 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi
Three of us are hoping to get a week in Europe, 8-15 Jan. Trying to get a list of resorts that reduce the risk of poor snow. I think we should probably have high altitude, but also some wooded skiing, in case of wind & storms.
So far, I've got:
Serre Chevalier; Les Arcs; La Plagne (les Coches?); Courchevel; Meribel/Mottaret; La Tania; Risoul.
And I wonder if it is safer to avoid: Val d'Isere, Tignes, Les Deux Alpes, Alpes d'Huez, Flaine, due to lack of tree skiing. And I haven't listed anything lower than about 1400m, where it is hard to be sure of good snow cover.
Any comments welcome.
Derek
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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kered, Welcome to snowHeads!
I suspect you're being a trifle pessimistic. I certainly hope so, since I'm off to Megève the week before, which is below 1400m at base level (but still plenty above). That would certainly do you for trees. From memory, there's quite a bit of tree cover at Flaine too, which is higher, but there's an exposed ridge at the very top.
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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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St Anton? that's got a good snow record and quite a bit of treeline skiing. Don't know of any others from personal experience, the two qualities tend to be mutually exclusive IMHO.
BTW welcome to 
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Plenty of tree skiing in the Gd Massif just not directly above Flaine. There's a fair amount around Val D'Isere for that matter but it's mostly off-piste of course.
I've had some excellent skiing in January storms round St Gervais/Megeve for that matter.
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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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Thanks for the advice.
I've enjoyed great conditions on many trips, but the odd time has been disappointing, so I'm always keen to minimise the chances of that.
Derek
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Odd time? About my favourite time actually, all the holiday punters have gone home, snow's often excellent, what more could you want?  In the bad old days when we lived in the UK it was the middle two weeks of Jan we always used to go away.
I really would suggest looking at Flaine, the tree skiing to Morillon and Les Carroz is excellent if you're concerned about it. In fact, staying in Morilon or Les Carroz might be a good idea.
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ise, we went to FLaine around then and had excellent snow. Also had good snow in Serre Che then, and La Plagne. My favourtie time to ski. We went to Serre Che one year, and arrived lunchtime. I didn't have my own skis then, so we had lunch in the village while we waited for the 1st ski shop to opena t 1.30. Straight up the lift, and we never saw another skier all afternoon, it was eerie, and the snow was excellent. We were across in Monetier-les-Bains, so it was quieter, but even the other pistes were very quiet.
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Kered, if you're considering Les Arcs and La rlagne why not look across the valley at La Rosiere 1850, it's on the sunny south-facing side of the Haute Tarentaise valley. Lots of tree line skiing over the border in La Thuile. I must declare an interest here, we have a chalet in La Ros, have alook at our ad in snowShops, it might be another option for you.
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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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kered,
You seem to be restricting yourself entirely to France; early season snow is often better further East. As I always whitter on, with a party this small at low season you can wait and see. Height isn't everything particularly early season. It's often where the snow has fallen. Switzerland and Austria have lots of resorts with tree skiing for bad weather.
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Derek,
Completly agree with your choice of (French) resorts. Quite right to exclude VD, Flaine and VT. I also agree with T bar but leave it til the last minute. Most resorts in Austria don't need the same depth of snow as the base is meadow rather than the rock and scree of France.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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kered, The Peisey-Vallandry valley is very weatherproof in the early season with tree skiing and acces to Les Arcs and La Plagne now well sorted. You could try Flying Squirrel for advice about flats at that time or Cathy and Mark for chalet accommodation
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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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| John Scott wrote: |
Derek,
Completly agree with your choice of (French) resorts. Quite right to exclude VD, Flaine and VT. I also agree with T bar but leave it til the last minute. Most resorts in Austria don't need the same depth of snow as the base is meadow rather than the rock and scree of France. |
It's rock and scree because it's above the normal vegatation line, which you might take to mean it's too cold and there's too much snow for too much of the year for too much to grow. And that'd sound like a fine place to ski for me.
I'll be skiing in Flaine and VD in January, and I'll be delighted if no one else is
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Wow! This is really helpful.
I like the idea of Austria, for a change - haven't been there since Schladming in 1991 (except for a summer trip last year!) And the only way I'd be confident going somewhere like that is to leave it 'til the last minute. I agree this is likely to be OK for the week of 8th Jan, but maybe less sure, when I'm relying on a flight from Glasgow - having to get to an English airport would be a real headache.
Thanks to all, and hoping we all have a great season!
Derek
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