Poster: A snowHead
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That’s my season done and dusted.
2 week-long trips, Lech in Jan and San Cassiano in early March, then 2 long weekends later in March to Zermatt and VDI-Tignes.
Some good skiing and great memories but on all of those trips the snow was plentiful but soft. Such a warm winter.
On the plus side, 8 flights and not a single delay
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Sounds like a good season really...
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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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I've not even started mine, for various reasons, but off to VT on Saturday for a late season blast.
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Twas over too soon - Zell am See/Saalbach & Tignes . . .will probably do a rinse & repeat next season. Note to self - must join gym and get stronger/fitter!
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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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Two trips: 13 days over Christmas and 11 over Easter in Les Arcs. The snow was everthing from powder (Easter) to rock hard (Christmas) with slush and excellent pistes as well. 22 days of skiing and not a rock, or stone encountered. Plus some ice climbing in Gressony in between. A good season IMHO
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Two trips - Christmas week (Les Coches) and Easter week (Les Menuires).
Got lucky with conditions this year after some relatively bad ones and had two superb trips with lots of good off piste.
As mentioned in one of my TR's we are reaping then benefits of taking the kids when they were young - now they are young adults, we can rip it up together.
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A week at half term in Grand Massif - above average temps, no snow below 1500mm, but still managed to find some fresh powder on two days
4 days in early March in Grand Massif - 10yrs old racing in the French U12 Etoile d'Or Nationals so I got to be the PA to the budding Tomba. But we still got some really good piste skiing and watching him race and come mid-field in his first ever proper competition was great.
9 days over Easter in Grand Massif, Chamonix and La Cluzas - lots of Spring snow, but some lovely freeride in-between courtesy of the "Customary Early April Dump"
All in, not a bad season, considering I was in an NHS hospital with pretty bad sepsis and 41.4C body temperature, pumped up with 3 different kind of antibiotics on the 17th Dec 2023...
Roll on 2024/25 and I just want a bit more snow below 1500m. The Etoile d'Or Finals will be in Val Thorens, so that should be interesting - a new resort to ski in...
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Just me for a week in Georgia, I put up a trip report here. Wife felt no need to go (and went elsewhere for other things), D1 didn’t want to take time away from revision, D2 couldn’t shake the effects of torn ankle ligaments nearly a year previously so finally she didn’t go with school to Sauze; but she was quite unimpressed with them the year before so wasn’t upset.
Hoping next year is better.
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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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Levi at new year with family, second coldest in 100 years, -36 on car one day. Only skied 3 out of 5 days because of it. Magical but cant help feeling hard done by with extended cold snap.
Arc 2000 early feb with lads, looking back it was fantastic piste skiing, no cloud or wind all week. But mostly closed off and very icy off piste, same week as swiss wall deaths.
Mottaret over easter holidays, good first few days, then wind, then snow and bad viz.
Plenty of dry slope and fridge camps booked for the summer and pleased about not having to worry about what the conditions might be like. Although I expect I will be ready to risk the weather conditions again once we are done with those.
Next year we are staying home for Christmas but will be looking at Welsh or English champs if I think daughter is ready for it and then probably a glacier trip late April.
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Two trips: A week in Söll in the last week of January, and another week at the end of February in Sölden. A week of rain in Söll two weeks previously had washed away a lot of overall snow coverage, and away from the (excellently) managed slopes it looked very green. Coupled with warm temperatures, lower slopes did feel like skiing on mashed potato at times. Sölden, with higher altitudes, was totally different. Some of the best skiing I've ever done, incredible scenery, very busy apres/nightlife and an excellent overall atmosphere made for one of the best holidays I've had. Certain bottleneck slopes could be busy at times, and home runs could be chewed up at the end of the day, but to be expected really. Managed a day's skiing in Obergurgl with the Ötztal ski pass, and was impressed enough that I've booked a week there for 2025.
Overall, very happy with the two weeks, and introduced a mate to the joy of wintersports who is now a complete convert, and coming to Obergurgl. Confirmed my love of Austria as a snowsports destination.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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37 ski days this season. All in Andorra. This is the lowest amount I've done since I've lived here mainly due to the poor conditions earlier in the season. If I went out on Saturday, sometimes I decided it wasn't worth going out Sunday too (apart from holidays, I only ski weekends). My season started on 25th November but this was a false start as rain later that week stopped everything reopening. Finished last Saturday which is my earliest finish since I've lived here.
First time I've done any touring this season which was good fun - night tours. I'm now eyeing up getting my own kit.
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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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Two lucky weeks. End of Jan, Serre Che. Snow on the day we arrived and cracking skiing all week. Dad got to ski post ankle fusion and had a free pass but my new skis did get pinched.. Second week was Easter In Les Coches (Paradiski) Again, great snow. Fresh dumps on a few days no terrible weather and lots of fresh tracks. Not too busy either.
Drove out both times, no delays, no dramas. We even passed D1 on her school coach trip to Italy on the Autoroute at Chambery which was hilarious!
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You know it makes sense.
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Rode for 110 days.
Got a Hollywood tan.
