 Poster: A snowHead
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Just to point ot first, this is from yesterday, for some reason I couldn't get it to post last night. Having caught up on some much needed sleep at our lovely Ski Famille Chalet in the Reberty area of Les Menuires, the skiing started later than usual. The skiing was again delayed by a misplaced print out of the ski hire confirmation (still lost), luckily it didn’t matter as the ski hire shop wasn’t busy. The shop was Sapiniere Sports only a 5 minute walk from the chalet, the staff were very friendly and helpful and spoke excellent English, which is good as my French is appalling. With the piste only 20 metres from the shop it was a short ski down to the ski pass office. After a long wait in the queue (and it’s low season) the skiing could commence.
Pictures can be found here as I can't work out how to embed into the post! http://www.flickr.com/photos/40610677@N02/sets/72157622869633705/
We started on the day taking the Les Menuires chair lift where from the top we skied the nice wide blue run Boyes to the Sunny Express lift. The snow fall from the previous night has placed a nice layer of powder on the piste so the signs were good for fabulous skiing. At the top of Sunny Express there are plenty of options us taking the blue run Petits Creux down to the Becca lift. We then came down the red run named Becca. This run is ideal for anyone wanting to ski their first red run and to be honest I’ve been down steeper blue runs. The remaining of the morning session was spent going up the 3 Marches and down the 3 Marches blue, then heading for lunch in Les Menuires down the red Allamands which joins the blue runs Petits Creux and Menuires.
We ate lunch at the Les Hacienda restaurant located near Roc Des 3 Marches lift. We shared a pizza (the size of a planet destroying space station) and salad, very good value for money at only 21 euros including a beer and a vin chaud.
The afternoon was spent skiing the area between Les Menuires and Val Thorens. First we took the Roc Des 3 Marches lift then skied Petis Creux to the Bruyeres 1 & 2 bubble lift which took us to the Col de La Chambre (2850m). We then skied the long red run David Douillet red to the Mont de la Chambre lift. This takes you to the Col de la Chambre where then skied the even longer 4 Vents red back to the chalet.
After a slow start to the day the skiing certainly made up for it, with the conditions fantastic and predicted clouds never materialised. The forecast for the next few days is similar with blue skies in the morning clouding over in the afternoon, but we’ll keep you update. Val Thorens tomorrow 
More information on our trip to the Three Valleys is available here http://bit.ly/4rLwcv.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Day 2 of our ski trip to the Three Valleys, here's our report. Piccie's here http://www.flickr.com/photos/40610677@N02/sets/72157623000153156/ I still can't work out how to embed some into the post!
Once again the ski day started late because the draw of some extra sleep was too overwhelming. We finally made the 20 metres walk from the chalet to the piste at around 10am and headed to the Bruyeres lift which would take us to the highest point in Les Menuires (Col de lu Chambre) and allow us to ski to the high altitude resort of Val Thorens. There are a few runs down into Val Thorens but unfortunately not many are open this early in the season. We took the long blue piste Pluviometre which is a fantastic run to warm the legs for a day of skiing.
Pluviometre takes you into the heart of Val Thorens where the options are endless for to choose your next run. We took the Moutiere lift, from where we skied the wide Altiport, Lagopede and Gentiale blue runs back to the Moutiere lift, thanks to @emilyshipway for recommening this area. Then we went back up Moutiere lift and skied down Linotte (blue) and Traverse des 2 Lacs (green) to the Porteite lift. At this point it did not seem too cold but this all changed during the journey on Portette. Going over a small ridge the temperature seemed to drop 10 degrees and freeze every water molecule in my body. After some hurried pictures of the amazing view we skied the long the red run Portette down to the mountain restaurant Fabrique for a body warming vin chaud.
After warming the cockles the next stop was Val Thorens latest addtions the covered Magic Carpets (a tunnelled converyor belt). Absolute genuis idea and surely must catch on in other resorts. Obviously we had to try them out. We then headed to the Funitel Peclet lift which would take us to 2950m, as unfortunatley the Glacier chair lift was closed. Spending some time to enjoy the view we skied the fantastic Beranger (red) run back down into Val Thorens for lunch, stopping to watch some freestyle skiers jumping into a large inflatable safety matress. A late lunch was spent at the La Galoubet restaurant where a pizza and salad (yet again) cost 26 euros.
With the day drawing closer to the end we decided to head back to Reberty, this was done by first taking the Penin Lac chair lift,then a short ski down to the Berage Funitel back to the Col de la Chambre. From here we skied down David Douillet (red) back into Reberty and straight into the hot tub.
