 Poster: A snowHead
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| chrisc wrote: |
I have noticed that the Hohtalli-Rote Nase off-piste/yellow itineraries have been closed for much of the last 3 years.
Does anyone know what is going on? I know it takes a while to accumulate enough snow, and there have been below-average snow years. Is the Rote Nase tram functional? |
As what…snow says it was open yesterday (and indeed today) and should be open for the season (barring exceptional avalanche risk).
It does take quite a lot of snow to safely cover the rocks and they err on the side of caution. It would never open before beginning of February. I was skiing near there at the end of January and it seemed well covered. There has been little to no snow since then (next week is looking hopeful) so not sure why they waited a while before opening it. I am in Val d’Isère at present and then am in Verbier (well Nendaz) next week but will be back in Zermatt at the end of next week and will be heading straight there. It is simply a fantastic area for those who like to venture off the groomed pistes.
Last year it didn’t open to the public at all. However, the lift did run but only for guides and their clients. You can also put your skis on your back and walk the footpath from Hohtälli to Rote Nasa. You of course are not skiing an itinerary then but an off piste route and you need to treat it like you would any off piste area.
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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.
I see that the Rote Nase cable car is now open. And looking good for some substantial new snow next week!
I skied Zermatt 2x in the fantastic, record-breaking winter of 2017-18 and wanted to return with most of the yellow off-piste itineraries open. I skied in late January 2018 and everything was open; mid-April 2018 was also excellent.
I can see from the White Risk site that they had excellent snow at the end of the season, but never opened the lift. (?)
https://whiterisk.ch/en/conditions/measurements/station/IMIS/GOR2
Scroll down to Annual View - then select 'Last Year'. Zermatt Gornergrat was approaching record base depths in April and May 2024.
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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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End of week report.
Conditions have deteriorated during the week, pistes are really hard and getting thin in parts.
Yesterday was a strange day as the Cervinia side was enveloped in cloud and the Swiss side was totally clear save for a tiny incursion part way down the glacier at Kleine Matterhorn. I assume the weather front didn't have the umph to make it over the alpine ridge.
We stayed on the Swiss side, so I've no idea if the front had improved Conditions in Italy with fresh snowfall. Italy definitely preferable to Switzerland the last time we skied there on Thursday.
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Substantial snowfall forecast on Sunday night/Monday morning. All forecasts say a reasonable amount of precipitation on both sides of the Alpine ridge, but favouring the south. Wepowder forecast a lower FL on the Italian side so snow down to Valtournenche but distinctly marginal/wet in Zermatt. Then another top up on Wednesday night/Thursday.
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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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@JeanPaulValley, Pistes hard and thin on Swiss or Italian side . . ?
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@belch
Holding up better in Italy. Pretty much hard pack all over in Z. Stones and bare patches appearing regularly on the Swiss side.
We did 3 days out of 6 in Italy whilst staying in Z, would have been 4/6 but for the weak front that blanketed the Aosta Valley in cloud on Friday.
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Sorry, I know off the weather topic but after some knowledge on what Cervinia is generally like at half term, Is it crazily busy?
We've normally managed to avoid half term but can't next year and quite fancy a trip to Cervinia again...
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@JeanPaulValley, Is this mainly home runs or also at altitude (ie above 2500M)?
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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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Pretty much everywhere in Z.
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Is there anywhere I can buy a cheap pair of ski poles in Zermatt?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Decathlon? Matterhorn Sport Riva had decent offers last December
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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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| drporat wrote: |
| Decathlon? Matterhorn Sport Riva had decent offers last December |
Thanks!
I've lost one of the glove attachments for my good leki ones.
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just turning up to this conversation late, lifts don't open till 8:45am in summer? thinking of going in June
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You know it makes sense.
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I assume Cervinia got a bit of a top up in the latest offering?
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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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| 8611 wrote: |
| I assume Cervinia got a bit of a top up in the latest offering? |
Cervinia has been doing really well. And this weekend it is getting pounded.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Thanks @JohnMo, I hope so! Due out in a month so the more under foot now the better.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Been in Cervinia since Wednesday.
Thursday morning was glorious apart from the link being closed. But the snow on and off piste was excellent. They clearly had half a metre of more so far that week up above Plan Tourrette/Plan Maison. Cloud came in early afternoon and we totally lost the light. Back down in town it's a bit of a slush fest in the afternoon.
