Who is going skiing and where in 2016

[tvrolet]

tvrolet in 2015 said:

Much the same as last year, and the year before etc. Nothing like being predictable I did miss out on Whistler last year, but got Crystal Mountain, Morzine and Tahoe plus quite a few days in Scotland...and this year is shaping up to be the same. Not been out this year yet though - planned to pop up to Glenshee on Sunday but the road was closed Maybe next weekend, then the US the weekend after...and so it begins.

tvrolet in 2014 said:

Mostly the same as last year...but with my daughter back in the UK there will be no Whistler trips, but hopefully some time at Crystal Mountain on the back of a Seattle trip, then Tahoe (got my season pass ) plus whatever Scotland can offer and maybe a weekend or two in Europe.

tvrolet in 2013 said:

Mostly the same as last year...I'll save some typing by just quoting my 2012 post

tvrolet in 2011 said:

Pretty much the same as last year....I'll save some typing by just quoting my 2011 post

tvrolet in 2010 said:

Same as last year (and the year before, and the year before....)

Scotland whenever and where ever there's snow. Had some astonishing days last year including a whole afternoon of fresh tracks in the sun off 'the black run' off Glas Maol at Glenshee

A week or so 'solo' in Feb, probably to the Alps...but I might go back to Colorado if my air-miles can be redeemed when I'm free to go.

Then the annual easter trip to Lake Tahoe/Heavenly - with day trips to Squaw and Kirkwood. We have a shared-ownereship condo in the Marriott beside the gondola (and a 2010/11 season ticket I bought last year that's still good ), so looking forward to that.

And if some other plans come together I might get a few days in Crystal Mountain WA in January too

And yes, the plans did come together and I got a few days at Crystal Mountain WA in January 2011
I'll have to buy tickets this year again at Tahoe though, and they've changed the dates for passes I think so I can't get a late season pass that covers 2 years now

except this year my daugher is off to Vancouver for a year, so I plan to go out to visit her (and spend some time at Whistler ) late January and again late February - just got to see the weeks my air-miles work out for. So hopefully 2013 is stacking up for an early week in Whistler, another week in Whistler, a wee jaunt to Europe then a week in Heavenly...plus whatever snow Scotland has on offer.

Same old same old. Got a few days at Crystal Mountain in Washington last year, a week in Morzine, a week in Heavenly, plus assorted days in Glenshee - some good, some not so good.

This year I've had about the only good day so far at Glenshee with full cover and blue skies before the wind/rain took it all away again. Off to Seattle for a conference next Friday so I'll take my skis with me and hopefully get some days in at Crystal Mountain, as usual. Home for a fortnight and then back out to Lake Tahoe. Missed my 'early' week in Europe this year, but hopefully get a last minute trip in if there's still snow late in the season. And fingers crossed for a few more weekends in Scotland.

[malks222]

as mentioned chambery is in a location that makes it pretty susceptible to bad weather/ fog/ mist/ snow, when we flew in on the 3rd of january (jet 2), we were well on our descent and aborted pretty late on, we went up circled for about 30/45 mins, then flew off to another airport 45mins away, landed, refueled and then headed back to chambery when the weather had cleared.

i dont know how true it is, but some of crew mentioned that some planes are equipped with better navigation stuff that allows them to land in poorer conditions.

the big problem is chembery is just so small, you queue to check in bags, then wait to be called through security and go straight on the plane. theres not a huge departure lounge to hang around in killing time. and check in areas are made worse with all the additional luggage ski holidays bring with them!

our tour operator said theres not many companies left who use chambery because on poor weather days it just causes so much hassle and disruption, that its almost worth the slightly longer transfer from lyon/ geneva

[a311]

tvrolet said:

Same old same old. Got a few days at Crystal Mountain in Washington last year, a week in Morzine, a week in Heavenly, plus assorted days in Glenshee - some good, some not so good.

