 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi All
I’m new to snowheads and only started skiing last winter, but loved it so much I managed to go twice. First to Val Thorens and second week St Anton, with a bit of Zurs/Lech. Now planning a mid-December trip for a mixed group in their late 30s-late 40s and currently looking at Solden/gurgle, Val Thoren and possibly Ischgl. I love the early morning bashed piste feel, exploring resorts and also a good quality beer.
Any advice would be great, many thanks!
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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've been to all of the above.
I like Ischgl alot the piste skiing is excellent. It will be in good condition in December if history is anything to go by.
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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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My opinion
Ischgl
Solden
Val Thorens
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Only been to Val Thorens a long time ago so cant comment on there but would chose Ischgl over Obergurgl/Sölden. Mid December is early season so likely to be variable snow conditions. Also high possibility of storms which can affect all of these areas. Obergurgl can be very bleak in bad weather. Ischgl not ideal either but not quite as bad. Ischgl has a better variety of pistes and has better apres (I really dont like the place but many do and no denying that there are plenty of places to buy beer!). If you are intent on mid December you really should leave booking until shortly beforehand just to see the state of snow conditions, pre Christmas should be no problem getting accommodation.
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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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Thanks all, Ischgl does look really good! In regards to booking nearer the time; can there be significant variation in weather across the alps or even locally? I was also thinking about Tignes?
Cheers
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never been in France in December, but when i see the slopes in Summer, i think they need a lot of snow in order to be ready
And i do not know how efficient is the snowmaking in Tignes or Val Thorens
On the other hand, Ischlg, Sölden and some other resorts in Austria are really gut in this
If you decided to go to Austria, book something last minute
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can there be significant variation in weather across the alps
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Yes. Necessarily oversimplifying, but the most common weather systems are either from the north and east (which hit Austria first), or from the west (hit France first). There are also systems from the south that hit Italy, but they are less common. An intense system will drop snow across the alps, but the moderate ones won't - e.g. a moderate system from the north and east will give decent snow in Austria, but not much further west or south.
We've travelled to the alps in December (either pre-Christmas, or Christmas week) maybe 10 times in the last 20 years, always booking less than a week before travelling, and choosing the location based on snow conditions. We've ended up in Austria slightly more often than France.
There are more local weather variations, but that is necessarily more specific. I've mostly considered this when knowing local details, and whether particular wind directions are likely to affect which lifts will be more likely to be open or shut
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@NewbeeLoser23!,
By mid-December do you mean the week(s) before Xmas, or over it?
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@NewbeeLoser23!, Val T is usually scheduled to open the last weekend in November, so by mid Dec, you should be absolutely fine for snow there. The snow making is good (should it be necessary). By mid Dec you also are likely have access to the other 3V resorts too. It should be nice and quiet too.
If you’re open to other destinations, Cervinia might be worth a look. It’s a great resort for intermediates, plus you can ski over to Zermatt.
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I would also pick Ischgl from those...
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In regards to booking nearer the time; can there be significant variation in weather across the alps or even locally?
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It's not just 'can be'; rather it's very normal for there to be large variations.
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Necessarily oversimplifying, but the most common weather systems are either from the north and east (which hit Austria first), or from the west (hit France first). There are also systems from the south that hit Italy, but they are less common. An intense system will drop snow across the alps, but the moderate ones won't - e.g. a moderate system from the north and east will give decent snow in Austria, but not much further west or south.
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I know you said you were over simplifying, but I think important to point out that storms from the west will only hit parts of France (~50% need snow from other side of main alpine ridge) and will also hit specific parts of Austria, like the Arlberg, which is also in direct firing line from west/is not in the precipitation shadow of other mountains from that direction.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@NewbeeLoser23!, Yes the weather and conditions can vary greatly from area to area especially early season. This is even more relevant when there is not so much snow. Anything before Christmas week is low season and usually there is no problem finding accommodation (some places wont open until Christmas week). It is better to wait until just beforehand to book eg choose between Val Thorens & Ischgl both of which open in late November but in a poor snow year might only have limited pistes open
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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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Better beer in Austria 
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I have been in December to all three resorts you mentioned above.
