⛷️ ❄️ Skiing and Snowboarding 23-24 🏔️ 🏂

Grrrr, i typed a big reply then lost it when the page refreshed. Short version is it’s great and you should do it, i would do it every time if the price was right.

@ranos. Just skied through it today, lovely particularly for beginners. Why not flying and drive up in a hire car, sorry if it’s an environmental thing – this far out I’d imagine it’s the lowest cost option. It’s 2.5hrs mostly on motorways and while you may need chains for the last part it’s an easy enough task

We have a week in La Plagne/Les Arcs booked for Easter. Driving out from Scotland.

We are looking at adding a 2nd week somewhere. I have seen cheap deals to Chatel.  I know Chatel is low and runs to resort level will be sub-optimal on 2nd week of April, but what about the rest of PDS? I would imagine that the Avoriaz sector and the Swiss sector will have reasonable snow. I would appreciate any advice or knowledge-based predictions.

Other options are Les Sybelles or Val Thorens, but VT is double the price.

One of the latest opening resorts in the north west Alps is La Clusaz. Not sure if that’s because they get good snow or just that they chance it and hope they can maintain what they’ve got. I was going to go there at the end of April last year but glad I didn’t as the runs to the base were grass and mud. Went to Val D’Isere instead and could easily ski back to the resort.

I think my one day in Snowbird two years ago was one of the all time greats, a phenomenal range of skiing; sufficient to put an extended return visit high on the agenda.  Heard good things about Snow Basin too.

Snowbasin was just weird. I recall lapping Strawberry express and each time we got to the ( empty ) lift two big blokes would come across and take our skis off us and load them onto the gondola for us.

Gutted that covid got on the way of a return trip with the whole family….

Loved Powder Mountain the most. Had the best snow and was sooooo quiet.

Did Canyons and something nearby, Alta, Bird then a few days bouldering then Slickrock, Porcupine Rim Portal Trail, Indian Creek,Supercrack of the Desert then back to Alta for a couple of days before flights home.

It really is the bestest place evah.

Why not flying and drive up in a hire car, sorry if it’s an environmental thing – this far out I’d imagine it’s the lowest cost option.

Yep, environmental reasons. I understand that may mean taking more expensive and slower journeys.

@ransos – In the last two years the only direct ski train from London has been a charter by Travelski, and you have to buy a package holiday.
It wasn’t available this year when we looked.

Own travel on Eurostar and TGV is very doable if you have time and inclination to plan it, either via Paris or Lille can get you to the Alps.

https://www.seat61.com/trains-and-routes/eurostar-ski-train.htm

Now i’m on a proper keyboard, I can elaborate. We went to the Grand Massif by train in Jan 2023 – it was great.  Like you, we’re trying to avoid flying and having driven wanted to try the train

Getting to London was not ideal as there was a train strike in the UK, but that’s not normal. actually, it probably is by now, but I digress. We drove to the outkirts then got a tube in the end

Eurostar was great. We paid about £20 extra far “Standard Premier” – nicer seats, fewer people, and a tasty meal. Well worth it. We didn’t however think it was worth the £75 a head cost to upgrade for the return. We stayed overnight in Paris as we arrived late, we used the ibis styles opposite Gare du Nord. Small rooms and a bit noisy.

Metro to Gare de Lyon was dead simple, and we were easily on the train to Cluses.It was about €10 a head extra for first class tickets – nicer seats, fewer people, no food., VERY MUCH worth it, imo.

Return journey was once again brokenby an overnight stop in Paris, we had a walk from our hotel at Gare d l’Est down to the river to get food and back – did feel a bit uncomfortable at times, but then  you can feel uncomfortable walking around Manchester city centre

If the price was right, I’d do it every time – it was WAY nicer than driving as you can just sit back and relax and let the train take the strain. Sadly though it is more expensive than flying or even driving

In you specific case, I’m sure you’re aware that the TGV to Bourg Saint Maurice arrives at the foot of the funicular – your train ticket means you can use the funicular up to Les Arcs 1600 without having to buy a separate ticket. Intra-village transfer buses will get you to / from 1800

Sorry if this is done to death/before…

Anyone have recommendations of whereabouts to stay for a Whistler trip? Hoping to go at Easter with the family, teenagers like a bit of life…  Not sure if whistler village is too lively, or if Blackcomb side is too quiet!? Close to lifts/ slopes is defintely preferred. Thanks!

