Where to go for two weeks in April?

A snowHead

For various reasons I've got a pile more annual leave than my (non-skiing) partner this year, which means I think I can get a decent amount of skiing in this winter. I've got 5 days planned in December with InsideOut, a week in January with SnoWorks, and am looking at a week in March (maybe the SnoWorks trip to Grimentz or an off-piste week in Serre Chevalier, perhaps with UCPA).

I'm also looking to take two weeks roughly between April 12 and May 5, and this is where I could use some advice.

Places I'm currently thinking about: Trois Vallées, Espace Killy, Verbier, Cervinia/Zermatt, Sölden. Is there anywhere else I should be considering at this fairly late stage of the season?

I'll most likely be travelling solo, but am very happy to meet and ski with others. Somewhere with the option to meet others who are up for doing some decent off-piste (with or without a guide, depending on area and conditions) would be good.

The options that currently seem most suitable are:

- YSE in Val d'Isère for a couple of weeks.
- two consecutive weeks in a UCPA centre, most likely in Tignes
- go on the EoSB and stay for a second week (before or after), but where? (UCPA ValTho would be the obvious suggestion, but they don't seem to have anything on the weeks either side of the EoSB)

Is there anything else I should be considering? The options above I think give an indication of most of the variables: I'm not necessarily trying to do it on the cheap, but don't want to spend more money than I need to. Happy with a single room (but would rather not pay a large single supplement) or sharing (a bunkhouse is fine). I'd rather do something slightly more sociable than rent a room on my own for two weeks and ski solo, so recommendations as to places I can meet other skiers would be appreciated. Priority is the skiing: I'm flexible as to lunch (picnic/salle hors sac/snacks on the lift or lunch stop, indulgent or otherwise); I'm happy to have a nice meal and a glass or two in the evening, but don't need (or particularly want) lively bars. Happy to ski on- or off-piste, according to where the conditions are best; if venturing off-piste I want a good degree of certainty that everyone in the group has and knows how to use their safety kit. I've got the time to travel by train, but am happy to fly if need be. I don't need a big ski area; as long as there are some challenging runs with decent conditions I'm happy lapping them.

So, any other recommendations? Are there other places I should be looking at (whether in or outside Europe? My sense is that it's a little too late in the season to get the most out of Hokkaido, but please correct me if I'm wrong; is there anywhere in North America that's worth considering for a solo trip in April?). Is there anyone in a similar situation who would like to share accommodation (maybe even also transport) for a week either side of the EoSB, or even for a two-week trip? Does anyone have any accommodation recommendations for solo travellers in a suitable location?

[title edited 2024-11-29]

A snowHead

An intro to ski touring week maybe?

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

@JayRo, just be aware that Verbier likely isn't open that late in to May.

@Layne's idea is a good one, i've done something similar for the instructor qualification and our guide was from here

https://www.chamex.com/trip_courses/ski-touring-course-chamonix-introduction/#dates

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1. Tignes
2. Ischgl
3. Cervinia
4. Val Thorens
5. Zermatt

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Sweden / Norway

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Engelberg could be of interest

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

The Western US is off to a good start. Tahoe is an obvious choice; you'd have Palisades & Heavenly* then, and Mammoth 2 hours south of there. Truckee is a cool town and so is Mammoth Lakes. Mt Bachelor is also worth a look; in April they have 100% of their terrain open and a very affordable spring pass. Bend is a great town, and there's tons of other stuff to do there. Great array of affordable lodging options as well. Also snow sure; they stay open until late May nearly every season. You'd need a car for any of these. *Heavenly generally closes before the other two, and most of the other Tahoe areas like Kirkwood close before Heavenly.

You also mentioned off-piste. Over here off-piste areas in-bounds are controlled, so that particular risk is lower, if you are otherwise comfortable skiing alone.

After all it is free

If considering stateside then Timberline and Mount Hood Meadows are within a steady drive of Bachelor and Timberline also does a very cheap spring pass (about the price of two day tickets from memory). Fairly mellow terrain at Timberline but was deserted in the week when I was there a few years back. And amazing location.

Thanks for all the good suggestions: Chamex in particular looks a good option for meeting new people to ski with and sharing the cost of guiding/instruction.

@Baron von chippy, Engelberg is absolutely of interest, thank you. Do you or anyone else have any recommendations for solo skiers, particularly when it comes to skiing off-piste? A quick search has found https://skilodgeengelberg.com/ for accommodation and https://www.engelbergmountainguide.ch for group guiding days, which look very promising.

