 Poster: A snowHead
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Looking for a Austrian resort that historically has good snow in December.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@JRB747373, Kaprun, St Anton, Lech, Schladming, Bad Gastein, Hintertux, the list is endless.
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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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Obertauern, Ischgl/Galtuer, SFL, it depends on what you are looking for.
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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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Obertauren, Sölden or Ischgl as stated above.
Ischgl will most likely have the most terrain open.
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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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Not sure that past records have any real relevance to what conditions might be this year. Ischgl opens before the end of November. Various glaciers are open now. Other places mentioned above will generally open early December. One place not mentioned would be Sölden / Obergurgl. Many places only open partially until just before Christmas as there is not enough demand to pay for lift staff etc. Of course little or no snow will affect any planned opening dates
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Historically, Ischgl has best overall artificial cover 
Best advice though is to wait last minute
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Yes will be waiting till last minute. Just wanted pointing in the right direction as we haven’t been to Austria yet
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@JRB747373, Choice/cost of flights might influence the advice. Where are you flying to and when?
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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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@JRB747373, Why December? I have had some great days skiing in December, plentiful snow on empty pistes but I can make a last minute decision where or even if to go. Many years it is not worth the effort prior to Christmas. For a first visit to Austria you would be better off waiting until later in the season
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I’ve not looked into flights/airports yet. We will go on 15/12 if we do go in December.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@JRB747373, In that case book late (should be no issue finding accommodation). I would say fly to either Munich or Zürich as lots of flights. Possible options might be Saalbach (doable from Munich though nearer to Salzburg), not so high but reliable snow making setup, Arlberg - train from Zürich with station in middle of St Anton, easy transfer to Lech, not a budget option but best skiing in eastern Alps, Zillertal - possible by train from Munich but hire car probably easier, lots of skiing along the valley all the way to the glacier at Hintertux.
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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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We have done Austria in the pre Christmas week over the past three years. Can be a great time to go since it is much quieter and cheaper.
So far we have stayed Obergurgl once and Serfaus (SFL) twice. Coniditons were generally quite good, plenty of snow cover. Obergurgle in ‘21 was quite icy, but all slopes were open and there was snow to village level.
Think all of the resorts mentioned so far should be a good bet. And you can leave your decision quite late since there will still be plenty of availability.
We like to go to Serfaus that week, it is very family friendly, has high elevation, with the main village at 1400m and highest elevation in the resort at 2800. About half the slopes are above 2000m so they hold snow quite well and they also have good snow making facilities. The village might not be as pretty as Lech but it atill has plenty of charm with all the Christmas decorations and being semi-car free. Also despite the elevation it does have sufficent shelterd and tree line runs just above the village to hit in whiteout conditions. Something Obergurgl by comparison lacks.
Flights: I suppose depends on where you are flyign from. From London flights to Innsbruck and Salzburg are probably still quite reasonably priced for that period. Innsbruck will give you easy access to most of the snow sure resorts (soelden, gurgl, Ischgl, SFL, Arlberg)
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| munich_irish wrote: |
| @JRB747373, Why December? I have had some great days skiing in December, plentiful snow on empty pistes but I can make a last minute decision where or even if to go. Many years it is not worth the effort prior to Christmas. For a first visit to Austria you would be better off waiting until later in the season |
why would it not be worth the visit?
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You know it makes sense.
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Anyone got recommendations for where to book last minute accommodation?
Had a quick look at Lech on Airbnb and the availability isn’t great the week before Christmas already.
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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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1. Ischgl
2. Obergurgl
3. Lech
4. Solden
5. St Moritz (Swz)
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Poster: A snowHead
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| JRB747373 wrote: |
Anyone got recommendations for where to book last minute accommodation?
Had a quick look at Lech on Airbnb and the availability isn’t great the week before Christmas already. |
The local website is usually where I find the best deals 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Obergurgl is the far out booking bet here. Hochgurgl even better. Although as mentioned above it is bleak in stormy weather.
We are booked in Oberlech mid December.
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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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@JRB747373, Some years (hopefully not this one) there is not enough snow to make the effort of going skiing worthwhile. A December trip is best as an extra to other trips during the season. As always it is impossible to know in advance, last season the best conditions were in early December with huge amounts of snow but there have been years when not worth going until mid January.
In general the best place to look for accommodation is the local tourist office website. Airbnb is not particularly popular especially in places like Lech & Ischgl
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Do they open enough pistes in Serfaus/SFL?
Previously done Obergurgl and Ischgl mid December.
When the weather was bleak in Obergurgl we took the skibus to Solden where everything was brighter and nicer.
Ischgl had most pistes opened but a storm arrived forcing us to refrain from skiing for 2 days due to strong winds, awful bad visibility and closed chairlifts.
ATM I am also considering VT in France versus Ischgl/Arlberg/Serfaus for mid December, based on available mileage.
Edited: I am sure VT/3V will have more pistes in better conditions (usually), going alone I would rather use trains and shared transfers plus an easy flight to Zurich
Last edited by You need to Login to know who's really who. on Mon 30-09-24 7:07; edited 1 time in total
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Sitting here now wondering where the highest snow sure tree runs are in Europe? I guess it has to be in Austria right? Due to the northerly component of snow sureness...
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@afterski, if their predictions are correct (any feedback from previous years?) then resorts with total snow cannon cover are the only ones that will be snowsure.
Any suggestions?
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Treeline? No idea.
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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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@JRB747373, virtually the whole of the Zillertal will be open by then, plus you have the safety net of Hintertux glacier.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@ski_free, excellent. Many thanks, will read.
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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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I used to be a regular visitor to Ischgl in early December on the basis it was the first opportunity to get "proper" skiing ie not on a glacier. These days my dislike of the place has overcome the desire to rush off and I wait until the Arlberg kicks off. However whenever I went conditions were decent, occasionally icy but OK. A few times the place got closed by storms (no refunds!). Dont assume the entire area will be open. The Samnaun side generally opens a week or so later, the Velillalp area is often closed (dont think any snow machines) and the valley runs are often not worth the effort with icy moguls. All that said I have been skiing in Ischgl when there has been no other non glacial skiing in the alps (including Val Thorens).
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| afterski wrote: |
| Sitting here now wondering where the highest snow sure tree runs are in Europe? I guess it has to be in Austria right? Due to the northerly component of snow sureness... |
Kind of two conflicting issues there: for a high treeline you need it to be warm, south-facing and sunny, which obviously does not help snow sureness.
Around Tirol Ischgl has some of the highest treeskiing, but that’s still quite short runs. South Alps should have higher trees but I can’t comment on the snow sureness.
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You know it makes sense.
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Saalbach (where I live most of the time) is normally okay in mid-December - in fact often idyllic with relatively empty, beautifully prepared runs. I used to arrive in the resort just before Christmas (my 19th consecutive Christmas there coming up), but got sick and tired of being told that I’d missed a couple of weeks of quite possibly the best skiing of the season. So these days I aim to get there around the beginning of the second week of December.
But occasionally snow droughts in November and December do occur, so I would suggest leaving it as late as possible to book. There will surely be plenty of accommodation available before Christmas (and by the way, I’m in contact with a network of Brits who own and let good apartments in Saalbach, and am always willing to try to help fellow-Snowheads find accommodation).
Last edited by You know it makes sense. on Wed 2-10-24 19:31; edited 1 time in total
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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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last December SFL opened with almost 90% of the Lift-slopes....
Mid December there is availability almost everywhere. Wait and book someting last minute.
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FAQ
