 Poster: A snowHead
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Doesn't seem much open! Arrive 29th and wishing I was off elsewhere. Had Christmas 14 in Cham, with only a very small handful of runs open (3) in GM. (Fortunately managed a few days away) Looks little better now, and no sign of any improvement  Think I need to stop booking ski trips until I know there is snow!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@under a new name, @jbob, any idea where XC gear could be hired? sorted it for some friends a few years ago, and cannot remember any of it now!
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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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@fixx, Try Sanglard.
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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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@fixx, I know exactly. As you come from sanglard to wards the mbc just before the MBC on the right set back slightly is a hire shop. They do Nordic stuff and well as snowshoes etc. Nice guy. Might do a deal if you want them a few days. The foyer for the Nordic skiing is just over the road
from there.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Nordic skiing.
http://www.chamonix.com/snow-report,89,en.html
Looks like the only thing open is the Bois du Bouchet which is less than 2 miles although a good effort getting that open.
If your looking for some non skiing things to do, the hike up to loriaz refuge and maybe stay the night is a good outing. Might need snowshoes.
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As described, @fixx, by @jbob, it's an Intersport.
What is open is currently free. Only 2.7 kms but fresh air and exercise.
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Courmayeur was excellent compared to Chamonix.
Bus is 21 euros and leaves from outside the bowling place in Cham Sud at 9:30 or 10:30 drops at the skyway/cable car lifts.
Journey about 40 mins.
Returns from the drop off point at 4:15 and 5:15 from memory.
Enjoy!!
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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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@alfabug, IIRC you can get a car return ticket for the same price if you're in possession of a current lift pass. It may need to be at least a 6-day pass?
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Looks like a lot of snow is coming early next week
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Lets hope so... went out with @fixx yesterday morning, did a run of GM (that scared the living sh! t out of me) and bailed. Pretty awful right now, so lets hope something appears next week. Going to give Courmayer a crack at the weekend.
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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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I was lift riding in Verbier with an ESF guy from Argentierre yesterday.
He said it was 100% worth the 40 minute drive and that we had much, much better conditions in Verbier.
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Myself and a few pals are arriving in Chamonix next Thursday for 4 days. Hopefully there will be some more snow by then.
If not where are the best places to go within an hour or so drive that might have some coverage? Thanks.
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You know it makes sense.
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We were there just before Xmas. One day up GM, one in Verbier (a bit more than an hour but worth it) and one in Courmayeur. We had a great 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 saw this fatality on GM was posted elsewhere on SH by Davidof .... but not on this thread afaik.
I think this is in the bowl below and left of top of Herse chair - accessed from Herse or the black piste pylones just through the ridge down from GM. Skied it many times and often has great snow but some fairly steep pitches and big moguls on the well skied sections with big rocks lower down. Must have slid a fair way and been very unlucky.
https://www.chamonet.com/news/skier-dies-in-grands-montets-accident-chamonix-mont-blanc-valley-701856
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Poster: A snowHead
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@PBJ, yes, tragic event. We were up there shortly after. I believe there was also a non-fatal but serious accident on Sunday somewhere off the GM lift, thus it is now closed for skiing, climbers/pedestrians only.
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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 Snow hound. A quick google also looks like Megeve and Les Carroz as other options inside an hours drive.
Hopefully we should be able to find some snow!
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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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We were bussed along the AutoRoute Blanche on Saturday on the way to Geneva and Les Houche, Saint Gervais and Megeve all looked pretty sad. We were skiing in Monterosa and there was a lot more snow on the Italian side of the Mont Blanc tunnel
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@TFC1, best coverage in order based on what I've experienced in past few days either firsthand or from friends are: 1) Verbier (firsthand )- can ski to resort, plenty to do, 2) Courmayeur (didn't visit myself, snow apparently good but tunnel queues have been horrendous, 1-2hrs each way for some people), 3) Les Contamines (firsthand, decent amount of red/blue stuff open), 4) Grands Montets (firsthand, ok for first 2 hrs in the morning, but increasingly icy and unpleasant thereafter). Also a mate in Pila says its very good there, but probably 90 mins drive and you've got the tunnel to contend with.