Friday the link opened and excellent skiing again on both sides on and off piste. Zermatt, away from the Matterhorn looks to have quite a lot less snow to me, so we didn't venture any further that side. Light snow came in in the afternoon and continued into the evening. Not much accumulation in town, but probably 5cm or more Plan Maison and up. Very slushy on the slopes into town again as you get towards the bottom 3rd below Plan Tourrette.
Today (Saturday) has been on and off moderate to heavy snow about Plan Tourrette all day. And some shocking visibility at times. Below that, it's been strange today. Snowing yes, but melting faster than it's falling and very wet and slushy pistes low down. But above about 2500m on the odd occasion the light allowed it was incredible, boot deep on piste if you found the quieter runs.
Next week will be great on and off piste, certainly above 2500m, once the weather settles down.
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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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Woke up to a much bigger snow fall than expected. There was snow down the valley as far as Stalden at 800m. The Italians got the better of it again though.
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Good news. Looks like there might be a bit of something coming through next weekend 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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Does the Italian side always get more snow?
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| Blakegreid wrote: |
| Does the Italian side always get more snow? |
No. It is probably 50/50.
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@JohnMo, I know you have local knowledge.. half term, stupidly busy there? Would be Italian side?
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Last day today. As already mentioned, woke up to quite a bit more snow that had fallen overnight on top of what had fallen during the daytime yesterday.
Pretty much got 1st lift all the way up Cretaz and then Pancheron. 1st run down was incredible. I don't know what hours the piste bashers worked last night, but most pistes we pristine fresh powder with a bit of wind blown fluff on top. Visibility was good through partly cloudy skies too. Then some good deep powder runs off the sides from Fornet, easily knee deep.
Unfortunately it wasn't to last, the cloud and fog rolled in on the Italian side and by 10.30 it was a nightmare. Visibility was shockingly bad at times. And all the mountain retreats were rammed.
Somehow, after a long lunch, we had stuck it out until 3pm. Decided at 1 last look up Fornet and the cloud started to break. The last hour was incredible, snow conditions up there on the Italian side about as good as it gets. Tomorrow morning will be glorious when we're heading home. Hope the sun doesn't ruin it all too quickly for those that remain.
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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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| Rowlski wrote: |
| @JohnMo, I know you have local knowledge.. half term, stupidly busy there? Would be Italian side? |
We generally go at half-term and while it is busy, I would say not stupidly so generally, unless one or more of the areas is closed due to wind and so everyone funnels to the same area. It may vary though as we go the Geneva or Vaud half-term weeks, but you don't get the massive influx that the French resorts can due to the Paris weeks, etc
The only notable queues in normal conditions are for the Matterhorn Express first thing in the morning (although 5-10 minutes max) or the chairlift at Riffelburg, although it isn't really too bad at all. I haven't noticed any significant queues over in Cervinia either.
The only thing I'd advise is staying somewhere near the main station as it is the first stop for the bus (as well as being convenient for the Gornergrat train) and the bus can get rammed.
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Cervinia seems to be reporting about 70cm since last sunday, nice conditions indeed. Should get more this weekend.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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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| Whitters wrote: |
| Rowlski wrote: |
| @JohnMo, I know you have local knowledge.. half term, stupidly busy there? Would be Italian side? |
We generally go at half-term and while it is busy, I would say not stupidly so generally, unless one or more of the areas is closed due to wind and so everyone funnels to the same area. It may vary though as we go the Geneva or Vaud half-term weeks, but you don't get the massive influx that the French resorts can due to the Paris weeks, etc
The only notable queues in normal conditions are for the Matterhorn Express first thing in the morning (although 5-10 minutes max) or the chairlift at Riffelburg, although it isn't really too bad at all. I haven't noticed any significant queues over in Cervinia either.
The only thing I'd advise is staying somewhere near the main station as it is the first stop for the bus (as well as being convenient for the Gornergrat train) and the bus can get rammed. |
I would agree with that. The bus (green line) after the first couple of stops is probably the only real problem at half term. Coming in from Täsch into the Zermatt train station I never have an issue but I feel sorry for those waiting at bus stops further up as sometimes it is impossible for them to get on. At peak times the green line buses run every 8-10 minutes. If you can’t get on the first one it is probably because it filled up with people (like me!) coming up the valley on the train or on the shuttle train so the next one should be less full of train people (shuttle trains are every 20 minutes and valley trains every half an hour).
