 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi Snowheads, trying to decide the best time to hit Espace Killy. Have options in mid Jan and mid April. Been there many times but never in April.
Does anyone have any experience good or bad of April snow? Fully aware of what January can bring but need some April info to help the decision.
Would be staying Val D or top Tignes villlages. Cheers in advance!!!!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Mid April is fine in Tignes (check Easter dates!). The runs down into Val D can be very slushy by midday.
It's all a matter of timing and the sun to get the best snow. The elusive spring snow can be fab. I have skied powder on the 1st of May on the Grand Motte.
If it's after Easter then apres will be more limited as the season winds down, though some of the closing down parties do get riotous!
You'll need far fewer clothes, but don't forget shorts and T shirts for the terraces until the sun goes down.
Oh and a bucket of sun tan lotion and a white helmet!
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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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@Coco, how much do you dislike slush? I have done both, would probably pick Jan over April, but it's close, skiing around like a hooligan in shorts and a t-shirt on sun softened has something to be said for it. The runs into La Daille will be crap and the runs into La Breviere likely closed in mid April but the great thing about the EK is that you can spend pretty much all day above approx 2300m. Mid Jan and the Motte is more likely than not to be very icy and some of the itenenaries not yet filled in. Both?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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If it changes your decision at all, Easter 2022 is 15-18 April.
We're planning on Tignes for that weekend, arriving Wednesday night, back Monday night.
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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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@Coco, you're set on Killy?
If I could only go one week and it had to be either mid-Jan or mid-April I would probably go for the former but I probably wouldn't go to Killy.
If I had to go one of those weeks and I was all set on Killy I would probably go mid-April
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@Coco, Cold short days, less base but more chance of powder in Jan. Warm sunny days, big base on North facing stuff and Spring snow conditions in April. Personally I’d choose April with that choice.
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@Coco,
I would choose the upper Tignes resorts for April, if only for firmer pistes for the 'last run of the day' over Val D/ lower Tignes.
Nearly all the pistes should be open in April, though timing would be crucial as regards the quality of the snow.
And take factor loads suncream, plus total block for the ears/nose/lips and UV resistant goggles & sunglasses - April is when even the seasonnaires get panda eyes.
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Cheers all, it doesn’t bother me but we have some first timers and I want to make sure they have a good experience.
Skied many times over Xmas & New Year and been relatively lucky with the weather, the cold doesn’t bother me.
Was thinking Val Claret if it’s April for all the reasons mentioned previously, but do even Double M, Grattalu, Henri
Etc get slushy that time of year???
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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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IME - 1 very warm week, something like the 14-21st of April
Double M - Only the very final pitch could have been described as slushy, really a huge amount of fun top to bottom even till late in the day
Grattalu - Also good all day long but the final section of Carline can be unpleasant, low and faces South
Henri - Don't really remember, not a great piste anyway in my opinion
For beginners, I would expect the top half of Bellevarde to be in good condtion
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@Coco, interesting questions, i'll be in the same situation as you. Sister in law and partner coming with us for the Easter weekend, both first timers.
Will keep an eye on responses
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I was in Les Menuires 13th to 20th April 2019
Also been to Paradiski something like 9th to 16th April 2011 (a poor season), also been ADH late season in a warm week.
If you are skiing purely on piste then the day will usually start with well groomed but a little bit icy pistes gradually warming to a sweet spot of just having the right amount of grip to then degenerating into out and out slush, almost water skiing below at 1800m. Any tree protection helps a little bit lower down.
For first timers it will probably be a better experience than mid-Jan which can be bleak and in the high mountains if the weather hits inhospitable.
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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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I’d say April. Much better snow cover, much longer days and less likely to have poor visibility or lift closures which are a pain on a 6 day holiday.
I’d say April at EK is one of the best times and places to ski in the Alps, unless you really hate spring snow.
Have fun whatever you decide 
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You know it makes sense.
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Took my son to Val two seasons ago, the week before the Easter break, as his school broke up early. Completely empty resort and slopes. Slush at the bottom, but we had two nights of snow, so loads of fresh powder at the top!! The only time I've been to either val or tignes in January was to Tignes, and it snowed all day everyday for the two weeks I was there.
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