Seeing as there's no thread and I'm going there in a few weeks, thought I'd kick things off for anyone who's looking at the area for their ski holiday.
Opening this Friday, 6th December
Helpful links:
- Official Milky Way website
- Sauzeonline Youtube Channel (useful for weekly updates)
- SestriereOnline here - useful for general info about the resort
Webcams & Weather:
- Via Lattea Official webcam page here
- Via Lattea Official weather page here
- Sauze Online webcams here
- Claviere webcams
- Montgenevre webcams
Sestriere Lower Slopes 4/12/24
MONTE FRAITEVE 2702M 4/12/24
Current conditions.... well, there's snow. Not bucket loads of it but enough for a base by the looks of it, and the snow cannons have been in full flow the last few days.
Seems Montgenevre has probably the most snow at the moment judging by webcams, which ties in with much of what people say about that end of the Milky Way receiving the most snow (when the weather comes from Central France). Sestriere also has a fair bit and they're moving it around on the lower slopes.
Opening weekend forecast is there's going to be some snow... between 60-80% precipitation over Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with freezing level dropping right down to 400m over the weekend.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Watching this with interest. I’ve flights booked to Turin for the 13th and haven’t decided which resort to go to yet. I’m only there till Monday night so a short drive is preferable. I usually go to Champoluc in December but fancy something different and Sauze is one on the list. It will be interesting to see what opens this weekend and the plans for next weekend.
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?
@maddness, we’re in Sestriere from 22nd so I’m on daily webcam watch
I originally wanted to go to Sauze because of the more ‘authentic’ village feel but the lower altitude combined with advice on here about poor snow at Christmas put me off a tad. Mind you, looks like snow making is well under way and we’ll see what this weekend’s snow actually amounts to, hopefully more than is forecast falls
Resort has opened in early Dec for every one of the past ~10 seasons.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
@Whitegold, yeah, I'd read that somewhere, but also had contradictory advice on here. Serves me right for reading too much
Looking forward to getting over there to see it for myself.
Last edited by You'll need to Register first of course. on Fri 6-12-24 10:47; edited 1 time in total
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
For early December it's starting to look not too bad in Sauze and temps are staying down too.
After all it is free
After all it is free
@esaw1, definitely going the right way (although a bit of rain apparently this morning and slightly higher temps).
No links open today but some runs and lifts operating in Sestriere and Montgenevre:
First skiers of the season for Sestriere:
Still a bit too much brown and rock showing through up high at 2700mm... hopefully the imminent snow will do well to cover that and stick.
Looking like we could be in for some proper snow towards the end of next week if the forecasts are right:
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
Looks like it's been snowing decently today; building on the snow that fell over the weekend, been a bit of a white-out on the webcams at times, with constant light snow covering up pretty much everything that was brown.... lovely stuff!
Sportina in Sauze D'oulx
Area Banchetta 2300m - this was mostly grass with a thin layer of snow a few days back but now looks like a decent base.
First weekend of the season gone, still not a huge amount open but I suspect (after reading several reports about the area) that come Christmas week, everything will be up and running and all links should be working. Seems weekend of 21/22 December is when things really ramp up
Last edited by You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net. on Tue 10-12-24 14:21; edited 1 time in total
Would be good to have an inkling of just what ViaLattea are planning to open for Christmas weekend to suppose that all depends on snowmaking and the forecast snow turning up. Would be good to be able to at least ski to one or more other areas… fingers crossed and snow dance required
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
Going there at half-term so will be watching this thread like a hawk.
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Via Lattea follow, more or less, the same pattern every season...
They open 10-20% of trails in the first half of Dec.
This ramps up to 50-80% in the second half of Dec.
The Sestriere-Sauze link opens the final weekend before Xmas or NYE.
Max trails peak in Jan to Mar, at 70-90% (rarely 100%).
The ski area stays open until early Apr, when 40-80% of pistes tend to be open.
Rinse and repeat.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Whitegold wrote:
Via Lattea follow, more or less, the same pattern every season...
They open 10-20% of trails in the first half of Dec.
This ramps up to 50-80% in the second half of Dec.
The Sestriere-Sauze link opens the final weekend before Xmas or NYE....
Hopefully the snow Thursday and Sunday will ensure Christmas week has a fair bit open - I'm hoping so, I'm there on Sunday!!!
