Who is going skiing and where 2014?
Discussion
Gruffy said:
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.
oh But two weeks is a very long time when it comes to weather forecasting in the mountains. Fingers crossed.
I'm sure it'll be fine higher up, though...
schmalex said:
Gruffy said:
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.
oh But two weeks is a very long time when it comes to weather forecasting in the mountains. Fingers crossed.
I'm sure it'll be fine higher up, though...
Edited by taaffy on Friday 28th March 13:56
schmalex said:
Phew. Thanks! Didn't fancy a weekend of mountain biking in the drizzle!
The Grands Montets stays open for full area skiing until 28th april and you can still ski there on a limited basis until early May.If it's raining in the town then you can bet that it is snowing at altitude. Over the past few years I've experienced some great April skiing on the Montets.
pidsy said:
BOOKED!
w/c 12th april off to tignes!
woohoo!
Just finishing up my 2 week trip in Val. You need to hope for some snow otherwise you're going to spend your whole time queuing for the grand motte!!w/c 12th april off to tignes!
woohoo!
Conditions have been fantastic this week, but temps are really on the rise for next week - hopefully you'll get a cold spell.
We did 14-21st April last year it was piping hot and in the afternoon it was a complete slushfest. Get the first lift up ski hard all morning and then folie douce in the afternoon!!
schmalex said:
Gruffy said:
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.
oh But two weeks is a very long time when it comes to weather forecasting in the mountains. Fingers crossed.
I'm sure it'll be fine higher up, though...
Gruffy said:
schmalex said:
Gruffy said:
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.
oh But two weeks is a very long time when it comes to weather forecasting in the mountains. Fingers crossed.
I'm sure it'll be fine higher up, though...
PurpleTurtle said:
As I was saying!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2590091/It...
'Rob, who was wearing a GoPro .... '
Video uploaded 9 October 2011. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2590091/It...
'Rob, who was wearing a GoPro .... '
Nice to see the Wail on top of the breaking news as always.
A few friends and I did one of the cols above the Midi this morning and then skied back via the Vallée Blanche. Thought I'd report back on snow conditions as I remember somebody was planning to give it a go around now.
The Arete is deadly at the moment. I normally skip down it but it's treacherously icy in places. I was too cocky and fell on my arse, right onto my ice screw. The bruise is mahoosive and blacker than coal. I'd advise crampons at the moment.
The VB itself is as heavily tracked as I've ever seen it. Large moguls on the classic (Gros Rognon) and Petit Envers variants. It was midday by the time we'd finished our objective and reached the VB and the snow was just beginning to soften near the bottom of the main serac field, which made the going much more pleasant.
The James Bond route back to the village is off the cards now and probably for the rest of the season, unless we get a miracle dump. Temps in the valley today were 21°C so it seems unlikely.
It's still a beautiful place to be, even if the skiing is less than spectacular.
The Arete is deadly at the moment. I normally skip down it but it's treacherously icy in places. I was too cocky and fell on my arse, right onto my ice screw. The bruise is mahoosive and blacker than coal. I'd advise crampons at the moment.
The VB itself is as heavily tracked as I've ever seen it. Large moguls on the classic (Gros Rognon) and Petit Envers variants. It was midday by the time we'd finished our objective and reached the VB and the snow was just beginning to soften near the bottom of the main serac field, which made the going much more pleasant.
The James Bond route back to the village is off the cards now and probably for the rest of the season, unless we get a miracle dump. Temps in the valley today were 21°C so it seems unlikely.
It's still a beautiful place to be, even if the skiing is less than spectacular.
Thanks Gruffy - useful input! We fly next Thursday, so here's hoping there will still be some snow left then! Looking at the weather forecast, it appears there are some pretty decent storms around the area - is the local forecast going for rain everywhere, or could there be potential for snow up high??
What are the pistes like generally?
What are the pistes like generally?
