 Poster: A snowHead
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There's a bunch of us heading out for a bootleg family bash on the 12th April, probably to Val Thorens, but not ruling out other options.
By that time, a lot of lower runs will be slushy at best, potentially completely bare.
I've been to VT in April (sfab & eosb) a few times, but never to Paradiski or EK at that time, to get an idea how the higher skiing in those areas compares to VT?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@tangowaggon, The whole of the EK is normally still open that week even down to Brev as its north facing. You can easily have a long days skiing working your way round ahead of the sun and finish with a beer on a sunny terrace. Tignes Le Lac or VC as a base gives you the best insurance against an early summer!
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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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I think around 90% of Espace Killy is 2000m and above.
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Not in the Tarentaise, obviously, but I've read (from the resort website, I think) that 80% of Serre Chevalier's ski area is above 2000m. This fact, together with north facing slopes, makes me interested in it for Easter skiing. Also, Les Deux Alpes in nearby for a day or two, maybe Montgenevre too. All in all enough skiing above 2000m to provide reasonable skiing for a week of April skiing, I would've thought. And Serre Chevalier has lots of trees, in case you're lucky enough to get a snowy few days in April.
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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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@tangowaggon, it's just a small thing, but I guess it depends a little on what you classify as higher skiing in your comparison to VT. VT is at 2300m, with the vast majority of runs above it.
I've skiied VT many times in mid April, and it's always been superb. But there's been a couple of occasions when the sun has blasting all week, and it starts to get soft in the afternoon below 2500m - so I'm guessing at 2000m that would be seriously slushy.
I have also skiied Paradiski in April but it was cold and dumped down all week so not really representative!
EDIT: just realised that your title says '>2000m' so apologies. Surely it should be >2300m if comparing to VT?
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@tangowaggon,
Lowest point on EK piste is 1550m.
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@tangowaggon, I’ve skied several times in EK in April, including the last week of the month and just into May. Snow conditions have always been good, both on the Tignes and Val D’Isere sides. Skiable right down to Les Brev and La Daille, though soft snow by late afternoon.
2nd week of April is the latest I’ve skied in Paradiski, staying in Les Arcs. Conditions were OK then, though we did have fresh snow on a couple of days. La Plagne has its glaciers of course, though the routes from Les Arcs to there can be tedious.
Overall I’d say EK is the more reliable in mid April.
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Overall the skiing in EK is higher than in the Paradiski, resort heights and even top and bottom lift heights can a be a bit misleading, look at where the skiing actually takes place. On the three Val d'isere sectors, Fornet (including Pissaillas), Solaise and Belleverde you can lap many runs on each that don't drop below 2300m. In comparison the Arc 1800, 1600, Vallandry and Plan Peisy sectors the top lifts only just go above 2300m. On top of that, I would say that overall the EK has a more Northerly aspect than the Paradiski although both score well on this front. EK for me every time
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Tignes VDI is normally excellent in April, arguably the best time to visit. More often than not it’s hot, sunny and loaded with snow. Most of the classic off piste runs are likely to be skiable and it’s quieter and a bit cheaper than the rest of the season. Fabulous sunny lunches or long picnics on the snow and time to sit out in the sun after skiing. What’s not to like 
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Tignes VDI is normally excellent in April, arguably the best time to visit. More often than not it’s hot, sunny and loaded with snow. Most of the classic off piste runs are likely to be skiable and it’s quieter and a bit cheaper than the rest of the season. Fabulous sunny lunches or long picnics on the snow and time to sit out in the sun after skiing. What’s not to like
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Isn't the answer, at that time of year, to wait and see how things are going? Book accommodation much nearer the time.
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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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| Peter S wrote: |
| Tignes VDI is normally excellent in April, arguably the best time to visit. More often than not it’s hot, sunny and loaded with snow. Most of the classic off piste runs are likely to be skiable and it’s quieter and a bit cheaper than the rest of the season. Fabulous sunny lunches or long picnics on the snow and time to sit out in the sun after skiing. What’s not to like |
Hmmm - I went out 17-24 April and had superb conditions, one of the coldest and snowiest weeks I’ve had in the Alps. Conditions underfoot were amazing and could ski down to Brev (though) you had to walk across the road at the bottom as the snow had melted right at the end. Most of the skiing is above 2000m but all runs down to 1800 eg Val and Boise’s were in great nick.
