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Did anyone else get caught up in the Covid 19 'shut down' while away? We were in Whistler and only managed to use 2 days of a 10 day pass before Vail Resorts shut down the mountain (and the town). Vail resorts are refusing to cash refund for unused days but instead are issuing a %tage cost voucher which can be redeemed against next years pass. Straight away that presents a massive hoof in the slats for people not going back next season, but, just to compound the matter further, Vail Resorts have insisted on a 'use by' date of 7th September this year for redeeming the voucher otherwise you will lose the lot, and in our case, its not an inconsiderable amount. So its a double hoofing for me as I wont be committing to a long haul holiday by then. Anyone else similarly affected?
sounds par for the course for Whistler TBH
Assume the position.
@oldtennisshoes...yes, that's our last avenue. Currently have an insurance claim in but to be honest I suspect that, because Vail have offered some, albeit useless for me, remedy I might be onto plumbs! We have had no problem getting refunds from the hotel and the additional return flights to get us home but it just sticks in the craw the way Vail treat their customers!
@thegeneralist...position assumed and lubed in anticipation of a shafting! I fear my 9th visit the Whistler might well be my last.
Having travelled to the alps by bike last year for the mag it has been our plan to make our next alps snowboard trip by train too. I've just signed this..
https://singletrackworld.com/snow/2020/07/campaign-launched-to-save-the-ski-train-to-the-alps/
So... is this the thread? I understand Covid has put the kibosh on a lot of peoples plans.... i have some kit questions however. ....
looking for a midlayer for ski touring/splitboarding, and an appropriate rucksack, probably around 30l. cheers!
I really like the design on the Black Diamond Dawn Patrol packs
https://www.blackdiamondequipment.com/en/compare?category=snow-packs
Standard answer of recommending what you own....Osprey Talon 33!
I've used mine about 7 million times (well maybe not that many times) Hiked over the world with it, climbed, used it for splitboarding....still going strong!
Hard to see anything happening trip wise for us this season. I had a month living in Meribel last year, I was playing gigs mainly.... basically put me off resort skiing ever again!
So I think it'll be more investment in Splitboard gear/trips when funds allow. Maybe we'll be able to get some Scotland back country trips in?
We’re booked for New Year... on a cancelable deal.
Travelling (or waiting and working at home at the moment but it messes up the quote / reference) more in hope than expectation.
Cheers so far. Sweden is open for business!
I went to Meribel this year for the first time, I didn't have any problems at all, had a great week, what was up with it @Tom-B?
Coming season, new bathroom, new dog and Covid are all constraints on this at the moment!
Just checked on the Grand Massif website this morning, they are offering to refund lift passes if the resorts have to close due to COVID.
So want to ski but really can't see it happening 🙁
Still not looking likely we'll book a trip for this season. Would love to grab some ski days in Scotland though, will see how things go. Rather frustrating as we cam back from a week in Ste Foy in January and bought new boots for Mrs NBT in anticipation of a second week last season - that didn't appen and there's no saying when we'll actually hit the slopes again
The Newcastle Ferry is a good shout, especially as I'm in Northern Scotland so the drive is the same distance to Dover as it is from Calais to the alps. Just a question though, what's it like on board and can you find space away from people? Considering driving and doing 14days rather than flying and doing a week, but my rationale behind driving was you're in your own car on the Eurotunnel rather than mixing with folk. Not sure I fancy being on deck the whole time in January on the North Sea!
Just a question though, what’s it like on board and can you find space away from people?
It's overnight, so get a cabin and you can isolate - no need to use any of the facilities, take food with you - but the buffet dinner and breakfast are pretty good.
The Netherlands is still currently on the quarantine list though.
I'm looking at Italy (as usual 🙂 ) probably Feb half term but just with Miss OTS rather than the whole family.
Investigation concludes that Ischgl and St Anton could have prevented CV19 outbreak. This is quite an interesting development.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-54523014
I listened to one of the Guardian Today In Focus podcasts which had an interview with one of the people involved in what I thought was going to be a class action against the Austrian government over the delay in doing anything at Ischgl after the first positive cases. It looks like it’s just civil lawsuits filed for now, but they’ve held off on the class action (as of 23/9).
I'm due to be instructing again this season. The resort has a lot of plans for how to minimize the possibility of an outbreak, unfortunately it completely relies on the Texans who can't usually follow simply instructions, following harder instructions.
At least it snowed there Sunday night, and snowmaking is happening at last.
There has always been a problem with flu, viruses, colds, coughs and lurgies in general spreading in ski resorts, why? Because hygiene has always been a bit lax. Val D'Isere nick named Val Despair.
People coming in from slopes not washing their hands before diving into the cake. Again with buffet style meals. E.g. People coughing into their hands then picking up the buffet serving spoons.
At least once a year I got ill from a skiing holiday (probably from the flight itself and bad hygiene in resort accommodation). Many times spending precious days in bed instead of out on the slopes.
