Who is going skiing and where 2014?
Discussion
Snow has finally returned to the Alps. 40cm of fresh. It's fallen on 1m high moguls, but it's a great start and with more expected throughout the week.
As for the Vallée Blanche: I do think it's overhyped but it can be a lovely run in good conditions. I've been lucky and scored bottomless fresh and sunny conditions for the two runs I've done on it this season, but I've also done it in rotten conditions when it was the world's biggest bulletproof mogul field - not a lot of fun on a board.
I can't help ticking boxes like the Vallée Blanche, but I'd save it for good conditions if you can (and get an early lift if you do!). There's plenty of other great stuff to ski in the valley that doesn't get so heavily trafficked.
It's definitely one for a guide if you're not fully kitted out and 100% sure what you're doing. ESF seem to be the cheapest at €305 for up to four people (extra bods are a nominal amount after that), but EV2 are also a decent bunch.
As for the Vallée Blanche: I do think it's overhyped but it can be a lovely run in good conditions. I've been lucky and scored bottomless fresh and sunny conditions for the two runs I've done on it this season, but I've also done it in rotten conditions when it was the world's biggest bulletproof mogul field - not a lot of fun on a board.
I can't help ticking boxes like the Vallée Blanche, but I'd save it for good conditions if you can (and get an early lift if you do!). There's plenty of other great stuff to ski in the valley that doesn't get so heavily trafficked.
It's definitely one for a guide if you're not fully kitted out and 100% sure what you're doing. ESF seem to be the cheapest at €305 for up to four people (extra bods are a nominal amount after that), but EV2 are also a decent bunch.
Thanks for the heads up on the VB. We are going to leave it as late as possible before booking, as we don't particularly fancy skiing a 17km long mogul field, or going down it in poor visibility and missing the views!!!
The forecast is looking good for more snow from now until 1st April, so fingers crossed for a great season finale!
The forecast is looking good for more snow from now until 1st April, so fingers crossed for a great season finale!
897sma said:
pidsy said:
We're looking to book this coming week to go away week of the 7th April.
Still not sure where to go though.
Got to be snowbombing if it's 7th April this year, especially with current temps and snow conditions. Still not sure where to go though.
schmalex said:
I am heading out to Chamonix with 3 mates for a long weekend on 10th April. All of us are proficient skiers, able to ski pisted reds and blacks easily and a little off piste.
We are unanimous in wanting to ski Vallee Blanche, but also want to ensure we ski it safely so have decided to hire a guide for the day. Can anyone recommend a great guide who will help us have a day to remember?!
Give Rob Jarvis a call, extremely knowledgeable with vast experience of the area and a nice chap as well We are unanimous in wanting to ski Vallee Blanche, but also want to ensure we ski it safely so have decided to hire a guide for the day. Can anyone recommend a great guide who will help us have a day to remember?!
http://www.highmountainguides.com/index.php/eng/Ab...
Merp said:
897sma said:
pidsy said:
We're looking to book this coming week to go away week of the 7th April.
Still not sure where to go though.
Got to be snowbombing if it's 7th April this year, especially with current temps and snow conditions. Still not sure where to go though.
cheers guys.
desolate said:
Snow in Verbier!
This is the view of the garden of our flat there - I was there last week and it was T shirt weather. My Mrs has gone with her friend today - should be superb and will hopefully be enough to limp through to easter
Started Sat lucnhtime when I was there.....much more on the mountain as the freezing point was above the village when it first started coming down. This is the view of the garden of our flat there - I was there last week and it was T shirt weather. My Mrs has gone with her friend today - should be superb and will hopefully be enough to limp through to easter
I am going back next Friday which looks like it could be decent timing!
desolate said:
Snow in Verbier!
