Who is going skiing and where 2015?
Discussion
Wengen on the 31st Jan
Partner taking her new skis with her c/o Santa (me actually)
I need to get my boots sorted as I am convinced they are way too tight on my feet.
I hope this skiing trip ends better then 2014 trip to Andorra, stretchered off the mountain with suspect broken pelvis but just severely pulled abductor and stomach muscles. That still hurt like hell though. 2 days in hospital. Make sure your insurance is top notch won’t you?
Partner taking her new skis with her c/o Santa (me actually)
I need to get my boots sorted as I am convinced they are way too tight on my feet.
I hope this skiing trip ends better then 2014 trip to Andorra, stretchered off the mountain with suspect broken pelvis but just severely pulled abductor and stomach muscles. That still hurt like hell though. 2 days in hospital. Make sure your insurance is top notch won’t you?
king wait!!
Was going back to Arinsal...... then travel company offered us a £500 upgrade FREE to go to El Tarter so guess what... that's where we'll be in March.
It is 300 yards (I'm that old!) to the cable car but gives a chance to work up a good thirst on the walk back to the hotel!!!
Snowy pics from there on the webcam so should be shed loads by March
It is 300 yards (I'm that old!) to the cable car but gives a chance to work up a good thirst on the walk back to the hotel!!!
Snowy pics from there on the webcam so should be shed loads by March
krallicious said:
Switzerland could be on for a good season.
Hope so. Last season was shocking. The best snow we had was Verbier in December.Currently signed up for:
Long weekend in Verbier 12th December
Day trips every weekend Jan
St Moritz x 2 weekends in Feb
Saas Fee weekend in Feb
Davos weekend in Feb
Easter in Zermatt
Will probably do a weekend in St Anton and/or Ischgl in March.
We moved house in the summer and are now within an hour door to slopes of 3 or 4 different resorts now
I have booked up for Jan but getting the bug for some snow now!
Is it possible to drive to a resort for a long weekend? I really fancy driving but know this will limit my time on the slopes.
Was thinking drive out Thursday 14th Dec and back on the Monday.
Anywhere looking good already? (Ideally where I would not need snow chains - yet!)
Was looking at Airbnb for somewhere to stay or a hotel? (Would prefer secure parking if possible!)
Is it possible to drive to a resort for a long weekend? I really fancy driving but know this will limit my time on the slopes.
Was thinking drive out Thursday 14th Dec and back on the Monday.
Anywhere looking good already? (Ideally where I would not need snow chains - yet!)
Was looking at Airbnb for somewhere to stay or a hotel? (Would prefer secure parking if possible!)
VEIGHT said:
I have booked up for Jan but getting the bug for some snow now!
There's been a few discussions of short, even day-trips to the snow on another forum.Driving your closest resorts are Chamonix or Megève, both about 8hr from Calais so you could leave after work, drive through the night with maybe a few hours kip in something cheap like an ibis budget and be in the resort for first lifts. With a car you could then drive down from the resort to find cheaper accomodation.
If you really want to go for it and you live in London you can go to work all day, hit St Pancras for the 19:39 over-night Eurostar to Bourg-St-Maurice, up the fanicular to Les Arcs, ski all day, but down to Bourg, have some food and catch the 22:15 over-night train back to St Pancras, arriving back 07:16 Sunday morning!
Have a search for some webcams - there's a few covering the French Autoroute and surrounding resorts (tho I notice those for Chamonix are broken at the mo). It all looks pretty green around Geneva and although the higher resorts have been getting some half decent snow I doubt there's any snow issues on the road to Chamonix itself.
As discussed on another thread, after a break for me for nearly 5 years, we're going skiing with our kids in the first week in Jan, driving to Les Gets which was chosen as a child-friendly small resort as close to Calais and off the a40 the autoroutes as possible, and renting a self catering apartment.
So a couple of firsts for me this year: first with kids (age 3 and 4, we've booked them into ESF kindergarten for a couple of hours each day), and first self drive to the alps. I'm not expecting too much skiing, more of a nice long relax with teh family after a very hectic 4th quarter this year.
Even so as usual, I'm being drawn into keeping a close eye on the snow reports and the resort webcams - frustrating to watch a good few inches of snow melt away to nothing in a couple of days this week, but hopefully things will get cooler over the next few weeks.
As discussed on another thread, after a break for me for nearly 5 years, we're going skiing with our kids in the first week in Jan, driving to Les Gets which was chosen as a child-friendly small resort as close to Calais and off the a40 the autoroutes as possible, and renting a self catering apartment.
So a couple of firsts for me this year: first with kids (age 3 and 4, we've booked them into ESF kindergarten for a couple of hours each day), and first self drive to the alps. I'm not expecting too much skiing, more of a nice long relax with teh family after a very hectic 4th quarter this year.
Even so as usual, I'm being drawn into keeping a close eye on the snow reports and the resort webcams - frustrating to watch a good few inches of snow melt away to nothing in a couple of days this week, but hopefully things will get cooler over the next few weeks.
VEIGHT said:
This sounds good!
What are the roads like in Chamonix this time of year?
Potentially snowie, so get yourself a set of chains - http://www.lidl.co.uk/en/our-offers-2491.htm?id=43...What are the roads like in Chamonix this time of year?
Tallow said:
My first skiing holiday (ever!) on 31st Jan in Whistler. Exciting! Anyone got any Whistler based tips?
Great place to start! I've been several times, most recently three years ago. Simple advice: prepare for it to be pretty cold in January, much colder than Europe, I've seen -32 there that time of year, kids and seniors weren't being allowed on the lifts. TBH it was unpleasant at that low a tempearture, it was a short day of skiing and a long day in the pub!
