 Poster: A snowHead
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does anyone hire split boards in the valley? My next door neighbours got a 167 i can borrow but wanted something a bit shorter......
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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cantridepete, We're looking into 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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cool, if you happen to get one in i'd be interested in hiring it out for a day or two at the beginning of the season (conditions permitting of course!!)
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Hi,
I'll be making my first trip to Chamonix this season, for a four day break over the new year. Six of us in total, including a couple of kids who have only done a 'learn to ski over two days' package at Tamworth earlier this year. The hotel we're staying in is fairly central in the town, and I'm wondering what the best plan is for the usual arrival day orientation; ie the usual lift pass, Ski and boot hire, and lessons combo, as well as the nearest lift in order to save time and get us all out nice and early the following day.
Again, any tips and reccommendations from fellow  always welcome. Those of us 'non-kids' who are going, are intermediate level, pretty comfortable on anything up to and including Red slope.
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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scubadancer, which hotel?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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And do you have a car?
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scubadancer, Chamonix? not the best choice for a group with kids and beginners, you will realy need a car,,
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under a new name, freeheelskier, Hotel Pointe Isabelle. We haven't got any transport booked at the moment (Flight into Geneva, followed by coach transfer). It's true that this trip is something of a compromise really, we have a couple of non-skiing ladies in the party who were happy for us blokes to go skiing as long as they had a proper town to wander round the shops, bars and restaurants in! I'm actually going to Courchevel for a whole week later in January, so this 4 day Cham trip is just a 'loosener' to be honest. I've read and heard that Cham is a little spread out, but the lift pass includes public transport - probably not the best way to get around when skiing I admit.
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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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Had a nice lunch and stroll in a beautifully sunny and mild Chamonix yesterday. From what I could see the Brevent Flegere area was totally green with not a patch of snow to be seen. Looks like there might be something coming next weekend though, so fingers crossed for bad weather.
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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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| Whitters wrote: |
| Had a nice lunch and stroll in a beautifully sunny and mild Chamonix yesterday. From what I could see the Brevent Flegere area was totally green with not a patch of snow to be seen. Looks like there might be something coming next weekend though, so fingers crossed for bad weather. |
Still one month till I arrive (17th dec)... I won't worry until a few days before! Its got a lot colder here in the UK over the last week or so....
The temps will drop, and if there's no natural snow, I'll happily take snow cannoned pistes 
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This makes for interesting historical comparison (if its true data)
Key: Lower slopes / Upper slopes
2007-2008
Nov 7cm / 8cm
Dec 25cm / 133cm
Jan 34cm / 221cm
Feb 27cm / 271cm
Mar 42cm / 338cm
Apr 44cm / 605cm
2008-2009
Nov 1cm / 10cm
Dec 31cm / 149cm
Jan 75cm / 224cm
Feb 93cm / 321cm
Mar 85cm / 376cm
Apr 30cm / 376cm
2009-2010
Nov 2cm / 5cm
Dec 24cm / 139cm
Jan 71cm / 372cm
Feb 83cm / 392cm
Mar 60cm / 390cm
Apr 23cm / 336cm
2010-2011
Nov 3cm / 16cm
Dec 11cm / 145cm
Jan 6cm / 174cm
Feb 2cm / 181cm
Mar 1cm / 195cm
Apr 0cm / 125cm
source: http://www.igluski.com/france/chamonix-snow-history_1601
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You know it makes sense.
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That's ski club GB data isn't it? Does anyone know when in the month they take the measurement, start, end, middle, some sort of average?
There is a big difference between 145cm of snow on 1st December and the 31st!
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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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Its cumulative snowfall for the month, for example:
1st: 20cm
2nd: 20cm
17th: 20cm
21st: 20cm
total: 80cm; it doesn't give indication of the exact dates when there was snow.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Small zookeeper I may have to visit you this winter.
We'll see how it goes. I've had issues with my scarpa spirit 4's releasing from the toe's on my dynafit speeds. I've drilled the tech fitting toe pieces deeper to try get the bindings pins to sit in further so we'll see how they do this winter....once winter arrvies that is...
btw- my brother is walking the petit balcon nord today, mer de glace/midi section. yep walking and its nearly Dec.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Hi there again everyone,
this is going to be my first winter in Cham after spending the summer here mountain biking and walking. From this I have seen a fair few areas I'd like to hit up on touring ski's.
