 Poster: A snowHead
|
Going to Megeve 12-18 March. Lucky me. Haven't done full week there for 20 years and can't remember much from more recent odd days.
Any tips on must-do runs, views, mountain food, town activities, sports centres, etc very welcome. Like challenging reds, scenic cruisy blues, good blacks, occasional off-piste, especially if powdery.
Won't be shopping there!
Also thinking of day or two in Cham valley from Megeve, if any advice about that please? Is MB tramway worth a ride?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
@intermediate, highly recommend popping over to the combloux side, was there for the first time at half term and going back next week for a cheeky short trip.
lots of tree lined skiing and was not as busy as Megeve.
there was a lovely red run from the top of the jouty chair, that takes you back to the bottom of the (albeit slow) chair, that reminded me a lot of Jerusalem that takes you to st martin in the 3valleys.
reasonably cheap mountain restaurant close to the top of jouty/pertuis chair on the blue down to Combloux, hot choccies and grand crème coffee half the price than the restaurant at the top of the princess gondola in Megeve.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
@intermediate,
I know the main part of the area pretty well (have a place in Les Contamines but also spent about 5 weeks based in St Gervais/Bettex and did a week in Megeve 25 years ago!
I'm probably a bit biased given where I have been based but I think the best piste skiing is probably off Mont Arbois (between Megeve and St G). The runs down to combloux are all nice - long, broad, tree lined. There are some narrower steeper pistes down to Megeve which are generally quiet. The runs to Bettex are pretty good too (A blue called Finance starts as a dull flat trail but then becomes a hoot).
St Nicholas is a lovely little place which you should visit and the area under Croix de Christ chair is good skiing on your way or way back.
You'll want to get to the top of Mont Jolie for the views but the main piste down is pretty dull. There is a very sporty black which isn't always open but is very steep and never pisted but the best skiing is offpiste. Be aware that some of the slopes are avalanche prone.
There are some nice little "secret" off-piste spots which are very safe. Not easy to describe but keep an eye-out for tracks disappearing into the trees from the Mont Arbois to Combloux runs - these typically bring you into open, pleasantly angled meadows in clearings where you join tracks that bring you back to the pistes lower down.
Eating is much better value on the St G side. Strongly recommend the terrace or restaurant at the Fleche d'Or Hotel at Bettex but there are other good options. It is on the piste and the views of the Mont Blanc Massif are pretty staggering.
On Chamonix, I'd not mess around with the tramway - Les Houches skiing is nice but not so different from Megeve. I'd get up to Grands Montets or Flegere. GM is the true Chamonix skiing experience I think (huge long steep bowls) but Flegere (or Brevent) gives you the best views of the Aiguilles.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
Thanks all, some really great tips there. Opinions on another couple of questions would be much appreciated. I'll be making my own way from GVA and based in centre of Megeve for 6 days, with intention to spend another 2 days at end somewhere in Chamonix valley, TBC.
1. Is it worth convenience of renting a car for full 8 days?
2. Any recommended ski rental shops near central Megeve?
Thanks in advance.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
@intermediate, personally I would say yes to the car, particularly if you want to spend 2 days elsewhere.
If you do as Terry suggests, then I would also go to the Alpage de Porrez (it's off a different run that he's talking about but leads you back to the same very slow lift). It's going to be sunny and so go have the BBQ on the terrace there (that's my plan this week anyway though, as I'm not on holiday, that's a rare treat for me as it's not particularly cheap). If you do make it over to the La Giettaz side, another lovely place to sit (for drinks and/or nice food) are the deckchairs/terrace at the Auberge du Bonjournal (bottom of the Bonjournal drag which comes off the top of the Christomet chairlift). You actually don't need to descend to La Giettaz from there; you can get on the Bonjournal lift and go back to Combloux when you've finished.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Yes, definitely take the car. You could go a couple of miles up the valley to Praz sur Arly too. Different lift pass. Big free car park at the bottom of the Cret du Midi lift. Cosy and very pretty little restaurant (Le Petit Tetras) over on the right as you get off the top). On a sunny day the Sarrason restaurant (left off the top) has a sunny terrace with stupendous views.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@miranda, @pam w, thanks both. Looking forward to trying those places! Only 24 hours to departure.
