 Poster: A snowHead
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Want to go to Europe 4/15 or 4/16 for a week. Want the best bet for good snow and a fun location. Looking at Zermatt or St Anton, but there are so many areas, I'm completely overwhelmed about where stay.
New member... and have had a very busy 2 weeks. To tell you the rest of the story. My 23 yo daughter is in Milan for 9 months so my husband, 18 yo and 20 yo went to visit her over Christmas, and we planned a dream trip to Gindelwald, Switzerland. Italy was fun... traveling around, but the big event was skiing with the family. Soooo, we tested to get into Switzerland, and my husband & I tested positive and we had to isolate in Milan... NIGHTMARE!
We lost our trip to Switzerland, and spent the entire time afraid we would be homeless and not knowing when we would get back to the States. Luckily, the family that my daughter was/is living with, was away skiing at the time, & allowed us to stay at there house in Milan, but we didn't know what would happen when they got back. My 2 younger kids were negative & went right back to NJ, (& my son took off to Colorado to ski Vail with his college buddies... Ugh!), and my older daughter then tested positive too. Luckily my husband & I didn't get sick (my daughter did a bit), and we ended up getting back to the USA after getting a letter of recovery from a doctor (Very long story).
So I just booked a ski trip to Killington, Vermont, with my 2 kids that are here in the states, and my youngest, who goes to college at the University of Vermont, just fell when getting off a ski lift, and may need surgery. (ugh again!) That Vermont ski trip is now in jeopardy.
My older daughter will still be in Italy till the summer and I really want to visit during my break which I mentioned above. Now that my Vermont ski trip may not happen, and my Grindelwald trip was destroyed, I am really hoping to get to Europe in April.
I am really wondering what the Covid situation is in Europe and how the winter snowfall has been and what the prediction will be for April. Maybe I'm just not meant to ski this season. 
I appreciated all the great messages from this group! Thanks so much...
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Sat 12-02-22 3:57; edited 1 time in total
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Many places closed or greatly reduced by then- so that should help!, Zermatt is a good choice also Tignes, ischgl or Val Thorens imv. ‘Fun’ likely to be different this year - what fun do you want!? If it’s fin de siecle louche I suspect all will do that,
This is useful - resorts vs closing dates: https://www.skiresort.info/snow-reports/seasonend/europe/
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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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Welcome btw 
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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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I know I will be lambasted by StAnton heads here but April just way too late for St Anton, much of the resort faces South and there isn't that much skiing above 2000m, if will be complete slush fest from mid morning. If you want Austria try Ischgl where skiing effectively starts at 2000m
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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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Val thorens is still going strong throughout 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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| peanuthead wrote: |
| I know I will be lambasted by StAnton heads here but April just way too late for St Anton, much of the resort faces South and there isn't that much skiing above 2000m, if will be complete slush fest from mid morning. If you want Austria try Ischgl where skiing effectively starts at 2000m |
You say that like it's a bad thing  Seriously, more people should embrace the slushy bumps! Most fun you'll have on piste, ever.
But your point is of course correct: in April St Anton will either be getting one of the late season storms with powder deep into the valley (expect 1, sometimes 2 of these in the month), or warm, sunny and slushy. If your idea of 'good snow' is perfectly groomed pistes it's not the best option - the Lech side of the Arlberg would be better, but tbh Ischgl would be even better.
Snow depths won't be a problem in any of those resorts though.
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@clarky999, slushy bumps rule
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Ischgl seems to tick the boxes. Obergurgl would too - resort is at 1930m so all skiing is high and facing mostly west/north west, but that's a quiet resort so may not fit your idea of fun - at least after the slopes close (there's the Neiderhutte of course).
Very little skiing in Ischgl is BELOW 2000m, and much is a north-westerly aspect.
Ischgl is not cheap though, mostly 4 (or 5) star hotels, and you usually have to go Sat to Sat
The best snow so far this year has fallen in Austria - in any case Austrian snowmaking is the best along with Italy
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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 Saas-Fee for a few days on April 18; I usually go there or to Engelberg for a mid to late April trip.
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We go to Sass Fee every spring. Lovely village, guaranteed snow and often really good conditions. It is not the biggest in terms of kms of piste but there is good variety, and the off-piste is much under-rated (and under-utilised).
Zermatt is very special also, have been quite a few times. There will be similar conditions to Sass Fee (it is the next valley along and equally high slopes). Best mountain restaurants in the world in my view, we quite often make a day trip from Sass Fee for a great lunch!