Edit- what’s parking like too? Planning on a few days in Vancouver first and driving up, so would it be a terrible idea to book something without guaranteed parking?

@johnny 

Budget will be a huge driver for where you stay. The central hotels in Whistler are ace but £££ (or $$$). You can get underground parking at those, but you’ll have to shell out even more $. And may need to book a parking space in advance.

Parking in downtown Whistler is not easy but doable. Some public car parks but restrictions are enforced. There are places to leave a car for a week, but not in the town in short walking distance, so don’t plan on using the car every day.

A family suite downtown should be just the ticket e.g. Crystal Lodge Whistler

But might need a mortgage. 

Thanks @nbt yep, I’ve been to Les Arcs before by train but you could take a sleeper in those days and bag an extra day on the slopes, a real shame it doesn’t run any more. The ski train via Lille returns on a Sunday so no use for our accommodation, your Paris tips are helpful.

@TroutWrestler I’ve known PDS to be great that late in the season, I’ve also known it to be awful much earlier on and I would only book last minute if it was looking good. I’ve never stayed in Chatel itself in winter (usually choose Les Gets or Avoriaz) but access always seems a bit of a pain to get out of Chatel and to get any decent height, I might be wrong though?

End of season trips either go night or book last minute. You might be able to find accommodation in Les Menuires and access to Val T is easy.

Menuires was glorious today. We’d had 2 average days in La Clusaz & Megève and it was raining heavily at the end of yesterday so came up here. It was rain right up until the last couple of bends on the road to Val T.

We’ve bought 6 day passes so will keep an eye on the forecasts to decide where to head next.

That looks horrendous Phil, we’re here for you! Also, please send more.

@TroutWrestler – We’ve been to Samoens/Grnad Massif a few times in April and its usually been pretty good. Don’t get me wrong it’s not -15 January snow but for the time of year theres usually still a decent covering. We went to Les 2 Alps last year and that was great as it’s really high. The lower section to the bottom was still a slush fest but you only go on that once a day really, and I find it funny any way.

The Grand Massif isn’t a high resort but it benefits from it’s proximity to Mont Blanc, I’m not a weather guru but apparently that makes it quite good snow wise even though it’s elavation isn’t great.

I’ve just booked for a week in Samoens from 30th March to 6th April, so hoping for some decent snow again. Was going to go L2A again but found some bargain accomodation so that selaed it. End of the day until the kids are not at school any more we have to take the rough with the smooth.

If the suns out and the snow is crap, we’ll stop for another drink!!

Given the weather forecast for next week we’re thinking of taking the bikes rather than the skis. Local skiing (Massif Central) is definitely a no-go, poor sods have had another terrible start to the season with nothing forecast for half-term either.

If we go we’ll head to the Alps for a few nights and get somewhere as high as we can, I don’t mind slush in Spring but it’s January FFS

Yeah off to Les Carroz next weekend and looks like it’s going to be t-shirt weather!

Cold start to the week in Sainte Foy and some great snow but silly warm today and felt more like Easter. Not sure the forecast for the end of the week is going to improve things!

I’ll wait and see, but might stick the bikes on the back of the van in easter as well!!….

Sainte Foy looking glorious, we went last year and loved it. I’ll be back at some point.

Proper spring conditions in 3 Vals today 🥵

Wife went briefly to VT and found a very thin, muddy piste.

Thanks for the photos.

Big round of applause Zac Carrick-Smith (son of Emma Carrick-Anderson and nephew of mtber Crawford Carrick-Anderson).
He has now won 2 medals at the ‘youth winter Olympic games’ and he’s only 16.
We once had the pleasure of spending time on a chair lift chatting with his twin Freddie, also a great skier.

He has now won 2 medals at the ‘youth winter Olympic games’ and he’s only 16.

