Where is everyone heading this year??

a148pro

Mountain_Surfer wrote: »

Its been snowing heavily and non stop for days here in Val' dIsere. Good chance they are going to shut the road out from Val to Le Fornet where we are due to avalanche risk. Its supposed to be sunny tomorrow which will mean an epic powder day!

I want to kill you right now

a148pro

olaola wrote: »

I'm SOOO EXCITED!! I look at the snow forecast every night (they've a decent app btw www.snow-forecast.com) and I got very giddy when I saw the snow falling!!

Tell me about it I'm wasting at least an hour a day reading updates on threads, forecasts etc. And there's no prospect of me getting out until mid Jan either.

Was watching David Attenborough's Frozen Planet earlier, it was making serious points about global warming, the dangers of the melting ice caps etc., and all I could think of was 'christ look at all that snow'

cocker5

Heading to ischgl in 10 days for 10 nights!!!!!!

Then kitzbhul in feb for a week

Roll on the slopes

ulinbac

Just booked Oberstdorf in Germany. Flights and luggage €75 for the 7th-15th Jan. Accommodation tomorrow night!

sarsfield06

St Anton am Arlberg, 26th Dec to Jan 2nd, there's a lot of snow there now

a148pro

Several resorts closed due to too much snow. Nothing open in Tignes or Val D'Isere where they're struggling to keep the roads open. Verbier also closed. Avalanche risk is 5/5 in most of the higher resort and it seems they are actually concerned that avalanches might hit the towns - parts of Verbier evacuated.

Jesus, a drought in November and now too much.

scotty_irish

I'm going here tomorrow! very excited!

http://www.glencoemountain.co.uk/webcams.html

a148pro

Looks good! Hope you can actually get there though. I'd try Scotland but it seems a long old drive from the ferry, feels like you'd be as quick flying to Europe.

stevire

Conditions look pretty good in Glencoe at the moment! What's it usually like during January? Might go for a weekend as a warmup for Austria!

scotty_irish

Morning was amazing with plenty of fresh snow and blue ski, no wind.





Afternoon, the snow set in, visibility reduced and wind picked up but still great.



If you're thinking of skiing in Scotland, one warning, you can never rely on it. You could get very lucky and have great conditions or the mountain could be closed.

I've had way more great days out than bad ones, only beware that you may be disappointed.

Some of the best Scottish skiing I've done has been December/January. I'll be in Nevis Range and Glencoe a LOT in January - heading home tomorrow so no more for me til next year.

shagman

I'm off to Livigno on the 31st for a week then probably Morzine in either paddys week or easter.

shagman

I'm off to Livigno on the 31st Dec' for a week then another week in Morzine on either paddys week or easter.

dannyjoy

Kmc123 wrote: »

I suppose the time is upon us to be planning this years ski trip so here it goes!! Where is everybody heading this year and when?? Am unfortunate enough not to be slippling on the skis this year however I fancied finding out where everyone else was heading!! Post away!!:D

I am going to Ireland, i love to travel during this festive season.

hans aus dtschl

la plagne feb 4th

jack01986

Back to Val d'Isere tomorrow for two weeks!!

SuperSean11

Risoul in two weeks

MadsL

Just moved to New Mexico, so just to make you all jealous I'm gonna be heading to my local resort (six miles drive) Sandia Peak (currently 61" base !!) and then probably a week in Taos, NM.

As soon as my damn boots and gear come out of a ship!!!

OneWayBet

Saalbach (Austria) for a week on Feb 25

am i bovvered

Looks like its going to be st anton !!
11th jan for 9 nights,
Only concern is its out of our league, we are heading with 2 others who want the apre ski, we are piste skiers, i am confident on reds, black as long as conditions are good but hope to start doing some easy offpiste, my wife reds if conditions are good.
We intend to get lessons there, any advice or tips.
Thanks

gavinwavin

MadsL wrote: »

Just moved to New Mexico, so just to make you all jealous I'm gonna be heading to my local resort (six miles drive) Sandia Peak (currently 61" base !!) and then probably a week in Taos, NM.

