poster: A snowHead
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David Murdoch, yes, i know what you mean. Have had a few days of that myself and it was too hard for a part timer like me!
How has your season been - ski-wise and the business?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Peter Leuzzi, hmmm. Not ideal. £/€ has interfered with the world domination plans. Broken ribs have reduced ski-wise enthusiasm. still a few weeks to go though!
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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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Hi,
I have just returned from a short break to Gressoney. Snow was amazing !! So much snow that the only road in/out of Gressoney was closed for 2 days due to avalanche hitting the road. We had to stay an extra day - what a bummer !!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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David Murdoch, oh dear. At least you know its not just you with bad (financial) luck. Take a big fall to do the ribs did you? Hprrible injury - I did same end of last season when I face planted and landed on my chest and the Nokia in my top pocket!!
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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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Peter Leuzzi, it was a stupid slip down some very steep stairs (they hadn't cleared the snow). It is indeed horrible at least in the pain to severity ratio, the first week was incredibly painful. For a simple injury it's quite tedious!
icicle, lucky you!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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So tell me about the runs there? Whats to avoid? Whats unmissable?
We are intermediate and like cruising about reds and blues. Not interested in off-piste; snowparks or black runs
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I'm not sure there are any blacks in Champoluc itself. The red Del Colle on the Champoluc side of the Colle Bettaforca was my favourite - a little steep, with chopped-up snow, at the top but nothing terribly difficult. Another good one is Vatourna, which is to your left as you get off the Sarezza chair. The first section of this one is challenging (or was from my perspective as a timid fourth-week skier) but it soon opens out, and the rest of it is a fine cruising run.
I didn't get out of the Champoluc valley much, but on the Gressoney side I liked the long, wide Salati red. Gressoney also features Moos, a contender for World's Easiest Black.
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