Forum menu
I'll be in Vallandry on my own with a week to kill as of tomorrow if anyone is up for a skin up something easy or X-C ski.
We've just booked flights for another quick 3 night trip towards the end of March.
Landing in Geneva and probably going to head either to Les Gets or 3 Valleys.... But wondering about giving somewhere else a try.
Any recommendations of somewhere a little bit different within 2 hours of Geneva?
We love Les Gets (& PDS) because it's got plenty to keep us entertained and know it quite well. 3 Valleys I love the vastness.
Somewhere a bit traditional with some easily accessible slack country for me to play in if the snow's good would be good. Other half mainly sticks to the pistes.
Just come back from an epic week in Chamonix however we went for a day with a guide and headed through the tunnel to Courmayeur. Conditions are awful. Thin and windblown snow and we did some of the stuff off the back of the Arp and was bad enough for the guide to cancel the rest of the day. Instead we headed back for the tunnel and toured to some knee deep pow. Recommend doing that and use Stu at the Avalanche Academy if you are keen for an epic experience.
Got kids some decathlon mittens recently and it got down to minus 10 degrees c in austria and they were fine. They also have some of the zippy hestra mitts which are good for getting on but as above, not very waterproof.
If you suffer from Reynauds, get some Happy Hot Hands, game changers
tiger I have some super warm gloves for sale here.
https://www.gumtree.com/p/skiing-snowboarding-clothes/ski-gloves-up-to-8y/1325811062
Hey Earl, what happened to the BS3 repair cafe today? Was it cancelled for the lantern parade? Shame - I took my skis down and everything!
@phil
Cormaeur? Easy from GVA good off piste and eateries on slopes.
Nendaz? Cheaper than Verbier, great ski area for a skier not do go if you board (big traverses)
Grand massif? Nice area, not so good tree line.
I forgot about that!! They usually send me a email but I got nothing this month.
If you want your skis waxed bring them around to my house and I'll do them for you - Windmill Hill. I've just got datawax blue/red/yellow if that's ok.
PM me - I'm around late afternoon.
That’s so cool of you to offer, thanks! Happy to wait til next time though (I’m not about this afternoon).
Back from a frustrating week in Risoul. No new snow for 3 weeks , but heavy use of cannons plus harvesting meant the pistes were in very good condition. Lots of newbies moaning about 'ice' , when they mean compacted snow , not real ice at all.
Approx 1cm fell last week , so not enough to make any difference
As usual the plane out sounded like the plague plane with alot of coughing and sneezing, so after 3 days i get a sore throat , then the shivers , now a head cold.
I am seriously considering those surgical face masks like the Japanese wear as planes just make you ill. If it had been decent powder I would have been unable to enjoy it.
There was a restaurant fire under alift as well, inurance job probably as yet to open this season, which cloed down alot of the resort for a morning, they used the cannons water supply to put it out
Such a shame as the snofall across the rest of the Alps has been record breaking , but Risoul - Vars - Serre - Montgenevre -Sestriere all had next to nothing.
Cheers, we had talked about Courmayeur but hadn't really thought about it being so close to Geneva. But it's just through the tunnel so on the list.
Had a really rubbish day in Flaine a couple of years ago. We stopped for a day on the way home from Les Gets, it rained and I've never been so cold and wet. I'd like to give it another go in better conditions, definitely didn't see it in its prime!
Yes I'm a boarder that doesn't like the flat.
Off to Chamonix on the 3rd Feb for 4 days. Have skied there a couple of times but not for 10 years, any reminders on places to hit? We're all a reasonable standard.
Was thinking a day in Flegere-Brevent, 2 days in Argentiere wasn't going to bother with les Houches - one other area not to miss?
Also any good nightlife spots?
crankman - I always enjoyed Le Tour. Not too challenging but some really good stuff to play around in. Interested to hear about lift queues at Grand montet what with the gondola having burnt down, I'm off there after you get back. Can you post up here?
I'm off to morzine for 4 days next week, it looks like they've had some decent snow this week, but a first hand view of the conditions would be great, if anyone is there?
There's a thread on snowheads with regular updates from PDS. Generally OK conditions on piste - patchy in places and needs more snow, but perfectly acceptable.Bit more snow due over the weekend but nothing massive - 10cm at best probably. Next week, potentially a few more falls, but detail very unclear at present.
Zell am See this Saturday!
Off to Chamonix on the 3rd Feb for 4 days. Have skied there a couple of times but not for 10 years, any reminders on places to hit? We’re all a reasonable standard.
