 Poster: A snowHead
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donzy3030, We've skied Cascades the last 12 years, but in Feb, and this year it was superb, but no good telling you now of course. I agree with carroz - it'll be OK higher up but not towards the bottom. But if you ever go in the winter it's definitely worth doing if only to get away from the madding crowd......
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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 - I'm staying in Les Carroz from Thursday, any opinions on whether it is worth driving to Flaine every morning to get into that bowl straightaway, or is the ski over pretty decent still?
Thanks
Martin
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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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mcloke, Why drive, you can ski there??? Really, no point getting the car out. The rest of the GM is as good as Flaine anyway - don;t miss out on it.
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Ah great, just was a bit worried the snow might be terrible on the way over or something - if its ok still, then skiing is preferable by far! Thanks
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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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if you drive there, or just to Vernant chair, you will only have to buy a Flaine Pass instead of a full Grand massif pass, that will save you a vin chaud a day!
if you drove all the way in to Flaine, you could avoid Tourmaline, which is nice for 90% but gets narrow and busy. (despite being blue)
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mr_big_ad, Tourmaline is fine when quiet... its only in Feb it gets really horrid. Any saving on the lift pass is minimal, and missing out on the prettiest parts of the GM would be silly - even if staying in Flaine... mcloke, trust me - no need to drive!
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There's been a red piste marked on the map for years called Aventurine that looks like it would cut off the narrow part of Tourmaline, but I've never seen it open, or even marked on the ground. Anyone know anything about it?
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jwfrancis, I've been going to Flaine on and off for 25 years, I had never seen it in existance, let alone open, until february this year.
Probably gone by now though as it is pure south facing with no shade at all.
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It was shut when I was there 3rd to the 10th, as it had big patches of dirt.
It was also marked as being left upisted.
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rungsp, I hadn't thought about it being south facing as it's in a similar position to Tourmaline, but that side of the bowl does go brown very quickly in the sun.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I've popped up to Flaine a few times this season, from end Jan to just a couple of weeks ago - only saw Aventurine open at end Jan. It was definitely closed a couple of weeks ago. And yes, marked as unpisted as well - it doesn't cut out much of Tourmaline anyway, the piste map is slightly deceptive.
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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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that little red does face directly into the sun at midday, i saw it closed then open then closed, without fresh snow!
they need to put a roof on it!
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I saw it open for the first time this season... never done it though... Tourmaline is daunting for beginners or those of a nervous disposition in February... apart from that its OK if a little busy.
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You know it makes sense.
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fixx, I'm not even sure where it is. Is it left off Tourmaline just before it narrows and goes under the chairlift for the last but one time?
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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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i think it comes off 75% down the steepest bit
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Yes that small red was closed when I went up over it yesterday, but that was no problem as there was almost nobodody on the main piste.
The links are all open and it seems to me that plenty of snow is there to keep it all connected.
The local information is saying that they garauntee connection until 22nd April, and judging by the snow depth on these I'd say they have a good chance.
I finished last year the weekend of the 23rd last year and it was almost closed, so this year it is a big improvement on snow depth.
we are currently having the run of the place with very few people here and everything available so,n good times.
The usual proviso at this time of year that off piste is hard and crusty, but the pistes are well maitained and in exellent oreder for our enjoyment.
In short I can't believe how good it is for this time of year, so if you haven't got a place already it's still well worth coming.
I'm here till the 7th April so will try to post info for those taht are coming soon.
Staying In Morillon from 31st so if any other snowheads are around then let us know, I'm out here with family with two skiing kids.
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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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ski3, Thanks for your update, sounds great, me and Mrs Basil travelling out this Friday for an, hopefully, early lift Saturday.
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Spoke to someone tonight who is in Morillon, and she said they have extended the season by a week as still plenty of snow- we are also there this weekend- Happy Days!- off to pack,look out for us- big crowd-Janner accents!
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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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Me too Basil and Donzy.
3 dads and 6 kids in Samoen. You'll find us in the pizzeria.
