 Poster: A snowHead
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Melt line = Freezing Level = What do the Freezing Level (FL) graphs mean? (from Snow Forecast.com)
The freezing level graphs show provide a graphical representation of the altitude (elevation) at which the temperature is a freezing point. Where this coicides with the elevation of the ground, any precipitation is likely to fall as snow and fresh water will freeze.
Warmest November=> melted Perma snow (on higher slopes, glaciers, etc, etc) , reduced perma frost, weaker snow pack and warmer ground conditions - none of which is desireable for ava safety (snow pack security), snow quality and snow perseverence. I'm glass half full but just saying its early days to be yelling powder Christmas- that's all!!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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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Everyone's too busy making turns to post piccies!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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a bit of freeze thaw would be great for setting up a solid base
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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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Dread, true - infuriating but true!! 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Not fussed about having powder, I just want some clean pistes to ski.... I'm going somewhere (prob Serre Chevallier) in March when the snow is far more likely to be awesome!
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horgand, Freezing level, not melting level. No, they are not (practically) the same.
What are you blethering about permafrost? The Alps are not the Arctic. 
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Under a whatever, you're a laugh... ha ha ha ha ha ha. I'd love (hate) to be around when you are trying to be funny.
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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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| under a new name wrote: |
horgand, Freezing level, not melting level. No, they are not (practically) the same.
What are you blethering about permafrost? The Alps are not the Arctic. |
Permafrost exists in the alps if you go high enough. (cf. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permafrost). That said I don't think rising permafrost levels is much of a deal for winter snow cover and avalanche risk, any effect will be dwarfed by the actual weather, it is more an issue for erosion and rock fall in spring/summer though.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Sorry skied powder today - so did lots of others
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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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sah, Hardly an issue though is it?
horgand, I am a barrel of laughs. But at least I am not scaremongering.
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[quote="under a new name"]sah, Hardly an issue though is it?
[quote]
In this context, no, I don't think so. I'm just being pedantic...
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You know it makes sense.
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[quote="sah"][quote="under a new name"]sah, Hardly an issue though is it?
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In this context, no, I don't think so. I'm just being pedantic... |
No worries.
I'm just wondering though, do you really get permafrost at altitude? If there's snow cover I would think not?
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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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| under a new name wrote: |
I'm just wondering though, do you really get permafrost at altitude? If there's snow cover I would think not? |
Yep, you certainly do get it, and you notice the fact that it's receding if you look at some of the huge rockfalls that occurred in Chamonix recently, for example. This article talks about a fall several years ago, I was in Chamonix this summer and saw another large fall in the same area. As the permafrost recedes (i.e. gets higher) then freeze-thaw can set in to places where previously it did not normally thaw, and this causes rock falls. Hopefully in winter there is no thawing at that altitude, so I think it's more of an issue in summer.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| sah wrote: |
| under a new name wrote: |
I'm just wondering though, do you really get permafrost at altitude? If there's snow cover I would think not? |
Yep, you certainly do get it, and you notice the fact that it's receding if you look at some of the huge rockfalls that occurred in Chamonix recently, for example. This article talks about a fall several years ago, I was in Chamonix this summer and saw another large fall in the same area. As the permafrost recedes (i.e. gets higher) then freeze-thaw can set in to places where previously it did not normally thaw, and this causes rock falls. Hopefully in winter there is no thawing at that altitude, so I think it's more of an issue in summer. |
Fascinating and scary, thanks.
Yeah, a second big break ohh thte Dru this summer. Yikes.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Very nice webcam view of the mont blanc massive this morning...
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| under a new name wrote: |
| sah wrote: |
| under a new name wrote: |
I'm just wondering though, do you really get permafrost at altitude? If there's snow cover I would think not? |
Yep, you certainly do get it, and you notice the fact that it's receding if you look at some of the huge rockfalls that occurred in Chamonix recently, for example. This article talks about a fall several years ago, I was in Chamonix this summer and saw another large fall in the same area. As the permafrost recedes (i.e. gets higher) then freeze-thaw can set in to places where previously it did not normally thaw, and this causes rock falls. Hopefully in winter there is no thawing at that altitude, so I think it's more of an issue in summer. |
Fascinating and scary, thanks.
Yeah, a second big break ohh thte Dru this summer. Yikes. |
under a whatever, and there I was thinking you know everything, well ok, not really, in fact not at all.
Now before you go 'blethering' about Artic or Antartic or Alps for that matter, in future kindly check your facts before you state (wrong) opinion as fact, will you!?
p.s. what is 'blethering' anyway, ah a word you made up all on your owneo, how very clever and apt of you!! 
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| Quote: |
what is 'blethering' anyway
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From dictionary.reference.com
noun, verb (used without object), verb (used with object) blather.
or... from Wiktionary
Verb blether (third-person singular simple present blethers, present participle blethering, simple past and past participle blethered)
or... (and certainly NSFW) from the Urban Dictionary
blethering: a scots phrase to indicate talking a lot of b*ll*cks
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Any chance we can get back to talking about conditions in cham, popping in here to watch a pi55ing contest is not what I want. FWTW under a new name is one of the locals to Chamonix that knows what he is talking about.
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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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fair comment. BTW a lot of snow showing up on forecasts for next week, which if realised would make it scrummy!!
p.s. Sah, I look forward to blethering with the best of them in Bivouc around NY, after my detour to Val d'Is to warm up...
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Hmmph, my own trip has been postponed now due to my mate breaking his shoulder  maybe look at re-booking around easter instead...
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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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scubadancer, hard luck for your mate but doesn't mean you can't go.
Ten more sleeps till I'm there. Watching the cams like a hawk now.
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Hope you have a great time Zero-G, am off to Courchevel at the end of January anyway, so no great loss 
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You know it makes sense.
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I won't be there until the 2nd Jan. Hope you lot leave a bit here and there. Still there is always the secret stash.
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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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Grand Montets opened today - The piste wasn't so great in places, more lack of piste maintenance than snow, but if you knew where to look there was some great powder to be had - a bit rocky in some places - so take care out there
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Poster: A snowHead
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Idris, szk posted on Facebook that he has had lots of damaged skis and boards brought in to the shop.
Nice photo.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| jbob wrote: |
| Hope you lot leave a bit here and there. Still there is always the secret stash. |
No such thing in Cham. Some crusty local or lanky Scandi will have been pillaging your secret stash daily before your arrival. Guaranteed.
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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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IncogSkiSno's thread about the theft of her skis in Tignes has made me wonder about the same in Cham. I don't hear about much ski theft going on in Chamonix (apart from Will's Black Crows last season). Any Cham regulars aware of an increase of theft in the valley?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Not aware of any increase, ski theft has always happened, particularly from busy restaurants near car parks for very obvious reasons.
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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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Cheers under a new name, that's about what I thought.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Zero-G, Some 25 years ago a bunch of toerags were rolling up in a van in Morzine at tour ops' prize giving and bundling all the skis outside the bar into said van.
Not a new sport, 
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Zero-G, mine were nicked from my (carelessly unlocked) cave, so pretty much my own fault, still a lovely shiney new pair of Navis hit GM today courtesy of my generous insurance people so all's now well in the world 
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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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Chamwow, I enjoyed that, ta 
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I didn't. Because I'm in Australia & not Chamonix!
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FAQ
Irregardless of the Melt Line - at the moment I'm seeing more snow falling in parts of the Alps than I saw during several weeks last season. I'm definitely edging towards the 3/4 full glass 
