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Living in Bristol, Stanstead is a pain to get to though, especially for a short weekender...with the Grandparents looking after the kids 3 hours this end matter.
Nice pic Swavis, Bristol-Inverness?
Lecht opening tomorrow, cairngorm hopeful next weekend which is handy as I am there the whole week after, the shee filling in nicely.
Just got some qst92s and a some ransoms for mrsnzcol and skis for juniornzcol. Skint but new stuff - woo hoo
First snowboarding of the season complete , went to our local resort where they have had a metre of snow in the last week, so was a great start but only one lift open. The amount of snow took them a little by surprise . The bigger resort opens next weekend but I'm in bloody London!
Home made box rail is in place in the garden as well, testing tomorrow
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Love it!
Looking terrible up top of Mossettes 🙂
Agreed. Awful.
Looking terrible up top of Mossettes
It's all so early, hopefully this continues on till the end of January - with a few nice sunny days through the 21st to 28th!
cairngorm hopeful next weekend
I reckon unlikely TBH. Was up there on Saturday morning, and it looks very thin. Was 12 degrees just north of Perth this morning at 6am 🙁
@ The DT's: There's not much difference between Grenoble and Lyon airports distance and time wise as Grenoble is north of Grenoble pretty much half-way between Grenoble centre and Lyon airport. And it's a good 15 mins by coach to the auto-route. Lyon airport is on the right side of the city for heading towards the Serre Che part of the alps. Only issue is (and admittedly it can be a big one on change-over days:) From Lyon airport you have a fairly major peage/ toll booth too get through which gets jammed up when busy. But even then there are petty obvious routes to avoid this.
My season's lift pass turned up this morning .... along with some gratuit day passes for PdS and 2Alpes.
Smiling..... just a bit
mugsys makes a very good point - in fact if you go round the galibier via the north valley and Italy, Via Michelin reckons the difference to Briancon is 1 minute (just over 3 hrs).
I was comparing the Turin Transfer, good point about the difference between Lyon and Grenoble, But I haven't seen the Col du Galibier open in Jan before. Is that the route you meant mefty?#
Also looking at a long weekender so a 3 hour transfer would be out of the question.
Is that the route you meant mefty?#
No via St Jean de Maurienne and close by Modane into Italy, but agree long transfer for weekend.
Val d'Isere webcam looking equally rubbish 🙂
Verbier. It was only 3 weekends ago they closed the bikepark in Autumn sunshine. Opening weekend of ski season
The trouble with going via Modane and Italy to get to Serre Che are the queues for the Frejus tunnel toll booths and the cost of the tunnel (€43.70 each way).
Sprootlet - where is your season pass for? PdS and L2A are a fair trek from each other!
More advice required if folks could be so kind. So work, family life and stuff in general leaves me looking at a Wed to Sun trip in Jan. Flights etc fairly cheap but cannot fight my way through google to find any basic cheapish accommodation in resorts close to Geneva. Any tips much appreciated.
LD
http://www.chaletmontana.eu/
and Zeb can sort out transfers for you from and to GVA for about €25-30 c.80mins e/w
Ski buss leaves from straight outside the Chalet up to Ardent Lift, 5mins away.
Mmm, that's the idea. Not sure PDS has enough runs to keep me occupied though!
Mid Jan won't be sold out so you could leave it last minute, tricky bit may be sat night as most companies offer Sat-Sat. Your golden option is to find last min availability for a company with Sun-Sun trips
Not sure PDS has enough runs to keep me occupied though!
I know what you mean. 400 miles of piste seems so little these days! 🙄
😆
Stoner's suggestion is good for access over the back into Switzerland, over the side into Chatel, over the other side into Avoriaz and in the other direction Morzine/Les Gets. Short free buses each time. Not a bad place. Of course Stoner is, give or take, one of your neighbours there... 😉
Within about 1.30 from Geneva we have stayed at the Best Western in Morrilon, Grand Massif.
[url= http://www.booking.com/hotel/fr/residence-palladior-morillon-grand-massif.en-gb.html?aid=318615;label=New_English_EN_GBIE_5226314545-RnYQj%2AqnIkYg15Re%2ASD5mgS85657670905%3Apl%3Ata%3Ap1%3Ap2%3Aac%3Aap1t2%3Aneg;sid=892fb56513261a7e7b5e18eb285cbe33;ucfs=1;room1=A,A;dest_type=city;dest_id=-1453635;srfid=9be5fdedba88c3f2370264d4e325035d949ad692X1;highlight_room= ]BW[/url]
Apartment Hotel so has Kitchenette, for breakfast and also has a pool, which was nice.
Apologies if this has already been posted.
Any thoughts on L2A as a destination for a group of very mixed abilities? One happiest on blue runs, one starting reds, one starting blacks, 3 experienced/off piste skiers and one trying to keep up with them? I've offered to try to find a location, and the accommodation looks good, but would appreciate opinions on the skiing suitability!