On one chalet holiday the staff made no effort to wash hands before preparing food, even after using the loo. There was no soap in kitchen or loo at the time. I would never use that company again. Yuk.
Anyone booked for January ? We have but my concerns are that we might have to quarantine once we get there or that there will be a Jan spike after Christmas and we will be stuck in a lockdown in France.
Desperate to go but am thinking there is too much that could go wrong/uncertainty that we should just cancel now ....
Up until now the French haven't imposed quarantine on anyone entering from another country, it's only been voluntary for people entering the country from outside of the EU.
They also allow return to home countries, so driving rather than flying would enable you to pack up and leave whenever you wanted, if need be.
My nephew who has worked the last 2 seasons in France has been told that they might only be opening for Christmas and half term this season.
I was on tour (in an Apres band) for a month over Xmas last year in France....if there was somewhere that I'd go to actively try and catch and transmit Covid, it'd be there 😳
We'll not be doing any ski trips abroad at all this year.....might try Scotland as we've just bought a motorhome. We're not overly hopeful though.
@Tom-B good luck, we will be doing similar just minus the motorhome!
Glencoe has dedicated pitches for motorhomes in the car park and Braemar campsite is handy for Glenshee!
We have a loose booking with a friend who has an apartment in Zell am See for NY We’re resigned to it not happening tbh. Going to have to be some fairly massive changes in transmission rates across Europe to make it possible I think. If lockdown on return was only a week, I think we could manage it. Booking is flexible and there aren’t any others all season for this apartment so going to leave it and hope that we can jump on it as soon as things look better. Planning to drive, stop infrequently, possibly take the kids out of school if we have to. I think that if you have time and flexibility there could be some great skiing in deserted resorts this season. Not a season for going big on apres though. Think Scotland will be super busy if they get good snow. Not sure they have the infrastructure to deal with it. Going to need your own kit for sure.
We were in Saalbach Hinterglemm last year when it all kicked off and the shut the resort ten mins after we were due to leave....so very lucky. We were aware that the area was high risk in those last few days, but the hygiene efforts by others was just appalling, which made me decide months ago not to risk a trip in Jan. we’ve got a lads trip to Serre Chev in March booked, but it’s EJ flights and cancellable hotel, so will make a decision on that as late as possible.
Had to wear a mask in the lift queue all summer in Leogang and it wasn’t too bad. With the bike you socially distanced anyway in the queue to an extent.
They’re in full lockdown with a 7pm curfew too. I suspect they’ll try to get the stats down to zero in the hope of opening up and seeing how long they can last
Flights to Östersund cancelled by easyjet so accommodation now cancelled. Looks like no snow trip for us 20/21
Just booked flights and accommodation for Easter in Cervinia. Just got to keep everything crossed now. 🤞⛷🏂
Sierra Nevada is looking good for next week. 🙂
@grahamt1980 oh that is a shame. Åre opens 18th december, does that change anything? I'm heading there on Sunday for some splitboarding.
Don't think it makes any difference.
I think easyjet are not flying into ostersund at all this winter.
Will have a think and try and get back next winter, my longer term plan is to get a transfer to gothenberg with work.
My February Easyjet flights to Geneva have been cancelled, fortunately I didn't have anything else booked but I don't think I've the energy to arrange travel outside the UK for a while. Any of the Scottish resorts reliable in February?
Unless there’s still snow at Easter, we’re going to be reliant on it snowing in Richmond park, or a massive drive to Scotland...
Our Lads trip to Serre Chev in March hit the buffers yesterday when our EJ flights to Turin was cancelled. I’ve subsequently moved to a mid March trip to Cervinia via Milan, but reckon we’ve got a less than 50/50 chance of actually going. 😕
Anyone know why EJ are cancelling the flights?
Got some booked March to Geneva and wondering if they're likely to get cancelled too.
In the short term this could have something to do with it... or maybe demand is just generally too low to make it worth their while?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-55256248
We’ve decided that if the slopes are open and the Hotel is open in March, then even if the flights get cancelled, we’re going to drive out there.
I'm making no plans this year. We do have some leave in March though so *if* the resorts are open and *if* I get the camper finished we might drive out and stay in the van.
We'll hopefully get a couple of scottish days in.
I think I need to unsubscribe from some emails though, I've just got another Powder Alarm from Val T this morning 🙁
From what I read Scottish resorts do appear to be opening in some form? Looks like accessibility will be dependent on any travel restrictions at the time though.
And snow. Some more snow would be nice.
Posting an image here was harder than the 4 hour ascent in poor snow with lots of cold;cold wind. Oh the ironing!
Looks like some Brits have been caught out in Austria
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-55888856
20 days on rando or X-C skis so far this season. The lifts are shut but the resorts are busy with trails of skiers and snow shoeers heading up and people having fun with sledges and other sliding objects lower down. We even skied past some MTBers last weekend.
Swow was great from christmas to a week ago but it's been mild and wet for a few days which has washed a lot away and brought down some soggy avalanches.