 Poster: A snowHead
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During a week in Courmayeur 16th-23rd March, we took a day trip to Pila. I was on the Ski Club GB "Technique Top Up" week, and this was one of the days of tuition from the excellent Emma Stocks. Emma was based in Pila for several years, so really knows the resort inside out.
Our coach dropped us at the carpark in Aosta, down in the valley, where the gondola up to Pila starts. The gondola ride over a dual carriageway and allotments was a bizarre experience, especially as it was definitely spring in the valley, with the locals working in their gardens. There was plenty of snow by the time we got to Pila though.
The weather in Courmayeur was pretty warm all week, with the snow suffering by the end of the day, particularly low down. Pila is predominantly north facing, and the snow held up much better. The skiing is a lovely combination of tree-lined runs, and some higher runs above the trees. There's a good variety in the runs, and some interesting bumps off the sides.
The view from the highest point of the resort, Piatta da Grevon at 2,662m is brilliant, and worth the trip up on the slow Couis 1 lift. You can look across towards both Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn in one direction, and down into the next valley in the other. The black run (27) down from there is pretty fun too.
We didn't experience any queues all day. There were quite a few ski schools, but there was no shortage of space. We didn't ski anywhere near all the runs in a day.
Although Pila only has 70km of pistes, I'm seriously considering it for a week's holiday next year. I think there's plenty to keep me occupied, especially if I spent some time in lessons, which appear to be far cheaper than in France. The 6 day ski pass also includes 2 days in any other Aosta Valley resort (Courmayeur, Cervinia, Champoluc, La Thuile), although I'm not sure how easy it is to get between them by public transport. There seem to be some reasonably price ski-in ski-out hotels.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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sugarmoma666, interesting report, thanks. I drive through Aosta now and then and one of these days I'm going up to Pila! How much are the ski lessons?
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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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pam w, you won't be disappointed. It's a lovely little place. I'm not sure exactly how much the lessons are but when I looked they seemed very good value.
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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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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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sugarmoma666, very similar prices to our local ski schools - the ESF and an ESI.
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| pam w wrote: |
| sugarmoma666, interesting report, thanks. I drive through Aosta now and then and one of these days I'm going up to Pila! How much are the ski lessons? |
Still not been yet ! Go on you will love it.
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sugarmoma666, we do 5 days there most years and there is plenty to ski. Many hotels are ski in/out. We only do the 5 days as it can get busy on the weekends. Check out Pilaski.co.uk for good deals on accommodation - Carole lives out there so is as local as it gets. Just organise your flights and she does the rest cheaper than you can do yourself.
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Pila is a great little resort. Went there in Feb 2014 after nine years away from the slopes. Prices are very reasonable. I ordered a coffee on the mountain on my first morning and braced myself for the answer at the till. It was 1.30E. Really good mountain restaurants as well with lunch for three around 40E. You are right in that public transport to the other resorts on the pass is not good. You would really need a car. Having a car also lets you stay in Aosta which is a fabulous little town. I remember paying 27E a day to get my daughter into ski school (2.5 hrs a day)
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