As soon as my damn boots and gear come out of a ship!!!

Base in Revelstoke is 160cm, there's been 15 feet so far this season. Should be another 15cm tonight

zefer

Going to Val Thorens on Saturday for a week, cant wait.

any hints/tips from anyone that has been there before?

Rew

zefer wrote: »

Going to Val Thorens on Saturday for a week, cant wait.

any hints/tips from anyone that has been there before?

Depends on the level your at but assuming you have been a few times before:

3 Valleys is huge, get out and ski as much of it as you can. Throw an eye over the piste maps ahead of time. VT is big open sunny pistes with some steep reds and blacks but plenty of everything else. Plenty of off piste options if the snow is good (which it is ATM).

When you cross over to Meribel your into areas with trees and valleys with pistes on both sides so the shaded pistes will move during the day.

Some really nice long runs down to Courchevel. Seeing the airport of at Courchevel is mad, as the piste's are right beside it and its up a bloody mountain!

Courchevel is very expensive for food and drink, we paid a fortune for 2 hot chocolates there without realising.

Le Foile Deuce is a bar up the slopes in VT, there is a permanent party going on there, well worth a visit but beer is expensive.

Le Rond Point is a bar on the slopes over in Meribel, with savage apres ski but you would need to bus it back to VT so check out the story with that ahead of time. We used the busses, they were great and free. No harm getting your head around the busses in case you miss the last lifts back towards VT at any stage.

I thought lunch was a lot more reasonable over in VT then anywhere else, but we got burgers, pizza etc for €10 or so in Mottaret and Meribel. Rond Point does a savage burger and is a popular lunch spot.

Snow parks are great over there, there is a big one between VT and Meribel which is prob the best of them. It had a jumping air mat when we were there.

Go up to the top of Saulire for an amazing view and to see the scariest black I've ever come across Grand Couloire.

My GoPro vids from last jan/feb are on my youtube in my sig, a few of them end at Rond Point and a couple sittin having a beer in Le Folie Deuce.

earnyourturns

Red Mountain in BC for the last two weeks of January, woop woop. Might stay there longer depending on how stuff goes (am a student, so could "distance learn" for a while I reckon )

olaola

17 more sleeps to Morzine!

WAHOOO!

TheTubes

Soll for my first ski trip in 2 days.
Looking forward to it.

OneWayBet

Trying to decide between Saalbach and Obertauern for a snowboarding trip. My only concern about Saalbach is that most of the slopes are south facing resulting in short lived powder when the daytime temperature raises above zero. Powder freeriding is my top priority... any suggestions welcome

Rew

OneWayBet wrote: »

Trying to decide between Saalbach and Obertauern for a snowboarding trip. My only concern about Saalbach is that most of the slopes are south facing resulting in short lived powder when the daytime temperature raises above zero. Powder freeriding is my top priority... any suggestions welcome

One of the lads is in Kitzbul ATM and is ploughing though nothing but powder

OneWayBet

Rew wrote: »

One of the lads is in Kitzbul ATM and is ploughing though nothing but powder

Yeah Kitz is supposed to be good when conditions are good but I've never been prepared to risk it due to low altitude (see attached snow history)

robinph

TheTubes wrote: »

Soll for my first ski trip in 2 days.
Looking forward to it.

Snap.

Well not the first ski trip bit, but the rest of it.

