Who’s going skiing and where 2019
Discussion
troc said:
Regarding Japan, I’m in a guided group, 5 days off-piste and one day cat skiing. Going with one of my favourite companies, extremely Canadian (based in whistler).
Your lead guide is Steve Clarke, with whom I’ve skied virtually every year for 15+ years in Whistler and who I count as one of my Whistler ski buddies. I did an ExCan two day clinic with him just after Christmas. Tell him Julian says hi Saint Gervais for me next month. Never skied the area before. Anyone with experience of the area on here?
The reason I post - private transfers. Any private transfer recommendations from Geneva?
Group size (5) makes it worthwhile and AlpyBus has risen in price significantly since I last meant to book
The reason I post - private transfers. Any private transfer recommendations from Geneva?
Group size (5) makes it worthwhile and AlpyBus has risen in price significantly since I last meant to book
DuncB7 said:
Saint Gervais for me next month. Never skied the area before. Anyone with experience of the area on here?
The reason I post - private transfers. Any private transfer recommendations from Geneva?
Group size (5) makes it worthwhile and AlpyBus has risen in price significantly since I last meant to book
I live in Saint Gervais about 8 weeks of the year, love it both Summer & Winter.The reason I post - private transfers. Any private transfer recommendations from Geneva?
Group size (5) makes it worthwhile and AlpyBus has risen in price significantly since I last meant to book
Private transfer will cost you a lot, about 200-250 each way. Would you not be better hiring a car, it is a very easy drive & then it gives you the option to go to Megeve/Chamonix for Dinner one evening or ski Les Contimenes its on same lift pass but not connected.
jonny996 said:
I live in Saint Gervais about 8 weeks of the year, love it both Summer & Winter.
Private transfer will cost you a lot, about 200-250 each way. Would you not be better hiring a car, it is a very easy drive & then it gives you the option to go to Megeve/Chamonix for Dinner one evening or ski Les Contimenes its on same lift pass but not connected.
We discussed the rental car option but no-one wanted to take the responsibility of driving so we've arrived at the private option. We were aware that a car may be useful to access unconnected areas but never mind.Private transfer will cost you a lot, about 200-250 each way. Would you not be better hiring a car, it is a very easy drive & then it gives you the option to go to Megeve/Chamonix for Dinner one evening or ski Les Contimenes its on same lift pass but not connected.
I've just had Resort Rides recommended to me for €368 return ~€75pp.
Away from the Geneva transfer, any knowledge of the place and area you could share would be appreciated.
DuncB7 said:
We discussed the rental car option but no-one wanted to take the responsibility of driving so we've arrived at the private option. We were aware that a car may be useful to access unconnected areas but never mind.
I've just had Resort Rides recommended to me for €368 return ~€75pp.
Away from the Geneva transfer, any knowledge of the place and area you could share would be appreciated.
avoid the uplift from the village between 09.00 - 09.45 as it is busy with ski school starting at 10. Also think of Bettix as the base station & not StG. if the home run down to StG is open be aware it is a tricky red & very busy at the end of the day.I've just had Resort Rides recommended to me for €368 return ~€75pp.
Away from the Geneva transfer, any knowledge of the place and area you could share would be appreciated.
Get yourself over to Megeve side of the hill at least 1 day & especially the coates2000 area , the black run Stade Descente is a big hit with my 11 year old..
Also worth taking the free 5 min bus ride from Roschburne to the Le Jaillet area, there is a nice 6.5Km long cruisy blue that can be done in 1 sitting if your legs are up to it.
Folle douce is also worth the experience.
in town the pub Le grange is popular with English speakers & has free wifi, there are multiple great resturants & the Spa Parc thermals is something else if you fancy a afternoon/evening in a spa for 39 euro.
Ski hire go to Nerry Glisse via Skimun and avoid Intersport at Bettix, it is down 78 steps which you have to climb back up with all your gear.
EddieSteadyGo said:
Good work both - should be a super trip!
I'd also be very interested in doing this trip - I'd heard that technically the offpiste is regarded by the Japanese as "out of bounds" i.e. not to be explored, rather than 'you're on your own'. Is that true? Are you going to use a guide for the whole period while you are there?