As long as you've got plenty to keep you warm you can't go far wrong though. Massive area, far beyond what you will cover as a newbie but means there is plenty space for you to learn. There are reasonably easy descents from both Whisltler and Blackcomb mountains into the village where all the Apres action is centred. Loads of great bars and restaurants and friendly locals. I am, to use the vernacular, well jell! Alas I am not going anywhere this season
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/snowandski/canad...
PurpleTurtle said:
Great place to start! I've been several times, most recently three years ago.
Simple advice: prepare for it to be pretty cold in January, much colder than Europe, I've seen -32 there that time of year, kids and seniors weren't being allowed on the lifts. TBH it was unpleasant at that low a tempearture, it was a short day of skiing and a long day in the pub!
As long as you've got plenty to keep you warm you can't go far wrong though. Massive area, far beyond what you will cover as a newbie but means there is plenty space for you to learn. There are reasonably easy descents from both Whisltler and Blackcomb mountains into the village where all the Apres action is centred. Loads of great bars and restaurants and friendly locals. I am, to use the vernacular, well jell! Alas I am not going anywhere this season
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/snowandski/canad...
Thanks PT, much appreciated! Looks like it will be a busy week or two. In hindsight I might have got a little carried away when booking that one, but it does look like an impressive setup. The big question is will it spoil future European skiing holidays for me by setting the bar too high? Simple advice: prepare for it to be pretty cold in January, much colder than Europe, I've seen -32 there that time of year, kids and seniors weren't being allowed on the lifts. TBH it was unpleasant at that low a tempearture, it was a short day of skiing and a long day in the pub!
As long as you've got plenty to keep you warm you can't go far wrong though. Massive area, far beyond what you will cover as a newbie but means there is plenty space for you to learn. There are reasonably easy descents from both Whisltler and Blackcomb mountains into the village where all the Apres action is centred. Loads of great bars and restaurants and friendly locals. I am, to use the vernacular, well jell! Alas I am not going anywhere this season
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/snowandski/canad...
PurpleTurtle said:
Tallow said:
My first skiing holiday (ever!) on 31st Jan in Whistler. Exciting! Anyone got any Whistler based tips?
Great place to start! I've been several times, most recently three years ago. Simple advice: prepare for it to be pretty cold in January, much colder than Europe,
Despite that I'd also say have a go at the vanouver resorts too, (Cyprus, Seymour and Grouse) and if you head inland to sun peaks, big white, silverstar then you really will know what cold can be. -40c air temp and outdoor hot tub! Take a ski break in the lodge and wonder why the staff all have puffy jackets on in the warm (feels like)lodge and then see the thermometer which is hovering just above freezing inside.
On a completely different note, watch out for bald eagles around Squirmish as they over winter there and they have the annual eagle count in jan. (just as the sea to sky leaves the sea)
bucksmanuk said:
Wengen on the 31st Jan
Partner taking her new skis with her c/o Santa (me actually)
I need to get my boots sorted as I am convinced they are way too tight on my feet.
I hope this skiing trip ends better then 2014 trip to Andorra, stretchered off the mountain with suspect broken pelvis but just severely pulled abductor and stomach muscles. That still hurt like hell though. 2 days in hospital. Make sure your insurance is top notch won’t you?
I love Wengen - super little resort; haven't been there for donkeysPartner taking her new skis with her c/o Santa (me actually)
I need to get my boots sorted as I am convinced they are way too tight on my feet.
I hope this skiing trip ends better then 2014 trip to Andorra, stretchered off the mountain with suspect broken pelvis but just severely pulled abductor and stomach muscles. That still hurt like hell though. 2 days in hospital. Make sure your insurance is top notch won’t you?
ViperDave said:
If its not cold, prepare to be wet, even in jan. My experience with the maritime ski resorts (first bumpy bits after the sea) is that they can be a bit marginal and are as likely to get rain, fog or hard ice pellets, as big fluffy snow or blue sky. Ok so only done whistler once, and it was quite nice weather, but done the Vancouver resorts a few times and whistler isn't a million miles away and they are all in a maritime environment with moisture cumming off the pacific, whistler has a height advantage at the top over the vancouver resorts, but resort level is similar and i have come away from those soaked through numerous times, likewise in the sierras.
Despite that I'd also say have a go at the vanouver resorts too, (Cyprus, Seymour and Grouse) and if you head inland to sun peaks, big white, silverstar then you really will know what cold can be. -40c air temp and outdoor hot tub! Take a ski break in the lodge and wonder why the staff all have puffy jackets on in the warm (feels like)lodge and then see the thermometer which is hovering just above freezing inside.
On a completely different note, watch out for bald eagles around Squirmish as they over winter there and they have the annual eagle count in jan. (just as the sea to sky leaves the sea)
Thanks VD, also useful advice! Hopefully it will be pretty cold even at village level - I don't want all these warm clothes to go to waste! Despite that I'd also say have a go at the vanouver resorts too, (Cyprus, Seymour and Grouse) and if you head inland to sun peaks, big white, silverstar then you really will know what cold can be. -40c air temp and outdoor hot tub! Take a ski break in the lodge and wonder why the staff all have puffy jackets on in the warm (feels like)lodge and then see the thermometer which is hovering just above freezing inside.
On a completely different note, watch out for bald eagles around Squirmish as they over winter there and they have the annual eagle count in jan. (just as the sea to sky leaves the sea)
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