Megeve is a zero (pretty much), Les Carroz similar. St Gervais ok for artificial snow on a few blues, might as well do the extra 15 mins to Les Contamines.
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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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Thanks @Snowdave
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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I can confirm that the tide is most definitely out at the GMs:
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| Quote: |
Also a mate in Pila says its very good there, but probably 90 mins drive and you've got the tunnel to contend with.
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Sub 60min drive from Les Praz to Pila on 22nd Dec, incl tunnel Q which wasn't bad as still (just) pre-season & missing the first turning off the motorway for Pila. Snow was fantastic then, but that's two weeks ago now. Pass was €43 for the day, I think.
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@offpisteskiing, 
Last time I went to Chamonix (2007) it sure didn't look like that
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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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What would be the best transport from chamonix to verbier. I have a car rental in Geneva for a chamonix/verbier/zermatt trip. I'd rather not drive given that zermatt is car free but I get different answers to this question. The hotel in chamonix suggested private transport at 200 euros. I understand the train journey is 3 hours and includes a bus ride. Any input would be helpful.
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Drive and park at Tasch
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Tasch is for zermatt
There's a bus Cham to le Chable (verbier) I think every Thursday
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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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I@Ptspeak, since you are already renting a car, drive. Gives you more convenience and flexibility. There is a bus from Cham to Verbier but it only runs on certain days. I wouldn't bother with a train, as you need to change it a few times and then still need a bus or gondola. Beautiful ride especially in the spring/summer, but unnecessary if you have an option to drive. In Verbier park at the Sport Centre (Parking Perin), first 24 hours is free and CHF 5 for every day after. Or if you are going just for a day skiing! Park at Le Chable and then take a gondola all the way up. When going to Zermatt park at Tasch and take train from there. Parking is more expensive there, but still reasonable.
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You know it makes sense.
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I have one night in chamonix two in Verbier and 4 in Zermatt. Thanks for the input. Looking like more time in Cham/verbier would have been better.
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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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Quite a lot of snow is expected in Chamonix over the next several days. Any updates from sites?
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Poster: A snowHead
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Probably not enough recently to do much other than freshen up what was there but rather a lot more forecast tonight and tomorrow which should make much more of a difference...
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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45cm expected over the next 4 days. We are arriving on February 1st, hopefully there should be more snow and better skiing by then.
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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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Indeed, fingers crossed for the next couple of days. Out for the last weekend of jan, with a couple of people who've never been to chamonix before.
I've bigged it up quite a lot, so hoping at least for a reasonable piste network in the absence of much decent off piste. If the current situation continued I could have seen us having to do 25 laps of Charles bozon
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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: |
If the current situation continued I could have seen us having to do 25 laps of Charles bozon
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You say that like it's a bad thing
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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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@hollando, i am hopeful you will be fine. 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Point taken, it's not the worst run I've ever skied by a fair stretch!!
Yeah the forecast looks pretty promising indeed!
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A rare mission to Cham today. Skinning at les Houches. It was bonkers at the ticket office. Lots of new snow but not as much as forecast.
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@jbob,
How far up did you get? My those Scott skis do look groovy. Gran Paradiso preparation?
It is a shame that you didn't forwarn me of your presence as I was carting a litre of tea around all morning.
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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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Interesting - Les Contamines are reporting 40cm of fresh today and the web cams look consistent with that. Just shows how localised the falls can be
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@HammondR, sorry about that. It was all a bit hit and miss. We hadn't a clue what we might do until we got up.
The question was, how far in an hour, the answer was, not far enough.
I was supposed to be skiing all day with Ali but the baby sitter cried off so we only had a couple of hours to play. Interesting all the same. I'll let you know when I'm coming over next time, also when I'm planning to be in Courmayeur.
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FAQ