In Japan, it's very resort dependent. Some places are in national parks so it's illegal, some places are just obstinately old-school or worried about liability and some places actively encourage it. Do be aware that they get A LOT of snow but they don't always have the same avalanche control skills as in Europe or Nth. America. I'd also be very interested in doing this trip - I'd heard that technically the offpiste is regarded by the Japanese as "out of bounds" i.e. not to be explored, rather than 'you're on your own'. Is that true? Are you going to use a guide for the whole period while you are there?
Niseko is a different beast entirely and is operated more like a Nth American resort. Inbounds off-piste is fine and they have back-country gates which, if they're closed, they mean it and it's for a very good reason. Besides the obvious risk of uncontrolled avalanche terrain and thousands of powder-mad yobbos with no avalanche training dropping in above you, they can get very deep cracking (think crevasses in a 10M snowpack) and people do drop down them and are killed.
http://www.fastfun.jp/mountain-safety/
http://niseko.nadare.info/
jonny996 said:
DuncB7 said:
We discussed the rental car option but no-one wanted to take the responsibility of driving so we've arrived at the private option. We were aware that a car may be useful to access unconnected areas but never mind.
I've just had Resort Rides recommended to me for €368 return ~€75pp.
Away from the Geneva transfer, any knowledge of the place and area you could share would be appreciated.
avoid the uplift from the village between 09.00 - 09.45 as it is busy with ski school starting at 10. Also think of Bettix as the base station & not StG. if the home run down to StG is open be aware it is a tricky red & very busy at the end of the day.I've just had Resort Rides recommended to me for €368 return ~€75pp.
Away from the Geneva transfer, any knowledge of the place and area you could share would be appreciated.
Get yourself over to Megeve side of the hill at least 1 day & especially the coates2000 area , the black run Stade Descente is a big hit with my 11 year old..
Also worth taking the free 5 min bus ride from Roschburne to the Le Jaillet area, there is a nice 6.5Km long cruisy blue that can be done in 1 sitting if your legs are up to it.
Folle douce is also worth the experience.
in town the pub Le grange is popular with English speakers & has free wifi, there are multiple great resturants & the Spa Parc thermals is something else if you fancy a afternoon/evening in a spa for 39 euro.
Ski hire go to Nerry Glisse via Skimun and avoid Intersport at Bettix, it is down 78 steps which you have to climb back up with all your gear.
Last time I went, I used the Altibus for Geneva transfer, which dropped me off in town at the start of the new bridge. Really cheap, about €25 IIRC. Disappointed if this is no longer running, but try here: https://www.altibus.com/station/saint-gervais-bus-...
{edited to add; it looks as though you can still catch an Altibus up to St. Gervais but you may have to change at the main rail station in La Fayet. If not, then you could also use the Tramway du Mont Blanc from La Fayet up to St.Gervais, or catch a short taxi ride up}
You don't really need a car once in St.G. There's a free ski bus to Les Contamines (which is a must to go to). Everything else is lift-served, included Les Houches if you fancy the cog railway Tramway de Mont Blanc (separate ticket, but tram and lift pass all included). We often do this on our last day. I wouldn't stay at Bettex. Never really had a big problem with the base station queues except for school holidays. Maybe wait 15 mins from time to time. But at least you're then staying in town.
La Grange was also my favourite bar for chilling out. Oboose Cafe for apres drinks, near the base station.
Coates2000 is worth a trip across Megeve for a day out. La Jaillet can be reached my ski bus but needs a little coordination. Although I like the 6.5km blue, a mate had a big off there resulting in broken shoulder, ribs and a hospital stay for the rest of the week. And a painful drive home - we drove his car. Mont Joly has good options when conditions are good, and now they've replaced the slow chair with a fast one. One day they'll build the link there over to Les Contamines, meaning you can access an even bigger area on skis alone. It might spoil Les Conts a bit though, as it's a hidden gem and carries the best snow. I've tackled a bit of the offpiste in Les Conts as well, and there's some great options.
Edited by Jarcy on Friday 11th January 13:01
troc said:
Regarding Japan, I’m in a guided group, 5 days off-piste and one day cat skiing. Going with one of my favourite companies, extremely Canadian (based in whistler).