Would be nice to be able to explore the whole area but it will be what it will be
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Particularly since the change in ownership, they are very cautious on opening too much too early, preferring to save money and snow until the busy and crucial weeks of xmas and new year. Why power up several lifts when you don't have many people in the resort in mid December? I would imagine if at all possible they will get the links to Fraitive open for xmas week. there are some runs on the extremities of the areas that they haven't bothered to waster energy and water (for snowmaking) to open in the past 2 or 3 years.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Back again this year with my youngest son, get there for the 9th Feb...hopefully more open than there was last year..sestriere 2 weeks after I get back, skied there but never stayed, hoping for some decent night life. Watch Sauzeonline every week to see the conditions and tips on bars and wine..
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?
Back again this year with my youngest son, get there for the 9th Feb...hopefully more open than there was last year..sestriere 2 weeks after I get back, skied there but never stayed, hoping for some decent night life. Watch Sauzeonline every week to see the conditions and tips on bars and wine..
Do they do a sestriere -online YouTube vlog similar to sauzeonline
Back again this year with my youngest son, get there for the 9th Feb...hopefully more open than there was last year..sestriere 2 weeks after I get back, skied there but never stayed, hoping for some decent night life. Watch Sauzeonline every week to see the conditions and tips on bars and wine..
Do they do a sestriere -online YouTube vlog similar to sauzeonline
No and Yes, once the links open they'll mention and ski at and feature Sestriere and Sansicario etc.
I believe Sauze is probably livelier for nightlife than Sestriere, although there are enough restaurants / bars in Sestriere to keep you entertained. The bar / pub in the basement of Hotel Du Col was our pick. "Immediate to slope" apres at Gargote / GFC; by main cit roc lift and by Gondola base (to Fraiteve).
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
It's one of my fav resorts for the actual skiing. But the snow record is getting worse every season it seems.
Thanks to the non-stop work of the staff engaged in preparing slopes and lifts, the skiable area of the Vialattea ski resort will be increased from Saturday, December 21.
In Sestriere, in addition to the slopes already open in the Alpette and Borgata areas, it will also be possible to ski in the lower part of Banchetta, along some slopes served by the Nube d’Argento chairlift.
In Sauze d’Oulx people will ski in the Sportinia, Rocce Nere and Lago Nero areas and, starting from Saturday, December 21, it will be possible to access the slopes not only with the Clotes and Sportinia chairlifts but also from Jouvenceaux, with the Jouvenceaux Sportinia chairlift.
Reconfirmed the opening schedule of Sansicario with the Baby and Skilodge Sellette chairlifts and of Claviere with the La Coche and Serra Granet chairlifts. Also operating for beginners is the Claviere carpet lift. The Sansicario and Claviere areas are accessible with the ski pass “Invito allo Sci”.
We are continuing to work in all areas of the ski area to increase the opening of additional lifts in the next few days. Keep following us for all real-time updates!
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Going by that announcement this is - I think - how the lift situation looks going into the weekend in Sauze/Sestriere/Sansicario area:
Also, here is the lift opening schedule with timings if anyone is interested:
Slightly disappointed at the announcement that there aren't any links open, so that severely limits the skiing this week, which I'm not ecstatic about.
I did read on the SCGB Sauze Facebook page that people who took out the snow guarantee option with Crystal are being offered alternative holidays and/or transport based upon the low number of runs open in Sauze. That obvs doesn't take into account the snow that fell yesterday and the projected 15-20cm on Sunday.
After all it is free
After all it is free
Sestriere at the moment, snowing and loads on the ground. Think it continues into tomorrow
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.
So, first day in the Milky Way and it’s been decent; 24hrs of snow yesterday and it continued into lunchtime today and was just great, no heavy or anything and great for cushioning a few falls as we remembered how to ski.
Once the cloud passes it was glorious; cold but loads of soft snow on-piste. They had some canons working around resort, I suspect they’re keen to ensure they can get maximum runs and lifts open this week.
The eldest suffering the wind up in Alpette, but snow stayed pretty good all day.
Late update from the lift company, a few more lifts opening tomorrow (Tuesday) and Christmas Day, then links to Sauze and possibly Sansicario on Thursday. Heard that Italians love a bit of Boxing Day skiing and the resorts will bend over backwards not to disappoint the locals.
Today was a first for me; a near-punch up in one of the red runs. Some older Italians were stood at the base of a steep section on a red run when one was wiped out by a boarder who lost his edge. No malice but the Italian skier who was taken out assaulted the young snowboarder with a set of ski poles until some other guys stepped in and fisticuffs ensued. Disappointing to see a simple - and unintentional - accident escalate into a full-on scene.
Last edited by You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net. on Tue 24-12-24 12:12; edited 1 time in total
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
@Specialman, Thanks for the updates. I'm out in a couple of weeks so obviously interested.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
@Specialman, Glad you have had some snow...
