 Poster: A snowHead
|
|
planned for the week after half term.. driving down to chamonix where me and a mte will be staying from weds night to tuesday.. we dont need to head back to blighty till the following weekend.. so with all our gear in the back of the wheels what recommendations do you experts have.. with driving back home i guess its better to stay in that area. the only other place in france i have been to is tignes so looking for something new.. three valleys?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
CANV CANVINGTON, I hope you'll be driving a '55 Chevy. Its the only way to do a 'road trip'!
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
chris, that would be superb!! but i shall be exercising a well known german brand of 4 wheel drive..
i reckon the chevy is better off road mind you..
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
Rent a copy of "Road Trip". It's a documentary that follows the trials and tribulations of a groups of gentlemen on their journey across the US. It has all sorts of "survival" advice. It's up there with anything that Ray Mears has ever produced.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
Take the road over the top and make your way to Verbier (I think you carry on out of the valley via Argentiere and head towards Martigny and Sion). There's plenty of challenging skiing in the 4 valleys esp off the top of Mont Fort. When heading back home you can go around the top of lake Geneva and pick up the motorway out
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
Its a great opportunity to explore - on the French side Portes du Soleil and Grand Massif are only 1hr or 30 mins away for more than enough skiing for the next few days, or you could come back through Switzerland and go via Villars to Verbier or to Champery on the Swiss side of the Ptes de S. A car is a disadvantage for Zermatt, you could go to Saas Fee though.
With all your gear in the back of the wheels.....be careful about security. There are many tales of cars being broken into and contents nicked in the big resorts, even nice ones like Megeve aren't immune. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Quote: |
(I think you carry on out of the valley via Argentiere and head towards Martigny and Sion).
|
onlyif the pass is open, which hopefully, if it has dumped, it won't be! Don't forget it will still be very high season with French school hols - the week BEFORE half term would be infinitely preferable. You'd not have to wait in so many queues of various kinds. Best to avoid all the resort roads on the four Saturdays starting 10 February. If you want to try somewhere not full of Brits, look at Praz sur Arly/Notre Dame de Bellecombe, linked into the wider Espace Diamant, a bit further up the Arly Valley from Megeve (and much better unless you want to buy a lot of expensive underwear...). If that week is inescapable you'd probably be better off going into Switzerland, though the last two weeks of the holiday season will be busiest and least agreeable (Paris holidays).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
pam w, good point on the holiday front.. i would like to avoid all of them , so the last 3 weeks of feb are uk then french half terms..?
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
right ive switched it to mid jan now.. cant be doing with loads of pesky kids everywhere...
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
| Quote: |
ive switched it to mid jan
|
good move. But the hols don't start till the week beginning 10 February (end 10 March) so the end of Jan/early February is probably optimum for snow likely and kids unlikely. It isn't only families in the French holidays, by any means. For some reason they seem to like going on holiday all at the same time, whether they've got school age kids or not. Bizarre.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
| Quote: |
For some reason they seem to like going on holiday all at the same time, whether they've got school age kids or not. Bizarre
|
Its all this Egalite stuff that deprives them of their Liberte to ski when they want, resulting in tons of Fraternite that is rather galling to the non French 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Quote: |
rather galling to the non French
|
not galling at all when it means that the pistes in French resorts (at least if you avoid the ones swamped by British TOs) are empty outside the holiday periods.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
pam w, touche! 
So which are your favourites?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
yes, which are your favourites..???
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
From Chamonix you could head across the pass into Martigny and then try Verbier or any of the resorts along the Rhone valley like Grimentz/zinal or Arolla etc. But by coming this way you would probably have to use the Swiss motorways to come home which will require an £18.00 vignette.
Or from Chamonix you could head back towards Geneva and take in the PDS resorts of Les Gets etc or Flaine. You could also hit them from the Swiss side for resorts like Morgins or Champousin. From Chamonix you could also try Courmayeur or La Thuile or even Cervinia. Not sure how these resorts convert for boarding though. The whole point of a car is that you can just rock up anywhere and stay for as long as you feel like... hotels at that time will be easy and you can cut costs by staying a bit out of town, ie Val Ferret for Courmayeur..
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
Try the Aosta valley in Italy. You can get to Champolouc in 1hour (from Mt Blanc tunnel). Although it is a small resort, by french standards and a bit out of the way, it is linked to Gressoney and Alagna. Not very busy and awesome offpiste. These places are very rural (esp Alagna) and perfect for a road trip. From there you can make your way back towards Mt Blanc and ski Courmayeur etc as suggested by JT. Pop back into Chamonix and take iin resorts such as Les Carroz which is 30 min away.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
CANV CANVINGTON, you haven't said what type of boarding/skiing you're looking for. Gnarly cliff-jumpers, wide open powderhounds, motorway cruisers, ParkLife ? Champoluc/Gressoney/Alagna is great for the off-piste, but if you're a pistemeister you'll be wondering what the fuss is all about after about 1 day max. If you want pistes, maybe Portes du Soleil (although I remember some fairly flat long paths getting around about Avoriaz which may not be to a boarder's liking). I met SZK one eve last Jan really pumped after a fantastic powder day (throught the trees) in La Clusaz, so that may be worth thinking about if that's your thing, although never been there myself.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
speed (so the big long wide reds) and off piste are my thing.. jumps and the park dont intrest me.. path n flats i can handle, t bars not a prob.. buttons er no ta...tricky black stuff is not a problem but not essential
the first part of the tour in chamonix is a corporate blag and we will be going through the tunnnel into italy for at least 2 trips.. i reckon i want to stay in france to be honest.. for some reason i am fixated about doing three valleys.. its just something i have to do, so stuff around there really..
thansk to everyone so far..
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
CANV CANVINGTON, The drive to the 3 valleys isn't bad in good conditions... The Val d'arly might be a problem but if open the ride to Moutier should be 90 mins or so and 2 and a half hours tops to any 3 valley destination. Consider La Tania or the lower Courchevals for the ease of getting there or St Martin at the opposite VT valley. As its on the way home I'd consider Flaine/PDS or La Clusaz but would be keeping my eye on conditions before deciding. Personally I'd have a few plans/destinations for those last few days. If the snow is VG I'd stick to the Chamonix valley but the emphasis would be guided tours for me as that is the whole essence of the valley for me anyway.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
CANV CANVINGTON, Crans has lots of wide open fast reds but can't comment on off-piste. I think you should give it a go. IMO Chamonix is not so open although the long red/black from the top of Grands Montets back to the car park is a blast.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Its not going to much of a 'Road Trip' if you drive to 3V or any other megaresort and stay there for the week. That's just a holiday. I would have thought that since you have wheels take the opportunity to visit smaller more out of the way resorts even if you only stay there for a night or two. See where the conditions are best and follow the snow. 'Free spirit' and all that...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
