 Poster: A snowHead
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DAY 1: WEDNESDAY 01 DECEMBER 2010
Flew from Cardiff to Geneva via Amsterdam at mid-day under clear, sunny skies. Geneva Airport had been closed all day Tuesday due to too much snow on the runways, but was open as I set off.
I used SkyScanner to get the best price, and ended up choosing Bravofly flying with KLM. Both excellent, easy and quick.
http://www.skyscanner.net/
http://www.bravofly.co.uk/vg1/flights.do
Was due to fly to Geneva at 17:30, but Geneva decided to close again, at 17:00 !
I was directed to the layover desk and 45 mins later I was in my Amsterdam Airport Hotel (HC) for the night.
Reading the horror stories of people spending 1-3 days in Geneva Airport with no support I was very happy that I went with a regular airline over one of the low-cost options.
The 'compensation' package was:
B&B accommodation
15 euro voucher for dinner
50 euro voucher off next flight
2,000 airmiles
DAY 2: THURSDAY 02 DECEMBER 2010
Set off from Amsterdam at 10:30 and was in Territet (just passed Montreux) around 16:00 courtesy of Swiss Rail. Amazing service, my only complaint being the rail pass deals have to be booked weeks in advance.
http://www.sbb.ch/en/index.htm
I was staying with Kath Lyon again, she of this May TR
TR: Zermatt and Chamonix - May the Pow Be With You
http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=64389
The view from Kath's balcony with the anticipation of more snow
Took a walk down to the Montreux Christmas Market that evening for some vin chaud, tartiflette and churros. This year's theme is a Russian Christmas.
DAY 3: FRIDAY 03 DECEMBER 2010
Kath went to work and I commuted to GLACIER 3000 above Les Diablerets.
The Swiss Rail site wanted to send me via Gstaad for 67 CHF r/t, but I chose to go via Aigle and up to Les Diabrelets for 37 CHF r/t
Bit of a wait for the bus connection in Les Diabrelets. It was freezing and nothing was open so I decided to walk and hitch hike. Quite a few cars and vans passed but none stopped. I guess hitching isn't the done thing in this town.
I was warmed up at least when I got to the lift station!
Beautiful sunny morning with great visibility, deserted with fabulous piste and off-piste conditions. Fantastic powder - light and mid thigh at times, first face shots of the season. Had to hike for those though.
Shame there wasn't more terrain open and I wasn't with someone who knew what was good to go. Ducking the ropes, turns were possible to the car park, but I was solo and didn't want to risk it first time there. That stuff looked great. Next time.
The park rats were in 7th heaven though.
Saw these two guys hiking up to a little rock above the glacier, skied around and caught these pics
The clouds rolled in and the light got flat so I took the tram down for lunch at the restaurant beside the base station.
It was fantastic. Mountain goat in a mushroom and red wine sauce, with red & green cabbage, grapes, chestnuts and spaetzle. Bottle of red and an espresso and I was ready for the return train journey back to Territet.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Looks a lovely trip..... nice snow 
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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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Nice.
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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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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Loking good.
Both the conditions and the piccies.
T minus 32 days 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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nice lunch 
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sweet for early december and that lunch looks amazing.
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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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DAY 7: TUESDAY 07 DECEMBER 2010
Early to bed, early to rise gets Tom and Mike to the Courmayeur prize.
Got to COURMAYEUR, ITALY around 8.30 under overcast, grey skies. A coffee and two croissants later and the sun was starting to poke through the clouds.
http://www.courmayeur-montblanc.com/en/
Limited opening due to avalanche risk, but we found plenty of decent, springy pow to play with off and under the 2-man chair.
The views were fantastic
Tom ready to drop in
The one that got away
Tom under the chair
The clouds rolled in around lunchtime so we stopped for polenta with sausages and mushrooms washed down with a bottle of red, bombardino (sp) and grappa. 34 euros for the two of us. Delicious bargain.
Although the home run was closed we skied it anyway. Heavy pow as we rounded the first corner. Knackered by the time we got back to the car.
Courmayeur's had plenty of snow already, even down to car park level
Cracking day and cracking resort. In colder conditions, the tree skiing would be fabulous. And up high, terrain of the highest order with views to match.
Another resort on the definite return to list.
Many thanks to Kath, Tom and Laura. Switzerland and Italy more than delivered for early season turns.
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Beautiful
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Great TR -Many Thanks
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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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Great photos, son.
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Wonderful.
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You know it makes sense.
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Nice TR, quite jealous now
| MikePow wrote: |
In colder conditions, the tree skiing would be fabulous
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Word. We were in Courmayeur a couple of seasons ago when one lucky day we appeared to have the best snow in europe. Having played in the freshies getting face shots *on piste* till about 11, we then hit the trees - through the avvy barriers under the two man. Later on we tried the old lift line from the nursery slopes to the bottom of the two man. Awesome.
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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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Great stuff Mike *drools*
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FAQ