There's forecast be a dusting of snow up high, but the temperatures are very warm so that means rain up to 2,500m or even higher.
There will definitely be enough snow for you and you should expect spring conditions, so very firm in the morning and quickly turning to soft spring slush. The pistes are in fine condition at Grands-Montets. The very bottom of the home run is starting to look a bit brown, but even if you have to take the lift back down you're still going to find good piste riding on the higher slopes.
The other resorts in the valley (Brevent-Flegere, Le Tour and Les Houches) all catch a bit more sun and are lower, so these may not hold out quite so well, but I'd still expect them to be fine higher up.
All of this assumes no decent new snow, so if we get more of the white stuff then it could be even better.
Pack some shorts, flip-flops, your sunnies and your sun cream. It may not be champagne powder but riding slushy pistes and then chilling out with a cold one in 20°C sunshine in the afternoon… there are worse ways to spend your day.
There will definitely be enough snow for you and you should expect spring conditions, so very firm in the morning and quickly turning to soft spring slush. The pistes are in fine condition at Grands-Montets. The very bottom of the home run is starting to look a bit brown, but even if you have to take the lift back down you're still going to find good piste riding on the higher slopes.
The other resorts in the valley (Brevent-Flegere, Le Tour and Les Houches) all catch a bit more sun and are lower, so these may not hold out quite so well, but I'd still expect them to be fine higher up.
All of this assumes no decent new snow, so if we get more of the white stuff then it could be even better.
Pack some shorts, flip-flops, your sunnies and your sun cream. It may not be champagne powder but riding slushy pistes and then chilling out with a cold one in 20°C sunshine in the afternoon… there are worse ways to spend your day.
Edited by Gruffy on Wednesday 2nd April 20:49
Gruffy said:
Pack some shorts, flip-flops, your sunnies and your sun cream. It may not be champagne powder but riding slushy pistes and then chilling out with a cold one in 20°C sunshine in the afternoon… there are worse ways to spend your day.
Yep!Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 2nd April 20:49
In Verbier for 5 days next week. Aim to be on the first lift then early finish a nice lunch / few beers and early to bed for the next morning. It's currently T shirt weather in the village so the ski days could be very short!
Gruffy said:
There's forecast be a dusting of snow up high, but the temperatures are very warm so that means rain up to 2,500m or even higher.
There will definitely be enough snow for you and you should expect spring conditions, so very firm in the morning and quickly turning to soft spring slush. The pistes are in fine condition at Grands-Montets. The very bottom of the home run is starting to look a bit brown, but even if you have to take the lift back down you're still going to find good piste riding on the higher slopes.
The other resorts in the valley (Brevent-Flegere, Le Tour and Les Houches) all catch a bit more sun and are lower, so these may not hold out quite so well, but I'd still expect them to be fine higher up.
All of this assumes no decent new snow, so if we get more of the white stuff then it could be even better.
Pack some shorts, flip-flops, your sunnies and your sun cream. It may not be champagne powder but riding slushy pistes and then chilling out with a cold one in 20°C sunshine in the afternoon… there are worse ways to spend your day.
Cheers fella There will definitely be enough snow for you and you should expect spring conditions, so very firm in the morning and quickly turning to soft spring slush. The pistes are in fine condition at Grands-Montets. The very bottom of the home run is starting to look a bit brown, but even if you have to take the lift back down you're still going to find good piste riding on the higher slopes.
The other resorts in the valley (Brevent-Flegere, Le Tour and Les Houches) all catch a bit more sun and are lower, so these may not hold out quite so well, but I'd still expect them to be fine higher up.
All of this assumes no decent new snow, so if we get more of the white stuff then it could be even better.
Pack some shorts, flip-flops, your sunnies and your sun cream. It may not be champagne powder but riding slushy pistes and then chilling out with a cold one in 20°C sunshine in the afternoon… there are worse ways to spend your day.
Edited by Gruffy on Wednesday 2nd April 20:49
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