 Poster: A snowHead
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Hey
I know many lost their hope of skiing this season, but if miracle happens and there is a chance for April - May, where would you go for freeride.
Apart of usual suspects, like Zermatt-Cervinia, Verbier, L2A, anything less known high altitude that usually open?
As I never been into high altitude offpiste late of the season, could you share some thoughts please:
- do you need fresh snow at least few days before ?
- main places to look are colouars and glaciers I believe
- for a warmed snow to work I guess it should be smooth surface I guess
Anyways, lets hope for the best
Ed
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I reckon spring skiing is the best. Corn snow guaranteed, often have powder and lovely chalky snow on North facing. I go to Tignes as a rule in April
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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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Iceland. Fresh snow is always good, it can get hammered by the sun and then it's very aspect dependent.
For glaciers you don't need fresh snow, but the snow may not be "in condition" for very long during the day. In Sölden at least, late April/ early May are usually quiet and conditions are often good, although much of the lower stuff is almost always closed. Ishgl you can often ride to the village, just about, on the last day, but you need to be happy with fairly sloppy snow. Up high conditions are generally excellent at the end of the season, in my experience, but it all depends on the weather. This year I expect things will be different and who knows what the rules may be.
Edit: off piste at the end of season in the alps? Maybe touring, but not really enough snow for anything else I'd guess.
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I have been all over the place (freeriding) in the alps during April, and I reckon Tignes is consistently the best. All things being equal, as @Mother hucker says: Tignes. VT does not have the same faces, La Plagne/Les Arcs and Paradiski can be really good too. I do not think there is anywhere to really compare to Espace Killy for late in the season. You do not need fresh snow just before going, but it can be brilliant at altitude, the corn/spring snow is wonderful to ski off-piste. You really need to go with a guide to find the best terrain, conditions, and to be safe. You often get a bit or a lot of everything in April. The fluctuating temperature range and differing snow conditions make it a wonderful time to ski. I have experienced some wonderful powder and spring snow in April. It can go from really sunny and warm to complete winter overnight and then back again. Different face/couloir aspects make it very important you ski the correct terrain aspect at the correct time of day (for safety and pleasure) so get a guide. Go with one of the guiding operations in Tignes.
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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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@JayDub, EK is magnificent in the spring, as you say it has it all. In the same day I've skied Powder, corn, chalk and slushy bumps then had a booze eating Pizza in the warm sun outside it honestly doesn't get much better than that
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It’s Ski touring season in April and May , get a guide and go ski touring . The Swiss huts will be busy especially those on the haute route but if open Gran Paradiso or Vanoise National Parks you’ll find great Powder and spring depending on height and face .
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Ski lifts in Val d'sere/ Tignes area are usually open through April, but May is really only touring.
Alpine Experience guides in Val used to be good for most ski standards, but I am out of date, The ski standard of clients in Top Ski groups used to be higher, so it was better for expert skiers. (I don't know about Tignes).
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