Once back in Europe, it’ll be a bit of piste skiing with the wife and friends and then some quiet ski touring by myself
Very jealous, dying to ski Japan.Once back in Europe, it’ll be a bit of piste skiing with the wife and friends and then some quiet ski touring by myself
troc said:
If you have Netflix, I can highly recommend 'The Horn' - its about the Zermatt mountain rescue heli. It's a bit "RedBull" in places but still interesting to see what happens when you damage yourself
I've had a ride in that :-(8 years ago it cost CHF 120 per minute from the time they took off to when you leave it at Brig hospital plus all the drugs etc. Given I was in and out of consciousness I can't even remember the ride.
chandrew said:
I've had a ride in that :-(
8 years ago it cost CHF 120 per minute from the time they took off to when you leave it at Brig hospital plus all the drugs etc. Given I was in and out of consciousness I can't even remember the ride.
Tell us more, did your insurance cover it?8 years ago it cost CHF 120 per minute from the time they took off to when you leave it at Brig hospital plus all the drugs etc. Given I was in and out of consciousness I can't even remember the ride.
Need some help
16/2-24/2 range half term.
Want to go skiing family of 5. Kids age 7/4/nearly 2.
Want it to be a family ski HoLIDAY not a SKI holiday.
Would have gone to Bansko but it’s really busy then plus missed buying flights when cheap now it’s nearly £5k return flights which is ROFLOL.
I’m wondering if Hemsedal or some of the Nordic resorts would be good - want lots of things for young ubs to do play in the snow etc without needing gondolas. Also don’t want to be spanked on £.
Appreciate the help.
16/2-24/2 range half term.
Want to go skiing family of 5. Kids age 7/4/nearly 2.
Want it to be a family ski HoLIDAY not a SKI holiday.
Would have gone to Bansko but it’s really busy then plus missed buying flights when cheap now it’s nearly £5k return flights which is ROFLOL.
I’m wondering if Hemsedal or some of the Nordic resorts would be good - want lots of things for young ubs to do play in the snow etc without needing gondolas. Also don’t want to be spanked on £.
Appreciate the help.
Welshbeef said:
Need some help
16/2-24/2 range half term.
Want to go skiing family of 5. Kids age 7/4/nearly 2.
Want it to be a family ski HoLIDAY not a SKI holiday.
Would have gone to Bansko but it’s really busy then plus missed buying flights when cheap now it’s nearly £5k return flights which is ROFLOL.
I’m wondering if Hemsedal or some of the Nordic resorts would be good - want lots of things for young ubs to do play in the snow etc without needing gondolas. Also don’t want to be spanked on £.
Appreciate the help.
With a young family, ensuring they are safe and can enjoy the snow without cars and other dangers is very important.16/2-24/2 range half term.
Want to go skiing family of 5. Kids age 7/4/nearly 2.
Want it to be a family ski HoLIDAY not a SKI holiday.
Would have gone to Bansko but it’s really busy then plus missed buying flights when cheap now it’s nearly £5k return flights which is ROFLOL.
I’m wondering if Hemsedal or some of the Nordic resorts would be good - want lots of things for young ubs to do play in the snow etc without needing gondolas. Also don’t want to be spanked on £.
Appreciate the help.
I would recommend Oberlech.
You arrive in the town of Lech and drop off your luggage at the main gondola, which is then transported up by the staff to your hotel a little way up the mountain.
After you have parked your car, you catch the gondola up to Oberlech where you walk to your hotel. Oberlech consists of a collection of very nice hotels and bars. No cars are allowed - and because it is at a good altitude, there is always lots of snow on the ground which stays pristine pure and white.
There is a really nice children's play area in the snow. There is also a sledging/toboggan run from Oberlech down into the village which is surprisingly challenging and which is lit up at night. Your children would have a great time playing there - mine loved it.
And there is also a small practise area with a travelator where your children can learn to ski, whilst only being a few metres from your hotel.
Many of the hotels in Oberlech have spa facilities, there are some lovely snow walks. Or you can walk down or catch the gondola into Lech if you want to do some shopping.
And of course, Oberlech is properly "ski in, ski out", so you literately just walk out of the door of your hotel, clip your skis on and you're off.
Edited for typos
Edited by EddieSteadyGo on Sunday 13th January 08:51
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