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Thanks @Whitters & @JohnMo, so sounds ok on the slopes. We'd be staying Italian side in Cervinia anyhow though having started to research prices for next year it's already a fair whack! Guess that's in large part to me having previously avoided the half term sticker shock! 
Conditions are looking good out there now from the webcams, have a group of friends there next weekend alas couldn't join them this year. Enjoy!
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You know it makes sense.
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Hope it keeps snowing - arriving Cervinia on Sunday!
@qanuk, Was run down to Valtourneche still open / skiable?
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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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@Belch, didn't make it down that far, but the Cervinia website says its open. The slopes from Salette and above were great, so I don't see why it wouldn't be skiable down to Valtournenche. That said, I would expect it to be spring like pretty soon below Salette.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| qanuk wrote: |
| @Belch, didn't make it down that far, but the Cervinia website says its open. The slopes from Salette and above were great, so I don't see why it wouldn't be skiable down to Valtournenche. That said, I would expect it to be spring like pretty soon below Salette. |
GFS is expecting Valtournenche to stay pretty cold until about Friday. Means the run down from Salette should ski nicely with all that fresh snow.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Can any weather enthusiasts tell me if it will be worth thinking about skiing here 10th April? 
My usual sources say it’s coldish for time of year?
I have never skied in April before FWIW. I was in Verbier a few weeks ago and April felt somewhat doubtful by the end of the trip!
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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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It's always worth thinking about skiing - I do that year round!
It's just had a week of snow there is some talk of more cool weather from end of this week. I wouldn't be worried, I'm headed myself a few days after you.
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@8611, thank you. Helpful to know!
I am in the vicinity with a motorhome and pondering if we can get a day or so skiing in. If the conditions looked a bit naff I’d have written off that idea. Sounds like it might be a starter.
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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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Hi. Heading to Cervinia for four nights on the 6th April. Does anyone know Is there hourly or half day tickets available ? Hopefully it will still be in reasonable condition.
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@hrooney18, according to the website, yes. Morning or afternoon only tickets available
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We were skiing in Zermatt last week and got stranded in Furgg. We were hoping to take the bubble towards Schwarzsee but we found out that if it's windy the only way out is to go up to Trockener Steg.
We started out going to Trockener Steg for the Furrgsattel lift, but that was closed by the time we arrived, and so we skied down to the cheese hut at Furgg. We didn't realise what was happening at first, but everything was shutting down because of wind.
There were some bubbles going up to Trockener Steg but none coming down. We looked at the black to Furi but that was closed for avalanche risk.
We spotted a pisteur and asked him how to get back; he replied "I don't know". He didn't even know how he was going to get back. There was nothing to tell us what was going on and by now there were no bubbles either up or down. We spotted some people leaving the Zermatt side of the station and going up the stairs to the Trockener Steg side. We decided that was the best bet even though it was the wrong direction and there were no bubbles.
The liftie who seemed to be the only one organising anything confirmed that we had to go to Trockener Steg and we joined a large queue sheltering behind a wall on the Trockener side waiting for bubbles to appear. Eventually a group of around 10 bubbles came down which we were not allowed to board until they had turned round further on (at Schwarzsee?). Once they re-appeared going towards Trockener Steg they were filled to capacity but there were not enough bubbles to clear the queue.
We had to wait for them to send another batch of bubbles all the way down and up again before we could get on our way to Trockener Steg and the queue was finally cleared. Once we got Trockener Steg we could then queue for the cable car down to Furi which fortunately was still running.
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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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@Belch, thanks for that. Bit worried now as I am not due out for another 2 weeks so I hope the <2500m improves or above it holds! I'm sure it will be fine, could get colder and more snow after next week.
Anyway, gravity + snow usually = fun
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@8611, We had a sprinkling of new snow on the Sunday we arrived so its probably due a top up . . .like most resorts at this time of year home runs get battered; and if you're staying on the Cretaz lift 'side' Blue 5 is an obvious confidence building / beginners run, so oversubscribed from morning till lifts close . . . you can chicken out however and download on the Gondola(s) from Plan Maison (which we did on a couple of occasions) - just make sure you have a private shuttle bus service to avoid trekking miles uphill back to your accommodation in ski boots etc!
Of greater concern is the wind - Saturday was a write off and checking cams today they have had even more lift closures (with clear blue sky and sunshine!) . . . .not sure what happens in the event of purchased lift passes etc Good luck!
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