Who is going skiing and where in 2017

Who is going skiing and where in 2017

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Discussion

housen

2,366 posts

191 months

Wednesday 15th February 2017
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NRS said:
Welshbeef said:
housen said:
think the season is over sub 2000m resorts swiss/French alps ...within 2 hours from gva ...unless it snows in march

its 15c here in town gva

and pure sun for next 10 days
Go east to Bansko loads of snow and it's a 2,500 m max (resort 900m).
Think of different locations/chase the snow don't simply go the usual or have to stump up FMSO much more £ for Gstaad or the top end mega height resorts.
You do realise one of these days everyone will listen to you and your favourite/ only resort will be jamp packed and you won't be able to ski yourself, laugh
he has 5 chalets there now that's the grand plan ;-)

rog007

5,748 posts

223 months

Sunday 19th February 2017
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Arrived in Garmisch yesterday via Innsbruk for a week. Great skiing today with snow all the way down. Did get roasting hot today so skiing hard with a normal jacket and gloves on was a challenge! Forecast for the week seems more of the same so will switch to lightweight jacket and gloves.

Welshbeef

Original Poster:

49,633 posts

197 months

Sunday 19th February 2017
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Over a year to go now frown

JQ

5,691 posts

178 months

Sunday 19th February 2017
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rog007 said:
Arrived in Garmisch yesterday via Innsbruk for a week. Great skiing today with snow all the way down. Did get roasting hot today so skiing hard with a normal jacket and gloves on was a challenge! Forecast for the week seems more of the same so will switch to lightweight jacket and gloves.
Yep, we were in Gerlos last weekend and it was hot very very hot - brilliant sunshine the entire time we were there. First days skiing was Saturday - skied into resort at the end of the day and a music festival had been set up in the car park of the lift station, roll on 6 hours of drinking, dancing and fireworks - awesome.

Les Carroz this weekend then Morzine the week after, can't wait.

WestyCarl

3,217 posts

124 months

Monday 20th February 2017
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Was in Les Arcs last week and came back with a tan thumbup Not sure how long into March people are going to be able to ski though if there is no more snow.

jammy-git

29,776 posts

211 months

Monday 20th February 2017
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Anyone consider America/Canada as a viable alternative to the Alps next year? Can't be that much more expensive I imagine, the long haul flight is a bit of PITA though I guess.

Leithen

10,800 posts

266 months

Monday 20th February 2017
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jammy-git said:
Anyone consider America/Canada as a viable alternative to the Alps next year? Can't be that much more expensive I imagine, the long haul flight is a bit of PITA though I guess.
I've been banging on about how great British Columbia in Canada is for years. Already booked for next Christmas.

The time difference and distance does make it a better two week holiday. Not cheap either, however we've just booked flights with IcelandAir that reduce the flying time to 14hrs and are £550 each.

The snow's fantastic, people charming and welcoming, speak the same language and you can hire a truck to drive... hehe

Amateurish

7,697 posts

221 months

Monday 20th February 2017
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Marcellus said:
housen said:
think the season is over sub 2000m resorts swiss/French alps ...within 2 hours from gva ...unless it snows in march

its 15c here in town gva

and pure sun for next 10 days
I'm inclined to agree with you, just spent 4 hours in Morzine, Avoriaz, Chatel and Champery OK early on but as it warmed up very Spring like with wet heavy snow and quite a bit of Brown/green/grey where it shouldn't be.
I'm there for two weeks in Easter. There's normally late season snow...

Tuna

19,930 posts

283 months

Monday 20th February 2017
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jammy-git said:
Anyone consider America/Canada as a viable alternative to the Alps next year? Can't be that much more expensive I imagine, the long haul flight is a bit of PITA though I guess.
I'll sing the praises of Breckenridge any day of the week.

We went out this year with a veteran of the European slopes - he said it was the best skiing he'd had in 25 years. Things he noticed: less queuing, polite skiers, efficient staff (including on-piste policing), open slopes and miles of piste and off-piste areas.

The 'Sheldon haircut' service was in full effect too. We forgot our paperwork for the ski passes, but happened to have our passes from the previous year. No problem - they found us on the system, re-enabled the old cards (and printed out a new one for the one we'd left in the apartment) and away we went. Then we went to the ski hire place, which brought out the same model of skis we'd got on well with the previous year and brand new (and comfortable) boots in the right size. One of our party commented how well they'd got on with the boots they had the year before. The assistant checked the records, told us they had that specific pair in the back and brought them out. This is all in a town that has something like 40,000 people turn up for President's Weekend (the one time the queues do get a bit big). They're geared up to deliver top notch service.