Im off out to work in the grand massif for the season so hopefully should get some time on the hills! 😀
I may have to appoint myself moderator of this thread and weild my icy hammer of ban towards anyone displaying excessive smugness!
😉
Any thoughts on L2A as a destination for a group of very mixed abilities? One happiest on blue runs, one starting reds, one starting blacks, 3 experienced/off piste skiers and one trying to keep up with them? I've offered to try to find a location, and the accommodation looks good, but would appreciate opinions on the skiing suitability!
The 3+1 are made up, over the top to La Grave and more challenging off piste than you can shake your ski poles at. Grab a guide from L2A's or La Grave's Bureau des Guides, or http://snowlegend.com/en/ or Tina/Francky http://www.bandofboarders.net/
CFH bans himself shock 😉
L2A will suit the others too, the whole mountain is mainly blue with shades of red. Special mention for the Signal run off the glacier, it's made for mixed ability groups
cairngorm hopeful next weekend
We're due more snow this week but I doubt Cairngorm will have enough to open, they need quite a lot to cover all the boulders up there 😉
The Lecht might run again, as long as the showers head far enough east.
Some more pic's from my micro split adventure the other night
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Tomintoul in the background
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I may have to appoint myself moderator of this thread and weild my icy hammer of ban towards anyone displaying excessive smugness!
I'd second that, the more seasonaires we can ban the better the bar stewards! Not that I'm just horrendously jealous, oh no, not me 😀
On the other hand if you want to do a season in Europe, best to do it before we lose freedom of movement of labour.
Other ski areas are available but I can't see for example the French handing out a load of work permits for kids to work for UK holiday companies.
The days of "cheap" European ski holidays may be numbered.
Of course, perhaps not.
I AM SO EXCITED!!!!!1
Does L2A still offer days out on their pass? Think it used to be AdH and Serre Che, but I might be wrong.
Hello to Turbo1397
What will you be doing in Grand Massif? We're largely going to a pair of ski bums with various friends visiting...smug, yes indeed
Don't you love how for a week's on the snow the excitement starts building about 6 months in advance.
hammerite - Member
Does L2A still offer days out on their pass? Think it used to be AdH and Serre Che, but I might be wrong.
Yes, they still offer that and a few others [url= http://www.skipass-2alpes.com/fr/s%C3%A9jours ]click on me and scroll down to the 6 day pass prices for the list [/url]
@sprootlet.. I'm working as a transfer driver. Dec-apr, either staying in samoens or les carroz .
Just booked Wednesday- Saturday in Morzine, flying into Geneva, in early February. Which is a good reasonable transfer company?
Last time we booked with Morz Express and the snowy and dark conditions were obviously not enough of a challenge for the child that was driving us as he didn't stop playing with music on his phone. Needless to say that we weren't impressed with the service/driving so will book someone else this time. Can anyone recommend a firm?
Cheers
danradyr1 - Member
Just booked Wednesday- Saturday in Morzine, flying into Geneva, in early February. Which is a good reasonable transfer company?
Ive used a few companies and have found the cheaper ones invariably wanting. I now only use AlpNav http://www.alpnavtransfers.com/ they're head and shoulders above, very comfortable, obey the speed limits (surprisingly not a given! 🙁 ) and dont have to fill a big minbus, ragging around the valley before they start making their way back to Geneva, so they pick you up hours before you really need.
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Thoughts?
You are going to need to sort the crack in the tarmac out, winter is nearly here and the snow and ice is only going to make your job harder...
@danrady have used Ski Transfers (spin off of Ski Blue Ridge) in summer, it was €30 each way
@igm as I posted in March the French local we met in Peisey was thankful the Brits are still coming as business from elsewhere had really dropped off. As protectionist as they are the French understand tourist economics. Anyway any changes are for the 2019/20 season.
Anyway any changes are for the 2019/20 season.
Agreed - at the earliest, possibly never.
The point though is that while the French will definitely welcome the tourism, they may not welcome UK ski instructors (no previous there), UK companies making the profits, UK staff getting the work. They will try to be protectionist and have the tourism. There will be a compromise maybe - but it won't be the good times we currently enjoy. (And if that lass you keep talking up gets in there may not be a compromise)
Anyway enough of this now. Let's giggle like kids about early season snow that we all know means almost nothing.
@turbo, guess you'll be working for gomassif transfers then 🙂
If you fancy meeting up for a run or 2 let us know
igm all this early season snow just makes me wish I lived a few hours drive away. Even though the skiing was so-so close to NYC being able to drive out/back for a day or weekend where happy times.
Stevo from White Room linked to this .. mid November in Sainte Foy 🙂
Now there's a manifesto I could support you on
Morzine transfers - avoid Alpybus, too many horror stories of folk being stranded for hours a buses weren't running due to lack of passengers etc.
Had great service from Skidigonzales in the past, used Action Transfers during the summer who were spot on, and have also found mountain bus good too.