Convinced on car hire now thanks. Best deal I can see for medium estate (eg Focus) is £287 for 8 days, from Swiss side. Includes snow tyres, snow chains, unlimited mileage, full to full fuel, basic CDW, airport surcharges, local taxes. £36 per day from Swiss side doesn't sound bad to me.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
@intermediate, I always book basic car & so far have been given a VW golf 3 times, so save money and book basic
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@Jonny996, thanks, I got an even better deal @ £225 for 8 days....didn't get lucky with a Golf. CitroenC4 instead, but it got me here fine. Thanks all again and looking forward to enjoying all these places you recommend. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
Can also recommend the pizza restaurant in Saint gervais, just down from casino supermarket
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thought the reds and black @ Côte 2000 were a blast on a sunny morning. Corduroy groomed. Relatively steep reds but wide enough to feel safe. Hardly anyone seems to go there but only 10 mins on bus.
Might be staying between trees today. Cloud well down low and bit of fresh snow looking very likely.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
| Quote: |
@intermediate, I know it wasn't on your original list of requirements, but I am amazed that no one (including @jedster) has not told you to get your back bottom up to Les Contamines, as it often has the best skiing in the EMB area...
|
Now this is true - by "often" AA actually means "in almost any conditions except white-out"
Reason I didn't recommend a trip up to Les C is that the OP sounded like they wanted to use their faffing around time allowance to visit Chamonix - which would be a perfectly reasonable choice given it is a quite, quite different experience (particularly GM).
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
^ I'm amazed you two managed to last so long. 
Controversially... I haven't really enjoyed Les Contamines skiing so far but I've only been there a total of 5 or 6 times. I haven't managed to get the timing right weather-wise (either low vis - I know not to go there on a white-out day - or pretty windy). Am going to weather-watch more carefully and get over there in April.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
@miranda, haha... It took some holding back ;D
I agree... the only time LC lets itself down is on whiteout days as the only real tree-lined options are under Signal and down to the village. I am desperate to get over to your neck of the woods @miranda... But like I said, my time in the EMB has been so limited it is bordering on ridiculous...
How has that side been this season? Good snow?
Maybe I just need to bite the bullet, not rent one for the season and go and spend some serious time out there...
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
@AlpineAddict, conditions are really good over here - slow start to the season obviously but snow depths have been excellent for quite some time now - even after the recent (and very welcome) high. One of the things I love about being in the mountains is sun in the winter but there was a long stretch without it. But I guess that was offset by great conditions underfoot.
Due to various staff illnesses this season, I've not skied anywhere near as much as I would have liked but have been trying to make up for it the last couple of weeks. I realise how attached I am to tree-lined runs now but have been doing more tree-skiing this season, which, conversely, has made me really appreciate off-piste skiing with no trees to avoid - suddenly seems so much easier!! So maybe this is the year for me to really appreciate LC 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
Hi and thanks again. Heading to La Giettaz imminently. Could not resist webpage that said,and I quote 'sink into the mountains, among a soothing silence, sometimes disturbed by the passage of a goat'! I'll set 'em up, you lot deliver the punchlines?
Will be sampling Auberge de Bonjournal, so will feedback on that later.
Now plan to enjoy Les Contamines on Saturday. Bluebird day forecast. Any reason why that not a cunning plan??
Have skied Cham valley and Les Houches a lot in past. Grands Montets still calling me but left knee currently screaming NOOOHHH! We shall see tomorrow.
Oh and panoramas from Grands Epaules at end of yesterday, when clouds broke, stunning!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Quote: |
LEs Contamines is quiet enough let alone on changeover day
|
Yes. In a way you'd be best to save it for a busy day. That said take advantage of the weather.
Eating options are surprising good on the mountain (better than the village IMO). Overall my favourite is the Roselette (under the Buche Croisse chair half way up) - have a look at the menu then just order the plat du jour - almost always a winner!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@jedster, Ive not sampled it yet, but I've been told the Ferme de la Ruelle at 1600, of the back is a great little place to eat at...
