 Poster: A snowHead
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Now that it's snowed, any thoughts where best place would be to head if one could hypothetically get away for few days around 5 December? Where will definitely be open and likely to offer greatest extent of skiing at that time?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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In France, a lot (the majority) of ski resorts will not be open that early, regardless of the snow. I think a lot of austrian resorts open a bit earlier. It has snowed, but there needs to be more - and happily more is on the way in the coming week. One obvious choice would be the Espace Killy, if you are heading to France. Somewhere with lots of high altitude skiing. This last bout fell as rain at the outset, at low to middling altitude.
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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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All resorts in the Spanish Pyrenees and Andorra, and many in the French Pyrenees, will be open on the 5th December, to cater to the Spanish bank holiday weekend that runs until the 8th. It'll be a little busy, but not enough to put you off going. Baqueira-Beret on the Spanish side has 155km, Grandvalira in Andorra has 200km, Grand Tourmalet on the French side is also large. Baqueira opens this coming weekend in fact, thanks to the half a metre of snow that fell on Saturday, so it's the surest option; but there's no reason at the moment to think that more snow won't arrive. All the resorts in the Pyrenees have got their cannons on full-blast to build a base, thanks to the crazy cold temperatures in northern Spain at the moment.
[And those quoted km are real, not like the ones publicized by resorts in the French Alps!]
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Montafon, Ischgl, Axamer Lizum (and I believe the Arlberg) all open this weekend. All just got a good amount of snow, and it looks like all should get more this weekend.
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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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Flachau opens this weekend
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Serfaus opens on the 3rd Dec and is vety reliable for snow as is pretty high for Austria and it's a nice big area too. It's also looking lovely and white right now 
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Obergurgl has been open since the 12th and according to reports on the ground it was pretty decent prior to snow at the weekend. Nice ski area and base if you like nice wellness (spa) type hotels. Not so good if you want pubs and bars etc.
Solden down the road is also worth a look, bigger area has a bit of a rep has a party town but you can easily keep away from it.
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@Grizwald, actually Obergurgl kinda sucked before the new snow 
However it'll be much better now!
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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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I'm off to Zermatt on 6th Dec. It's looking good now. Tignes and val thorens are also looking great as well as the Austrian glaciers. It's certainly better than this time last year.
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I'd probably go for Ischgl or maybe Obertauern in Austria.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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For early December I'd probably go for Tignes. So just as well I'll be there for 3 days from the 5th... 
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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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Chamrousse look to have a lot of snow down past 1600m, with another big dump forecast this week on meteoexploration. They open on the 5th December.
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Val thorens is looking good, and will be open from Saturday
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You know it makes sense.
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Any number of "low level" resorts are opening this weekend in parts of Austria, several within less than a one hour drive along a motorway from Salzburg. This year you don't seem to have to go high to guarantee good snow.
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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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If just for a few days then maybe from Innsbruck airport:
Kuthai (easiest to access by far)
Stubai Glacier
Solden/Obergurgl
If you wanted to go the next week and for 7 days there is an AI offer in Cervinia for just over £300. I was looking at this offer and have one other person interested.
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Poster: A snowHead
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So I have 3 days next week Fri / Sat / Sun. Question? Is it worth stealing a cheeky ski. Yes is the obvious answer but where can I get to quickly and relatively easily given the small window of opportunity? Fly? Train? Drive?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@peanuthead, Go on the Ischgl Facebook page, snow right down to village level at 1400m - that will make your mind up for you!
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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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I don't know about the other Pyrennian resorts but for a short break Baqueira, while lovely, doesn't quite tick the "really easy to get to" button.
You really want direct, evening flights both ends and short transfers.
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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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Sierra Nevada in Spain is opening this Saturday (28th November).
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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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| under a new name wrote: |
I don't know about the other Pyrennian resorts but for a short break Baqueira, while lovely, doesn't quite tick the "really easy to get to" button.
You really want direct, evening flights both ends and short transfers. |
Yes agreed and Geneva flight tick that box but not sure much is open close to Geneva next weekend?
Last edited by Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do. on Wed 25-11-15 23:37; edited 1 time in total
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Things have certainly changed in the last few days. 
If you can go for 10 days go to western Canada, Kicking Horse has about 6ft of powder top to bottom.
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@DrLawn, that's a really long transfer from my Geneva flights...
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@RetroBod, I'm not sure if you mean this weekend or next... but things are all open around the Ski Amadé area, just fly in to Salzburg. Plus the WE of the 3/4/5 features Krampus festivals, Advent markets but more importantly Tenacious D Gig (Jack Black) opening Schladming on the 4th!
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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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Thanks for replies.
So where do folks think is likely to offer most skiing on week beginning Dec 5? From resorts websites I am concluding Tignes/EK by a country mile probably followed by Ischgl. Zermatt / Verbier not looking like so much will be open. Am I still overlooking anywhere?
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FAQ