This year I've had about the only good day so far at Glenshee with full cover and blue skies before the wind/rain took it all away again. Off to Seattle for a conference next Friday so I'll take my skis with me and hopefully get some days in at Crystal Mountain, as usual. Home for a fortnight and then back out to Lake Tahoe. Missed my 'early' week in Europe this year, but hopefully get a last minute trip in if there's still snow late in the season. And fingers crossed for a few more weekends in Scotland.

Have been to Mt Baker? Always seems to get impressive amount of snow, It's about 2.5 hours outside of Seattle.

[popeyewhite]

malks222 said:

as mentioned chambery is in a location that makes it pretty susceptible to bad weather/ fog/ mist/ snow, when we flew in on the 3rd of january (jet 2), we were well on our descent and aborted pretty late on, we went up circled for about 30/45 mins, then flew off to another airport 45mins away, landed, refueled and then headed back to chambery when the weather had cleared.

i dont know how true it is, but some of crew mentioned that some planes are equipped with better navigation stuff that allows them to land in poorer conditions.

the big problem is chembery is just so small, you queue to check in bags, then wait to be called through security and go straight on the plane. theres not a huge departure lounge to hang around in killing time. and check in areas are made worse with all the additional luggage ski holidays bring with them!

our tour operator said theres not many companies left who use chambery because on poor weather days it just causes so much hassle and disruption, that its almost worth the slightly longer transfer from lyon/ geneva

Thing is that a decade ago bad weather made little difference because the volume of traffic was negligible. Twelve years ago I went Spring skiing in Tignes. Loads of late season snow and we were delayed getting to the airport. When we boarded the plane had to sit there for 40 mins and aborted twice because of ice reforming on the wings quicker than it could be cleared. No real delay though, no other planes on the runway! Another time, again many years ago and after Spring skiing we were sunbathing on the grass at the front of the airport and forgot the time. We were startled to hear out names announced over the tannoy and ran directly through the airport and onto the plane (to be greeted by the faces of some rightly very irritated people) - just momentarily showing our passports. Chambery used to be a lovely little airport, now it's a nightmare, primarily because of the shift of traffic from Geneva.

As an aside my favourite ski airport is Zurich. Lovely food, shops, punctuality and architecture.

[Jarcy]

feef said:

five5 said:

The weather looks interesting for anyone driving down to the French Alps this Friday/Saturday. 70cm+ of snow forecast across those two days

Oh hurrah!

Glad I've got my snow-tyres on and chains in the boot, just in case

Last time it fell like that, it took 11 hrs to get from Dijon to Avoriaz (27th dec 2015)

I was in the bad weather on 27 Dec last year too (Dijon to Chatel), but as we'd left the evening before and driven through the night, we were very fortunate to beat the queues. We were still caught in the snow storm though and had a very challenging journey in my RWD Merc on summer tyres. We got to Chatel about 11am, which on reflection was about 24hrs earlier than some poor souls.

And so for this year, instead of New Year, we've picked half term for the family holiday. Ferry tomorrow evening and drive through the night to Les Arcs. It looks as though the weather is again going to challenge our journey! But should we get there OK (New BMW and snow tyres now), then I can't wait for a week of skiing in powder.

[jamiebae]

popeyewhite said:

As an aside my favourite ski airport is Zurich. Lovely food, shops, punctuality and architecture.

Zürich is ace, mainly because it's a major international hub and business destination so can actually cope with the additional volume of ski traffic easily. The longest I've ever waited at passport control is 10 minutes and the railway station is actually in the airport.

The downside is that it takes a couple of hours by train to get to most places, but I'd take a two hour train trip to Klosters Platz over a bus transfer to Courcheval any day!

[Jarcy]

jamiebae said:

popeyewhite said:

As an aside my favourite ski airport is Zurich. Lovely food, shops, punctuality and architecture.

Zürich is ace, mainly because it's a major international hub and business destination so can actually cope with the additional volume of ski traffic easily. The longest I've ever waited at passport control is 10 minutes and the railway station is actually in the airport.

