 Poster: A snowHead
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IncogSkiSno, Late January and most of February is likely to be very snow sure, to be honest what often happens is that they get massive snowfalls just before the Lauberhorn Race (causing it to be cancelled) or just after (when the race was called off due to poor conditions) it was this early season unreliability that caused them to install lots of snow making machines, I've had poor snow (thin in places) at Christmas on several occasions but I've always been able to ski there, I've never lacked snow in early February, best week is the week before half term, usually excellent snow and no one on the mountain except at weekends
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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D G Orf, Thanks for that advice, that's certainly worth knowing. The snow surety was making Zermatt more favorable. Would Murren be a safer bet for snow, it sounds really nice but I'm not sure about ski area for us (Intermediates after lots mileage but keen to try anything within reason). Also I notice in the Swiss Travel Brochure that lessons in Wengen are for 3 hours, is this just the morning then?
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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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IncogSkiSno, Murren is a safer bet for snow in December but not once you get to mid January, though Murren will have deeper snow it makes very little difference once a decent snowbase is down.
I'd say that you might find Murrens ski area a bit limiting and would enjoy the wider pistes arround Wengen more
Lessons at the ski school in Wengen are indeed just in the morning, although you can of course book privately for the afternoon.
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D G Orf, I actually like the idea of lessons in the morning, it leaves the pm free to go exploring or have snowboard lessons 
Is there more than one ski school, if so, is there one that you'd recommend?
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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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IncogSkiSno, yes there is, the Swiss Ski School do group lessons in the morning and private in the afternoon, The Privat Ski School unsurprisingly just do private lessons, of the two in general there's little to choose between them, I know of people who've used both schools and have had good lessons, however the privat school does have a good reputation though they are often booked up as they're much much smaller.
I think if it were me (and I've no intention of taking up snowboarding) I'd have group snowboarding lessons and a few private ski lessons, private lessons can be quite good as you can agree to meet the instructor near the top of the mountain so don't loose out on expensive lesson time, typically meeting at one of the numerous restaurants
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D G Orf, I'd like to do the group ski lessons for the social aspect, and I only intend to have the snowboard lessons towards the end of the holiday as I am accident prone when it comes to boarding, though we may have one or two private ski lesson as a top up. 
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I have now looked at the brochure, and if possible if we do go it'll be 20 - 26 Jan or 27 Jan - 2 Feb as you can get one night free for these dates. 
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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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D G Orf, Well nothing certain on dates or place as yet, I was drawn to Wengen/Murren when I first read about them. Are one of those weeks one of the ones you'll be there then? We will definately try for the Alpenrose. What else would you recommend if this is not available - must have good food!?!
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IncogSkiSno, Early Feb is usually good arround Wengen, you tend to get good snow and uncrowded slopes which is a perfect combination.
Which other hotels are in the brochure and in your price bracket ?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Well that was an interesting holiday!
Got back on Saturday from a week staying in Interlaken (which means we arrived on Day 1 of the rain). Very strange experience - the first we knew of a problem was on the Monday evening when some people eating at the table next to us explained that they couldn't get back to Grindelwald. The rain had been bad but honestly hadn't seemed that bad - we'd spent all of the Sunday walking around Lake Brienz and had got soaked but nothing worse that that.
Went exploring around Interlaken on the Tuesday morning and saw the water at Ost as well as the flooded river banks. Then decided to head up to Wilderswil to see how things were up there. As I think someone mentioned the Interlaken bypass(?) was deep under water in places and the bank alongside the railway had completely gone in one place. A large section of the motorway was also covered with earth and rock etc. Wilderswil was pretty bad near the station - mud everywhere, maybe 5 or 6 inches of the stuff in some people's gardens. The rail track was buried in mud as well and trees and branches were caught under the trains.
Things seemed to be claming down by the Thursday so we went to Grindelwald on the local bus. The pictures on here look bad but don't quite capture the devastation of the route up from Zweilutschinen. 2 bridges were gone (one on the main road) but there were loads of places with track dangling in mid-air. It must have been absolutely terrifying for anyone in the area at the time. Grindelwald itself seemed unaffected - we went up to Bort (as far as we could get) and then walked down from there.
On Friday headed up to Wengen and beyond. Very odd contrast with the Grindelwald road as there was little sign of damage - there were signs in places that the river had overflown and some mud but very little else.
This was our first trip to the area and I'm sure it won't be our last. Despite everything we had a great week and the scenery was absolutely stunning. Very impressive.
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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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D G Orf, Falken(this looks like something that the Adams family would stay in),Bellevue, Belvedere,Eiger, Siberhorn, Sunstar, Wengener Hof & Beausite Park is probably too expensive!
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IncogSkiSno, Bellvue is another hotel with a bit of a hike but is supposed to be reasonable to stay in, I think I'd avoid the Falken still as there's still a lot of work that needs doing there to bring it up to scratch, The Belvedere is a very big hotel and a few people have told me that it can be quite impersonal, the Eiger is ok I sometimes stop there for lunch if I've skied down to the village at that time, the Silberhorn is another big hotel and whilst I'm not overly keen on it I know many people who enjoy staying there, both it and the Eiger are virtually next to the station but don't wory about noise as there isn't any, the Sunstar is supposed to have good food but is a bit more up market, the Park is very upmarket and again should have good food, I've never eaten in the Wengenerhof nor do I know anyone who's stayed there I'm afraid
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You know it makes sense.