Many years ago I went to Sauze for two weeks - the only slope open was the Clotes one !! (Sauze had little snow making then..).
The daily trek to Sestriere put me off the resort for ever.....!!!
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.
First day of things being open… sort of.
Tons - and I mean TONS - of people descended on Sestriere today, many being skiers (mainly ski clubs) but lots here for posing for selfies and sledging. Think this is a Boxing Day thing by what I’ve heard and read, made the resort crowded. Good for local businesses I’m sure.
Anyway, the links are open so we ventured up to Fraiteve on the gondola; the blues back to Sestriere are nowhere to be seen, very little snow on the south facing slopes. Met at the top of the gondola by people telling us not to bother, “it’s all mud down in Sauze!”
The family took heed of this but I decided to have at least a look at Sansicario and down to the top of Sportina.
The view looking back up to the top of Fraiteve on Piste 79:
The view down the Olympica piste:
To be fair, the slopes are actually fairly quiet but very, very icy in places. Lower down they were softer and really nice but there’s a definitely a lot of vegetation sticking through.
The rocca rotunda and la sallette chairlifts were crowded but nothing like the drag lift up to Fraiteve; only one lift working and it took a good 10 mins to get on the lift when queuing, sharp elbows required :
I did have a wander towards Sauze on the blue 27 run; a horrid, narrow and chopped up road run that was unpleasant, made worse because it was crowded. Pistes to the top of Sportina were okay, that 2-man chairlift back up is soooooo slow!!!
Afternoon spent back in Sestriere, dodging precocious little ski racing kids. Things got chopped up but there was good stuff to be found in Borgata. Ended at 4pm because it was just too busy.
Tomorrow (Friday) is the same weather-wise, warm enough to ski in a thick hoody at times but definitely gets cold once the pistes get in full shade.
Last edited by And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports. on Thu 26-12-24 22:26; edited 1 time in total
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
@Specialman, Great report. Many thanks.
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Sounds like snow is much better in Montgenvre. Taxis are a fortune from Sauze though. Anyone know any public transport options?
Also are Crystal Ski running anything for people to get to other parts of the resort? Happy to pay obviously.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
@foxkieran, Crystal organised a Thursday coach to Montgenevre for €28pp. More to give people a chance to try it rather than because snow in Sestriere was poor. We opted to stay in Sestriere.
Not sure if there are other options to get over there publicly, the Crystal rep seemed to not know a great deal.
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Thanks for that @specialman. We are going to be based on Sauze - hope they do something similar so we can at least experience a different area.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
There are 2-3 public buses (cash only) from Sauze to Oulx train station, and on to Claviere, and then on to Montgenevre.
Takes 1-3hrs oneway.
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?
For those who are not aware, from this season, a 6-day Via Lattea lift ticket now enables you to ski 2 days in Montgenevre (France) and 1 day in Bardonecchia (Italy).
Bardonecchia is added to the pass for the first time.
@Whitegold, Do you know if the reverse is true? Ie whether a 6-day Bardonecchia pass gets a day at Via Lattea? Sempreski's site suggests so but can't see anything to confirm on the official Bardo website (which is pretty terrible tbh).
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
With everything that is going on in Sauze with snow reluability etc it seems car rental with the flexibility to scoot over to Montgenevre and/or Bardo is what I will look to do in future.
If only Italy would follow Germany and have Winter tyres fitted in wintertime
.
@ado, I think we were fortunate we were in Sestriere and had great snow, although that brought it's own problems with every man and his dogs heading there from Boxing Day once the links opened up.
I didn't do it but a few of the other hotel guests did, they managed to ski from Sestriere to Montgenevre easily, albeit not entirely there and back on snow. A couple on our plane who stayed in Sauze also did it. The pistes above Sauze and down to Sansicario were decent but there seems to be a lot of down lift/uplift required in places to get around, which might not be everyone's cup of tea. The verdict was Montegenvre was great; lots of snow and worth the effort.
Crystal were also organising coach travel for €28pp once per week from Sestriere (think it was Thursday, a Friday from Sauze).
Looks like they're due a touch of snow tonight and again on Monday so hopefully those out there in jan can start to experience a lot more of what the area has to offer
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
@Specialman, Thank you. Off in ten days for three weeks.
I'll send updates.
After all it is free
After all it is free
At what point do I get worried about my Feb half term Sauze booking?!
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.
...bit early to panic yet bobby, its snowing now and most days this week will bring some snow
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
