 Poster: A snowHead
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So if we are lucky we might get some skiing in, if we are unlucky though, but the slopes are still too snowy to walk on is there anything we can do apart from paddle! I know that there is the sports centre - but so will x thousand guests in the resort - what is there in and around Val Thorens that is a good trip if the worst happens please?
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Wed 6-04-11 14:53; edited 1 time in total
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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You'll be absolutely fine but it might be a bit slushy! When are you going? VT is at 2300m so I'd imagine most of it will still be open until the end of this month. Plein Sud will be suffering.
I guess it could be busy though as people may get bussed in from shut resorts!
St Martin de Belleville (down the hill past Les Menuires) is nice and has a great restaurant (the name escapes me but I'm sure someone will help). You'd definitely get some walking there if you're so inclined...I'd imagine the flowers are coming out 
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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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Marmot hunting.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Is it Dutch week? Weed might be the answer.
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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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Megamum, you've just put into words what my worst fears are. This being our first ski trip I've been dreading coming on site every day and reading how poor the chances of actually skiing are looking.
Although excited about the trip, to be honest there's a part of me regretting that I've booked, as without any snow its deffo not the type of holiday we would of booked. And the money could have been saved towards guaranteed skiing later on this year/next year.
Still, fingers crossed eh.
A massive snow dump about the 21st would be nice.
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Mr Technique, 
There was a comment on one thread that a warning board had been put up telling skiiers to beware of marmots coming out of hibernation early because of the warmth and attacking skiiers.....it's a great image!
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no such thing, blert596, and I'm sure there'll still be some skiing later this month in one of the highest resorts in Europe!
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A massive snow dump about the 21st
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is not out of the question. 
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pam w, Ok, sold. thats me reassured now 
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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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Clearly anyone worrying hasn't had the benefit of living through the low snow years of yore when pre-internet every trip was accompanied by casino type excitement. First you tried to glean some idea from a small panel in the paper reporting snow depths of 5cm on the lower slopes and hard conditions (funny that granite does tend to be hard), then the rep was assulted with a chorus of "Is there any snow?" as people boarded the coach, finally which somone espied even the tiniest patch of snow from the bus window a wave of euphoria swept over everyone like a lottery win.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Good grief you lot are a pessimistic bunch of worry worts. It'll be fine... suspect you won't be able to ski down to Bourg or wherever but honestly...
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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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fatbob, the good old days
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If you just want to ski on Piste then VT will be fine until the end of the month. May get a bit slushy at resort level in the afternoon but will be plenty of skiing available.
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You know it makes sense.
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| fatbob wrote: |
| Clearly anyone worrying hasn't had the benefit of living through the low snow years of yore when pre-internet every trip was accompanied by casino type excitement. First you tried to glean some idea from a small panel in the paper reporting snow depths of 5cm on the lower slopes and hard conditions (funny that granite does tend to be hard), then the rep was assulted with a chorus of "Is there any snow?" as people boarded the coach, finally which somone espied even the tiniest patch of snow from the bus window a wave of euphoria swept over everyone like a lottery win. |
I didn't realise there was much package holiday skiing in the 50s
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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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Given the lift company announced Courchevel is staying open to the 25th April you will be fine, they will continue moving snow around to keep the place open, they need it open for Dutch week
Message from S3V Lift Company (English translation):
The ski resort of Courchevel Valley / 3 Valleys stays open until the evening of Monday, April 25.
The skiing on offer depends on the evolution of the snowpack. Maintenance of the upper pistes will be strengthened to provide the best snow possible for our customers. Our methods of grooming are maintained to ensure ideal skiing conditions until late season.
As of Saturday, April 9 (instead of 16 April), pricing discounts will be applied (these will be published as soon as possible). To date, 75% of the slopes (ie more than 250 pistes) and 90% of lifts are open in the 3 Valleys. There is nowhere in the world at this time a ski area offers so many connected pistes open. To view our openings in real time, click the following link: http://www.s3v.com/hiver/Ouverture-des-pistes-p2.html
Have a good ski everyone.
Jean-Pierre Lalanne www.S3V.com
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Mr Technique wrote: |
| Marmot hunting. |
Leave me alone, I've just woken up.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Schuss in Boots wrote: |
| Good grief you lot are a pessimistic bunch of worry worts. It'll be fine... suspect you won't be able to ski down to Bourg or wherever but honestly... |
Quite. All this banging on is doing my head in. And particularly for someone with a car, the world is your oyster. One word of advice, if you want to do some hiking, get out of the hideousness of VT to do it.
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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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There are more things to do in the Alpes once the snow has melted, I for one cannot wait for my 2 weeks starting this weekend, snow or no snow!
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Well I sincerely hope that there will be sufficient snow to have fun on, but I just want to be prepared in case we have a heatwave.
