Chamonix snow report

Gary, try the Facebook group BASI community hub, always good recommendations on that site.

My first time to Europe and Chamonix. The scenery in Cham is to die for but I sort of agree about some of the prices. No sure about the rest of France but prices look pretty high and I am feeling like tourists are probably fair game.
I read a couple of posts (above) saying there are much better places to ski. No names dropped so can you guys kindly spell out the resorts as I am not sure Cham is worth more than one visit. The skiing is pretty crap but maybe this is due to the lack of snow. At any rate if I want to ski ice on tracks marked with electrical plastic poles then why both as this is not what skiing is about. Anybody who has skied America will understand where I am coming from.
Hope some of you guys can make suggestions. Thanks.

Chamonix will always be a resort that gives the more you put in and being versatile is important to get best out of the place. This year 99% of people would be better off in Colorado. Then again the photos of people skiing big lines on the South face of MB This week looked pretty amazing. If you can climb / ski / skin even on a poopy snow year there is adventure like nowhere else. 9 weeks to go until my turn to enjoy.

Be careful what you wish for. Our stay has been a bitter disappointment so far. Whilst we love the stunning scenery and food we have not enjoyed the poor skiing conditions, the hard packed icy slopes (this is not SNOW skiing!), some of the bus drivers and being short changed by now 3 shop assistants. People do not spend a lot of money to visit a unique part of the world and then experience this. Of course you are correct that the conditions are those mother nature has offered and that is understood.
My comment was to highlight the fact that North America is all but guaranteed of decent snow because of the higher altitude. 1000 m at Cham compared to almost 3000m in Colorado.....and there were never issues with bus drivers who pretend they do not understand you and drive like they in a Formula 1 vehicle or being cheated by (some) shop assistants.
Sorry if this sounds like a lament. It is only meant as a comparison between different skiing areas.

http://www.tetongravity.com/video/ski/epic-lines-and-powder-in-chamonix-cham-lines-s4ep3

Wishing I was in Colorado!

US resorts are a must see. Vail is my pick. Huge area and long runs but expensive to stay with many skiers opting to drive in for the day.
Many other wonderful ski areas to pick from as well depending on price and the feel you need.
Last thing, a season local pass costs around US$600 or you can buy the full blown unlimited pass for around $800. Compare that to the over-inflated MBU which (this year) offers you little more than ice skating on what they call 'pistes' and ski demolition on what they call 'off-piste'. And then they rip you off for food and drink on the hill.....
Sorry to sound a bit cheesed off. Always nice to experience the positives for first visit to a resort. Cham has failed on that one but who am I to say.

I was in Saint Gervais last week and the snow was good, maybe the odd patch of ice at the end of the day on some of the steeper runs. I went to Courmayeur for one day and the snow was very good and there were a few instructors from ESF Chamonix running off piste lessons. I think both of these resorts are covered on the MBU lift pass and both are really good ski areas. Well worth a try.

Exactly, is not a classic season for the Alps but I keep seeing:
Big lines in Chamonix being skied e.g Les Courtes
Groups enjoying powder in Courmayeur / St Gervais / Les Contamines
Trnasformed snow off Helbronner
VB's being skied

You will never enjoy Chamonix for the on piste restaurants or near piste off piste (sorry Swedes beat you to it). My tips say bonjour when you enter a shop, buy some touring skis, enjoy a 2 euro picnic baguette in the sun and keep you beer above the 1/2 way mark.

If you are still there on April 27th am buying you dinner with plenty of wine.