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
Another vote for the Roselette. Half way down the drag of (?) The same name.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Quote: |
Ferme de la Ruelle at 1600, of the back is a great little place to eat at
|
inconsistent service but a lovely setting
my top tips apart from the Roselette:
The bar near the bottom of the bubble in Hauteluce - looks slightly rough and ready, location is nothing special but the food is good value and the couple that run it are lovely
The Auberge de Colombaz - it's off piste (below Veleray / Grevetaz) and you need to book or Madame will tell you off but the food (limited choice of daily specials) is amazing. You can also get there by horse drawn sleigh from the valley (and sledge down) if the snow permits
The Buche Croisse - below the Roselette near to the bottom of the Buche Croisse chair - bit more expensive but food is good
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
Thanks again. I think I'll try persuading people I'm skiing with to spend their last day this week in Les Contamines. It sounds great and we have 2 cars available.
Doubt they'll go for it though. Probably have to rough another bluebird day around Megeve. Côte 2000 mentioned so looking forward to blasting around there again.
I have one extra day to try LC on Saturday.
Chat about LC over croissants beckons very soon.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
Thursday I chose to drive to Le Plan to access La Giettaz area. Stopped in La Giettaz village first, had a quick look around, then bought picnic from boulangerie, with very friendly helpful owner.
Drove up to Col de Aravis, as I was so close, just for the views.
Enjoyed skiing although no better than other EMB areas IMO. Views from all peaks absolutely stunning. Bonjournal excellent location and very good food.
Must've been good, as I leapt on my last chair @ 16.58 and took my ski boots off @ 17.25, which is rare for me these days.
Drove back to Megeve, tired, rather full with food, but very happy.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@intermediate, glad you had fun and met the friendly baker! As someone who should be biased, I agree, I don't think piste skiing in La Giettaz is "better" than other parts of the EMB. I like Cote 2000 too. I think La Giettaz benefits are that it's north facing, cheaper and usually very quiet, but it's not a busy time of the season and conditions are good, so those things don't particularly matter right now. Actually you probably saw it being quite "busy" as I know there was a school group out yesterday, plus we sent a pretty boisterous group of 40 guests out too.
It's good to have the car isn't it? You could have gone over the col for a few minutes and got to a lift in La Clusaz easily, plus the Espace Diamant via Praz is easy too, and of course Les Contamines... next time maybe
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
@miranda, thanks and I plan to explore Les Contamines tomorrow. Too good an opportunity to miss.
Must say the whole area has greatly exceeded my expectations. The car has given great flexibility.
No hesitation returning or recommending to others, as it has much to offer everyone. Tignes might never seem the same again.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
@intermediate, Sorry, just keen to know how you got on mate...?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
@AlpineAddict, sorry, been a bit hectic since returning. I thought Les Contamines very good. Like an oversized snowpark, very open and easily navigable. Very good snow conditions, if anything a touch firm in the morning where the sun had yet to penetrate. It was a little more busy than I imagined, maybe partly due to some race practice going on frontside of mountain. No significant queues except about 10 mins for first ride up in monyjoie gondola.
I should think in fresh or recent snow the easily-accessible off-piste opportunities are excellent, although it was a bit cruddy last Saturday.
Skied around every sector, incl down to Hauteluce a couple of times. Thought the blues and reds all over were a blast. The Tobogan and Joux black pistes relatively easy I thought.
I finished off with the Rebans and Grevettaz blacks. These were OK except the one part (think it was on Rebans but unsure now). After a relatively easy start, between roughly markers 10 down to 5 was quite heavily mogulled and reasonably steep. Only 3 of us on it at the time and none of us managed to get any rhythm going.
Finished, tired but happy, about 4pm and enjoyed the scenic drive back to Megeve, a steady 40 mins via St Gervais.