The snow was really good this year too - nine inches just before we arrived, then a week of blue skies and cold enough nights to keep everything from getting icy. The available terrain is a little larger than Val-d'Isère, but is served by a town over twice the size so it's not just a resort. There's good eating up on the mountains and of course plenty of restaurants in the town, plus good spas, bars and a couple of micro breweries.

Breckenridge Peak Ten by Lock Farm, on Flickr

We had a blast - our eleven year old son is comfortable on black runs now and managed 35mph on his favourite run. I think in total we did about 130 miles of skiing each during the week (including lifts). We're not hardcore, but it was very easy to just get out on the slopes and enjoy ourselves. The travel is a bit of a pain, but there's a direct transfer service so it's very straightforward. You loose a day either end, but that's the case with just about any holiday out of the UK these days.



craig1912

3,273 posts

111 months

Monday 20th February 2017
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Currently in Sauze d'oux and snow is good. Warm in pm but first time in Italy for 30 years and a pleasant change from France and it's rip off prices. Two thirds less here than many French resorts and better food and friendlier people

JagBox

187 posts

152 months

Monday 20th February 2017
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jammy-git said:
Anyone consider America/Canada as a viable alternative to the Alps next year? Can't be that much more expensive I imagine, the long haul flight is a bit of PITA though I guess.
Just over 2 weeks before we go to Whistler, Great place. 9 days there then a week in Hawaii. Snow and Sun best type of holidays.

Cold

15,207 posts

89 months

Monday 20th February 2017
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jammy-git said:
Anyone consider America/Canada as a viable alternative to the Alps next year? Can't be that much more expensive I imagine, the long haul flight is a bit of PITA though I guess.
Echo all the above platitudes. On the back of posting in the "Where was I?" thread I've just booked a last minute 10 day trip back to Banff for the end of March. Spring is a good time to go. It will be warm in town, but still excellent snow conditions on the three hills along with the previously mentioned cheerful Lifties and polite guests.

As for being expensive, well I paid £4600. But that's for a solo trip about six weeks away, a five star hotel (Fairmont Banff Springs) and BA business class each way. So it's definitely possible to do the same trip without being quite so extravagant.

marcusgrant

1,445 posts

91 months

Tuesday 21st February 2017
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JagBox said:
Just over 2 weeks before we go to Whistler, Great place. 9 days there then a week in Hawaii. Snow and Sun best type of holidays.
now that's a holiday

housen

2,366 posts

191 months

Tuesday 21st February 2017
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marcusgrant said:
JagBox said:
Just over 2 weeks before we go to Whistler, Great place. 9 days there then a week in Hawaii. Snow and Sun best type of holidays.
now that's a holiday
damn

ski and surf !!!

ukbabz

1,538 posts

125 months

Tuesday 21st February 2017
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Heading out to the 3 valleys this weekend, reports seem to say the pistes are good but could do with more snow. Hopefully it holds up and an epic week is had!


Jarcy

1,559 posts

274 months

Tuesday 21st February 2017
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ukbabz said:
Heading out to the 3 valleys this weekend, reports seem to say the pistes are good but could do with more snow. Hopefully it holds up and an epic week is had!
I'm off to Verbier on Saturday. Forecast predicts 9" of snow Thursday/Friday this week. Then a wall of sunshine for when we're there.

Whoozit

3,583 posts

268 months

Tuesday 21st February 2017
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JagBox said:
Just over 2 weeks before we go to Whistler, Great place. 9 days there then a week in Hawaii. Snow and Sun best type of holidays.
Have a great time. Wish I could head to my place in Whistler around now...

It's a huge place. Do use the on-mountain orienteering tours, think they are 11am every day. And if you/your family are handy off piste, I can thoroughly recommend the Extremely Canadian two day steeps camp. If you sign up, tell Pete I sent you smile

RC1807

12,482 posts

167 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2017
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Currently in Flaine, Grand Massif

Unseasonably warm - good for tanning, poor for skiing
Freezing point today is at 2400m, so almost at the peak
Rain on Mon night turned lower slopes slushy
Area needs colder temps and more snow soon

Pisteurs are doing all they can, but finding some slopes turning beige and rocks showing through on more runs

housen

2,366 posts

191 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2017
quotequote all
RC1807 said:
Currently in Flaine, Grand Massif

Unseasonably warm - good for tanning, poor for skiing
Freezing point today is at 2400m, so almost at the peak
Rain on Mon night turned lower slopes slushy
Area needs colder temps and more snow soon

Pisteurs are doing all they can, but finding some slopes turning beige and rocks showing through on more runs
yup what a mess

Welshbeef

Original Poster:

49,633 posts

197 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2017
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Reports from friends out in Bansko are that the resort is very very busy loads of snow ❄️ great apres ski just need to get up early for the Gondela or you'll be waiting in a queue.