 Poster: A snowHead
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Due to my sons SATs we need to go skiing on the 12april this year. Obviously being later in the season we will be heading high, probably Alpe d'huez or similar. However I was wondering how resorts like St Anton hold up in Mid April, obviously lower down but does it suffer because of it? I have heard that due to factors I can't understand Austria tends to get more snow at lower altitudes than France, is that true or is it too risky?
Also what is Zermatt like, it looks to be pretty high up, I have done most of my skiing in France for some reason so Aust/Switz is a bit of a mystery to me.
I would love to hear from Anybody who regularly ski's these resorts at that time of year .
Thanks in advance.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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mheadbee, I am hoping that this April is going to be fantastic (as that is the date we are going out there) 
Last year looking at web cams is was getting thin lower down but it wasn't a great end of season. On the whole I got the impression it is pretty reliable....
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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I would be a little nervous of St. Anton in mid-April. I think they will probably close around the third weekend of April. It will most likely be getting thin down low toward town but will have plenty of snow up high. Another option is Ischl in the next valley over. They stay open till the beginning of May.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Consider Ischgl in April. Been last two years then and the cover was great
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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St Anton: Its pot luck, depends on the March/April snow. It's right at the end of the season so could be very thin coverage if the temperatures warm up towards the end of March/early April.
Zermatt is on a glacier so much better chance of snow in April
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+1 On Ischgl in April - Skied to village last week in April this year and that was a poor season.....
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mheadbee,
What are you looking to ski piste or offpiste?
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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You would be pretty unlucky not to have snow in Zermatt in mid April. There will plainly be snow at altitude.
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mheadbee, You would be pretty unlucky not to have snow in St. Anton mid April. You may not be able to ski down to the town, but the skiable area is enormous and I have always been able to do almost all of it right up to end of season. Note that end of season used to be later than it is now, they used to take things into the first week of May. Nowadays they just close down because no one seems to want to do ski holidays after Easter anymore, not because of lack of snow.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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i've skied anton many years through april, don't expect off piste, usually soft and slushy so be up early before this happens, otherwise for piste skiing its ok. Worst thing is the closure of almost the entire village prior to the lift closure. Most seem to close in the second week of April depending on Easter and snow- shops bars mountain restaurants etc.
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Thanks for response guys.
I am doing a lads trip in january to Les Gets which is a full on flat out boarding event. The April one is a family trip so I tend to put on the sticks and potter about. To be honest I only took to ski's about 3-4 years ago and never really got hooked so I am a bit crap. I am an accomplished boarder so will look for any powder going but with the family it tends to be low key and definitely on piste. We are taking another family of first timers this year so gentle and easy is the requirement.
I am now looking at meribel for the 12th April.
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You know it makes sense.
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mheadbee, when we went to Courchevel one year at Easter and found meribel iarea very slushy and it much better from 1850 and above on the Courchevel side. Apparently it was good over in Val Thorens. Obviously you can't guarantee rone year to the next.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Not sure Meribel will be any better than St Anton at that time of the year?
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Poster: A snowHead
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I suspect Meribel will have its own late-season problems. Ice and slush (the local slopes mostly face east and west) and relatively low altitude. Courchevel 1850 would probably be better, and Val Thorens probably better still.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Temperatures at St Anton and Courchevel 1650 should be comparable at that time of year (it's still a bit cooler further east). Meribel is spread out but lower parts are likely to be warmer than St Anton. That said you'll be skiing above the village so that matters less. Most years you should still be enjoying good (lateish) spring skiing that week, but given it's late in the season conditions can vary quite a lot.
I'd happily go skiing the Arlberg or Three Valleys that time of year, but I'd be anticipating finishing relatively early, sunbathing on the terraces with a glass of wine, looking good in shades and picking up admiring glances...
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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mheadbee, I have skied for two weeks every April for about 12 years. Zermatt had excellent conditions when I went. St Anton can have excellent conditions too, but it is much lower than many French resorts. For really snow-sure conditions then Tignes and Val Thorens cannot really be beaten. Lots of north facing slopes at altitude. If you have the luxury, then wait for a last minute deal, that is a completely different matter to booking in advance. Paradiski should also have some excellent skiing then. I would go to Tignes, you are almost guaranteed very good conditions. If you fancy some off-piste guiding then there are plenty of options too.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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mheadbee, I have skied for two weeks every April for about 12 years. Zermatt had excellent conditions when I went. St Anton can have excellent conditions too, but it is much lower than many French resorts. For really snow-sure conditions then Tignes and Val Thorens cannot really be beaten. Lots of north facing slopes at altitude. If you have the luxury, then wait for a last minute deal, that is a completely different matter to booking in advance. Paradiski should also have some excellent skiing then. I would go to Tignes, you are almost guaranteed very good conditions. If you fancy some off-piste guiding then there are plenty of options too.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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mheadbee, I have skied for two weeks every April for about 12 years. Zermatt had excellent conditions when I went. St Anton can have excellent conditions too, but it is much lower than many French resorts. For really snow-sure conditions then Tignes and Val Thorens cannot really be beaten. Lots of north facing slopes at altitude. If you have the luxury, then wait for a last minute deal, that is a completely different matter to booking in advance. Paradiski should also have some excellent skiing then. I would go to Tignes, you are almost guaranteed very good conditions. If you fancy some off-piste guiding then there are plenty of options too.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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JayDub, you can't compare French resort heights to Austrian heights.
hsdee, see my videos I posted. Off piste seemed ok to me!
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| hsdee wrote: |
| i've skied anton many years through april, don't expect off piste, usually soft and slushy so be up early before this happens, otherwise for piste skiing its ok. Worst thing is the closure of almost the entire village prior to the lift closure. Most seem to close in the second week of April depending on Easter and snow- shops bars mountain restaurants etc. |
Of course you can expect offpiste; it's prime touring season!!
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| Quote: |
| I would be a little nervous of St. Anton in mid-April |
I wouldn't. Been 3 or 4 times in late April - twice for the final weekend of the season - and have always had excellent snow. The resort tends to close due to lack of skiers rather than lack of snow. In fact you can often find every type of snow on one run, top to bottom! (Powder/packed powder at the top; morphing to soft/spring snow; then slush by the bottom. All the fun of the fair!
Resort runs are kept open - even if it's a piste-width strip of snow through a grassy meadow at the very bottom. It's great fun skiing slush bumps! It's the same story for Ischgl - also recommended for late season.
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| Of course you can expect offpiste; it's prime touring season!! |
You beat me to that one clarky999 
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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I wouldn't go to Meribel in mid April. It's pretty low, and even if the skiing higher up is OK, there's a fair chance that you'd be living surrounded by slush and brown grass.
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mheadbee, You'll be fine, asclarky999, says its peak touring season so o/p is fantastic. Skied many times in April in St Anton, great time to go long days and pistes in great shape until Easter and beyond. I'll be there.
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