Very pleased to have spent a day there, have already recommended to others and would definitely return. Are they going to link directly into rest of Evasion Mont Blanc area any time soon?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
No, I suspect there are not going to be any more links. Praz sur Arly/Megeve was talked about some years ago but nothing much been heard of that more recently. The one valley which separates them is rightly (IMO) prized as one of the few unspoilt areas left. It's not far from Les Saisies's new Bellasta lift to the Les Contamines/Belleville area but I don't think that's going to happen either though there are daily free bus links along the Hauteluce valley. These areas all have a thriving summer tourist season and its good to be able to get away from the unlovely ski hardware.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
Tend to agree with you @pam w, in that I don't think there have been any more murmurings of linking Megeve to Les Contamines. Having made quite a few friends in the village now, I think the general feeling is that the locals would rather LC not be linked, as it will just increase the numbers on the hill, withno benefit to village and economy of LC, as no one would come down to the village and spend money...
You could argue that it could bring more folks to stay in LC, if it can be lift linked to the EMB, but it seems evenly split... I know it is not far to drive around to St Gervais, however, you go on holiday to ski, and not necessarily sit in a car, so I would rather sit for 15/20 mins on a lift than sit for that time in the car...
Like your mentioned Praz sur Arly/Megeve link the LC/Megeve link has been talked of for years, apparently, and even the most recent proposal, which I believe were 2014, have gone quiet...
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
@pam w, @AlpineAddict, I agree with both of you, best to leave Les Contamines 'unspoilt by progress' through linking.
Several upgrades in lifts around EMB would be welcome IMO, with more detachable chairlifts to replace some terribly slow ones. Also drag lifts such as Lanchettes, which are no worse than tedious for me, were considered 'a nightmare' by several people I spoke to and would put them off completely going to the areas served by them. They'd take the long bus ride around instead.
There were other EMB draglifts that were more vicious, definitely in the nutcracker suite category for me, not to mention tendency to pull shoulders out of joint.
Striking a balance between maintaining atmosphere and bringing lift system into 21st century clearly a tricky challenge!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
@intermediate,
good accurate review of Les C I think. The black runs are certainly benign apart from the couple of steeper sections of Rebans and Grevettaz that are generally unpisted. But I'm glad they leave them like that - need some character building slopes!
I'd be amazed if the link happens - it will be a very expensive lift which ever way they do it and it won't open up new terrain to ski - just link existing slopes (because it will traverse some highly dangerous terrain). I think both areas have other priorities for investment.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
I'm all in favour of leaving some good runs served only by challenging draglifts. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@jedster, have you been out to LC this season...? How have things been on the hill and in the village... I know for speaking to Mark, he has been saying that the it has been a bad year for snow in the actual village, which is a shame as that is what folk want to see... Have you been to the new restaurant yet, under that new development...???
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@pam w, Unfortunately Lanchettes and Rochefort ('the cheese drag') don't really access good runs, they are just essential parts of the link if you want to ski from Rochebrune to Cotes 2000 and back. That's when you need the walkie talkies in your pockets so you can chat to the rest of your group on the way up the drag lifts!
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
| Quote: |
@jedster, have you been out to LC this season...? How have things been on the hill and in the village... I know for speaking to Mark, he has been saying that the it has been a bad year for snow in the actual village, which is a shame as that is what folk want to see... Have you been to the new restaurant yet, under that new development...???
|
Just put the skis into their summer wax at the weekend 
We managed NY, Feb HT and just back from 10 days at Easter. I also got out for a long weekend at end of January.
In summary:
NY - as poor snow cover as I have experienced in 20 years. And Les C had better snow than most resorts.
end Jan - plenty of snow by then but we had one day that it rained heavily to the top of the mountain. You can imagine the village looked rather depressing
Feb HT - plenty of snow and sun to resort level. Great conditions
Easter - loads of snow cover and the Loyers was open until the day before we left. Run to resort was officially closed (but still skiable) the day before that. But the Foehn was blowing most of the week so nights were too mild and days a bit grey.
On average the snow has been fine but started badly for key Xmas and NY weeks so the village missed the picture postcard wintery start.
Haven't been to the new restaurant - I agree with Mark, the village hardly needed another Savoyard option! If we want that the Marmotte is good and nearly next door
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