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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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| Quote: |
in case we have a heatwave
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they are certainly having that.....the Courchevel website acknowledged the temps at the moment are very close to the record temperatures recorded at this time of year. VT will be ok, plenty of snow there.
I imagine Courchevel will keep the Saulire red run open.....
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Well I am going to go prepared for morning skiing, and afternoon dog walking.
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| Hells Bells wrote: |
| Well I am going to go prepared for morning skiing, and afternoon dog walking. |
That sounds a good idea! (Can I join you? I've heard lovely reviews of Meg from the SoPi bash and will be missing mine who's staying with my parents )
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wigan, of course you can. !! Looking for a vet for the passport stuff on the way home at the moment.
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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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Hells Bells, me too, pretty please?
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If we can persuade JulesB to come with us, maybe Meg will come too. (She really is a one-man dog)
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Hells Bells, And me, please? Perhaps you need buttons for the Hells Bells dog walking clinic?
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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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You know it makes sense.
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VT was great last week - we were there until Sun afternoon. Obviously the higher you skied the better the snow was. Orelle, Moraine, Col, Peclet and, over in Meribel valley, Mont du Vallon all great. Just get a good morning's skiing in, ski whilst everyone else is lunching and end earlier in afternoon when the snow is getting slushy. Despite the warm temperatures they do a fantastic job in the 3V moving snow around and repleneshing everything for each morning/They have made huge amounts of artificial snow which are being put to good use.
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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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| Quote: |
| A massive snow dump about the 21st would be nice. |
Didn't it tip down EOSB week a couple of years ago ? Or was that when I didn't go - was it the year before ?
In general if you get a good morning and early afternoon in that's a result.
Anyway, it'll be right - fingers crossed for a trip to C1850 on Sunday or Monday then - I can marvel at how they've flattened all those blacks I struggled down on my first week and made them into greens. (At least it's the real blacks I struggle down now )
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Quote: |
Orelle, Moraine, Col, Peclet and, over in Meribel valley, Mont du Vallon all great
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Exactly what my brother-in-law just told me - he was there last week too.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I'm surprised people are worrying with still 2 or 3 weeks to go. Anyone who had lived in the mountains, or had skied for years would have known mountain weather changes often. Between now and then, it could snow endlessly for 3 days, or just a dusting every other day or two. Either way, there'll be plenty of skiing come bash time.
But I guess this is the internet. What else do people do but come whinning here when they still got 3 weeks to go before they can do some sliding...
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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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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| abc wrote: |
| Anyone who had lived in the mountains, or had skied for years would have known mountain weather changes often. |
Although not having lived in the mountains, or skied for years I know that mountain weather changes often. Unfortunately, its hard, given the current conditions to expect a sudden change that people have been saying will be coming for the last 2 months now. Still hasnt raised its head yet - and the longer it goes on, (although not having lived in the mountains) the less chance there will be surely.
| abc wrote: |
Between now and then, it could snow endlessly for 3 days, or just a dusting every other day or two. Either way, there'll be plenty of skiing come bash time.
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I hope so.
| abc wrote: |
| What else do people do but come whinning here when they still got 3 weeks to go before they can do some sliding... |
Why is it whining? Certainly, in my case as someone on their first ski trip, its a legitimate worry considering the reports that are coming in from people. Paying over £1500 and then not having some concerns would be a little blase. On the flip side, comments like "there'll be plenty of skiing come bash time." are a lot more reassuring for those of us who havent "lived in the mountains"
Certainly it might have been better/wiser to book a trip not so late in the season to have more chance of decent snow. But one of the reasons I wanted to do the EoSB was because of the group dynamic that seems apparent.
I think its very easy to come on and shout "stop whining" when you are "in the know".
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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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blert596, I hope you'll have a great time - and you can be sure the group dynamic will work well, whatever the snow conditions.
For what it's worth, I've spent the last ten seasons in the French Alps and I can easily understand why you're concerned. This isn't an ordinary season - and there is now a pretty deadly combination of a very, very, thin snow cover plus tropical temperatures.
There are three key reasons for you to be optimistic, though. First, Val Thorens is one of the highest resorts in the Alps and there's a lot of skiing above resort level. Second, if this is your first ski holiday, you will presumably be having ski lessons all week. Instructors are very good at finding snow and when you're a beginner you don't need lots of different slopes - just one or two will do you fine (if you're like a friend of mine who learnt two weeks ago you'll struggle to tear your eyes away from the tips of your skis so you won't notice that you keep doing the same run).
Third - you will be with a lot of people who are really, really, keen on skiing and who will be determined to make the most of the conditions and ensure that any newcomers get hooked too.
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Schuss in Boots, whatever happens we always have a good time. For reasons other than snow we were in danger of having to cancel. I think that danger has now passed .
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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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Hells Bells, Good news.
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btw FWIW the wigglies have been hinting at a return to colder than average temps out in FI, so you never know you may end up with the best snow of the season!!
[ or it could all melt ]
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