Make that THREE

Gold in Combined

Silver in GS

and this morning, GOLD in Slalom

Spent last weekend in Les Menuires – part of the Three Valleys – and would recommend it as a budget way of getting into the area. Yes it was all built in the 60’s but you can easily get up to Val Thorens or hop across to Meribel and Courchavel and you don’t pay the premium of staying in them, if you’re all about the apres then you probably want a more lively resort but it was ideal for our snowboard / apres / apartment for dinner, wine & whisky routine.

Snow sports will never be ‘cheap’ but we did a 5 day trip (3 days on the mountain) and all in it cost just shy of £900 each including the spend on food & beer while we were there, so if we’d curbed the apres a bit could have knocked £100 off it pretty easily.

Conditions were great, with a huge dump in the days before we got arrived and sunshine while we were there. I’m loving my new board although the factory wax seems to be a bit too grippy, so I’ll get it redone when I get around to it. Might look at some new bindings in the post-season sales as the current ones are 18 this year.

26/1/2024 above. End of October 1991 below.

Same place, le col d’Aubisque, but looking different ways. I skinned up the pistes before they opened this morning as everything off piste is horrible. The ski down was on the ribbon of neige de culture (whatver that is in English) they’ve been able to make on the three days it’s been cold enough this season.  10°C at 1350m this morning and close to zero at 200m.

First day in Les Arcs today. Glorious weather – clear, sunny, blue skies. The snow however is a bit rubbish. Plenty of it, but it’s been through a few freeze/thaw cycles. The off piste is like cast iron, the pistes still rock hard and were only just starting to soften by the end of the day.

still – it’s time in the mountains so I’m a very happy bunny.

@JonEdwards yep today in 3 Vals was the same, absolutely no fun at all on a snowboard 😞

It’s been the worst day since we got here 5 days ago, it has all got soft and frozen one too many times. Today it never got soft. I assume tomorrow’s going to be the same, then we’re off to Morzine for a couple of days to catch a friend.

My board is in for a service, I’m not expecting miracles but some slightly sharper edges might help!

Nice night for a dog walk

Warm end to the week in Sainte Foy but still hiked to some fun corn snow and enjoyed some really fun slushy side hit action in the afternoons. Forecast looks awful for the next couple weeks so reckon we were lucky!

Never known so little snow at the end of January. The resort is still open though so I skin up the edges of the pistes now and then.

A couple of pictures from last week in Breckenridge. There had been a few good snowfalls, but there was still exposed rocks on the on piste areas.

Got back late last night from a 4 day trip to Les Carroz/ Flaine/ Samoens.

We were fearing the worst given the temps being above freezing for 2 weeks but we were pleasantly surprised at how good conditions were. Off piste was an absolute write off but the pisteurs had worked miracles on piste. They were in excellent condition and only the really low runs struggled late in the day but we had glorious sunshine for four days and excellent riding.

Off to Cervinia on Saturday. Looks like there’s going to be a reasonable dump between now and Sunday which might make the drive up interesting 😬

It snowed heavily around Morzine yesterday I’m told. Family there now.

My sons off tomorrow on a school trip to Wagain /Amade.  I know nothing of ski things but hope he takes some pics for me to post in a week or so.

It snowed heavily around Morzine yesterday I’m told. Family there now.

I was happy to see that also, heading to Avoriaz on the 18th Feb so was hoping for some good dumpage before.

Driving overnight tonight to Alpe Dhuez, straight after work. On the slopes for 9am. Forecast is snow all the way until Monday. Glad I bought some snow socks for the van the other day! Boards+Skis freshly waxed and edges sharpened. Hope its not too much of a white out on the slopes.

It’s looking like we’re heading to les Menuires for Easter.  Never been to the 3 Valleys so quite looking forward to it.  Just hoping there’s some snow by then.

I suspect avalanche risk is going to be very high with the new snow coming in. We saw a couple in Flaine and with the freeze thaw cycle, any fresh stuff on top of that crud is at high risk of sliding

Been in Flaine this week, it’s been epic. A bit sloshy on the lower slopes later in the day but the higher stuff has been great. The blues runs all busy but reds super quiet.

A couple of other observations.

falling over hurts more than it used to. My brain thinks I’m a teenager. My body reminds me I’m 45.  I feel like I’ve been in a car crash

is it okay to be both proud and irritated when you you can no longer keep up with your kids?