The downside is that it takes a couple of hours by train to get to most places, but I'd take a two hour train trip to Klosters Platz over a bus transfer to Courcheval any day!

I came home from Wengen on Monday via Zurich and used the train. Even at over 3 hours transfer, it was still relaxed and took me door to door (the hotel even collected my luggage from Wengen rail station to save me lugging the last 200yds).
I'll be using Zurich again next month for Engelberg.

[jamiebae]

Jarcy said:

I came home from Wengen on Monday via Zurich and used the train. Even at over 3 hours transfer, it was still relaxed and took me door to door (the hotel even collected my luggage from Wengen rail station to save me lugging the last 200yds).
I'll be using Zurich again next month for Engelberg.

Getting to Engelberg is really easy from ZRH, one change in Luzern, grab a pretzel and coffee while you walk over to the other platform and you're away.

I was there last week, it's a really nice place, will be going again next time I have a free day, it's much nicer than Flumserberg and a bit less busy too.

[feef]

Jarcy said:

feef said:

five5 said:

The weather looks interesting for anyone driving down to the French Alps this Friday/Saturday. 70cm+ of snow forecast across those two days

Oh hurrah!

Glad I've got my snow-tyres on and chains in the boot, just in case

Last time it fell like that, it took 11 hrs to get from Dijon to Avoriaz (27th dec 2015)

I was in the bad weather on 27 Dec last year too (Dijon to Chatel), but as we'd left the evening before and driven through the night, we were very fortunate to beat the queues. We were still caught in the snow storm though and had a very challenging journey in my RWD Merc on summer tyres. We got to Chatel about 11am, which on reflection was about 24hrs earlier than some poor souls.

And so for this year, instead of New Year, we've picked half term for the family holiday. Ferry tomorrow evening and drive through the night to Les Arcs. It looks as though the weather is again going to challenge our journey! But should we get there OK (New BMW and snow tyres now), then I can't wait for a week of skiing in powder.

I couldn't have been far behind you, and you must have just missed it, but there was an accident with a truck on one of the viaducts on the Autoroute Blanche (only about a mile ahead of me) and that's what caused the problems

If I'd been even 5 minutes ahead of where I was, I'd have been rolling into Avoriaz about 11am as well

[Edition87]

Just booked to Val Thorens 27th Feb for a week. 3 of use flying Newcastle to Geneva and another flying from london-Chambery! Cant wait!

[Welshbeef]

a311 said:

Dependant on the job/employer and the amount of holiday entitlement you get surely? When I'm not crocked my standard season is 2 weeks of skiing sometimes 3. The most I've done is 5 but that included 3 weeks of instructing as a block.

I get a generous amount of annual leave, plus the opportunity to bank credit time. I guess it depends on priorities, sacrificing holidays at other times of the year for most.

To take all 5 weeks off in what a max Jan - Mar time frame you've then got Apr - Dec without anything but bank holidays that's a very long stint and really most would get burnout.

I try to balance mine out every 13 odd weeks as towards the end of that I'm in need of full on R&R no way could I do 39-40 weeks back to back without any leave plus of course it would mean clearly excl Feb half term never being on leave with the kids + going skiing for 4 weeks without them.... Not sure that would go down well or more importantly would have any appetite to do it.

[timlongs]

Anyone driving to the Northern Alps this weekend? I hope you have your snowchains at the ready. 70cm forecast on Saturday in the Tarentaise (Val, Tignes, Les Arcs etc) on the busiest Saturday of the year. It'll be chaos!

[Jarcy]

feef said:

I couldn't have been far behind you, and you must have just missed it, but there was an accident with a truck on one of the viaducts on the Autoroute Blanche (only about a mile ahead of me) and that's what caused the problems

If I'd been even 5 minutes ahead of where I was, I'd have been rolling into Avoriaz about 11am as well

I expect that we went different routes though, Chatel's accessible from Switzerland - I went north around the lake via Lausanne; Montreux.