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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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Trip to La Plagne in January - crowded but the snow was good until the last day when it became very icy across the resort.
Just returned from La Plagne again where it was empty and we skied the best late season snow I have ever encountered.
All in all in good season.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Not a great year.
Plan: New year in Ste Foy then 5 weeks in Morillon. Home for half term, then back to Ste Foy for 3 weeks
Actual: 7 days in Ste Foy, then a dislocated and fractured shoulder for Mrs NBT put paid to skiing. Spent a week in Morillon just relaxing as we were meeting family, then came home. Mrs NBT then said I should do one more week with friends, so I spent Easter in Tignes. The skiing we (I) managed was fabulous, as we had fresh snow all round in what turned out to be a season rather short on snowfall
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Whitegold wrote: |
Rode for 110 days.
Got a Hollywood tan. |
Did they have 110 days of skiing in Bansko?
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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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Interesting season , Loads of promise with heavy snowfall ruined by tropical rain , I sound like a broken record but the warm sectors in every front were 4c warmer than they should or usually are , El Niño or global warming we shall see next season .
Managed about 30 days over the season , timing not great as managed to miss all of the good powder days in Dec/Jan and Feb what little there were , only one good day touring on spring snow in Feb !
Our March Guide trip was ruined by the forhn , no place to hide as no snow in the trees obviously up high the wind buggered everything up , this was tempered by one great day heli skiing in La Thuille in between the forhn , actually crept in my top five
So for me only really about two really good days over the season but before I get my privileged back bottom kicked , every day in the mountains are great and I'm lucky to have so many .
As an aside Snow depths in the high mountain on the alpine ridge are phenomenal
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BobinCH wrote: |
Whitegold wrote: |
Rode for 110 days.
Got a Hollywood tan. |
Did they have 110 days of skiing in Bansko? |
Or, indeed, Blackpool?
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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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December-managed 1.5 days then fractured humerus on a blue run in VT. Boohoo! I didn't cash in my season pass.
Back to France on Boxing day and spent 5 weeks not skiing. Mr P had a great time including a couple of full days and half days with a local instructor OP in great snow while I took long walks with dog, met up for lunch and went to physio. Still had a great time despite the arm. Just being in the mountains was great
9th March-13 weeks and 6 days post accident- back on skis for 6 days-whoop whoop!
Then back again over easter for 2 weeks-mixed conditions but a couple of cracking days skiing fresh snow.
Not exactly the season I had planned or hoped for, but it ended on a high note. Roll on next winter!!
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TheMikeSki wrote: |
I've not even started mine, for various reasons, but off to VT on Saturday for a late season blast. |
Started skiing. Sunday at 8.50am, before the lifts even started, slipped on ice and broke collar bone in 2 places. Plates and screws in it within 8 hours or so. Buggered before i started.
Roll on next season.
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@TheMikeSki, bloody hell that is crap
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@Layne, yeah, had better trips! First world problems, but I'm pretty gutted!
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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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Season round - up? Friends living in Grindelwald are skiing full gas, knee deep powder, empty mountain. Not over until the fat lady sings........
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not bad at all...
St. Anton 2
Chatel 1
LesMenuires 6
oberjoch 3
chamrousse 6
Zürs 1
Les Gets 1
Avoriaz 7
I think 27 in total....really annoying that i lost the December because of Covid...(each one from the family for one week)
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Pass ends 15th May, will update after then!
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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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Yesterday was the last day of skiing for me as we're in Como next weekend so I won't get another chance to ski now.
Best season for me in terms of number of times I skied, 72 in total. Also the first time i've ever been out for a whole season. So my skiing started October 1st and finished yesterday May 5th.
Of those 72 days, not many were full ski days, usually half days, or quite often on a Friday afternoon i'd go up and meet the OH as they were finishing up in the hut and then ski down together, so literally 2 runs.
3 occasions were only ski touring with the dog.
70 of the 72 occasions were in the Zillertal, 1 was a trip to Glungezer with a couple of friends, and the other was a night ski in Kuhtai.
I actually reckon in terms of hours on skis I probably skied more last season, despite my total being around 45 days last year, but those days were all full days.
Semi tempted to go up to Hintertux once a month over the summer just to say I skied every month of the year, but undecided on that at the moment
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@swskier, how did you find Austrian skiing vs France/Switzerland last season?
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You know it makes sense.
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No full weeks but three long weekends (3-4 days on each) in La Plagne, Avoriaz and Les Deux Alpes. Mixed groups on each two, one a lads trip, one with the wife and one with just one other bloke. And to further mix it up I skied and snowboarded on each too.
Given the reported terrible snow record low down we lucked out on each with a bit of fresh snowfall on every trip and it was only on the last trip to Deux Alpes at the end of April where the home runs were closed.
Looking forward now to 24/25 and pondering a smash and grab to Tignes in December, got a week in Easter in La Plagne booked with friends but want a week somewhere new where I’ve not need before.
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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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Poster: A snowHead
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@BobinCH, the lunches were much cheaper!!