This is the view of the garden of our flat there - I was there last week and it was T shirt weather. My Mrs has gone with her friend today - should be superb and will hopefully be enough to limp through to easter
I bet that's hardly annoying at all This is the view of the garden of our flat there - I was there last week and it was T shirt weather. My Mrs has gone with her friend today - should be superb and will hopefully be enough to limp through to easter
Good news, though, as I've promised my daughter we'll ski at Easter when I win the Lottery
M.
Amateurish said:
PurpleTurtle said:
Ditto, we are staying in VT, it was 6 deg C in the village yesterday at 2300m, 1 Deg C at the summit. We've not even bothered going over to Meribel/Courcheval as they must be awfully slushy. Consequently all the runs are far busier than you would expect this time of year, outside of school holidays. This is the first season I've noticed an abundance of t
ts with Go Pros, or more specifically, reckless tts who can't ski with Go Pros, taking ridiculous risks on busy pistes for a moment's YouTube glory. It genuinely worries me - I love my gadgets, but I reckon that it won't be long until we're hearing of somebody killed on the slopes, the innocent victim of some idiot wearing one of these.
Agreed, I was in Morzine last week and saw some shocking behaviour by nobs with gopros. ts with Go Pros, or more specifically, reckless tts who can't ski with Go Pros, taking ridiculous risks on busy pistes for a moment's YouTube glory. It genuinely worries me - I love my gadgets, but I reckon that it won't be long until we're hearing of somebody killed on the slopes, the innocent victim of some idiot wearing one of these. Noone wants to watch your s
t skiing/boarding on youtube. Grow up. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2590091/It...
'Rob, who was wearing a GoPro .... '
marcosgt said:
I bet that's hardly annoying at all
Good news, though, as I've promised my daughter we'll ski at Easter when I win the Lottery
M.
the most annoying matter for months, she kept sending me photos of each drink she had!Good news, though, as I've promised my daughter we'll ski at Easter when I win the Lottery
M.
Apparently the pistes are superb - let's hope it lasts to the early easter hols.
pidsy said:
Thoughts on st anton for w/c 6th April?
Been offered a good deal for then but have a feeling it's because I'll need my walking boots and hiking stick.
2 resorts in Austria have already closed for this season.
Unless they have an unlikely dump of snow I'd be giving it a swerve and going somewhere higher. Been offered a good deal for then but have a feeling it's because I'll need my walking boots and hiking stick.
2 resorts in Austria have already closed for this season.
Looking OK high up but those lower slopes appear to be struggling.
http://www.stantonamarlberg.com/en/st-anton/live-c...
pidsy said:
Thoughts on st anton for w/c 6th April?
Been offered a good deal for then but have a feeling it's because I'll need my walking boots and hiking stick.
2 resorts in Austria have already closed for this season.
The webcam images seen on the link PT provides shows coverage down at the Galzig lift so I'd imagine you'd be OK. Unlike just about every other ski season I've had I've not managed to ski in Austria this season at all. From what I've heard Austria in genral hasn't had the greatest season but neither have large parts of France in fact I think it's been back to average, we've just been spoiled the last couple of seasons and certainly nowhere near as bad as 2011.Been offered a good deal for then but have a feeling it's because I'll need my walking boots and hiking stick.
2 resorts in Austria have already closed for this season.
St Anton is as good a bet as anywhere IMO that doesn't have glacier skiing, which is generally boring and mobbed if it's needed. Snow record is good, and shouldn't be compared like for like in altitude with France fo example as it's further east.
Getting into April there is still a good chance of a dump or two if not get up early and follow the sun around and if it gets particulary heavy you can alwys call it a day mid afternoon. You'll not turn up to no skiing that's for sure, touring season starts in May and there'll be snow long after the last lift closes.
Not wishing to piss on your chips but it's been mostly sunny here (Chamonix) this week. We had a good dump last weekend but the forecast is for warmer temps with some very light showers over the next week or so. Light rain to 2,000m.
But two weeks is a very long time when it comes to weather forecasting in the mountains. Fingers crossed.
But two weeks is a very long time when it comes to weather forecasting in the mountains. Fingers crossed.
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