@Scooter in Seattle, that also sounds great: and I imagine that controlled in-bounds off-piste means savings on guide costs over a couple of weeks (CHF 195/day in Engelgerg, for example, for a group spot) would go a long way towards the extra travel costs. I'll have to get my head round where these places are relative to one another (is there a good one that's more easily doable without a car? I'm happy in the same spot for 2 weeks if the skiing's good, and if possible would rather avoid both driving regularly or paying for a rental car that's sitting there doing nothing for a fortnight).

I wonder: is Utah also worth thinking about, or is the back half of April too late for Snowbird/Alta?

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I’ll let the local @Scooter in Seattle reply but aside from somewhere like Heavenly where you can be right next to Gondola, all the Oregon resorts like Bachelor, Timberline and Meadows really need a hire car to access and to drive to your lodgings at the end of the day. You could of course stop at somewhere like Timberline lodge but it’s pricey, I’d much rather stop off the mountain at a self catering rental and options of places to eat and drink for variety.

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@JayRo, in spring, the ski days are shorter everywhere, so being in one place for two weeks might get boring....though I like to move around anyway. Re Utah: at that point on the calendar Snowbird will probably be open and Alta probably won't be.@bigtuboflard is correct, as I noted above this all really requires a car, and a willingness to use it! For example, in April I'll be walking my talk, skiing a few days at Bachelor, then driving to either Tahoe or Mammoth for a few days, then back north for more days at Bachelor. A great way to see the beauty of the Intermountain West, let alone Tahoe, one of the great views in skiing. As for Timberline, the historic lodge is majestic but the skiing is super tame; watch "The Shining" and you'll see the lodge. Mt Hood Meadows is an excellent local hill but they close around then, or sometimes go weekend-only. If you prefer to not drive this probably isn't your thing, but don't worry about the rental car sitting unused, you'll use it every day. Finally, there is the North American Lift Ticket Problem. Bachelor has a spring pass that will be around $320 for April and May, one of the best deals on the continent. Mammoth and Palisades are on Ikon, and that can get you some days at Bachelor as well depending on which one you get. You'd have to spend some money to go to Heavenly (Epic Pass) for a day just for the view. So here you go: fly to SFO or RNO (preferred), get car, spend x days at Tahoe/Mammoth, then drive north when you're tired and do 3-4 days at Bachelor, then head back south and finish the trip in Tahoe. I'll be at Bachelor a lot in April, happy to guide anyone willing to make the trek if I'm there.

snow reports

Obergurgl will have (mostly) better snow than Solden as it has a better orientation than Solden. I've done Obergurgl in April and went twice to Solden which was actually (more than) fine above mid station. I skied down once and regretted it... given that the bus in between the two is quick, then either base could be good, but you are much more likely to be skiing down in Obergurgl

Ischgl, obviously, and I think Obertauern though 100km (if all open) probably not enough for 2 weeks...

@JayRo, Verbier closes the top lifts on 21st but in the week before you could stay somewhere like Cabane Mont Fort @ 2400m. Should be pretty busy with Haute Routers and the like.

You know it makes sense.

Thanks, @Scooter in Seattle (and others): great suggestions, although I think our different preferences mean I'd be more likely to spend a couple of weeks either in Bend or in Tahoe, as a seven-hour drive just isn't something that appeals to me. I've had a fantastic time spending two weeks at places far smaller than Mt Bachelor, so I don't imagine I'd be at risk of getting bored there. So if I do travel to the western US, it'll most likely either be to Portland, Bend and Mt Bachelor (and the spring pass sounds really good value), or to Palisades and possibly Mammoth. Actually I can think of far worse ways to spend a couple of weeks than flying into Portland and spending a couple of days there either side of ten days' based in Bend, skiing at Mt Bachelor.

Current options in rough order of priority:

1. Bend/Mt Bachelor
2. Engelberg
3. Chamex
4. Tahoe
5. YSE Val d'Isère or UCPA Tignes
6. Ischgl
7. ValTho (a week at the EoSB and a week somewhere else)

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

I went to Bachelor (stayed in Bend), Mt Hood and Portland in April 2023. You would have to try really really hard to have anything but a great time. It was excellent. We were lucky enough to get 3 blower powder days at Bachelor.
If you’re a foodie and like beer this is a must do.

A snowHead

There's a few of us planning to be in Les Menuires/Val Thorens for the week preceding the eosb

A snowHead

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Where to go for two weeks in April?

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