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| dan100 wrote: |
| Peter S wrote: |
| Tignes VDI is normally excellent in April, arguably the best time to visit. More often than not it’s hot, sunny and loaded with snow. Most of the classic off piste runs are likely to be skiable and it’s quieter and a bit cheaper than the rest of the season. Fabulous sunny lunches or long picnics on the snow and time to sit out in the sun after skiing. What’s not to like |
Hmmm - I went out 17-24 April and had superb conditions, one of the coldest and snowiest weeks I’ve had in the Alps. |
That’s hardly representative though is it? The odd big dump in April is not uncommon but it certainly isn’t usually cold for long. When it dumps you usually have a very short window before it transforms. Altitude and Aspect (North facing) are very important in April
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You know it makes sense.
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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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Theres a catered chalet available in Plagne 1800 for 12 people
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Poster: A snowHead
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@tangowaggon, I suspect that will cost more than I'm currently looking at. With Sunweb, I'm looking at deals for ~£500 per person S/C including lift pass. (And yes I know I'm stingy, but that's how I afford 3 weeks of skiing a year.)
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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This is £499 but no pass
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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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Question Most extensive >2000m ski area in tarentaise?
Answer Val/ Tignes
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Would recommend Val/Tignes for April 12. I've skied the last week of the season there for years and the snow has always been better than 3V. Why? Simple answer is more glaciers. Enjoy!
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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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Would recommend Val/Tignes for April 12. I've skied the last week of the season there for years and the snow has always been better than 3V. Why? Simple answer is more glaciers. Enjoy!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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| fvlover wrote: |
| Would recommend Val/Tignes for April 12. I've skied the last week of the season there for years and the snow has always been better than 3V. Why? Simple answer is more glaciers. Enjoy! |
If it was November or May then maybe glaciers would come into play but on April 12th I'm not sure that's relevant.
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| sugarmoma666 wrote: |
| @tangowaggon, I suspect that will cost more than I'm currently looking at. With Sunweb, I'm looking at deals for ~£500 per person S/C, including lift pass. (And yes I know I'm stingy, but that's how I afford 3 weeks of skiing a year.) |
I sent you a PM, there's currently 9 of us, your 3? Would make 12, I have an option on a 6 bedroom/13 people catered chalet for £5498 in Plagne1800 =£457 each if there's 12 of us. There is a possibility that my daughter might bring a friend to make the 13 =£423 each!
I'll have my van there so no problem getting to VT for the eosb
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Here's my view of the various ski areas for Easter Skiing (included VT for comparison):
VT - Loads of high areas that give a lot of variety in all directions doesn't really feel very different to earlier in the season. No real need to go lower than 2000m or so in order to access the various areas. Still fine to go over to other 3v resorts but might get a bit of slush in bottom of valleys (i.e. Meribel)
EK - Similar to VT with options in all directions and plenty of variety, possibly a bit of slush in Val or La Dalle but you'd soon be up out of it on the other side of the valley. Runs down to Les Brev will likely be icy most of the day but you don't need to go there.
Les Arcs - The high altitude area will feel much smaller than VT or EK it will be mainly the horseshoe valley around les arcs 1950/2000. Another downside is that the top lift is a very busy cable car which will limit how easily you can get to the really high altitude stuff. In the end you'll feel like you are lapping a small ish number of lifts and will have less scope for adventures across the ski area.
LP - Only been once, seemed to have a plateau with a reasonable amount of high altitude skiing. Not as good as VT or EK though.
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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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Piggybacking a bit on this thread, but any thoughts on Tignes 1800 for that week? I don't really know Tignes 1800 and haven't really been over that way since the lifts were upgraded. Hope easy is it to get to Le Lac these days? Is 1800 a bit isolated? There look to be a couple of big apartment complexes down there with good facilities at very reasonable prices.
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@sugarmoma666, 1 modern gondola and 1 new express chairlift deliver you to a point from which you can either ski down to Tignes Le Lac or back they that you have come. There is also a shuttle bus linking it to Tignes Les Lac but last time I used it (a while ago) it stopped not that long after the lifts stopped. If its got accommodation at a price that you fancy I would say that it was a pretty good choice for that week
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