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D G Orf, Where does everyone gather after the last run for early Apres?
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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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IncogSkiSno, any one of several bars, there's a small bar under the Silberhorn that's nice or the Chillis bar on the high street is quite fun, I usually go up to the DHO hut before dinner as I'm a chap skate, there's even a bar on the nursery slopes, also down at Innerwengen or at Almend station before the last gentle ski back to the village, or even up at Kleine Schidegg, there's no one place that's more popular than the others
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Poster: A snowHead
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IncogSkiSno, The Falken is very charming !. Really enjoyed a week their last year, reasonable well situated.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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srobbo, I thought the pictures of it looked creepy, old and dark urgh
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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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IncogSkiSno, Traditonal ?
Has a lot of character, rooms are a reasonable size, food is good, small bar (good barman, Terry, (Aussie !)) Piano player most night's which is a bit unusual.
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I've stayed at the falken many times in the past, although not recently. Although a little tatty round the edges it always had a very warm and friendly atmosphere and was likened to Fawlty Towers! It may be different now Frau Cova is no longer around.
I have very fond memories of the Falken - being bitten by the big Old English sheepdog that hated children (Junior I think it was called). Being forbidden to go on the balconies by my parents as they were so unsafe, standing in the hotel lounge as the wind made the door slam and the glass smash all over the floor around me... Those were the days!
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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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srobbo, yes the Falken has improved but being honest it's still not up to the same standard as many of the other hotels, I expect it to be better still this season but one can never be certain, it certainly has atmosphere and at least the roof no longer leaks, but it does need more work, the piano player is not there for the whole season though if I understand things correctly, he's damn good though, certainly worth a trip up to their bar one evening.
I'd not call it creepy but it's definately old fashioned, Frau Cova who ran the place passed away a few years back and sadly her son passed away very soon afterwards, the last time I enquired her daughter who already owned Sinas Pub and the Pizzeria had managed to persuade the banks who hold the mortgage to let her take over, this all happened in the early winter, by the following summer the roof was being completely replaced (only about 10 years late) so the tales of bowls on the floors to catch the drips need no longer to be told, I also heard that they had either repaired the balconies or were planning on doing so (some of them used to be tied on with rope !). My mother stayed in the Falken on one of her early trips to Wengen in the mid 1950's and tells the tale of how she and her friend left the windows open one night because it was so stuffy, only to wake up in the morning to find an icicle hanging from the tap ! I think if they carry on doing the same sort of improvements to the hotel that they have been doing then within a few years the Falken will once again be one of the nicest hotels to stay in in Wengen (not the most luxurious or fanciest but nicest)
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IncogSkiSno, As a whole the region is (look at stats on SCGB site,) but Murren is higher so has a better depth of snow all season.
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Power cut on the WAB between Grund and KS. My parents were stranded just above Alpiglen, having missed the connection at KS. They've been promised a taxi once they can get the train back to Grund!!
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Its a FACT....the snow level in Murren is much better than Wengen and you can ski ALL season back to the village.
D G Orf, Can you in Wengen ?
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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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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Chris Brookes, I can't remember the last time I couldn't ski back to the village though it was touch and go in the early winter of 2000/2001, I've never had a problem in February
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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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Chris Brookes, yes you get grassy patches appearing on the south facing slopes, but the piste back to the village is much flatter than the exposed slopes in your picture and genrally retains its snow, one of the worst spots for losing snow cover is just below the top station of the Innerwengen lift where the piste narrows and it gets worn off, but on the whole since they got the snow cannon on the lower slopes they've been able to maintain good coverage on the lower runs
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You know it makes sense.
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D G Orf, fair doos.
I hate viewing my pictures of Murren as it makes me want to be there NOW
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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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Chris Brookes, oh yes I know that feeling 
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Poster: A snowHead
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Just wanted to say "Hi". I've been reading this thread ever since the flooding in the Jungfrau region started hitting the news. It's terrible and I hope they manage to get everything sorted out soon. I've visited the area many many times both in the summer and winter, I hope all will be ok by January when I next go. Knowing the Swiss I'm sure they will sort everything pretty quickly.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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LemonJelly, Hello welcome to 's.
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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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LemonJelly, welcome !!
Where do you stay in the region ?
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| Chris Brookes wrote: |
LemonJelly, welcome !!
Where do you stay in the region ? |
Hi,
When I was younger we stayed in Interlaken during both the summer and winter. Strangly we stayed at Manor Farm as it enabled us to go skiing for 2 weeks for a stupidly cheap price. Those little static caravans are surprisingly warm in the winter. These days we prefer staying in Grindelwald and we normally stay in the Hotel Derby.
I have some pretty nice pictures from 2003 if you want to see them.
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Thanks for the welcomes guys 
Here are some pics from the last time I went boarding and skiing in 2002/03 - Linky.
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LemonJelly, Your pictures are really very good, are you a keen photographer?
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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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LemonJelly, welcome to snowHeads and thanks for the pics, nice one of the lake by the way
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LemonJelly, Very good pic's, welcome to snowHeads
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FAQ
Gut instinct possibly 
