 Poster: A snowHead
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I'm planning an early season long weekend in mid December. I'll book flights to Geneva. I know snow conditions can be variable at that time of year. If they're good I'll go to Verbier. If not I reckon Cervinia will be as snow sure as anywhere. Does anyone have any experience of renting apartments in Cervinia? As it's early season I reckon I might be able to swing a weekend rental deal.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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It's a long time since I was in Cervinia, but isn't it a long drive from Geneva? Would you be better going to somewhere a bot closer if you're only out for the weekend?
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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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rob@rar.org.uk, It's only 125 miles. If Verbier doesn't have much open my thinking is most other places in the western alps will be in a similar situation. Also as it is just a w/e there is something to be said for going somewhere I know.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Steve Sparks, you would probably have a better chance of getting an early deal at a hotel, appartments only usually like to be rented by the week because they still have to be cleaned and checked after each rental so prices tend to be high for short lets, hotels have a bit more flexibility
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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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| Steve Sparks wrote: |
| rob@rar.org.uk, It's only 125 miles. If Verbier doesn't have much open my thinking is most other places in the western alps will be in a similar situation. Also as it is just a w/e there is something to be said for going somewhere I know. |
Verbier and Cervinia are only 30km or so apart of course so the weather won't be much different. Obviously Cervinia has a glacier though.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Quote: |
Obviously Cervinia has a glacier though.
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So does Verbier doesn't it?? Mont Fort is it?
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| the ice perv wrote: |
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Obviously Cervinia has a glacier though.
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So does Verbier doesn't it?? Mont Fort is it? |
Often not open early season though, it takes a certain amount of snow to make glaciers safe to ski. Summer ski areas on glaciers like Cervinia or Tignes are the exception not the rule.
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ise, I think the micro climates are quite different. For example last December I bailed out of Verbier at the last minute as there were only two runs open and had a great week based in Zermatt, but skiing a lot in Cervinia where the snow was fantastic.
I think it's got a lot to do with the direction that the snow bearing clouds come from, but I'm sure someone will have more definitive knowledge.
the ice perv, you are of course right. One of the real manifestations of global warming is the way the crevasses have opened up on some glaciers. For the last two winters the Mont Fort glacier has had to be dynamited to close up the crevasses. Last January they spent a day flying snow up there in a helicoptor to make it safe. Of course that night it started snowing and Switzerland experienced it's heaviest snowfall in 15 years!
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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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 Not sure about micro-climates but "where the weather is coming from" can make a big difference. For example, last winter a lot of Swiss resorts were pounded by storms coming from the north while northern Italian resorts (like Gressoney where I spent a weekend) were very dry. These places are not very far apart as the crow flies, but there are some dirty great mountains in between. The air rising over them causes the precipitation to start, and often there isn't much moisture left by the time the air gets over the mountain. Plus the sinking air warms up and is less liable to cause rain. If memory of my A-level geography serves, it's called the rain shadow effect.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Arno, rain shadow, differences in height or aspect all most certainly exist, I just think "micro climate" by and large is just part of a stream of nonsense off the Crystal transfer coach. Conditions are more affected by mundane factors like height, aspect in terms of sun and wind and the simple factor of the shape of the hill and surface.
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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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Agreed - both on rain shadow and nonsense talked by reps 
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I've been to Cervinia twice first w/e in Dec. Once you could ski down to village (2050m) and once you had to get the cable car up to 2500 before there was a thin sliver of farmed snow. On both occassions there was reasonable snow further up but the main glacier is on the Zermatt side, which means you have to buy a ticket for both sides (Italian and Swiss) if you want to use that.
The village was very quiet so sure you could get a reasonable deal in one of the hotels (not all open that early).
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