 Poster: A snowHead
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Missed out on last year
So we've booked 2 weeks for this year starting 19th Feb.
Desperate to go, but getting really worried about the snow. Any ideas if it will snow
Also any top tips for St Gervais as i've not skied it before. ie runs/days out etc.
Thanks to everyone, as i have just joined snowheads
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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topboymurph, welcome to Snow Heads 
We were in St G last week (2nd consecutive year) and the snow was fine - they definitely need more to top up, cover the couple of completely closed runs and freshen it all, but it's very cold (and sunny with blue skies  ) and that's making it possible for the good snow management to be working. The cannons were working through the day, last week, and other than the odd patch of iciness, it was all pretty good.
What level of skiers are you? We're pretty mixed but tend to stick with the runs all can do, so can't advise on off-piste, but the blacks and mogulled runs that could be seen from the lifts, were in decent nick. The blues and greens were all fine and skiing back to Le Bettex was no problem.
W/c 19/2 is obviously HT week but I understand from past clients I have sent to St G, that it's nothing like as crowded or busy as other places in that peak week. We certainly didn't queue for longer than a minute or two, for any lift on any day, last week.
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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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topboymurph, welcome to Snowheads.
At St Gervais you'll be pretty close to Les Contamines (on the same lift pass, I think). That will probably have the best snow round that area - so might be worth a visit or two and shouldn't be too busy (not that anywhere will be quiet, those are two of the busiest weeks of the year).
We're all keeping our fingers crossed for some fresh snow - but meantime, the sun is lovely!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Hi Anniepen,
Thanks for your comments. Both my wife and myself are advanced and my children 10 and 12 are fairly good, being happy on reds and the occasional black.
Cheers
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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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There are a few relatively easy blacks in St Gervais - notably on the Princesse, Voltigeurs, etc.
Runs off the top of Mont Joly are more difficult - if the lifts are open.
There is a fair amount of off-piste (not too difficult) on the side of the mountain down to Les Communailles and St Nicolas.
I enjoy the runs of the Etudiants llift and they are sometimes left unpisted (or take a walk off the back to find a novel route to Megeve).
Overall, there may be icy patches, but there is plenty to do and even in a bad winter you should have no real problems.
pam w, is right that a trip to Les Contamines is worthwhile and included in the Evasion lift pass.
On a good day, the run from Combloux to La Giettaz and back is enjoyable and quieter with good stops for lunch, but as with Les Contamines you would really need a car to get there.
The skipass pays du mont blanc http://www.chamonet.com/lift-system/chamonix-lift-pass-prices-winter.htm is expensive, but would allow you to do a day or two to Chamonix and to get the tram up from St Gervais and ski in Les Houches as well.
Have a good time.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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topboymurph, will you have a car ? If you are going with snowcoach then i believe they use there coaches to run trips to other resorts. there are many places within easy reach of st gervais. les contamines,les houches ,chamonix, les saises. Contamines combloux and megeve are all on the evaison lift pass. It is possible to buy this lift pass in non consecutive days this would allow you to ski elsewhere as and when whithout loosing a day on a consec lift pass.
Best bet is to pray for snow and even if it is white out you will still be able to ski, as there is a lot of tree lined pistes.
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topboymurph, Skied Megeve yesterday, its very thin but the resort are working hard to keep the pistes going. Many of the runs to resort have closed but there is still plenty open. Also skied les contamines last week and its in good nick. The off piste is no good anywhere.
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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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My brothers skied St Gervais last week and said that there was plenty of advanced skiing, even though the snow was thin. They also said that although the snow was not great, it was by no means terrible. Chamonix is highly recommended for advanced skiing as well although I've never visited. I have been to the st gervais area several times, and would agree that some of the best skiing is off the top of mont joly, especially down the black run area if there is lots of snow and they don't piste it. I also agree with beequin, about the les communailles/st nicholas area, which is where I would spend most of my time if I had the choice (for example up around Epaule lift etc). It's a massive area.
Has anyone been over to Rochebrune a lot? I think I've been once, but can't remember what it was like...
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| 19th_hole_eagle wrote: |
| Has anyone been over to Rochebrune a lot? I think I've been once, but can't remember what it was like... |
Yes, countless times (as for the rest of the Evasion domain)!
It's nice over there, but not great beginner territory, other than the area immediately around the top of the Chamois lift from the village. Above that, the Olympique is a nice run and (working along the ridge from there) the Petite Fontaine / Jardin area (served by the crossing chairlifts) is fun and Lanchettes, which is hardly ever busy, is a superb carving run. Finally, Côte 2000 has more of a high mountain feel, with plenty of challenging variants including the World Cup run, and lots of off-piste opportunities. The whole area is pretty shady, so the snow will generally be holding up better there (especially at Côte 2000) than on Mt d'Arbois / Mt Joux. I'm going there on March 19th, and unless there's a couple of significant dumps between now and then, expect to spent the majority of time at Côte 2000 (with perhaps a trip to Les Contamines). I notice from the webcams that even high up on Mt Joly, there are bare patches; due no doubt to its steepness and exposure. The normally merely challenging off-piste runs there look like death traps to be honest.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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topboymurph, The snow is pretty good up at Côte 2000 but don't bother going up there tomorrow as there is a race on.
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