[Jarcy]

jamiebae said:

Jarcy said:

I came home from Wengen on Monday via Zurich and used the train. Even at over 3 hours transfer, it was still relaxed and took me door to door (the hotel even collected my luggage from Wengen rail station to save me lugging the last 200yds).
I'll be using Zurich again next month for Engelberg.

Getting to Engelberg is really easy from ZRH, one change in Luzern, grab a pretzel and coffee while you walk over to the other platform and you're away.

I was there last week, it's a really nice place, will be going again next time I have a free day, it's much nicer than Flumserberg and a bit less busy too.

Yes, I went to Engelberg by train from Zurich last March. Love the place.

[feef]

Jarcy said:

feef said:

I couldn't have been far behind you, and you must have just missed it, but there was an accident with a truck on one of the viaducts on the Autoroute Blanche (only about a mile ahead of me) and that's what caused the problems

If I'd been even 5 minutes ahead of where I was, I'd have been rolling into Avoriaz about 11am as well

I expect that we went different routes though, Chatel's accessible from Switzerland - I went north around the lake via Lausanne; Montreux.

The traffic I was caught in was long before Lausanne, was along one of the viaducts on the Autoroute Blanche

That was tailed back to Laussane tho, and once I got past there, it was relatively free flowing

There was quite a queue of traffic between Cluses and Taninges where they were stopping cars to put chains on, but as I was on winter tyres, they let me straight through, and I only needed chains when I got to the climb up to Avoriaz from Morzine

[Jarcy]

feef said:

The traffic I was caught in was long before Lausanne, was along one of the viaducts on the Autoroute Blanche

That was tailed back to Laussane tho, and once I got past there, it was relatively free flowing

There was quite a queue of traffic between Cluses and Taninges where they were stopping cars to put chains on, but as I was on winter tyres, they let me straight through, and I only needed chains when I got to the climb up to Avoriaz from Morzine

I didn't use the AutoRoute Blanche - came at Lausanne from the North, via Bresancon.

[IainT]

Last day of skiing in Zermatt, lazy start to the day - legs are done!

View from our balcony yesterday:


On top of the Klein Matterhorn a bit later:


Realised that I'd failed badly in sharing the images!

Edited by IainT on Thursday 18th February 10:43

[Dave2P]

timlongs said:

Anyone driving to the Northern Alps this weekend? I hope you have your snowchains at the ready. 70cm forecast on Saturday in the Tarentaise (Val, Tignes, Les Arcs etc) on the busiest Saturday of the year. It'll be chaos!

Latest forecasts have the snow line going as high as 2000m on Saturday, so hopefully main roads will be clear... of snow; although they certainly won't be clear of traffic! Snow to lower levels expected late this afternoon and overnight tonight, however.

Snow Forecast for Transfer Day (J2Ski)

[//j17]

popeyewhite said:

As an aside my favourite ski airport is Zurich. Lovely food, shops, punctuality and architecture.

Zurich's the only airport where, with only 5min from plane to baggage collection I've arrived to find our bags already on the carousel!

Shame I'm usually in to Geneva which while in no way bad isn't as good as that!

[JEA1K]

jamiebae said:

Zürich is ace, mainly because it's a major international hub and business destination so can actually cope with the additional volume of ski traffic easily. The longest I've ever waited at passport control is 10 minutes and the railway station is actually in the airport.

The downside is that it takes a couple of hours by train to get to most places, but I'd take a two hour train trip to Klosters Platz over a bus transfer to Courcheval any day!

Another fan of Zurich airport, the place just works. There's limited budget airline flights but the main operators don't actually charge much more for flights anyhow. I've been using Swiss for years and coupled with the airport, its such a relaxing way to travel. We take the Manchester flight at 8:40am, arrive around 11:45am, catch up with others arriving from Heathrow and Aberdoom, head into town for some lunch and a beer, catch the 14:40 train to St Anton which arrives at 5pm and get ourselves organised ... same every year, 19 seasons on the bounce.