Skiing in April

[Heathwood]

Hi folks,

Just back from a week snowboarding in Soldeu and am itching to get another trip in this season. Realistically, it would be April before I'd get the chance to take any more time off work.

I know its possible to ski well into the spring if aiming for high altitude / glacier resorts but wondered whether anyone had done this. I'm particularly interested in whether you're largely restricted to the highest runs, snow conditions assuming higher temps and general atmosphere in the resorts so late in the season.

Any thoughts or words of wisdom much appreciated.

[Heathwood]

Sorry, I should have been clearer. I'm quite open minded about where to go in April; I wasn't really thinking about Soldeu again at that time of year to be honest.

[alfa pint]

Went to Zell am Zee in April a few years ago, which had the glacier just up the road.

Typical spring snow - rock hard first thing, good mid morning, slush in the afternoon which can be a bit nasty. The glacier skiing was ok, but very difficult to carve due to the ice.

Couldn't ski door to door, which I like. And had to take the gondola back down to town and walk about 400 yards with skis.

Also broke my thumb on a narrow run where I hit a large bare patch and came straight out of my bindings and landed on top of a ski pole.

So yes, it's doable, but it's not ideal.

[Heathwood]

Hmm, thanks alfa pint. Interesting stuff.

[Huntsman]

Heathwood said:

Hmm, thanks alfa pint. Interesting stuff.

I think you have to be careful and watch how it goes, plus only look at the higher resorts.

I enjoyed Cervinia in Italy which is high up and you have access to the glacier over the top and the runs down to Zermatt.

[goldblum]

Skied late April in Tignes a few years ago and am planning on going this year second week in April.

Spring conditions lower down but La Grande Motte and higher up runs were lovely,as was the glacier above Le Fornet in Val.

[Thunderace]

Skied and snowboarded in April in Whistler BC a couple of years ago. Everything was still open, think it starts to close down around the end of April.

[Simon Brooks]

Breckenridge, amazing in april

[maser_spyder]

Hold fire this year, snow is not great, and prices late season are low enough to book late.

Book where the snow is best, much nearer the time. You won't struggle for flights or accomodation.

Glaciers in Kaprun, Pitztal, Mayrhofen, Zermatt, Neustift, and more.

With pretty much all glacier skiing, you won't get ski in-out, due to the nature of the beast. A hire car can be good for glacier holidays, makes life a lot easier.

I skied kaprun yesterday, conditions far better than the rest of the area.

[IainT]

Huntsman said:

Heathwood said:

Hmm, thanks alfa pint. Interesting stuff.

I think you have to be careful and watch how it goes, plus only look at the higher resorts.

I enjoyed Cervinia in Italy which is high up and you have access to the glacier over the top and the runs down to Zermatt.

Our ski instructor was extolling the quality of snow they have there in late March and early April.

Wasn't a lot there 1st week in Feb but they'd done a great job of maintaining what they had and the slopes were practically deserted.

[andrew311]

If you're flexible I'd hang on and see where has good snow rather than booking ahead, been a poor-ish season so far relatively. To be snow sure going high and somewhere there’s a glacier is the way to go if you’re not so flexible but I’ve been in low altitude resorts with great snow in April too.