All depends on the weather/conditions I reckon - especially these days as it can be slim pickings in resort. (although there is always the option of getting the bus through to Courmayeur - when Chamonix is lacking, Courmayeur often gets the goods and vica-versa),
My pointers would be:
Brevent & Flegere are southerly facing so can get slushy late in the day. but during freeze/thaw conditions this means they are great from mid-morning onwards unlike Grand Montets which doesn't get the sun so when it's icy ... it stays icy. Brevent & Flegere are also close to town so get tracked out pretty quick after a storm.
La Tour - good for low vis storm days and low coverage (as it's a meadow rather than rocky mountain-side). Has the largest number of 'mellow' slopes for those wanting to take it easy.
Grand Montets - great if the slack-country/off-piste is in condition. Should also be good for touring over towards the Lognans since the cable car and top tickets burned down. Also good later in the season.
Les Houches - good trees on a storm/low vis day
Downside is that you can spend a lot of time travelling in Chamonix valley and there is always the panic that whichever area you choose you might be left wondering if you'd made the right choice ...
Buying individual day passes for each area can work out expensive so a 6 Day Chamonix unlimited *might* be better value but that depends on what you and your group have planned. The unlimited includes the Montenvers railway & the Midi, so if you get a guide for a backcountry day it can work out economical.
Can't really comment too much on the night life as these days I tend to be knackered from a full days riding.
There are a few places in town:
<slight-irony>
L'Amnesia has good DJs ... doesn't normally open until after mid-night
Chambre-Neuf tends to have people dancing on tables in their ski-boots & sweaty salopettes. Across the road at Elevation is more my thing - locals and a pitcher. Dancing in your harness with crabs attached is frowned upon ...
The Pub is owned by a brit and attracts brits ... usually telling the entire bar what an amazing powder run they've just had!
Beer prices drop a bit when you move away from the main tourist drag so around Cham-Sud is a bit more seasonaire vibe etc. So follow the happy-hour signs.
Argentierre used to have a cool vibe but everyone has now sold up and moved (mainly down to Les Houches).
</slight-irony>
Were having a great time in Meribel. Although there isn't as much snow as we'd like, its been well looked after and higher up around Val Thorens there's still some off piste to play around in which isn't too crusty.
The temps have been between -10 and -13, so pretty cold, especially on some of the slower lifts. I've been wearing 7 layers, this includes puffer under the outer jacket and thermals under my fleeced lined trousers.
On the first day 4 of us had a mornings refresher lesson and it's paid off.
Today one stupid woman cut me up, I chased her down and gave her a good talking too. She was a bit shocked when this older grey haired woman came after her.
Hoping for some snow tomorrow as its needed in places. However overall the 3 Valleys are holding up well and the snow so far has been a joy to ski.
Are you usually a cold person @bunnyhop, wondering how many layers my wife is going to want next week as the temperatures seem to be fairly consistent and low at the moment. We'll be in Tignes next week, I have no time for work this week, I just want to get to the weekend!
Off to geneva tomorrow to stay with a mate until sat then up to PDS with family ski for the week. Can't wait.
are you staying in Ardent then cobrakai?
Have a good trip and report back on conditions as Im back out there in a couple of weeks.
Where's scaredypants? Is he back yet, got ski report for us?
In Les gets this week, on piste is good, follow the sun and it's lovely. Everything between the pistes is tracked out. Couple of icy patches here and there but easily avoidable.
Would be nice to have some fresh to play in tomorrow though.
Nice one Bunnyhop! 😎
Yes in Ardent. Came out with them last year and the child care was superb, Our daughter loved it so it was a no brainer to come again.
I'm happy piste bashing this year but looks like a rise in temp and snow for next week. Fingers crossed.
theyre a great outfit. The only problem with Ardent is the remoteness, but since they now run the bar (that isnt Happy Hours) there are beer options later in the evening! And of course with a little one, you're not really hitting the town. Have a great trip. It will be nice once the temp rises as the forecast for this week looks bloody chilly.
My place out there is in the village below Ardent. Weirdly, the couple who own family ski live in a village a few miles from me in England.
We don't do apres any more so the remoteness doesn't phase us too much, but the quick access up top compared to the slog up from morzine is awesome. The home run at the end of the day can be a sight to behold though....
My cousin has worked out in the alps for 25 years and his company have based him in morzine this season so get a catch up with him too.
Where’s scaredypants? Is he back yet, got ski report for us?
Sorry, been busy
Back nearly a week, so I can't say what's going on now. The (30-45cm??) fall over the weekend (13th) just before we arrived was apparently very much needed as there'd been nothing for several weeks. It was really nice snow, especially the upper half of the mountain(s) - little bit damp/heavy lower down.
