 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi All,
I'm looking to organise a week trip to Hemsedal over the New Year period.
We are a group of beginners/intermediates.
My main concern is the amount of daylight - how many hours of skiing would we expect to get?
Also, how cold is it around that time?
Would appreciate any feedback or advice.
Thanks!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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billieb, Welcome to Snowheads. I went to Geilo, which isn't far from there, straight after New Year in 2004. From memory the lifts opened from 9.30 to 3.30 but there was also floodlit skiing on several evenings too. I think it can get pretty cold but it wasn't particularly when we were there.
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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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billieb, Warm cloth and headlight! 
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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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billieb, Welcome to Snowheads.
I've done New Year in Hemsedal - it was cold. Very cold. Minus 18 on the first day. Minus 25 two days later, plus wind-chill as well. Far too cold to ski, and the main lifts all closed at about minus 20 anyway. Even on fairly good days, it was just too cold to ski for anything more than an hour before heading indoors to thaw out. Pistes were icy and not much fun (I say this as a competent and experienced skier). We caught the bus from the village to the slopes every morning in darkness and it was dark again by early afternoon. What we did enjoy was husky sledging, wilderness walks around the lake in total silence and the experience of being in the middle of nowhere - but that's because we were prioritising a good relaxing break and experiencing somewhere different rather than a full-on ski holiday.
But - for beginners, this has to be a no-go. They'll freeze to death. They'll wonder why this skiing lark is so hyped up and may never want to ski again. There are no cosy mountain restaurants as in France or Austria. Apres is very limited and eye-wateringly expensive. There are few restaurants or bars; the resort is based on a couple of hotels and lots of self-catering huts. While I would happily go back to Hemsedal in March or April when it would hopefully be warmer and lighter, I would not go back in December/January.
Last edited by You need to Login to know who's really who. on Fri 1-11-13 11:03; edited 1 time in total
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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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Opening hours actually seem to be 9.00-4.30 all season, but the number of slopes open after 3 pm is probably limited to the onces with floodlights. Evening and morning skiing also available on certain days. The daylight will be limited of course. I've been there in december and it can be rather dark and gloomy at that time, I prefer to go later in the season. It can be very cold, the temperature is usually not that terrifying, but the wind can be very chilling.
http://www.skistar.com/en/Hemsedal/SkiPass-and-Skiing/Opening-hours/
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Hello,, Hemsedal is proberly the best liftserved resort in Scandinavia, ( yes Im Scandie and I have ski all the most importent resorts in Scandinavia) but I will not recomended it that time for beginners, around -20 is not extremly cold,, that time of year it can go lower than -35 at the base,, and even if the sun is up a few hours it will not warm you up,, but its a dry air, but windchill is still a problem, perhaps -5 in Scottland feels colder,, from February Hemsedal is fantastic, they use to close first weekend in May
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freeheelskier, Åre, Åre Åre. 
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I'm going to Åre first week of March. Hopefully not too cold but not too warm!
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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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Thank you all for your kind responses and welcomes 
Seems the general opinion is a no-no for Hemsedal in December.
I'm now deliberating over either
1) Hemsedal in mid February 2014
2) An alternative place to go over New Year 2014
Any suggestions? Last year we went to Les Arcs, France in mid-Dec and we had an amazing time - our first skiing experience. So we just want to try out a new country/resort and thought Switzerland was more expensive.
Thanks in advance.
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I have no idea, but people keep mentioning Austria to me. I wish I knew more for you, maybe you can look it up
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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billieb, Hemsedal in mid-Feb is still likely to be cold. I'd wait until March or April. Mid-Feb is Scandinavian half-term, so it will be busy with Danish and Norwegian families. Hemsedal is nothing like Les Arcs (or any other reasonably large resort in the Alps). There is lots of snow, but that is due to the latitude, not due to the altitude. I fear that you will be very disappointed having experienced the Alps.
As for New Year alternatives, if you mean this coming New Year then your options are going to be very limited as it's one of the busiest weeks of the season and likely to be close to being sold out. I would write down your priorities (chalet/hotel/self-catering; approx. budget; size of resort etc.) and then get on the phone to some tour operators or a specialist travel agency such as Alpine Answers and see what they come up with. You can always ask on here about specific resorts once you have some options. Places that spring to mind are La Rosiere, Westendorf, Ellmau, Saalbach-Hinterglemm-Leogang, Maria Alm, Zell am See - other people will have their favourites.
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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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We went to Hemsedal first week in Jan a couple of years ago, we got a massive dump of snow the night we arrived and had a week skiing pow, the resort was deserted! It wasnt too cold, we went the year before in Feb and it was really cold (-25 deg C), but it was sunny everyday and the snow stayed in amazing condition with it being so cold. The accommodation in Hemsedal is generally of very high quality, we stayed at Skarnutsen and it was cheap and pretty smart, however snow chains are a must to get up the hill! The other thing is that Hemsedal is pretty cheap compared to the alps, including flights, hire car, week pass etc it came in less than £500 for a week. This was flying from Aberdeen where the flights alone cost over £200 each.
The resort in general isnt huge but the lift system is really fast (with the exception of the few pomas) but it is great for beginners and intermediates as you can ski from the highest point in the resort to the base on a blue/green run. There is also some pretty challenging black runs and the off piste is really easily accessed from the lifts, getting a guide is a must not only for safety but to find the best routes as there are many. If you like the park then the one in Hemsedal is the best I have ever seen, better than anything I have seen in US, Canada, Alps and even Scotland!
Cheers
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Thanks guys. I have now ruled Hemsedal off the list.
If anyone could give suggestions, with priorities being a modern self catered chalet, preferably ski-in/ski-out, not too keen on noisy apres-ski areas, and also good for beginners/intermediate skiing.
I am currently looking at Switzerland resorts - St Moritz, Wenger and also Cervinia in Italy.
Thanks a lot!
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You know it makes sense.
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I'm now seriously considering Wenger.
Does anyone know if there will be good amount of snow either mid or end of December?
Thanks!
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