Considering the lack of recent snow the ski conditions are really good, especally the higher you go (full marks to the snow cannons an pisteurs). Unfortunately not all the runs are open (currently you can’t ski back to Les Menuires from Val Thorens without getting a lift) but as the season progresses and hopefully with some more snow things can only get better (as D-ream once sang). Meribel tomorrow.
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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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Another great clear day in the three valleys, we chose to ski in Meribel today. Overall the skiing was good but the current snow conditions are causing a few problems in the lower resorts with limited runs open. The snow cannons are doing their best but they can only do so much. Fingers crossed for some heavy snow soon. Our Meribel ski report can be found here http://bit.ly/8VSAWP, pictures can be found here http://www.flickr.com/photos/40610677@N02/sets/72157623013250546/.
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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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liz09,
Great reports - thanks! Remember to keep us updated over the week.
We were in Val T last weekend and had a great time! You are right - the runs above Val T are in great nick.
We'd recommend a trip to La Masse at Les Menuires. The upper runs were fantastic (and deserted) at the weekend! 
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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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liz09, fantastic reports - but please lay on some more snow, in good time for 10 January! 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Hey Bergmeister, thanks we'll take your tip, planning to head over to La Masse today..... Hurtle, sorry not a lot I can do for snow, though the weather is supposed to get worse tomorrow. Lovely clear day here today!
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Managed to catch up with the reports yesterday, one night at some friends ( http://www.greenmountainchalets.com - great chalet in the Three Valleys) with too much vino put us behind somewhat! Yesterday we skiied in Courchevel and had a fab days skiing. Though extremely overpriced, Courchevel does offer some fantastic skiing and was worth the long ski from Les Menuires. Currently Courchevel has the best snow in the Three Valleys. It took us just over an hour to get into 1850 village from Reberty but we did not have to queue at any of the lifts, so the journey could take considerably longer during the high season. With the temperatures dropping and current lack of snow the pistes are becoming very icy so be careful and lets hope there is a significant snow fall just around the corner. The full ski report can be found here http://bit.ly/5H9PCa, pictures can be found here http://www.flickr.com/photos/40610677@N02/sets/72157622892742433/
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liz09, I love Les Menuires (especially Reberty) as a base. Did you eat out at La Ferme on the night off? a top spot in my opinion. Have a trip to St Martin mid station. Ski to mid station via the Grand Lac blue, a right blast, and then ski to the St Martin2 chair noting Corbelys lunch stop on the left just above the chair, get the chair up and blast the Jerusalem red back doewn to mid station and then Corbleys for lunch.
Oh and La Masse is a must as described above. Thanks again for the reports which have set my juices flowing for 15th March when we will visit St Martin for 5 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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liz09, great reviews and photos. It seems like you are having a blast. Enjoy 
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Frosty the Snowman, we actually didn't eat at La Ferme on the night off, however we have been there nightly for a pre dinner drink or two, a great place, definitely recommend it to anyone. Went over to St Martin today however not much was open because of the lacking of snow. Loads of people have recommended Jerusalem as being the best red in the whole alps, so we were pretty disappointed not to be able to ski it. Our ski report for today can be found here http://bit.ly/7pEYyf, no Flickr pics today I'm afraid, was a bit overzealous with the first few days and have run out of Flickr space!
As correctly predicted the temperature had once again dropped, freezing the already limited snow. It was noticeable on the runs back into Les Menuires that the snow cannons had been working over time to improve the conditions of the pistes. Everyone we have spoken to is saying that it will snow tomorrow throughout the 3 Valleys (fingers crossed), we’ll keep you up to date on our twitter feed ( http://www.twitter.com/skiconcierge ).
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Lovely clear day here today!
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Isn't mountain weather strange - we're not far away as the crow flies, and it's been a grotty day. Snowing off and on (though not enough to make much impact), generally cloudy and foggy and not a hint of sunshine. Didn't matter to me as I've been cooking all day! Hope your contacts are right about the snow tomorrow.
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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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Yesterdays report for La Tania can be found here http://bit.ly/7l1gxY
As promised snow finally fell over the 3 valleys yesterday, falling heaviest in Meribel and Courchevel. As I scribe this post it is still snowing in Reberty this morning. With the help of the already over worked snow cannons and the light snow fall predicted for Saturday, anyone coming out to the 3 valleys for Christmas should have a good weeks skiing regardless of the fact there hasn’t been any heavy snowfall over the past 2-3 weeks. Forecast is for snow all of today and then brightening weather conditions from Sunday.
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