We had at least one day after the snowfall when temps were up close or at zero even at the tops so I don't know how good the less accessible off-piste will be.
It did snow fairly heavily last Thursday (my last day) and what fell was really nice up top again. Very misty so I stayed low with my daughter until dinnertime and then only skied down below a couple of higher lifts after that but it was skiing nicely.
In short: Was fantastic for 2 days and then I don't really know what happened
Been snowing in Les gets this pm, it needed to. Hope it continues all night
toby 1 - yes I really feel the cold and I don't weigh much so that may have something to do with it.
Wallop - thanks.
Its snowing now in Meribel, however it's very light and probably will only put down a couple of cm.
Been skiing with a local who's a good friend. He's 73 years young and just bloody fantastic on and off piste. It gives us oldies hope that we can still do this skiiing (snowboarding) lark for many years to come.
Hi Bunnyhop, I'm in Val Thorens, similar light snow. May go to Meribel tomorrow, if you see somebody on a monoski say hi!
Thanks Bunnyhop, just want to make sure my wife has all the right layering, that said she does have a regular ski coat and a cold weather ski coat so it should be fine. The -26 windchill in Tignes over the weekend is looking parky though!
As for skiing till you are older, I hope so I only started in my mid 30's and I don't plan stopping until I absolutely have to.
Octagenarians don't stop skiing, they just all go to obergurgl 😉
unfortunately my nearly 70yr old neighbour is currently holed-up in a Tyrolean Hospital on a thoracic drain following 5x broken ribs.
Not quite sure what he's done but am looking forward to the tall tales in the pub when he finally gets the all-clear to fly home. poor bugger.
I know this is going to draw a lot of fire, but following my new board investigations Im planning on getting one of these:
http://pathron.com/products/snowboards/carbon-gold/
[img] 
[/img]
In the style of PX/O-O which has served me well in bikes, Pathron is a direct seller manufacturer. The board specs are good on paper but sure, there's not a whole lot of info out there about it, but I fancy having a smash at it for £300. I was bidding on a hovercraft on ebay, but s/h went for £300 + delivery. I dont really care about resale value of a low profile brand. Ive got a shed full of PX & OO bikes to prove that 😉
Stoner - I hope your friend recovers quickly.
toby1 - I wear an ice breaker T. 2 x merino long sleeved tops. Thermal vest. fleece, puffer and finally a long jacket outer shell. Also mittens with fleece inners.
It's been cold again today.
Plenty of fresh power and skiing has been fabulous. Conditions on and off piste are great.
Everybody coming out to the 3 Valleys next week is due for some heavy snow.
cheers BH. Txts seem to have hiom in good spirits and his insurance is doing right by him. He'll be fine. Im more worried about what his wife will do to him. She's had to fly out to mop his brow.
And it comes in 169W Stoner!
Result.
Indeed but I'm going 165w. I'm not quite 169w 😉
Day trip to Pila tomorrow. Looks good. Had a quality week so far in Cervenia. Place is great for boarding and all in the shadow of the Matterhorn 👌
Good stuff YoKaiser, glad you are enjoying it. Report back on Pila, I've wondered about a day trip there myself.
New skis time - Head Monsters anyone?
I've decided my existing monsters are too big for me, and as junior is now taller than me and needs some skis, I'm going to palm them off on him and order some new ones for me.
I'm looking at Monster 83s in 170 size in that lovely blue colour - anything else similar for a bit of a do it all ski?
Hey folks,
I'm a very cautious, beginner skier. I can parallel ski on blue runs and have had a week in Stubai, Austria two years ago, and Val d'Isere last year. I'm off to Italy's Val di Fiemme three weeks today and am really looking forward to it. However, I went to the doc on Wednesday to ask him about what I thought was a bout of tendonitis in my achilles, only for him to point, say "Oooh, look at that!" and tell me I've actually partially torn the tendon.
It's obviously sore to walk on, but not excruciatingly so as I've done the initial injury somewhere in the last 4-8 weeks and it's basically manifested itself as an ache that I just put down to wear and tear in my late forties. When I told the doc I was going on a ski trip in 3 weeks time, he wasn't the most helpful. "Yeah? Good luck with that!", was pretty much all he said.
I'm figuring that my very slow and careful ski style, alongside the fact my foot and ankle will be pretty much immobilised in the ski boot, should let me get away with it. Has anyone else had this problem and survived to tell the tale?
should let me get away with it.
You should see if your insurers need notifying of a pre-existing condition. If you've got an annual policy you might not have anything to declare, but if you've bought it recently it might be an issue.
I wouldn't want it to "go" fully then find out I wasn't insured at all...