Depends what you are looking for and your budget is @dodonnell5,
Zermatt is more of a town, although very pretty and amazing views, and can be quite busy. It has the more extensive skiing, with the option of skiing over into Italy also. It is, however, expensive and not worth trying to do on the cheap!
Sass Fee is smaller and more relaxed. More limited skiing. But enough to keep my family of advanced skiers happy for the week. Less expensive than Zermatt.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Les 2 Alpes worth a look as well, have skied it top to bottom in April but even if the valley is thawed there is plenty to go at up to 3600m
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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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Saas-Fee not Sass Fee!
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No one has mentioned it yet but that's EOSB week in Val Thorens - usually the best spring skiing in Europe at that time of year and powder days have been known
Full disclosure - pea soupers and very brisk winds have also been known but vastly outnumbered by sunny days.
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You know it makes sense.
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| under a new name wrote: |
| @clarky999, slushy bumps rule |
+1 ... Properly lush, a decent workout, friendly on the joints, great fun in the sunshine, and an entirely different experience to those tedious midwinter mogul fields that old skoolers who are now hobbling around after knee and hip replacements, used to say were fun.
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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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@LOTA, My eldest would appreciate this, he is also a pedant and can't help himself when it comes to other's grammatical errors!
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Slush is the poor-mans powder, great stuff - Roll on the FamBash!
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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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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| Wildsmith wrote: |
Many places closed or greatly reduced by then- so that should help!, Zermatt is a good choice also Tignes, ischgl or Val Thorens imv. ‘Fun’ likely to be different this year - what fun do you want!? If it’s fin de siecle louche I suspect all will do that,
This is useful - resorts vs closing dates: https://www.skiresort.info/snow-reports/seasonend/europe/ |
Thanks! I want to do with my 23yo daughter. We like to go out to good dinners and hang out in happening bars with maybe music and people! Definitely not looking for quiet. I am waiting to see 2 things; is covid on the downswing, and is there snow! 
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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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| Wildsmith wrote: |
| Welcome btw |
Thanks so much!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Wildsmith wrote: |
| Welcome btw |
Thanks so much!
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| peanuthead wrote: |
| I know I will be lambasted by StAnton heads here but April just way too late for St Anton, much of the resort faces South and there isn't that much skiing above 2000m, if will be complete slush fest from mid morning. If you want Austria try Ischgl where skiing effectively starts at 2000m |
Thanks!
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| buchanan101 wrote: |
Ischgl seems to tick the boxes. Obergurgl would too - resort is at 1930m so all skiing is high and facing mostly west/north west, but that's a quiet resort so may not fit your idea of fun - at least after the slopes close (there's the Neiderhutte of course).
Very little skiing in Ischgl is BELOW 2000m, and much is a north-westerly aspect.
Ischgl is not cheap though, mostly 4 (or 5) star hotels, and you usually have to go Sat to Sat
The best snow so far this year has fallen in Austria - in any case Austrian snowmaking is the best along with Italy |
Thanks, Where in Austria do you think will be a good spot that will have snow... good snow?  I find it very hard to find actual snow depth comparisons amongst resorts... And along with size and lively locations.
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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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| Dave of the Marmottes wrote: |
No one has mentioned it yet but that's EOSB week in Val Thorens - usually the best spring skiing in Europe at that time of year and powder days have been known
Full disclosure - pea soupers and very brisk winds have also been known but vastly outnumbered by sunny days. |
What is EOSB?
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| zikomo wrote: |
We go to Sass Fee every spring. Lovely village, guaranteed snow and often really good conditions. It is not the biggest in terms of kms of piste but there is good variety, and the off-piste is much under-rated (and under-utilised).
Zermatt is very special also, have been quite a few times. There will be similar conditions to Sass Fee (it is the next valley along and equally high slopes). Best mountain restaurants in the world in my view, we quite often make a day trip from Sass Fee for a great lunch!
Depends what you are looking for and your budget is @dodonnell5,
Zermatt is more of a town, although very pretty and amazing views, and can be quite busy. It has the more extensive skiing, with the option of skiing over into Italy also. It is, however, expensive and not worth trying to do on the cheap!