Its my girlfriend who likes Chamonix oh so much, I wouldn't have necessarily chosen to come here, but for ski touring you can't go far wrong can you? Except from what I hear the huge volume of people everywhere. I've been researching routes and blogs online trying to get a good idea for how to try get away from the masses. Does the Grand Montets really get that packed and tracked out?
I'm hoping, along with ski touring partner who will also be in Chamonix this winter, to hit up le Tour and into Switzerland. If you ski down to Trient is it best to slog back up to France, or are there buses to Chatelard? What about the glaciers around there, do the crevasses get covered? Hopefully we can get up Flegere/Brevent and into the back towards the Fiz and Buet, even the desert de plate maybe.
also i've see some lovely videos of fast freeriders(& monoboarders..) around the Signal near Montenvers station. Do peeps go up on the train, or traverse from Plan d'Midi?
bes of luck to everyone this winter, be safe, and keep wishing for S N O W!
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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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| OliC wrote: |
Does the Grand Montets really get that packed and tracked out?
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oh yes, its like a freek of nature, i'm sure sometimes the snow falls with tracks pre-made, how else it can get tracked out by 10am is beyond me!!
if your not up first thing and have the chance try a drive down to combloux or contamines, its like another world were people get up at a reasonable hour and go sking ON the piste 
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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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| Quote: |
Does the Grand Montets really get that packed and tracked out?
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Yes.
A copy of "Mont Blanc and the Aguilles Rouges: a Guide for Skiers" and the relevant 1:25 map would be a good investment.
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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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| gorilla wrote: |
| Quote: |
Does the Grand Montets really get that packed and tracked out?
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Yes.
A copy of "Mont Blanc and the Aguilles Rouges: a Guide for Skiers" and the relevant 1:25 map would be a good investment. |
is that your recommended book? there are so many to choose if you go on the shops or maison des guides.
a map? i know mountain bikers only ride marked downhill trails and walkers in Cham only follow the signed Balcons, but I do own a map or two.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| junglist_matty wrote: |
Its cumulative snowfall for the month, for example:
...it doesn't give indication of the exact dates when there was snow. |
Ah OK snowfall not depth, that makes sense - was confused by Igluski titling the page "Snow Depth Record"!
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Hey everone,
We have snow forecast over here in Chamonix for Thursday the 2nd, got a full day and night forecast. Not had anything but blue skies for the last month or so, its a start at least 
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| cantridepete wrote: |
| ...i'm sure sometimes the snow falls with tracks pre-made, how else it can get tracked out by 10am is beyond me!! |
Truth!
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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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| junglist_matty wrote: |
Its cumulative snowfall for the month, for example:
1st: 20cm
2nd: 20cm
17th: 20cm
21st: 20cm
total: 80cm; it doesn't give indication of the exact dates when there was snow. |
It is snowdepth, not snowfall.
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| Zero-G wrote: |
| cantridepete wrote: |
| ...i'm sure sometimes the snow falls with tracks pre-made, how else it can get tracked out by 10am is beyond me!! |
Truth! |
Truth indeed!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Just had this text in from a mate who went to "Chamonix" yesterday for the weekend.........
Drove to Cervinia today! Got shed loads of snow! Piste cruising but great to be back on skis!
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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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Idris, any update on this? Looks like there has been snow overnight. Due to go out on Saturday....
:S
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You know it makes sense.
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dusting of snow down to about 1100m.
walked at le tour yesterday. heavy watery snow from mild weather.
still bit too warm, but will it go colder later today???
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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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Morning snow in les Houches,
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Poster: A snowHead
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I was never one bit worried there wouldn't be any snow by Dec 17th.... Looking forward to a great pre-xmas week of skiing in Chamonix 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| junglist_matty wrote: |
| I was never one bit worried there wouldn't be any snow by Dec 17th.... Looking forward to a great pre-xmas week of skiing in Chamonix |
You still should be!!