I enjoyed it, I don't have too much experience in Austria before we moved here, but in general, not too dissimilar, top of the ski areas aren't as high as say somewhere like Verbier where I spent basically a month, and as a result I probably skied more slushy snow this year, where as i'd just download from Ruinettes last year.
Lift systems are pretty modern in most resorts in the Zillertal, probably more so than the 4V's, that said, I don't understand why they have the heated seats on even when it's so warm!
Felt like I had a totally different attitude to skiing though, now that we live here. I didn't feel the need to ski full days all the time. In fact last wednesday was a bank holiday and I nipped up to Hintertux. I did 2 runs, wasn't feeling it at all so just downloaded and came home again. I would never do that if I was on holiday!
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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’m still waiting for it to start
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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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Ended too soon. Spent the last 2 weeks tortured by VT weather reports wondering why I didn't extend to today. Still skied 4 o'clock freshies on my last day on 20 April so didn't end too bad.
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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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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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We did 11 days in Whistler just before Christmas - locals were all moaning about the lack of snow, but it was typical French Alps coverage really! Great holiday - we left on Christmas day so there were no lift queues at all.
Then we did 3 days in Feb half term - driving from Geneva each day as I was working out there. Did Praz de Lys/Sommand for 1 day - lovely little French resort, would highly recommend it (though not for a full week for advanced skiers, one day there covered most runs, but for a beginner/intermediate group it could be great for a week). Then we did 2 days at Les Gets/Morzine. That seemed to have the best snow over half term and the skiing was good. TBH i wouldn't bother going back there though, wasn't overly inspired by the skiing, or the resort, or the poor signage of runs/piste map. However still great to get a few more days in this season!
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Quote: |
Honestly, I don't really care though as I got to be in the mountains for the longest ever
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I assume you'll be going in the summer as well.
We are planning a couple weeks in Les Arcs and a couple weeks in the Dolomites. I'm still planning both trips. The Les Arcs tri will be easy - just jump n the car and drive . I'll cost a bit more than staying at home, but not much.
The Dolomites trip needs more thought with a flight to Venice being a problem (the last time it took us almost 6 months to get our 250€ compensation back from Lufthansa due to a missed connection in Munich and the time before that it took them 3 days to deliver our luggage) plus the now expensive car hire, hotel and hut costs. I wonder if driving out there would be a better alternative, perhaps adding an overnight stop in Saarbrucken into the equation. It's not an easy drive across Germany and Austria. Would cutting through Switzerland be better? Note: I have done Venice home without an ovenight stop before - it was hard work and I don't fancy repeating it.
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johnE wrote: |
Quote: |
Honestly, I don't really care though as I got to be in the mountains for the longest ever
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I assume you'll be going in the summer as well.
We are planning a couple weeks in Les Arcs and a couple weeks in the Dolomites. I'm still planning both trips. The Les Arcs tri will be easy - just jump n the car and drive . I'll cost a bit more than staying at home, but not much.
The Dolomites trip needs more thought with a flight to Venice being a problem (the last time it took us almost 6 months to get our 250€ compensation back from Lufthansa due to a missed connection in Munich and the time before that it took them 3 days to deliver our luggage) plus the now expensive car hire, hotel and hut costs. I wonder if driving out there would be a better alternative, perhaps adding an overnight stop in Saarbrucken into the equation. It's not an easy drive across Germany and Austria. Would cutting through Switzerland be better? Note: I have done Venice home without an ovenight stop before - it was hard work and I don't fancy repeating it. |
Whenever we do the drive to from England/Austria we tend to go the route that does:
Calais-Lille-Mons-Luxembourg-Saarbrucken-Stuttgart-Munich-Tirol.
Don't find it a particularly difficult, but, it is noticeably longer then the Tarantaise and probably requires an overnighter.
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@swskier, I have a suspicion that the traffic is much worse in August than during the winter. The traffic from Stuttgart to Brenner seems to crawl along. We tend to go Stuttgard - Ulm - Kempton - Fernpass (terrible) -Innsbruck. Is going further East better?
How are the major roadworks on the Brenner affecting things.
I do have a few months to thing about these things. A few other trips to slot in before then
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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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@johnE, when we first moved here, it was the end of July, the only major traffic we had was going south from Munich on a Sunday morning, which we subsequently broke down in and got taken back in to Munich
We haven't done the Fernpass, always over to Munich and down in to Austria, you could always skip some of the Autobahn and come down via Achensee, although that often gets congested with everyone trying to avoid the Austrian Vigenette.
In terms of the Brenner, we drove up there to the outlet place just over the border one rainy Sunday and had no real issue, the only traffic was on the way back when the whole of Germany was returning from their holidays in Italy. We also drove along there last Saturday no issues and will be doing so on Wednesday after work when we drive to Como. I imagine Wednesday will be busy as Thursday is a bank holiday and most will be off on Friday too, but I can report back how it is.
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Not my favourite season but had some great ski days in there so I'll take it on the chin. Did a week in Jan with the boys in Paradiski - unfortunately I had new boot issues, so lost a couple of days. The family trip at half term to Valloire was great fun - love the area so much - but the weather was warm so lots of sticky snow, then got ill on the last day.
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