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We're going out on 7th April for a week as we have for the past 8 years or so. Sounds like the snow conditions will be better than the last couple of years. Last year was dire. Only ourselves to blame as we go so late, but prefer the late skiing to the crowds at half-term (got kids).
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My missus is out in Flaine at the moment on her girlie skiing hold (I went a few weeks back to Tignes on the dads and lads tour). Snow is excellent in Flaine but non existant / poor in Les Carroz. However, the temps this week have been ridiculously high, virtually the same as the UK at sea level, so I suspect that next week will be pretty average. The only saving grace was the cold snap in February that stopped the snow melting earlier in the season.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Webcams for all areas still showing good levels for this time of year.
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| jwfrancis wrote: |
| fixx, I'm not even sure where it is. Is it left off Tourmaline just before it narrows and goes under the chairlift for the last but one time? |
As mr_big_ad said - pretty near the bottom of the steepest bit. It's not obviously marked - normally just a couple of yellow and black stripy poles crossed over and some orange tape to mark it! It's pretty narrow too - it's just never looked appealing to me. If you like moguls (and mud and rocks currently) it might be of interest, but there are better options on Flaine (I had great fun on Lucifer a couple of weeks ago, after deciding I'm rubbish at moguls, so going down a really long run made entirely of moguls, with no escape route other than off-piste, would be the best approach...!)
I'm actually getting jealous at reading this thread - I thought I was getting a little bored of Flaine, but I really want to go back now! Had great fun last time, including some lovely quiet trips down Mephisto superieure and Mephisto right back down to the centre, ahhhh bliss. No more ski-buses running now from Geneva though for day trips 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Damn, wish I could get out there but my family have other plans.......
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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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wadgebeast,
Honestly I have no idea what you are talking about. I skied Les Carroz yesterday and LC and Flaine today. LC is fine right down to the Gondola from both directions. In fact it is much better than fine. Even the afternoon slush is not too bad compared with what you might normally expect at this time of year.
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I skied mainly Les-Carroz on wednesday and there was almost nothing closed at all so I honestly can't see how it got a report of "virtually none left!
As expected there are the usual conditions associated with higher temps but all the pistes are covered, the local club were racing slalom on the Timalets.
The area in my opinion has stacked snow really well to best manage the known "hotspots" were the sun gets to it all day to keep everything connected and there are not many people using it so the bashers are able to get it back into very good shape each night.
Morillion was also all open with some really good skiing there. At the top as the sun softened it up in the afternoon we had a great time on the in between pistes areas, and also checked out Marvel; bit sticky but ok to the bottom. Again nobody really on it. Marmottes (heavily into the sun) was fine as well and we did that at about 16:00hr, alos Chamois leading down to it usually suffers but again it was a great ski.
Samoen also ok, bit slushy at 1600 station but runs to it are really nice to ski. Also skied the chamois black as it warmed up and had a really good time on there with my son learning bumps (he's 8, so indoctrination maybe appropriate but he can't get enough of them).
Overall the day temps are high but with clear skies the night temps are low enough to chill it all out again allowing the bashers to keep it in very good shape for this time of year.
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You know it makes sense.
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I skied mainly Les-Carroz on wednesday and there was almost nothing closed at all so I honestly can't see how it got a report of "virtually none left!
As expected there are the usual conditions associated with higher temps but all the pistes are covered, the local club were racing slalom on the Timalets.
The area in my opinion has stacked snow really well to best manage the known "hotspots" were the sun gets to it all day to keep everything connected and there are not many people using it so the bashers are able to get it back into very good shape each night.
Morillion was also all open with some really good skiing there. At the top as the sun softened it up in the afternoon we had a great time on the in between pistes areas, and also checked out Marvel; bit sticky but ok to the bottom. Again nobody really on it. Marmottes (heavily into the sun) was fine as well and we did that at about 16:00hr, alos Chamois leading down to it usually suffers but again it was a great ski.