Edit: Think we'll be doing alright for snow now as well, despite it being a bit bare a few weeks back:
http://www.snow-forecast.com/resorts/Soll/6day/mid
http://en.skiinfo.com/snowreport/skiwelt-wilder-kaiser-brixental-EATXBRIXENIM-100-en.jhtml

FortuneChip

Just booked Val D'Isere for a week. Going next Sunday. Hopefully some of that snow is still there

Rew

OneWayBet wrote: »

Yeah Kitz is supposed to be good when conditions are good but I've never been prepared to risk it due to low altitude (see attached snow history)

Its closed today due to blizzard, so snow will be amazing when that blows over. Unfortunately my mate is coming back in the morning!

olaola

OneWayBet wrote: »

Trying to decide between Saalbach and Obertauern for a snowboarding trip. My only concern about Saalbach is that most of the slopes are south facing resulting in short lived powder when the daytime temperature raises above zero. Powder freeriding is my top priority... any suggestions welcome

35cm of powder today in Saalbach!

johnk123

Heading to Serre Chevalier this weekend, very excited! Staying in Villeneuve. First time in Serre Chevalier, anyone been before? Most reviews online seem great so fingers crossed! Anyone have any pointers or recommendations of restaurants, lunch spots on the slope etc etc??

Rew

johnk123 wrote: »

Heading to Serre Chevalier this weekend, very excited! Staying in Villeneuve. First time in Serre Chevalier, anyone been before? Most reviews online seem great so fingers crossed! Anyone have any pointers or recommendations of restaurants, lunch spots on the slope etc etc??

My first trip was to there staying next door in Chantemerle. If you have been skiing before get the more expensive area pass and make the most of the different areas. Ski bus runs between all the towns so if you miss the lifts just grab that back. There was go-karting on snow in Chantemerle which was great craic dont know if its still there. The blue run from the very top of Serre Chevalier runs along the ridge and is spectacular with sheer drops on both sides. There is a long steep black in to Chantemerle which is pretty nice run as well but do it early in the day while the snow is still good.

Big open powder runs are over toward Monteir with tree runs over towards Serre Che.

PisteMap:

http://www.serrechevalier.com/skimap/skimap.jpg

johnk123

Cheers Rew! Going to google that snow go karting now, sounds like it could definitely be a bit of craic!

Have noted those two runs you mentioned. We have the more expensive passes booked. Going with 5 friends who have all skied before a good few times so looking forward to it.

Had read some good reviews online recently about this place too, so fingers crossed anyway!

Rew

johnk123 wrote: »

Cheers Rew! Going to google that snow go karting now, sounds like it could definitely be a bit of craic!

Have noted those two runs you mentioned. We have the more expensive passes booked. Going with 5 friends who have all skied before a good few times so looking forward to it.

Had read some good reviews online recently about this place too, so fingers crossed anyway!

I really enjoyed it, we got fresh snow a day or 2 in so made all the diff!

We ate lunch, most days at the top of that black I mentioned, standard enough fare and prices. As I was a newbe at the time I didn't venture that far but my brothers went all over and had a great time. The area is big not you should be able to cover it all in a few days then hit your favorite spots again.

Where are you flying into? We went into Grenoble, long, long transfer via hire car.

johnk123

Rew wrote: »

I really enjoyed it, we got fresh snow a day or 2 in so made all the diff!

We ate lunch, most days at the top of that black I mentioned, standard enough fare and prices. As I was a newbe at the time I didn't venture that far but my brothers went all over and had a great time. The area is big not you should be able to cover it all in a few days then hit your favorite spots again.

Where are you flying into? We went into Grenoble, long, long transfer via hire car.

If we got fresh snow we'd be laughing!

Flying to Turin and then across. I checked Google maps yesterday and it listed the time by car as over two hours I think... but we'll see!!

I'm always cautious of travel times as I remember on my first ski holiday ever we were all expecting a bus journey to last "Just over an hour and half"....... it took 4 hours.... Granted there was a blizzard and the bus got a puncture, but still ha!

Wasn't the best first experience of skiing, but when your about 10 years old it doesn't make much difference! Well, until the batteries in the Gameboy died....