Sass Fee is smaller and more relaxed. More limited skiing. But enough to keep my family of advanced skiers happy for the week. Less expensive than Zermatt. |
I am not terribly worried about budget, but am more concerned about snow, lots of options for skiing, and nightlife. We want to be in a place where there is a lot going on, and good skiing. We are expert here in the US, but I imagine for intermediate in Europe?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@dodonnell5, ischgl’s snow depths won’t generally be the highest but that’s misleading. The aspect keeps the snow, and the elevation (greatest proportion of skiing above 2000m in Austria). I’ve only been mid March (the infamous 2020) but plenty of good snow. It’ll have snow as good as anywhere in Austria, and possibly the best lift system in the Alps…just about all fast chairs. Lots of intermediate stuff, not a lot of beginner, quite a lot of black runs. And it’ll have nightlife, though more restrained this year, especially after what happened there in 2020. Hotels mostly high standard and not cheap.
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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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| dodonnell5 wrote: |
| Dave of the Marmottes wrote: |
No one has mentioned it yet but that's EOSB week in Val Thorens - usually the best spring skiing in Europe at that time of year and powder days have been known
Full disclosure - pea soupers and very brisk winds have also been known but vastly outnumbered by sunny days. |
What is EOSB? |
The EOSB is the Snowheads End of Season Bash in Val Thorens https://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=155089
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| dodonnell5 wrote: |
What is EOSB? |
The End of Season Bash - the last snowHeads bash of the year.
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You know it makes sense.
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Zermatt would be my personal pick, the skiing and food is great, the town has lots going on, and you can head over to Italy for a change of scene. Only downside is cost.
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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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| moffatross wrote: |
| under a new name wrote: |
| @clarky999, slushy bumps rule |
+1 ... Properly lush, a decent workout, friendly on the joints, great fun in the sunshine, and an entirely different experience to those tedious midwinter mogul fields that old skoolers who are now hobbling around after knee and hip replacements, used to say were fun. |
lol... sounds like a great spot!
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Poster: A snowHead
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@dodonnell5, given you that you are going to be in Milan, Cervinia would seem ideal though has not had a particularly good season snow wise so far. Ischgl is very reliable for late season skiing (and has good conditions currently) though not the easiest journey from Milan. There are the high French resorts Val Thorens, Tignes/Val d'Isere etc which are usually good at that time (hence the Snowheads trip) but again Milan is not an ideal travel starting point. After Easter St Anton / Arlberg is really ski touring with a fairly limited number of lifts open, good for day trips with the right conditions not really a ski week. Zermatt (the more well known Swiss side to Cervinia) & Sass Fee are potentially good too and fairly easy to get to from Milan (either by car or train), Sass Fee not so big an area by European standards.
If you are happy driving a fair distance then either Ischgl or Val Thorens (or other high French resort), if you prefer a shorter drive or train, then Cervinia or Zermatt.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Thanks so much. I'm actually flying from the US. My daughter will be coming from Milan. She's willing to do whatever it takes to get a great week of skiing in. We were supposed to ski Grindelwald in Jan, but Covid got the best of us and the trip didn't happen, so I'm going to possibly give it another shot. My daughter leaves Milan in June, so this is my best shot to get to ski in Europe.
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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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@dodonnell5, If that's the case I think I would be inclined to go with Zermatt, easy to get to from either Geneva or Zürich and also easy from Milan with the train (its a car fee village so little benefit in having a car. Most other places would involve a lot more travel faff for both of you.
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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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If your daughter coming from Milan then surely Cervina / Zermatt makes the most sense? I would think Cervinia a little quieter at that time of year so if you want a bit of life in bars etc probably go to Zermatt. Not sure how easy it is to get to Zermatt from Milan otherwise than on skis from Cervinia!
If you are willing to travel then Solden / Obergurgl, Ischgl and 3 Valleys are best options
All of these will have perfectly good piste skiing. Solden in particular. I've been there in mid to late April and skied excellent snow on the glacier even after a long day of sun. There is a lot of life in the apres bars also, although it is a young rowdy crowd and Austria has been very strict with covid so no real apres ski yet this year.
Covid will either be in retreat or forgotten about in Europe by then. If that or the actual best snow conditions matter a lot to you then just wait until closer to the time to choose your resort. You will get accomodation easily in any of the above at that time of year. Of the three Switzerland is by far the most Covid liberal - they have abandoned all entry requirements so that's where I'd be going.
Either way, have a great trip, delighted to see your enthusiasm! Hopefully I can convince my kids to ski with me in the States when I'm older!
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