Samoen also ok, bit slushy at 1600 station but runs to it are really nice to ski. Also skied the chamois black as it warmed up and had a really good time on there with my son learning bumps (he's 8, so indoctrination maybe appropriate but he can't get enough of them).
Overall the day temps are high but with clear skies the night temps are low enough to chill it all out again allowing the bashers to keep it in very good shape for this time of year.
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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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just got here....its a bit warm...10 degrees in the village
oh well..............will see what its like tomorrow
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Poster: A snowHead
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A very warm slush fest!!, sorry not got anytime for more detail. Snow very wet but holding up well.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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As carroz, says so we went over to Flaine today which was better high up.
Stopped at Le Blanchot for a coffee and went to the loo, mine and Mrs B's skis left in sight of our table with poles sticking up. On our return my skis were gone. I had noticed while having a coffee that the poles were no longer sticking up but thought they had fallen over as I could still (I thought) see my skis.
Obviously mildly fed-up as they were brand new Rossi Experience 88's and had only been on them for two days, immediately considering an insurance claim I had a quick glance round and bug me there they were about 15m away, the poles too. There is no way I had mistaken where I had put them, they had been moved deliberately. I suspect whoever it was moved them until the victim departed and intending to make off with them after a short while.
I am not paranoid but do like to think I am aware of my surroundings but got caught out this time, in future I will change my habits.
Perhaps a message to us all.
More of the same(ish) tomorrow.
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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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No chance someone picked them up by mistake then dumped them when they realised?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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very enjoyable day, snow is very soft, and there are a few bare patches appearing here and there, but there does not seem to be many people here, had some runs virtually to ourselves. Didn't go to flaine so maybe they are all there??
Rather warm all day, and my boots got wet toes....never done that before!!
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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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carroz, Flaine very quiet as well. I am amazed at how well the pistes are holding up. Spent yesterday going down to Carroz, Morillion and Samoens, all before about 11.30. Even Marvel was in good condition for the time of year. Quite heavy rain last night but stopped by day break. Not quite sure where the freezing level was or is but there is the possibility of fresh powder right up the top. Much colder this morning and rumour has it that the freezing level is going to fall as the day progresses. Let's hope that's right!
Basil, A salutary lesson for us all, you can never be too careful, especially when you have new skis. If I leave my skis within easy distance of a roaad or someewhere where they can easily be carried to a road I lock them up - Mrs M thinks I'm a bit paranoid, but your tale proves my point that there is always someone who can't be trusted.
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6.45pm It raining....lots in the village...and warm...Flaine may have snow....but down here it will do a lot of damage considering how soft it was today.
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Raining in Flaine as well. Last night's rain fell as snow up the top but probably only 10 cm max. Still, was able to make some very shallow fresh tracks. Jazz week in Fline so went to Sucre Sale bar for a beer and to listen to 3 saxophinists and a keyboards player - very good. Rain drove us away so got the navette back to Montsoleil. Drinking a very good Mersault at the moment sp please excuse the typing!
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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We were up at Flaine today for a couple of hours. Not too bad at very top if out of the cloud but very soft and heavy at the mid-bottom and Mrs B had a bit of bother so we packed in early and went for a drive over to Les Gets for a short bimble, I don't know it well but it seems a bit grim there. Tipping down in the valley near Arache as I type so expecting some severe damage or wizard powder tomorrow.
Yesterday was eventful though. Those that know l'arete will know how awkward it can be when the conditions are as they are. I encountered a nervous skier just past the bottleneck about 1/2 way down. She caught an edge and off she went over the left hand edge, lucky I saw her really as she was well below the track edge almost under a tree. Fortunately she was not injured and I climbed down and helped her up. Think she was not French, perhaps Germanic, any way she was well shaken but made it down OK, fair play to her. Mrs B was a way behind me and could not understand why I had stopped as she could not see the fallen skier. So having done my good deed for the day we headed for L'igloo only to discover the Bergin chair lift was out of order. Was it back up today or will we have to approach via Marvel?.
Fingers crossed for tomorrow.
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Basil, They shut bergin at lunchtime 12.30 to 1.30!!
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