 Poster: A snowHead
|
|
Where is the best place to ski for intermediate skiers close to Geneva just before Christmas that will guarantee snow?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
Flaine
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
Better than Chamonix? Skied Flaine a few years ago and snow was a little disappointing
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
What kind of skiing do you want? Flaine is pretty intermediate whereas Chamonix definitely is not.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
After intermediate skiing that will nigh on guarantee snow for the time that we are out there
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
@Snowyjim,
Doesn't exist.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bit further away, you have a good chance at Tignes or Verbier.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Avoriaz.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
Val Thorens
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I went to chamonix 20th December last year. The snow was ‘ok’
Intermediates can ski there, but it’s somewhat disjointed , several small ski areas.
Flaine better for skiing if the snow is good.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
@Snowyjim,
How close to Geneva?
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
Don’t mind driving a couple of hours
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| under a new name wrote: |
| Bit further away, you have a good chance at Tignes or Verbier. |
If you’ll drive 2 hours then these are your 2 best options for snow sure in Mid December. Val Thorens a 3rd option. Zermatt / Cervinia another hour.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
@Snowyjim, if it's the week before xmas week, i.e. 14.12 - 21.12, you'll be able to find accommodation anywhere so sort out flights and car hire now and leave the resort decision till the night before?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
What is nendaz and the 4 valleys like at that time?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
| Quote: |
intermediate skiing that will nigh on guarantee snow
|
Flaine doesn't answer to that description, and neither does Chamonix. You need to head a bit further away, but if you're looking at week ending 21 December you will, as @under a new name says, be able to leave choice of resort and accommodation to the very last minute. If early snow is good (unlike the last few years) then Flaine will be fine.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
| Quote: |
intermediate skiing that will nigh on guarantee snow
|
Flaine doesn't answer to that description, and neither does Chamonix. You need to head a bit further away, but if you're looking at week ending 21 December you will, as @under a new name says, be able to leave choice of resort and accommodation to the very last minute. If early snow is good (unlike the last few years) then Flaine will be fine.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
| Snowyjim wrote: |
| What is nendaz and the 4 valleys like at that time? |
Verbier is excellent in December as they open everything and upgraded the snow making. Nendaz will also be fine but will be very quiet. Main cost difference is accommodation and that should be cheap pre Xmas.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
| Snowyjim wrote: |
| What is nendaz and the 4 valleys like at that time? |
For many years, I used to go with mates for the first weekend of December. We always went to Verbier, and always had good skiing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
Not sure I’d describe the skiing at Chamonix as particularly difficult? La Tour and Les Houches is all easy and Brevant/ Flegere is mostly intermediate with the odd black run albeit Ungroomed.
Even Argentiere is mostly red and blue runs and very little of the on piste is steep.
In the spring the whole hillside is skiable off piste but most of it is reasonably gentle unless you actively seek out steeper lines.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I think the problem with Chamonix, given the OP's requirements, is that the early snow is by no means guaranteed, especially in Les Houches. Nowhere within easy reach of Geneva is guaranteed to have good snow, really, but driving to the Tarentaise does improve the odds. If going before the Christmas week, I'd definitely wait and make a last minute booking for accommodation. Could book a rental car now, but keep an eye on prices as they might drop - need a flexible booking.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A bit depends on what you categorise as "intermediate". Despite @Peter S's assessment some intermediates would feel challenged by Brevent/Flegere and Grands Montets (Argentiere). But most years La Tour would be open that week in December as well. I agree with @Origen that Les Houches is unreliable that early in the season.
But the OP wants snow "guaranteed". Even in the Chamonix valley I think you could only say that of Grands Montets.
The OP also asks for "close to Geneva", I wouldn't remotely include Tignes in that. You would need to allow three hours.
If you can deal with the uncertainty @under a new name's plan is the answer. And you will most likely end up in Flaine and have a great time.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
we ve just booked similar 12-15th out luton early to lyon and back sunday late gives 3.5 days skiing, staying in Val D'Isere.
longer drive than preferred but as an overall resort hard to beat
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@j b, Not even the GMs guaranteed 
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
| under a new name wrote: |
| @j b, Not even the GMs guaranteed |
Yeah, in December only glaciers offer guaranteed snow and need the cable car for that.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
| jedster wrote: |
| under a new name wrote: |
| @j b, Not even the GMs guaranteed |
Yeah, in December only glaciers offer guaranteed snow and need the cable car for that. |
There are resorts where decent skiing in Dec is more or less guaranteed due to height, aspect, glacier/snowmaking. They are the ones that are typically already open in November like Zermatt, Tignes, Engelberg, Verbier etc
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Peter S wrote: |
Not sure I’d describe the skiing at Chamonix as particularly difficult? La Tour and Les Houches is all easy and Brevant/ Flegere is mostly intermediate with the odd black run albeit Ungroomed.
Even Argentiere is mostly red and blue runs and very little of the on piste is steep.
In the spring the whole hillside is skiable off piste but most of it is reasonably gentle unless you actively seek out steeper lines. |
So if Chamonix is good intermediate terrain, which resorts are not good for intermediates? While you are right that the pistes at Flegere and GM are not THAT steep, I think the key point is that there are very few truly cruisy pistes. TBH I'm struggling to think of ski areas that have so little easy skiing. Kicking Horse? Perhaps Engleberg is similar? Other ski areas that are good for advanced skiers like Verbier, St Anton, VdI all offer a broader range of skiing IMO.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
| under a new name wrote: |
| @Snowyjim, if it's the week before xmas week, i.e. 14.12 - 21.12, you'll be able to find accommodation anywhere so sort out flights and car hire now and leave the resort decision till the night before? |
Works well if it is a snowy start to the season, but if snow is limited to just a few resorts their accommodation could be be booked out, or near to it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
@Kenzie, unlikely to be a big problem that week. Many lower (inc. much of Chamonix so not necessarily low) don’t open until xmas week proper.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
| Kenzie wrote: |
| under a new name wrote: |
| @Snowyjim, if it's the week before xmas week, i.e. 14.12 - 21.12, you'll be able to find accommodation anywhere so sort out flights and car hire now and leave the resort decision till the night before? |
Works well if it is a snowy start to the season, but if snow is limited to just a few resorts their accommodation could be be booked out, or near to it. |
It doesn’t work like that. Before Xmas week almost every resort is very quiet. There are very few people who can book last minute so last minute snow conditions will have negligible impact on accommodation availability
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
Might be some locals up for lunch and a bit of a ski on the Sunday. But if the snow's good, it's a great week to ski.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
And even if it's not, it's better than Christmas week!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
I did the week before Xmas in Meribel last year and it was perfect - empty and great snow. Did Verbier the year before that and it was also good but it did warm up and rained on the last day
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