Thanks for the suggestions. AlpNav booked.
Anyone had a look at the PS4 game The Steep? Jnr downloaded the beta version today.
We'll be there from 2nd Jan until 1st April so plenty of time to catch up and you might be delivering some friends to us over the season!
Cheeky request alert , anyone a member of SCUK or Ski Ckub Great Britain and would let me use their membership discount ?
Serre Chevalier then,
Any recommendations for apartments?
Piemonster,.
Snowmonkeeys had a few a short walk to The lift at the bottom of the Luc Alphand black and the main lifts out of Chantemerle, Always wanted to stay in Monetier, they have a thermal Spa which looks ace for a bit of an apres ski soak.
I don't know what snow monkeys is?
It's a company who had apartments for rent in Serre Che.
Their website seems to be down at the moment.
Ahh, that explains the failure of my Google Fu
Piemonster
Rocketski
Serre Chevalier
7th Jan £269. Flight , transfer and Half Board in a hotel I stayed at and was ok as in hot water 24/7 , bar and reasonbable food.
I am now kicking myslef for early booking as at that price i would have gone back again this year..drat.
Whistler opening on Wednesday. Winter showed up really early, then went walk about for 2 weeks and all that lovely new snow melted, but it's shown up again this last week so hopefully there will be a decent base down. The lower mountain is still very very green but the forecast is looking encouraging 😀
80cm in the front of our chalet in Flaine 🙂
Anyone tried Faction clothing? I need some new pants and TK Maxx have them in my size, just not sure on the quality. I do ski like Candide though (in my dreams)
I see the World Cup skiing event at Beaver Creek early Dec has been moved to Val d’Isère due to lack of snow out there. Its been a bit warmer and wet in the Alps of late but looks like its cooling down again soon.
I'll just leave this here....
strange its not showing right.....anyway, copy and paste.
the World Cup skiing event at Beaver Creek early Dec has been moved
We've only just had a couple of storms in Colorado, and it was pretty warm up until recently. Breck is not looking too great right now.
Spin - Member
http://www.redbull.tv/video/AP-1PMT7S62N1W11/la-liste
Watched that on sunday night - great film. Bit different from the normal ski movie genre.
Anyone off to Val Thorens or may ski through?
Large favour to ask. Beers waiting for you. pm me.
Watched that on sunday night - great film. Bit different from the normal ski movie genre.
It's absolutely awesome. Best ski vid I've seen in years.
Well, Whistler opening day was on Wednesday. Things looked pretty poor but we had a huge storm roll in a dump a huge amount of snow. Powder turns on Whistlers opening day, followed by tits deep powder on Blackcomb on it's opening day and then another 35cm day today. It was even sunny this morning. Absolutely blinding start to the season.
The Grandparents have agreed to have the miniDT's for a few days so Mrsdts and I have a long weekender to ourselves in Jan. flights to Geneva and a hire car or easy transfer.
Been to Cham, Grand Massif, Nendaz, Cormayeur previous years, any recommendations for resorts and flexible accommodation. Half board, B&B or self catering..
9 weeks to go!
Jura mountains as you are on limited time?
Or Praz Sur Arly , Abondance , Avoriaz are all quick to get from GVA .
You need to be on an 0600 flight on sat am , then 1900 return on the MOnday to make it worth doing imo.
Jura (Metabief) saves 30 mins vs driving to Les Gets, not worth it even for a long weekend.
Closest decent resorts all round are imo PdS, so Morzine/Les Gets. You've been to Chamonix too, could try Megeve ? Verbier is very do-able for the weekend (1hr 45 from airport) and can even use the train (although tickets for 2 are same/more as renting a car). Cheaper accomodation down in La Chable and Bike Verbier do B&B (car needed). In a rental car Meribel is do-able ditto La Plagne or Champagny-en-vanoise. I've done Val for a 3 day weekend but that's a stretch. You've done the obvious ones really.
Edit: other thoughts La Clusaz or Villars
Generally our plan was rent a car and drive straight to airport after skiing on Sunday in your ski gear/change quickly in resort car park (did get one of my Swiss speeding tickets following this plan)
Note this weekend Verbier have opened Le Chable lift to bikes from 11 after all the skiers are up high. A few enduro trails open inc Black 10 / Jackass which is 'kin hard enough in perfect conditions (ie a lot of it a walk for me). Ski one day, bike the other 🙂
Like the sound of Megeve, Looking at a Thursday pm flight out and back on the Monday PM..
We have always found accommodation is the harder part to sort out as it is usually in week blocks and they are less keen on part weeks..
I'm quite keen on the older resorts, have spent lots of time in the mega resorts so a smaller more traditional place is appealing for a short break. Cormayeur was nice..
Prefer the hire car option as it leaves you the option of leaving late before the flight and yes straight to the airport after a slide.
Edit, yes the Swiss are quite efficient at getting their tickets out to foreign drivers...Royal mail IIRC