 Poster: A snowHead
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Just crawling back home from AdH after a seven hour delayed flight from Grenoble... It snowed pretty much all of Thursday night and Friday, easily leaving a good foot of powder all over.
Unfortunately the light was a little too flat for those who wanted to see where they were going and a couple of injuries from people running into varying snow conditions etc but all in all a very good end to the week/ start of the next.
The local forecast seems to suggest some more snow this week with cloud cover throughout.
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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Just back from ADH today. Conditions throughout the week were fantastic. We had a large dump of snow on Sunday night and an even bigger one on Thursday leaving the whole resort powder-tastic with off piste skiing keeping the snow above the knees.
The reds and blacks were a bit icy mid-week but still skied really well. Sarenne was excellent on Thursday, although the Wednesday was blue sky all day and was fantastic for photos. It was snowing when we left this morning so the coming week should be excellent.
I would agree that the piste colour ratings are on the hard side - reds are really red. As for the black runs, unless you are a very competent skier do not attempt the Tunnel. Sarenne is easier but the moguls at the top are tricky with the steep drop but after that it's pretty much hard red to the bottom when it flattens out to a green run along the Valley floor to the Scare Chair (Alpauris) lift.
ADH has such a fantastic variety of runs to cater for complete novice though to seasoned expert and is a brilliant place to ski.
As for WiFi, I'm not sure about Les Bergers but the swimming pool cafe has free WiFi.
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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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Snow Time, glad you had a nice time in ADH , how was your accomodation and would you go back?
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The accommodation was good but not amazing. We stayed at the Chalet Murrielle which is catered and sleeps 21, although 15 would be more realistic. The location was good - you had only a 2 minute walk downhill before you could ski to the nearest lift and could ski back to the hotel on an evening.
The chalet hosts were excellent and nothing was too much trouble. The food throughout the week, particularly dinner, was very good. The chalet had a small swimming pool, hot tub and sauna but we had a leaky velux window without blinds and the owner seemed to be disinterested in making repairs. The dishwasher was next to useless and plates and cutlery were not always clean. Even with the efforts of the chalet hosts I would probably not go back to the Murrielle.
As for the resort; Alpe D'Huez was faultless - brilliant runs from easy greens to tricky blacks. The ski school was very good and the lift systems excellent. Last week was fairly quiet and at one point on La Sarenne (Europe's longest black run - although certainly not one of the hardest), I could see nobody at all either above or below me along a 1000M stretch.
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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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Great day on ADH. Sunny and cold, a foot of powder off piste and hardly anyone around. A great way to compensate for the epic 15 hour journey from gatwick yesterday!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Looks like Admin has solved the need for WiFi to post snow reports, look forward to trying it in the field in 2 weeks, conditions sound great! (via SMS)
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Heading to ADH on the 16th with two other lads - Lots of snow here in Dublin to whet the appetite - Also likely to book flights to Munich for the start of March for a DIY before the divorce papers are served!!
Bendy
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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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I'd be very surprised if they have only the 110 cm on the upper slopes. There was more than that when I was there over Christmas / New Year and it's been cold since (and snowed more).
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I tend to take all those snow reports with a pinch of salt, been snowing like mad over there even down at 1350m, temps forecast to stay low for a while too.
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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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More great snow today. 30cm fell this morning.
Poor vis in general but still plenty of great turns to be had lower down towards Villard and in the trees under the Grande Sure chair lift towards our chalet.
Getting serious powder thigh 
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Must....remain....calm.....11 sleeps to go!
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You know it makes sense.
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| Nick Dawes wrote: |
| Must....remain....calm.....11 sleeps to go! |
Me too.
Or maybe only 10? Really must find out if I'm flying Sat or Sun.
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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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just testing for next week (via SMS)
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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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Which Bars will show Sky Sports? and more specificaly premiership football.
Im a Arsenal fan and Sunday 31st Jan (my first day there) its Arsenal V Man Unure.
In the description for the chalet im staying in its says it has sky but I would hate to miss the game. Its 4pm GMT so it will be straight from
the slopes to watch the game. Plus its more fun wtching it in the bar. But where ?
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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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| Renry wrote: |
Which Bars will show Sky Sports? and more specificaly premiership football.
Im a Arsenal fan and Sunday 31st Jan (my first day there) its Arsenal V Man Unure.
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Sharkey's, The Underground, O Bar all show footie but my recommendation is The Pacific Bar (near the tourist info office).
On snow, it snowed quite heavy last night into this morning as the blue sky arrived. There was quite high winds with the snow which continued through the day so not sure where the powder will of ended up! All pistes (including the lower runs) are in good/great condition getting icy in the afternoons due to usage, if you pop on to the lesser used slopes (Auris being great at the moment) the snow on the pistes is good all day. Off piste is still nice (not been out since the earlier winds though) with the odd fresh line being found using only lifts. The tunnel run needs a nice big dump to get rid of the huge mogles that have been created but the seranne is nice if you catch it early enough. Town is really quiet with no queues and plenty of room on the slopes, to sum it up...its really 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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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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manicpb, I will be staying up at the altiport area, whats the best way to get to The Bergers area (to collect hire skis)
I have pre booked from SPORT 2000 Centre Commercial des Bergers.
Also any idea on the opening and closing times of said shop? We will arrive about 8pm on a Saturday and I prefer to collect skis
the night before I need them.
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I have just come back from ADH and to say that I had an indifferent week would be an understatement.
Departed Sat 9th Jan at 0930 from home to LGW, and to cut a very long day short arrived in ADH at 17:00 on Sunday.
No luggage and no skis as they were in LGW.
