 Poster: A snowHead
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@alenchic, I agree with your last comment about Verbier, although I've enjoyed my 3 weeks there.
I think Tignes could be a better base for your intermediate skiing wise. Still easy for your advanced skiers to get all around EK.
However, Val D is a more attractive, if large, lively town. Tignes a series of purpose built villages, not so easy on the eye and quieter at night.
Depends on your priorities. Nice problem to have to choose!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Verbier
You've done just about all the other best ones, there won't be any Brit skiers there this year we cant afford it after Brexit.
You don't need to rent a car in Switzerland, they have a thing about trains, I have a feeling that they offer a special deal to visitors who fly into Switzerland, plus your luggage goes directly to your hotel from the airport. (Eventually)
The whole of Switzerland is their own private toy train set.
They just love making tunnels too ... its all to do with the cheese they eat.
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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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@alenchic, Going down on the lift is absolutely the thing to do under those circumstances. And of course if you are tired, then it's even more of a risk to ski down — a recipe for disaster even: tired, bad cruddy snow, crowded narrow pistes. It's more of a psychological issue: You have come all this way to ski, and you only have a set number of days, so you want to ski for every minute possible.
The plus-point is that the lift-operators and the instructors and locals on the lift will look at you with respect — because you are "in the know"! 
I have never skied Verbier; but it is considered one of the great resorts. It's in Switzerland, so could be expensive, although the USD/CHF rate has stayed pretty good for you guys. Others here will be able to advise you better.
The truth is, there are just so many fantastic ski resorts in Europe.
But here is a good article on Verbier.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/ski/resort-guides/Ski-Verbier-resort-guide/
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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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| Quote: |
In such circumstances, I will often take a lift from the half-way station back to the resort, or even from the top. I remember when I first did this in Saalbach, I was surprised that the folks in the gondola with me were ski instructors and locals. I asked them how come you guys are taking the lift down? They said are you crazy? We are not going to ski in what they termed "ankle breaking" snow surrounded by useless skiers, a good few of whom were drunk.
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@PeDaSp, Interesting. In our experience, none of the pistes down to the village is ever crowded last thing in the afternoon (unlike Happy Valley at St Anton, and a particularly nasty piste that I recall at Val d'Isere), and, if you're careful to choose the right one, that last run down can be quite idyllic, so keep an open mind. If you time it right, the sun may be setting over Hinterglemm to the west, and it can be a peaceful and beautiful descent, with plenty of camera opportunities.
Blue piste 52 (Maisabfahrt) down from the Kohlmais is often the most enjoyable of the day - but then we're invariably whizzing down it immediately after it's been groomed at around 5.15pm (and after a couple of drinks in the Bergeralm). (I wonder if we're the "useless skiers, a good few of whom were drunk"?) Red piste 54 is often chopped up and less than enjoyable, admittedly, though quiet. Blue piste 51 (the Eder) is again often deserted, and sometimes it has been groomed if you're lucky or time it right, in which case it's sublime. The Bernkogel can get pretty churned up late in the afternoon, but I always remind myself that skiing in all conditions is good experience. There are ways of finding the best snow by crossing and re-crossing the piste, which as you know is very wide. For some reason many people go down the middle, so it can pay to explore the sides. Again the piste bashers go up in close formation at around 5.15pm, so "fresh tracks" are then possible. The Schattberg black run (piste 1), being north-facing, holds its snow well and can be good snow even late afternoon during March - except on the occasions when it's not! As for piste 2b, down to Jausern (for anyone who's staying down there), I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy last thing on a late-season afternoon! However piste 61 from the other side of the valley is usually okay, as well as uncrowded.
One of the tricks is to sit up at the Bergeralm (at happy hour) on the Kohlmais, and keep a look-out down the valley after 5.00pm. You can see the snow groomers (piste-bashers), often 4, 5 or 6 abreast, or in convoy, coming up piste 52, and sometimes piste 51. You can then make a decision at the mid-mountain point (near the Asteralm) which piste to follow - the tracks will also tell you which way they came up. The choice of piste may of course be determined by whether you plan to call at the Maisalm or the Hinterhagalm on the way down (in which case it has to be piste 52).
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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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| luigi wrote: |
| Whitegold wrote: |
Mid-Jan is peak-Winter.
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Try telling that to the Kitzbuhel Hahnenkamm race organisers in 2007!! 
In terms of temperature stats it's true that mid-Jan is on average the coldest period of the year in Europe, but in terms of snowcover, the lower slopes of many resorts don't reach their max depth until early Feb and upper slopes don't reach max snow depth until early-mid March.
Though the surface you ski on is more important than absolute depth, that will vary according to what's fallen recently in your chosen resort and low temps in mid-late Jan should preserve conditions well if enough has fallen. |
I believe that January is the driest month of the year in the Alps...
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@alenchic, Piste skiing in Verbier itself is limited but ok, and you have access to a larger 4 valley's area where it is much better, plus slopes are quieter. If you like long steep groomers mostly for yourself you'll enjoy it there. Basically in Verbier you have options to make your skiing as hard or as relaxing as you feel like. It's easy to download to the village at the end of the day or just spend late afternoon in 1936 bar on slopes waiting for the crowds to pass and ski after, though this is a better option for when the sun stays high longer, not for January. Ski schools finish their lessons at noon and at 16:00, so this is when the traffic is the busiest. At 17:30 it's pretty much dead. If you are going in January crowds shouldn't be an issue anyway.
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@alenchic, Piste skiing in Verbier itself is limited but ok, and you have access to a larger 4 valley's area where it is much better, plus slopes are quieter. If you like long steep groomers mostly for yourself you'll enjoy it there. Basically in Verbier you have options to make your skiing as hard or as relaxing as you feel like. It's easy to download to the village at the end of the day or just spend late afternoon in 1936 bar on slopes waiting for the crowds to pass and ski after, though this is a better option for when the sun stays high longer, not for January. Ski schools finish their lessons at noon and at 16:00, so this is when the traffic is the busiest. At 17:30 it's pretty much dead. If you are going in January crowds shouldn't be an issue anyway.
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I'd also suggest Alp D'Huez. Otherwise Tignes/Val d'Isere. We're usually skiing late Jan, early Feb and generally have decent snow conditions.
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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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OK, guys, I think we are definitely going to go to Val d'Isere this year. But I am really sold on Verbier too... I don't know if I can do 2 European trips in one winter, so may have to leave Verbier for next year.
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OK, guys, I think we are definitely going to go to Val d'Isere this year. But I am really sold on Verbier too... I don't know if I can do 2 European trips in one winter, so may have to leave Verbier for next year.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@alenchic, great choice, you won't be disappointed. It's an awesome ski area.
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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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@alenchic, never been in January but have had a great time the last three Aprils. It's a great area. Enjoy!
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@Tatman's Tours, ah yes! Blue piste 52. One of my favourites, pretty empty, and you can put the foot down. I am always a bit worried that some vehicle is going to come whizzing down the road as I cross over.
Your fiendish plan to drink on the slopes whilst waiting for the piste-bashers sounds excellent. But alas, I am in the sauna by 5:00pm each night 
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