Who's going skiing and where 2020

[lemmingjames]

Im tempted to go to Aspen @ Easter for a long weekend. As its abit far to go for 4 days, what other resorts nearby would people recommend?

Also, cost of a daily ticket out in USA, wtaf!

[Speed 3]

lemmingjames said:

Im tempted to go to Aspen @ Easter for a long weekend. As its abit far to go for 4 days, what other resorts nearby would people recommend?

Also, cost of a daily ticket out in USA, wtaf!

If its a bit far for 4 days how does somewhere "nearby" help

[JEA1K]

lemmingjames said:

Im tempted to go to Aspen @ Easter for a long weekend. As its abit far to go for 4 days, what other resorts nearby would people recommend?

Also, cost of a daily ticket out in USA, wtaf!

Have only been to Vail in Colorado. Really really liked the place but like most North American resorts, they charge 2 x that of Europe for lift tickets and their infrastructure is generally not in the same league as Europe ... plus they tend to not to piste bash every run. You can sometimes purchase lift tickets in 7/11's miles away at a discount, although I've not done this myself.

[lemmingjames]

Speed 3 said:

lemmingjames said:

Im tempted to go to Aspen @ Easter for a long weekend. As its abit far to go for 4 days, what other resorts nearby would people recommend?

Also, cost of a daily ticket out in USA, wtaf!

If its a bit far for 4 days how does somewhere "nearby" help

Sorry my brain thinks quicker than i type or maybe the other way around, should have said im tempted to tour around for the few days before.
Sat - Travel
Sun - Weds at one or multiple resorts
Thurs - Sun - Aspen

I know of a party week that charges $1100 inc pass but s/c but missed out on rooms or 800 for the 4 days.

When i looked a pass is circa $200 per day, insane prices and i though Europe was expensive @ 250-300 (or maybe ive been spoilt but having it bundled into the price?)

[tvrolet]

lemmingjames said:

Im tempted to go to Aspen @ Easter for a long weekend. As its abit far to go for 4 days, what other resorts nearby would people recommend?

Also, cost of a daily ticket out in USA, wtaf!

If you're flying in to Denver then you pass Copper Mountain, Vail and Beaver Creek (in that order) on your way to Aspen. The 'classic' area with a lift right from the town is Aspen mountain (used to be called Ajax). Not a 'wide' area, but some decent length runs it's 'the' Aspen experience I think. Aspen highland is smaller but the cool-dudes gnarly place. Snowmass is quite a nice area, but out of town but not really 'Aspeny', but it does have a lift called Sam's Knob which amused me. Buttermilk is really beginners only I think - never skied there.

But apart from the 'been there, seen it, done it, bought the tee-shirt' factor for Aspen, Vail is much much better IMHO, especially the back bowls/blue ski basin areas. I used to go to Vail for a week (so slightly longer than your 4 days) and just take a day out to Aspen, Beaver Creek (which I rather like) and Copper Mountain. Further from Aspen/closer to Denver but not on the main road is Arapahoe Basin (A-Basin). Unusually for Colorado it's above the tree line and the cool dudes hanging out there have BBQs on the 'beach' at the foot - gnarly man. There are other areas, but if it was me I'd go to Vail and just visit Aspen mountain/Ajax for a day.

[towser44]

Lake District looking good this week!

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/uk-ne...

[Abbott]

Daughter just arrived in Morzine this afternoon and it is snowing heavily

[MSBravo]

Visited Chamonix recently. Thought it was too big, with too few slopes, at a too low altitude, and all rather miserable.

Shall stick to Austria in the future.

Am I alone in my sentiments?

[Welshbeef]

MSBravo said:

Visited Chamonix recently. Thought it was too big, with too few slopes, at a too low altitude, and all rather miserable.

Shall stick to Austria in the future.

Am I alone in my sentiments?

Austria is lower altitude for resorts than Alps is it not?

[S100HP]

Abbott said:

Daughter just arrived in Morzine this afternoon and it is snowing heavily

Just wait till tomorrow

Edited by S100HP on Thursday 27th February 07:43

[Bill]

MSBravo said:

Visited Chamonix recently. Thought it was too big, with too few slopes, at a too low altitude, and all rather miserable.

Shall stick to Austria in the future.

Am I alone in my sentiments?

You're right about Cham, but it isn't typical of French resorts. It's more a town that has skiing, but with massive scope for off piste and touring.

[Bill]

Abbott said:

Daughter just arrived in Morzine this afternoon and it is snowing heavily

My BiL is out there too. They've gone from desperate need to 2' of powder in a day.

[//j17]

Welshbeef said:

MSBravo said:

Visited Chamonix recently. Thought it was too big, with too few slopes, at a too low altitude, and all rather miserable.

Shall stick to Austria in the future.

Am I alone in my sentiments?

Austria is lower altitude for resorts than Alps is it not?

Yes, but who cares about altitude? It's snow line that matters!

French resorts aren't generally higher than Austrian ones because the Austians are too lazy/stupid/etc to go any higher. French resorts are generally higher than Austrian ones because the snow line is higher in France, in the western Alps than in Austria in the eastern Alps, so you need to go higher to get to the snow in France than in Austria.

There's also the fact that Austria tends to keep the 'resort' (accomodation) down in the valley, leaving the top of the mounting (where the skiing is) looking pretty. The French prefer to pour ugly lumps of concrete over the tops of their mountains, maybe with some rotting wood nailed to it if you're lucky. But, but, but - it's ski in/out!!!

• No, not ALL French resorts are like that but too many are.

