 Poster: A snowHead
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Quick question:
I'm a snowboarder, like a bit of side piste and have to do a billy no mates trip, booking in about an hour to travel this weekend. I don't know much about either resort so, Pila or Courmayeur?
It seems that they're both about the same size, both ski areas from 1900 or so up to about 2700. I don't really need much apres, it's more about the snow. I see you've got to get a cable up to the ski area in Courmayeur, does this attract long queues - I'm generally a fist lift kind of guy.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Courmayeur has access to lots and lots of off piste (including a cable car which services nothing but), you can access Chamonix from it I think. Pila is more a family-oriented piste-oriented station.
If you're going to Pila be aware that you may actually be staying in Aosta, which has a long slow gondola to get up to Pila. You might want to double check that if you opt for Pila.
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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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There is lots of side-/off-piste in Pila accessed from the top two chair-lifts. If it dumps during the week then you can be skiing freshies for days as there is no-one there in the week. We were then in January and I've never skied so much powder.
Note that if you are staying in Pila itself, there is almost zero apres-ski and much of the village is deserted at night. The gondola up/down from Aosta takes about 15 minutes each way but unfortunately closes at 5pm.
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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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Cheers chaps. I've just Talked to the T/O and they're checking on room availability in Courmayeur. Fingers crossed.
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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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We were in Courmayeur for the first week of feb, the only time we queued was on the staurday when the weekend "crowds" came up from Milan and Turin. Even then it was more a case of "oh we can't ski straight onto the lift". There's plenty of scope for piste-side action and bit of trees to play in, and some more serious offpiste routes if you want to go with a guide. Other folks fro our hotel did an away day to Pila and said it was great for piste cruising, but to be frank we had so much fun in Courmayeur (fresh snow every day) I'm not overly bothered that we didn;t make it to Pila
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Between the two I would probably go for Courmayeur but the skiing is not extensive - you will probably have covered all the pistes a number of times in 3 days – also (like most resorts) the off piste is skied out pretty quickly - so if you get an option to go to Pila take it – there is plenty of easy access off piste here as well the other option would be a day in La Thuile
If you are considering the bigger itineries then as nbt pointed out I would look at getting a guide – it is not easily accessible (esp from the top of Youla) and I didn’t feel confident enough to attempt without a guide
They were slow - 2 weeks ago - opening up the mountain after heavy snow so the skiing was quite limited – but there were not many queues - good luck and have fun
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rogg, base yourself in Courmayeur, it's a large town with plenty going on. You can also have a day in each of Pila and La Thuile on your lift pass, both served by buses (in the case of Pila it's a bus to Aosta then the gondola up).
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Call my Bluff
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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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Just as a warning, the buses from COurmayeur to other towns are no longer free - it's about 4 euros return to La Thuile (30 minutes) and about 6 to Pila, takes an hour.
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Thanks for all the extra info chaps. All booked now. Courmayeur it is.
CH2O, Ah, would that it were, would that it were.
Off to wax and edge. Beer called for methinks
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Both those days out are well worth it, especially since none of the 3 areas are especially large in piste mileage. I did the three whilst staying in La Thuile (so 4 days there, and a day each in Courmayeur and Pila). As a group we didn't get on with Courmayeur (4 beginners amongst us, and it's a bit tough for newbies), but I think I'd have a better time if I went back now.
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