 Poster: A snowHead
|
Just musing about a trip for 2025 in the autumn.
My wife has a preference for France but that's not set in stone. Which European towns and resorts will have things happening in October? We'd like to see some Autumn foliage. We would want to do plenty of hiking but it would be handy if the odd lift was running.
I'm assuming things are quiet so booking last minute would be easy to do? If the weather for our selected dates didn't look good we would opt to do some city tourist stuff.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
Quite a lot of rain. Gets dark early. Resorts may be shut up to various degrees. Probably nothing running lifts wise.
Will be some exceptions I guess.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
@Dave of the Marmottes, thanks. September might be better?
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
@sbooker, You're coning from NZ?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
@sbooker, I've sent you a PM. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
@Baron von chippy, Australia. Just over the ditch from our Kiwi cousins.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@sbooker, Certainly in the eastern alps October can be a great time for mountain walks. There is often periods of so called Kaiserwetter ie blue skies with clear views, warm during the day but not hot, often misty mornings with the trees turning various shades of brown. The downside is that many (most) of the huts are closed so you are restricted to day walks unless you are happy using the winter rooms and carrying your own food etc. Of course the weather can never be relied upon and it can be wet or even snowy. It is a good time to visit places like Salzburg which are currently completely overun with tourists. September is also good (peak mountain walking month for locals) the huts are generally open and the weather often good (can be warm) though the trees will still be green.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
We had a magnificent week in St Gervais in October with some great walking and Autumn foliage a few years back. I can't remember if any lifts were working but we didn't use any.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
Switzerland if you can swap from France, the difference being most of the mountain cable cars are operational (check service dates) whereas they seem to stop in September in France. I have sent family members to St Moritz for the changing of the leaves, it is gorgeous and it will be cheaper at that time of year. You also get a few Alpabzug still at that time of year (when they stick floral crowns on the cows and walk them down from thr mountains). They are quite a fun swiss experience- usually music and cheese too!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Good info. Thanks all.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
100% Sud Tirol. Doesn’t have to be the Dolomites, but that’s a really perfect and classic time for Sud Tirol. Dollies, Bozen, Brixen, Kastelruth, Vinschgau…
Warmer and much more stable weather than anywhere in the north or west Alps, golden light for hiking, walk sections of the Keschtnweg (chestnut trail) and get freshly roasted chestnuts with local wine, most (like fresh cider) or apple juice, perfect mountain biking time, book a traditional Törgellen meal (like harvest celebration type thing) in a local gasthaus, etc etc. Or your favourite Italian classics.
Throw in a day skiing at Stubaier Glacier or similar (just drive over the Brenner Pass and you’re basically there) if conditions look good, or if it’s very warm the other direction to Lake Garda or Molveno.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
@clarky999, +1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@sbooker, travelling so far would New England not be of interest? its one place I'd like to go during autumn
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
1. Stowe
2. Chamonix
3. Zermatt
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
| Whitegold wrote: |
1. Stowe
|
In Buckingham-shire? I should think that's a bit grim in October and apart from visiting the stately home not much to do.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
| clarky999 wrote: |
100% Sud Tirol. Doesn’t have to be the Dolomites, but that’s a really perfect and classic time for Sud Tirol. Dollies, Bozen, Brixen, Kastelruth, Vinschgau…
Warmer and much more stable weather than anywhere in the north or west Alps, golden light for hiking, walk sections of the Keschtnweg (chestnut trail) and get freshly roasted chestnuts with local wine, most (like fresh cider) or apple juice, perfect mountain biking time, book a traditional Törgellen meal (like harvest celebration type thing) in a local gasthaus, etc etc. Or your favourite Italian classics.
Throw in a day skiing at Stubaier Glacier or similar (just drive over the Brenner Pass and you’re basically there) if conditions look good, or if it’s very warm the other direction to Lake Garda or Molveno. |
This!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
@Baron von chippy, that’s a good point. But we’ll be in the US in January. And that tipping……
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
This was October 2009. Chilly.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
| Origen wrote: |
| This was October 2009. Chilly. |
Suggesting South America seems a bit left field, 
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
Two of the Saalbach-Hinterglemm cable cars run until 13th October.
One of the Leogang cable car lifts (Asitzbahn) runs until 20th October, and then the other lift (Steinbergbahn) starts for the winter on 21st October.
Both areas are stunning in autumn with plenty of hiking trails open and a good mix of conifers on the mountain and golden leafy trees in the valleys.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Salzkammergut, Upper Austria, late September/early October can be stunning. Average daily temps 16/17C and a popular time of year for hiking around lakes or up mountains. Pretty towns/villages to explore if the weather isn’t playing ball.
Salzburg isn’t far away (car/bus). Hallstatt isn’t usually quite so busy. The main town in the Salzkammergut is Bad Ischl which is bustling but rarely overly busy, especially at that time of year. Also worth checking out St Wolfgang, St Gilgen, Traunkirchen, Gmunden and Mondsee, amongst many others.