Promise after promise broken by TO and lost Monday skiing also.
Finally got on the slopes on Tuesday and needless to say it was worth the wait.
Skiing was immense and conditions superb.
Tuesday night the fun began.
Started dumping down about 2am and carried on for most of Wednesday.
At least 60cm of powder to be found on every run I tried. Was an absolute dream to ski.
Although I only got 4 days skiing it was probably the best 4 days I have ever had, especially Wednesday.
Renry, I stayed in Altiport too and it is a trek to get to Bergers.
10mins walk down the piste and 15 - 20mins back up.
The shops were not open late at all and the bus stopped running at 8pm.
I think that you need to be prepared to get them in the morning at 0830 when they open.
Also, the chalet we stayed in had no WIFI (despite being advertised) and no Satelitte TV.
Have fun as the conditions were superb.
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| Dontlikeheights wrote: |
I think that you need to be prepared to get them in the morning at 0830 when they open. |
Glad to hear you enjoyed the skiing in the end. A few questions
You would have had you have ski to door wouldnt you ?
How far down the piste is (loup blanc) a green if my map reading is correct to the lift station @ Marmottes?
How busy was Marmottes (what times to void etc).
Thanks in advance.
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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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Bad luck. Next time pack your ski-essential clothing in your hand luggage. You can always hire skis.
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| James the Last wrote: |
| Bad luck. Next time pack your ski-essential clothing in your hand luggage. You can always hire skis. |
What, along with boots, helmet, book, ipod, tickets, passport, etc etc. 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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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Butterfly, You can rent boots too - helmets if you insist. Clothes are harder to rent!
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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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Poster: A snowHead
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| Renry wrote: |
| James the Last wrote: |
| Bad luck. Next time pack your ski-essential clothing in your hand luggage. You can always hire skis. |
What, along with boots, helmet, book, ipod, tickets, passport, etc etc. |
Easyjet give me 25x45x56cm. Plenty of space for helmet, thermals, gloves, hat, helmet (if you're a sissy ), razor, toothbrush, socks, change of underwear, jumpers, ski trousers. Ski jacket - wear it.
You wouldn't WANT not to see the rest of your stuff for a whole week, but you could get away with renting just skis & boots.
Passport - pocket. Ticket - just a booking number these days? ipod (you poor thing, get a small child to carry it!), book - in hand!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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James the Last, for me ski boots come first. I can buy or hire the rest with insurance coverage but trying to find top-end hire boots that fit or having to find a decent bootfitter and buy a pair? Ooops, does this reopen the whole boots in hand-luggage thing?
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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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| Sideshow_Bob wrote: |
| James the Last, for me ski boots come first. I can buy or hire the rest with insurance coverage but trying to find top-end hire boots that fit or having to find a decent bootfitter and buy a pair? Ooops, does this reopen the whole boots in hand-luggage thing? |
Given the choice between spending a day sat around the chalet/hotel/apartment waiting for my own boots to turn up or spending a day skiing in skanky hire boots waiting for my own to turn up, I know what I'd do.
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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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Higs, you misunderstand. I was talking about the order in which I'd pack my hand luggage. Were I waiting for my boots to arrive I'd do the same but I wouldn't have to as I'd have them with me having taken them in my hand luggage. True, I'd have to probably buy a pair of gloves and put up with skiing in what I was wearing to travel in, but given this is usually a soft shell and my walking trousers (and I carry sunglasses on me) it's no great hardship.
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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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| Sideshow_Bob wrote: |
| Higs, you misunderstand. |
Frequently.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Renry wrote: |
manicpb, I will be staying up at the altiport area, whats the best way to get to The Bergers area (to collect hire skis)
I have pre booked from SPORT 2000 Centre Commercial des Bergers.
Also any idea on the opening and closing times of said shop? We will arrive about 8pm on a Saturday and I prefer to collect skis
the night before I need them. |
If your over that side of town I guess the the Tiger Bar will be the best place to watch the footie (guessing though only drank over there once), and as said most shops are shutting around 7.30-8.00 so doubt you'll get your skis till the morning.
It's been really warm in the sun the past couple of days, a lot of dripping off our hotel roof! Had a ride around Marmottes and down the Sarenne today, some parts around Marmottes are shut due to a some race event so a bit of planning needed to get around. All pistes are pretty good although the blacks around the second stage of Marmottes are getting some BIG mogels (above waist high!), the Sarenne was great this morning untill I dropped into the shade approching the bottom and rode over a block of ice and gave the base of my board a pretty big gash! Snow forecast today (Wed) which although is'nt really needed will be a nice top up, queues are still none existant, overall still great riding to be had!
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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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According to www.alpedhueznet.com/ Every Tuesday and Thursday, the slopes on the Signal mountain are re-prepared at the end of the day and then opened again from 5.30 - 7.30pm for flood lit skiing, anyone done it in ADH.
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Renry,
Yep, loads of times. Sometimes it is just the the signal slope that is open and there is some sort of race practice on the slalom slope alongside or sometimes you can use both. It is good to practice a bit of technique, the blue slope would probably be a red in most places, and as the temperature drops it can get pretty fast but normally there are very few people, and usually they are keen skiers so there is no messing about. You will still need goggles because the wind gets pretty cold on your eyes, I just use the the normal daytime ones, although they are the Bolle modulator ones with the photo whatsit lenses. You can see the bumps very easy though under the floodlights. The night skiing is free if you buy a visalp pass. It is best to check late on in the afternoon with the people at the bottom of the draglifts if they are opening that night because sometimes they cancel it if the weather is really bad or there is some event on, like New Years eve.
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FAQ