Rew

My mistake it was Turin we flew into and it was def 2 hours or more. We stopped for grub to break it up though. There are loads of tolls so if your renting a car have change ready. Should be good lots of snow in the alps ATM it seems, hopping its gonna keep snowing for the next 2 weeks before we hit Austria on the 21st!

zagmund

Already back from this years holiday. Another 55 weeks or so to go before I get away again.



Was in Zermatt, snow was good (reportedly) but I wasn't able to ski due to minding someone with a broken arm.

Won't be back there for a long time - savage prices, maniac drivers, they don't clear the paths even on the main shopping street, I could go on . . . It's back to Austria for me next year.

z

johnk123

Rew wrote: »

My mistake it was Turin we flew into and it was def 2 hours or more. We stopped for grub to break it up though. There are loads of tolls so if your renting a car have change ready. Should be good lots of snow in the alps ATM it seems, hopping its gonna keep snowing for the next 2 weeks before we hit Austria on the 21st!

I'll be sure to report back on how it was!! Very excited now... bags all packed....

Lambasted

Heading to söll on feb 4th. First time in Austria but 7th year in a row I think. Snowboarding of course........:eek:

Northern Monkey

Sherpa.jpg

Val thorens seems to have got a good dump overnight. This is outside the hotel we are going to in 2 weeks.

Ant11

Hi Guys, I'm looking for tips/advice/prices/social life etc for a ski holiday for the coming Xmas/New years 2012.

This will be our First ski trip, all adults are all beginner skiers, group of approx 10 people looking for good soft snow, preferable to stay in a cabin or chalet. Not fussy on location once theres good snow, as I know all locations would not all have good snow at this time of year some. Also I would like some sort of social life at night time and of course reasonable prices if possible.

I know I'm looking for a lot, but you all seem to know what your talking about so your advice would be appreciated.

Cheers in advance

robinph

Looks to have been plenty of snow falling in Soll over the last couple of days and it's now snowing lightly in the town. Too knackered after the trip here to be rushing out to the slopes today though. Just try not to drink too much beer today and get up for the first lift tomorrow.

Rew

Northern Monkey wrote: »

Sherpa.jpg

Val thorens seems to have got a good dump overnight. This is outside the hotel we are going to in 2 weeks.

Hadn't snowed in a month when I was there last year, its going to be amazing with that much snow!

robinph

Now it is properly dumping snow in the town. Just been for a wander to try and find a bar with free WiFi as my hotel wanted to charge me by the hour, but I am prepared to pay for beers in exchange for internet.

flikflak

Booked the flight yesterday with Swiss air to Geneva €150 with 23kgs of bag allowance and free ski carriage. Not direct but for that price I am happy for it to take a couple of hours more (the included g+t I will be sipping on board helps too!!).

Heading to Port du Soleil somewhere. Will look for a place to stay in the next couple of weeks.

Looking forward to it now!!

LilyPool

Val Thorens on the 28th January and I've never been so excited!

edson

flikflak wrote: »

Booked the flight yesterday with Swiss air to Geneva €150 with 23kgs of bag allowance and free ski carriage. Not direct but for that price I am happy for it to take a couple of hours more (the included g+t I will be sipping on board helps too!!).

Heading to Port du Soleil somewhere. Will look for a place to stay in the next couple of weeks.

Looking forward to it now!!

Try heading to Chamonix, it's only an hour from Geneva, it's a class spot with a wide variety of slopes, and great nightlife too! Plus there are some nice high pistes! I was there in 2010 and I loved it, i might be going there for Paddy's weekend!

OneWayBet

zagmund wrote: »

Already back from this years holiday. Another 55 weeks or so to go before I get away again.



Was in Zermatt, snow was good (reportedly) but I wasn't able to ski due to minding someone with a broken arm.

Won't be back there for a long time - savage prices, maniac drivers, they don't clear the paths even on the main shopping street, I could go on . . . It's back to Austria for me next year.

z

Thanks that makes me feel better about going to Austria as usual, I've wanted to go to Zermatt for ages!