Plenty of very good spa options.
Gosaukammbahn operates until November, providing uplift to a great hiking area. In addition, there’s the Katrin Seilbahn, Schafbergbahn and Zwolferhorn seilbahn, extending uplift and mountain hiking options.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
@sbooker, since we bought our own place in St Gervais we have several times visited in October and really enjoyed the walking then, and are planning to do so again this year. However... most of the seasonal transport (cable cars and navettes) is no longer running and if you don't have a car you will have to plan around the normal public bus services. Similarly a lot of the mountain refuges (great walking destinations for lunch) are no longer manned, though there are a few.
And it goes without saying you need to be based in a year-round town with restaurants and shops open.
So even if you plan to book last minute, you should do careful research on potential destinations in advance. And it would certainly be easiest if you planned to rent a car, the year-round towns and the standard public transport routes mean you are likely to be low down and make high hikes difficult.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
We liked autumn (usually October) in our place in Les Saisies. Glorious autumn colours and often nice weather. We weren't based in a year-round town with restaurants and shops open, but that didn't matter. We were there for the walking, stocked up on nice food and drink on the drive up and enjoyed the solitude and wonderful uninterrupted mountain views. Also went to St Gervais a few times, including for that ceremony of bringing down the cows from the pastures, which was terrific.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
@Origen, thanks for reminding me to check when the Foire Agricole is this year. Looks like 20th October, though it was surprisingly difficult online to find a date - mind you everyone in the valley obviously knows. We might contrive to make sure our visit covers that weekend.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
@j b, @Origen,
Thanks.
As it happens when we visit Europe for a few weeks from early March 2025 we plan to make St Gervais or a nearby village a base for 6 days. We'll have a car. We want to be able to access Chamonix for a day or two of guiding (including the bucket list Vallee Blanche) and we'll check out some local hills like Les Contamines and maybe even a long day out to Flaine. The idea is to go somewhere with a few less English accents. Are we on the right track?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@sbooker, I can't promise fewer English voices. For that you need the tiny local resorts.
Les Contamines and St Gervais may not be well known among the majority of UK skiers who only know the resorts used by tour operators, but they have a following among those who organise their own holidays. And it would appear they are heavily over-represented among those you will meet in bars or restaurants, presumably the French tend much more to eat and drink in their own apartments. Plenty of French voices in the bakery and supermarket though, and at the weekly market.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
| sbooker wrote: |
@j b, @Origen,
Thanks.
As it happens when we visit Europe for a few weeks from early March 2025 we plan to make St Gervais or a nearby village a base for 6 days. We'll have a car. We want to be able to access Chamonix for a day or two of guiding (including the bucket list Vallee Blanche) and we'll check out some local hills like Les Contamines and maybe even a long day out to Flaine. The idea is to go somewhere with a few less English accents. Are we on the right track? |
While the village of Les Contamines feels French, I tend to find that English voices are rather noticeable on the slopes in March and April, especially outside weekends. This is mainly because there are few French holiday makers at that time of year and you find that British property owners make up a meaningful slice of the limited skier numbers. The other side of that is that you have got lovely empty slopes and normally excellent conditions in March.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
If you want a more convincingly "local" resort, try Praz sur Arly. Just up the road from Megeve, but a world away in many ways.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
Thanks. And the larger towns like Cluses and Sallanches?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
@sbooker, the one time I visited Cluses centre I thought it rather characterless, but we have found it useful for the town edge outlets (But, Conforama). Sallanches seemed more interesting, it is again a commercial town. But both would be fully functional regardless of season.
If you have a car, Cluses has the advantage of putting you closer to the road to Morzine and Flaine (and satellites) but further to get to the Chamonix valley, the Montjoie valley (St G and Les C) and the Arly valley; I'm not sure from your above post whether you intend to rent a car for your October visit or the skiing one in March. Public transport links are broadly similar but more of a hassle if you aren't at a good starting point.
I think it would be more fun in a mountain town, and almost anywhere you could find some good alpine walks with the help of the local map.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
@sbooker, have a look at normal towns/villages that tend to have people go about their lives/visitors all year round rather than ski villages. Andorra is an option - warm and sunny can’t be guaranteed but it’s not unusual to be sitting outside in the sun with a beer after a hike in October. Not sure if any lifts will be open but the mountains are pretty easy to access.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
@luigi, what a fabulous photo .. I must admit I thought it was Lake Louise at first 
The places mentioned in this thread have given me a hunger to make a trip at that time of year.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
@luigi, when were those 2 photos taken?
Looks fabulous
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@luigi, that looks lovely.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@luigi, that looks lovely.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
Northern Provence is beautiful in October, the borders of the Vaucluse and the Drôme. Lovely towns include Avignon, Orange and Vaison la Romaine. Beautiful walks around Mont Ventoux, the Dentelles de Montmirail and, once in the Drôme, up into the foothills of the Alps. Lots of lovely Rhône wines too!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