Just cos there's a first pile of snow falling now and forecast over today and the next couple of days there's also warm weather spiking next week to melt alot of that fresh into crud on a non existent base. The weather is at best precarious. What we need is 2-4 weeks of continuous mild to heavy dumps in cold conditions, this is not showing yet, there's only a few days of this and then a hike in temp.... I'm due in Tignes from Dec 26th and I'm concerned to say the least.
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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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^ bit pessimistic?
Seems to me there's about a metre of snow falling in total this week across the northern Alps, and no sign of a heatwave on the horizon.
La Plagne (where I'm going) looks as though it has TONS of snow! Should be enough left for me on the 17th.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| horgand wrote: |
You still should be!!
Just cos there's a first pile of snow falling now and forecast over today and the next couple of days there's also warm weather spiking next week to melt alot of that fresh into crud on a non existent base. The weather is at best precarious. What we need is 2-4 weeks of continuous mild to heavy dumps in cold conditions, this is not showing yet, there's only a few days of this and then a hike in temp.... I'm due in Tignes from Dec 26th and I'm concerned to say the least. |
Ey... What warm weather spike is that?
5 day forecast for temps at 2000m (where most Chamonix skiing starts) range between -12 to -2 degrees.... Correct me if I'm wrong, but that's hardly going to melt any snow, any further out than 5 days and anything really can happen, and even a 5 day forecast range is unreliable!
Looking at the bottom lifts in Chamonix valley (around 1000m), the highest forecast temp is 4 degrees, so you're probably right in that snow in the town will disappear and between the town and the midlifts the slopes (if open) will not be great...
All of that said, who knows what next week's forecast is going to be!? Still got another 10 days till I get there, could quite easily snow again at the end of next week
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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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| junglist_matty wrote: |
| horgand wrote: |
You still should be!!
Just cos there's a first pile of snow falling now and forecast over today and the next couple of days there's also warm weather spiking next week to melt alot of that fresh into crud on a non existent base. The weather is at best precarious. What we need is 2-4 weeks of continuous mild to heavy dumps in cold conditions, this is not showing yet, there's only a few days of this and then a hike in temp.... I'm due in Tignes from Dec 26th and I'm concerned to say the least. |
Ey... What warm weather spike is that?
5 day forecast for temps at 2000m (where most Chamonix skiing starts) range between -12 to -2 degrees.... Correct me if I'm wrong, but that's hardly going to melt any snow, any further out than 5 days and anything really can happen, and even a 5 day forecast range is unreliable!
Looking at the bottom lifts in Chamonix valley (around 1000m), the highest forecast temp is 4 degrees, so you're probably right in that snow in the town will disappear and between the town and the midlifts the slopes (if open) will not be great...
All of that said, who knows what next week's forecast is going to be!? Still got another 10 days till I get there, could quite easily snow again at the end of next week |
Not trying to rain on anyone's parade ('scuse the pun and all that ) but when I see the melt line go to 2000m and above, I consider that warm and not conducive to preserving good snow quality. I'm as stoked and psyched by all the new snow as anyone, trust me I am raring to go on the 26th, and I do appreciate the optimism.
However I'm just pointing out the reality that the usual November base is non-existant and while a fair bit of snow has fallen over the past 2 days, the temp is running up to and above 2000m for the next week ,granted with another 1/2m of precipitation forecast in a week. So while this is a great start to december, we need another 4 weeks of this to get to some sort of solid base that can give us the base and snow that we can rely on. So far we've had one week of it, and are due a 2nd (based on 9 day forecast) so we'll hope and see if that materialises and if weeks 3 & 4 can stay cold and add more snow- cos more will be needed IMHO!!!
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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 amazed if it all suddenly vanished at 1000m at 4deg anyway...if it's prepared snow, then its pretty resilient to warm and wet weather. There won't be knee deep powder to ski on if that was the case but ther should be a run to ski down....personally I'd take the lift down
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horgand, what's a "melt line"?
CHX meteo forecast, which is the most accurate, doesn't say anything of the sort today http://chamonix-meteo.com/chamonix-mont-blanc/weather/forecast/morning/5_days_weather_forecast.php
I'd be amazed also. I am led to believe that the lack of the usual November base is somewhat more important from an avalanche point of view.
But, of course, we definitely want more of a classical winter precipitation pattern, nice and consistent, a good fall every few days...
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