It's basically your 3rd week on skis, I think that a resort which is easier for beginners and has more wide and easy blue pistes is a better choice
Furthermore, in a storm (it's winter) you'll get harsher conditions to deal with. As a beginner it won't be easy.
Sure, you can do Arlberg etc. and be proud but as a beginner you'll use too little of what it can offer and you'll struggle to deal with the majority of its piste.
IMHO, same goes for Ischgl. Those are resorts that are more fun in an advanced stage.
I would choose Solden/Obergurgl according to the budget and your catering preferences.
All high altitude resorts are tough in bad weather (whiteout, strong winds) but Solden seemed to us less in a cloud, and the blue pistes above the Giggijoch are a treat
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You know it makes sense.
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I have skied in Val d'sere the week before Christmas for the last 4 years and each time had the best off piste snow of the season, which requires more snow than the on piste.
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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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If you like good beer then go to Austria. Not only is the beer better, it's also a lot cheaper!
Have you thought about Kaprun? The Kitzsteinhorn glacier opens for skiing in October, so you wouldn't need to worry about snow there in December. If the weather is bad on the glacier then it's a short bus journey to Zell Am Zee, where most of the pistes are tree-lined. Trees really help for skiing in poor visibility, they make it a lot easier to work out where you are and where you're going.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Better beer in Austria
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Defo.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Quote: |
can there be significant variation in weather across the alps or even locally?
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Yes there can, or even day to day! Advice to wait before booking accommodation is good but flights will probably get more expensive as time goes on.
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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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13th gives another week of potential snowfall.
Saalbach will be open at that time also
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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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No doubt 13th is likely to be better and there will be a wider choice of areas. The "is it going to snow next week" is a never ending question. There are a number of ski specific weather sites, folk have their own favourite, I like https://wepowder.com/en. I think Ischgl is likely to be the best option but who knows 4 months in advance whilst we sit in 30 degree plus heat!
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Re accommodation and prices, the pre-Christmas weeks will be very quiet, and prices won't go up nearer the time. They may go down at very last minute - typically less than a week before travel. I doubt there will be much difference in price between the 6th and the 13th as both are low season. You may get more options for the week of 13th.
Another consideration pre-Christmas is that most resorts don't fully open all lifts as it's not worth employing the staff when there are not many customers. There's probably not going to be much difference between the 6th and 13th, though if you stay to ski on the Saturday or Sunday before Christmas, this is when everything will be open (assuming there is sufficient snow). I'm not sure if there's any difference between Val Thorens, Ischgl and Solden in this regard, however I might be wary about some of the satellite areas (e.g. La Tania), as they may not be open (either due to lack of staff, or lack of snow)
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i've done the 2nd week of december twice in VT over the last 3 years. Both times there were no issues with snow. The apres was decent and i always had a great time, but in regards to the actual skiing i don't really like VT or the 3 Valleys that much. i can count on one hand the amount of times i have skiid on a bashed piste in the 3 valleys in 3 weeks there over the last 3 years (did courchevel as well), which when compared to the 5 times ive been to Solden was eye opening, where the pistes were bashed every night non stop.
ive only done a few days in the Gurgls, and whilst theyre nice, if you want apres then solden is definitely the place. i haven't done ischgl before so can't comment, but i'd quicker go back to Solden than VT
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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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| NewbeeLoser23! wrote: |
| Thanks everyone! This is all great to hear. I’ll hold off booking for now then, and will check weather nearer the time. |
You might want to do some picking/booking now. Pick a country and very general area then go ahead and book things like flights/car hire, the things that don't generally get cheaper over time but also don't tie you to a specific valley either in the way accomodation does. Book flights to Geneva and you have most of the French resorts within a 3hr drive, book flights to Innsburck and you have most Austrian resorts within a 3hr drive, even Munich will put a lot of the Austrian resorts within a 3hr drive (and often be a lot cheaper than either Geneva or Innsbruck). OK, you might book Geneva flights and find the best snow's in Austria/Innsbruck flights and find the best snow's in France but you're giving yourself a big span of the Alps to play with/pick the best snow in and without getting stung for 'last minute' flight/car hire prices (checked the other day and for my New Years trip car hire's doubled since i booked it).
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FAQ
but when I visit VT they seemed to have a few Belgian bottles on offer)