[CAPP0]

Someone I know has just binned their paid-for ski trip to northern Italy, not through fear of coronavirus itself but because of concerns around being banged up for quarantine whilst there and/or another 2 weeks upon return. Lost all the money on it.

[ElectricSoup]

//j17 said:

Welshbeef said:

MSBravo said:

Visited Chamonix recently. Thought it was too big, with too few slopes, at a too low altitude, and all rather miserable.

Shall stick to Austria in the future.

Am I alone in my sentiments?

Austria is lower altitude for resorts than Alps is it not?

Yes, but who cares about altitude? It's snow line that matters!

French resorts aren't generally higher than Austrian ones because the Austians are too lazy/stupid/etc to go any higher. French resorts are generally higher than Austrian ones because the snow line is higher in France, in the western Alps than in Austria in the eastern Alps, so you need to go higher to get to the snow in France than in Austria.

There's also the fact that Austria tends to keep the 'resort' (accomodation) down in the valley, leaving the top of the mounting (where the skiing is) looking pretty. The French prefer to pour ugly lumps of concrete over the tops of their mountains, maybe with some rotting wood nailed to it if you're lucky. But, but, but - it's ski in/out!!!

• No, not ALL French resorts are like that but too many are.

Agreed, I've just been based in Slovenia for a week, and whilst the altitudes aren't that high there, there was still decent skiing, even though the surroundings were brown/green. It was better over the border in southern Austria, so we drove an hour each way most days to get the better conditions. Goldeck was the mountain we used, near Villach. Really nice slopes for intermediates and families.

[Speed 3]

CAPP0 said:

Someone I know has just binned their paid-for ski trip to northern Italy, not through fear of coronavirus itself but because of concerns around being banged up for quarantine whilst there and/or another 2 weeks upon return. Lost all the money on it.

Same with a mate of mine. In his case his other half has a start-up business launching the week after they were due to get back so the quarantine risk is also their driver.

[Wingo]

Speed 3 said:

Wingo said:

Speed 3 said:

Anyone know of a permanent timed slalom area in Morzine/Avoriaz/Les Gets ?

My daughter is doing GCSE P.E. and we need some video footage on our upcoming trip. The standard skills tests are fine but they need evidence of a "competitive" run and timed and/or competed slalom is suggested. We've not been to the PdS before so would be good to know if there is somewhere we can do it.

Mont Chery side of Les gets, there is a dual slalom course set up. Maybe more giant slalom that slalom. Only about half a dozen gates but has a proper start gate and timing system open to all FOC. Up the telecabine then up again on the chair lift. Been blitzed on it by my lad on it too many times to mention now unless he makes a mistake

Thanks Wingo, worked a treat today. Didn't see any timing but they have 10 gates now so somewhere half way between Slalom and GS. Daughter got a rapid getaway and I never caught her

Edited by Speed 3 on Thursday 20th February 20:38

S3, no probs. We were up the Mont Chery side around new year, nothing set up at all then so pleased they was something to have a go on when you were there.
A mate has a place not too far away, but in all the years he's been skiing in the area he'd never been up Mont Chery, dragged him up there at new year and he was pleasantly surprised with the decent empty runs, one on the better kept secrets in the area................but don't tell everyone.

Many get put off by the trudge across town or the ride in the petit train if you are on the slopes on the opposite side of town. I break the trudge with lunch so no big deal

[CAPP0]

Wingo said:

one on the better kept secrets in the area

If you go left/SW off the top of the lifts and head for the trees and ski down through there, you eventually pick up a road with x-country tracks where you can ski back to the bottom. I believe you're not strictly supposed to ski down it but as long as you're not being a hooligan nobody seems to mind.

[Rich_AR]

tvrolet said:

If you're flying in to Denver then you pass Copper Mountain, Vail and Beaver Creek (in that order) on your way to Aspen. The 'classic' area with a lift right from the town is Aspen mountain (used to be called Ajax). Not a 'wide' area, but some decent length runs it's 'the' Aspen experience I think. Aspen highland is smaller but the cool-dudes gnarly place. Snowmass is quite a nice area, but out of town but not really 'Aspeny', but it does have a lift called Sam's Knob which amused me. Buttermilk is really beginners only I think - never skied there.

But apart from the 'been there, seen it, done it, bought the tee-shirt' factor for Aspen, Vail is much much better IMHO, especially the back bowls/blue ski basin areas. I used to go to Vail for a week (so slightly longer than your 4 days) and just take a day out to Aspen, Beaver Creek (which I rather like) and Copper Mountain. Further from Aspen/closer to Denver but not on the main road is Arapahoe Basin (A-Basin). Unusually for Colorado it's above the tree line and the cool dudes hanging out there have BBQs on the 'beach' at the foot - gnarly man. There are other areas, but if it was me I'd go to Vail and just visit Aspen mountain/Ajax for a day.

Vail - if you like massive queues on powder days:-

https://www.vaildaily.com/entertainment/outdoors/l...

lemmingjames said:

Im tempted to go to Aspen @ Easter for a long weekend. As its abit far to go for 4 days, what other resorts nearby would people recommend?

Also, cost of a daily ticket out in USA, wtaf!

Cheaper to ski in Canada.

Edited by Rich_AR on Thursday 27th February 16:00

[lemmingjames]

I saw that, something like 90-120 minute que

yeah i know Canada will be better than Aspen, just have friends (who live in Mexico) doing the party week in Aspen so kills 2 birds with one stone. Though its £250 per day for a lift pass in any area

Just booked flights to GNB for the 7th and the flight is around 1/3 full id say
Hopefully the area around L2A will have some decent stuff left as doing off-piste course/guidnig in that area for a week

Luckily missing the GVA Motorshow on way home as remember getting caught up in that before