 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi All,
I'm off to avoriaz on the 4th for the first time, so the discussion of good/bad runs and timescales for reaching the far corners of PdS is very interesting.
Not sure how easy it will be to get to les gets and back ? - don't want to get stranded in the wrong valley !
however, one thing i've failed to find online is a good piste map - what iv'e found is either a .jpg file where the piste names are too fuzzy to read, OR a clear pdf that has the lift names, but none of the piste names ??? Am i missing something ???
I've spent too much time on youtube looking for footage of the area - getting over excited (and somehow a bit intimidated* as I'm a rubbish skier....)
I seem to have decided to do the swiss wall (only in good light and good snow however) and there is the strange attraction of the snow-parks where I'll probably hurt myself....... (rails are stupid.)
Also, any recommendations for ski schools ? as i'm staying in avoriaz, is the only real option the alpine school ?
G.
*(off topic ish) read the recent telegraph 5-scariest runs story and thread here - I've done the harikiri in mayrhofen, the snow was very good and I managed ok by taking my time with my turns and having a few stops on the super steep bit - However, I have now seen various youtube videos of people falling at the very top and hurtling all the way down - eek ! if i'd seen these crashes first, i probably wouldn't have gone down it.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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doh !
sort of answered by own question - found that the interactive flash piste map has the piste names if you hover over them.
G.
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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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fatgaz, Les Gets and back is easy. 1 hour (ish) each way for a competent blue and red run skier. Getting "stranded" in Les Gets isn't the end of the world as here is a paid bus to Morzine; a free bus to Prodains and you go up the cable car. (There are other places in the Portes du Soleil that getting stranded is a far less attractive option. For example, Les Crozets is a long, long, long, long, long way by road from Avoriaz.)
In terms of piste maps, one problem is that the area's so big that it's difficult to publish a PDF piste map in enough detail. The Avoriaz web site has a good, zoomable interactive piste map and there are both Avoriaz and Portes du Soleil iPhone apps that have good piste maps.
As mentioned elsewhere, you can download the Chavanette chair that runs downs the side of the Swiss Wall. I'd recommend doing a roundtrip on the chair to "inspect" the run before you do it if you at all doubt your ability. How hard any run is is as much a function of conditions and how you're feeling as of perceived "difficulty". I struggled today on a blue after spending most of the day skiing fairly steep off-piste and bumps.
The Avoriaz Alpine Ski school is good. If you want native English-spaeking alternative then the following will also do privates (but not group lessons, unless you have your own group) in Avoriaz:
- www.alpinelearningcurves.co.uk (based in Les Gets)
- www.thesnowinstitute.co.uk (based in Morzine)
- Mike Hammond (www.skiskills.co.uk) (based in Linderats / Avoriaz)
- BASS Morzine (go figure!)
Enjoy your trip and stay safe.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Folks, if you're in resort tomorrow then please pay attention to the avalanche risk, which is likely to be 4 for most of the PDS (although possibly less down towards the lake end of things).
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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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Hi FS,
thanks for all the advice. I'll defo try the inspection for the wall. I'll also wait for later in the week, and early in the morning - It took me a couple of days last year for my body/mind to remember how to do turns properly. (i ended up going off by myself on some blues for a day trying to sort myself out)
(I was out in tignes last year and did a couple of the unpisted blacks that had mogully steep parts ( one might have been called golf?) - I fell once, but was ok otherwise once I got my head around how dynamic/committed I needed to be.)
I'll check out those schools, thanks. Glad you think 'AASS' a good option too.
on the subject of pushing things, is there a 'small' / beginner half pipe in the area ? I've played around in them in the past, but the 'super-pipe' is way way too big to go anywhere near.
crossing fingers for good weather now; it seems quite variable at the moment.
Just saw the picture of the avalanche in one of the snow parks - looks a bit scary !
G.
(I need to try to avoid spending any money in the next few weeks to pay for those expensive french 'pints', however ebay is tempting me to buy a telecaster at the moment... )
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Yes be careful, just woken to about 25cm in village a avalanche booms everywhere....! Going to be a fun day but ski safe!
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| FlyingStantoni wrote: |
| Folks, if you're in resort tomorrow then please pay attention to the avalanche risk, which is likely to be 4 for most of the PDS (although possibly less down towards the lake end of things). |
Wrong thread 
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Going to Mr Dentist on Monday as long as I don't throw up all over him 
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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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Nadenoodlee, fixed? Tooth? Tummy? Both?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I just want to say that the Changabang is rubbish and that you should all stay out of it.
I say this because were we unable to get a table in there, for the first time ever, today. I blame t'internet 
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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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Lou, thick, thick lovely new snow on the Marmotte late morning, but the run along the top to get there was a real face exfoliator - he disappeared off the top as soon as he could and I made my way down a bit more slowly as we were in thick cloud. We had been having a lovely time skiing in all the trees on the Morzine side and it had been my idea to go over to that unmentionable other side. On the way home on the bus later the bus driver gave a very voluble and long explanation of why he was running so late - basically cars all over the place near the Perrieres lift and for the first time ever here we then saw police stopping cars and making them put chains on. The Labrador hill could have been a bit of a challenge otherwise. By pass road fine - others a bit tricky.
I've been counting sheets and towels this afternoon for lettings in February - never seem to come to the same answer twice!
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You know it makes sense.
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Pamski, have to say that most of my OMG 'weather' moments have been up there, particularly at the very top of Chamois - possibly because it's so convenient and we pop up there for one more run!
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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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fatgaz, our kids are going to Freedom2Ski, who are all English speaking and seem to come well recommended.
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Poster: A snowHead
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If this is the Not-the-Portes-du-Soleil-weather thread, can I just say that the weather in Bangalore was lovely today. 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Going to PdS  for first time at half term so am trying to find out about runs etc. Have a few questions!
1) we are staying in Champéry. Planning to get 1st cable car up in morning so how long might it take to get to St Jean d'Aulps? Is best route to ski to Ardent then get buses? And would it be worth going?
2) where is Hidden Valley? In Linga or Plaine Dranse area? Does "hidden" mean it's tricky to find?!
3) I gather Morzine is very busy at half term - how feasible is skiing over there (and Les Gets) from Champéry and when would we need to start back? I'm slowest skier in group - standard female not-very-good intermediate - but don't need to stop and can go faster if pushed. Given it'll be busy (but no Parisians?) then would we be better staying on Swiss side and Chatel area?
Thanks for all the info on here - like to get a vague idea of where we'll be skiing.
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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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AW, wouldnt bother with ST J D - you'll need two buses from Ardent and it will be a time consuming hassle.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Nadenoodlee +1
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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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For anyone staying in Les Gets who doesn't want to drive in the evening there is now a Night Shuttle -
http://enm.lesgets.com/navette-nocturne.html
You call them up and they collect you, its 2 euros a head, kids under 12 if accompanied are free, and then you ring from wherever you want to be picked up to go home.
My neighbours used it for the first time last night and said it all worked fine.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Nadenoodlee, FlyingStantoni, thanks - suspected as much looking at map but good to have it confirmed. Seems to be plenty of good skiing nearer Champéry  . Can't wait.
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AW, there's lots of skiing in Crosets, along the Swiss side through Champoussin and Morgins, and over to Chatel; or the cable car and two chairlifts will see you in the Fornet bowl above Avoriaz, or ski down to Lindarets and up to "Plaine Dranse" ... if you really want to make the journey to LG, you need to allow, I guess, a minimum of 2 hours 30 each way mainly because of lift queues and delays crossing Morzine. Leave early and it can be done, but at half term it can be stressful because you're worried about getting back. You don't need to do it.
edit: and don't tell anyone but the Swiss side is much quieter than the French. Some of the lifts are a bit slow (not in Les Crosets) but the lack of crowds makes up for that.
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sanman, thanks! Liking the look of Chatel and the Swiss side anyway but may make a foray further afield later in the week if not too busy.
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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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Can anyone give an indication of what time the lifts stop?
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Looks like I'll be visiting Morzine/PDS for 3 days in March, so I'll be keeping a keen eye on this unofficial thread until then..
Keep up the good work! 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Wozzy, They vary a bit - typically 16.30, some of the very low ones a bit later. Are you a last lift kind of guy?
Welcome to snowheads!
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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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Does anyone know if l'Etale has a band playing on a Fri evening this year? Hoping for a champagne cocktail and listening to a few "choons" this weekend.
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Thanks for the welcome DJL. Yes will be maximising the ski pass during my first ever visit to PDS in just over a week. I wonder how the guy who was about as excited as an 8 year old got on last week?
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You know it makes sense.
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Welcome to  s Wozzy.
If you have an iPhone then Avoriaz and the Portes du Soleil have (two, separate) apps that give you lift opening and closing times. (Apps may be available for Android and Windows phones.)
At the moment, closing times tend to be 16:00 for higher lifts; 16:30 for lower lifts and 16:45 for link lifts.
The closing times change at some point, but I'm not sure when. Annoyingly, I can't find any info online.
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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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HI FS, enjoying your posts.
I have an android phone and have yet to find a suitable App although have downloaded the Skisat App so at least I will have an idea where I might be at any one time in the PDS.
Looks like I will have to spend the end of each day in and around Avoriaz and hopefully avoiding all these crazy Patry Nights - perhaps I should become a grumpy old git, oh I am one already according to my kids!!! Thankfully they aren't coming with me but going with a group of friends who like to dance and party 
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Poster: A snowHead
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Current closing times are here
I think they change in February, but don't hold me to that.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Thanks Doc. Anybody know if there are any WiFi hotspots in Avoriaz?
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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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2euros at the tourism office
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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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Nice finds doctor_eeyore and AW.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Wozzy wrote: |
| Thanks Doc. Anybody know if there are any WiFi hotspots in Avoriaz? |
Changabang cafe across from top of Prodain Cable car (top)
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Thanks Summer brill otherwise might have to purchase time in my apartment. I thought Changabang was a rubbish place???!!!! 
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| Wozzy wrote: |
| I thought Changabang was a rubbish place???!!!! |
Regulars here will confirm that I'm a bit of a fan and we eat there most days we're in Avoriaz.
Nice people, speedy(ish) service, reasonable to very good food and cheap prices. The chicken sandwich, chilli and onion rings are very good. The burgers are good and 4-5 euros cheaper than most of the alternative places.
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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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One for the girls - ladies loos sometimes being few and far between - we were over at St Jean d'Aulps again today, lots of lovely up and downs by the double chair at la Chévrerie where the new snow was still great and lots of it unskied at about 11 o'clock - and at the bottom by the chair is a newish ticket office and in there are some fairly decent loos.
A really good chocolat chaud and small beer were enjoyed a bit later at the cafe near the top of that double chair - 5 euros was ok.
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| Wozzy wrote: |
| Thanks Summer brill otherwise might have to purchase time in my apartment. I thought Changabang was a rubbish place???!!!! |
Normally quite good if I am teaching with kids in the Avoriaz direction I generally get asked by parents to take them there. It's not gourmet but very friendly, good chocolate brownies and coffee. Also used to be good Brekkie when I worked in Morzine and was up in Avoriaz early!
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FAQ
