Planning a 2-3 weeks trip covering Iscghl, Solden and St Mortiz.
But the weather this year _ seems not favourable as less snow in Europe so far.
Did Zermatt in January and had 6 days of non-stop sunshine. Loved it.
Any advice. We are very flexible with our dates and resorts. Flight will land in Zurich.
We are looking for resorts with higher percentage of red runs.
Thanks
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
1. Lech
2. St Moritz
3. Engelberg
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?
Forecast temps of +10 for the Val Gardena valley next week.
Maybe try some less UK frequented resorts that are used by Zurich residents such as Flims ?
You could put together 3-4 days in a multitude of resorts near Zurich.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Solden, Ischgl and St. Moritz has good snow reputation in late springs. But this year - I have seen people complaining in last week of Feb of slushy conditions (April like) conditions in Tignes and Val Thornes?
Is it true?
Any advice - or should i start looking at Scandinavian resorts?
@ankitind, slushy conditions are not an indication of snow depth but of the current tempreture at the time . Both Val Thorens and Tignes will see their seasons out to the end . What’s slushy this week could be boiler plate next and will be covered by new snow at some point .
Just aim high .
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
@Le Grand Renard, - is good snow dump expected in next 2 weeks anywhere in Alps?
After all it is free
After all it is free
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It doesn't look like a "bad" season at all
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Both images just downloaded from Snow Forecast. As @under a new name says it doesn't look bad at all. Moderate snow forecast imminently and snow depths pretty good in most resorts.
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.
This is awesome news . Thank you much guys. Going to chatgpt to start learning how to read these maps
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
Don't worry about late march now. Forecasting is simply not accurate enough to predict how the weather will be in 2 weeks time. It could dump 1 metre in the days before you arrive and be the best skiing you ever had.
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
@under a new name, I think conditions are better in the western Alps than in the east this year, though I haven't been over there so am only going from photos and weather charts. In Austria, it's only snowed a few times this season, the biggest dump (~20-30cm) being immediately before Christmas and without any base. We've had a couple of top-ups, but only around 10cm a go, and not enough to cover the rocks. At least one person has died from crashing into rocks that would normally have had snow on them. A couple of weeks ago, Nordkette was reporting close to the lowest snow depth ever, and I doubt it's really improved.
To the OP: If you are piste skiing in Austria, then going on current conditions, go west and go high, and you should be ok. St Anton and Ischgl are fine (more snow in the Arlberg than everywhere else, as usual), but lower resorts are going to suffer because there isn't much snow on the ground.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
You mean France is better bet than Austria?
What about Arosa, Jungfraujoch?
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
We just went from cold blower powder in Engelberg on Friday 14th Feb
To very warm Spring conditions in St Anton a week later
Conditions can change really fast!
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
I was in Arosa last week at points — small top up before we arrived, conditions were excellent on piste and all the blacks were skiing like reds, everything was groomed and easy.
Unfortunately it got a bit warm towards end of the week and it was taking its toll on valley runs. They were forecasting a top up this week; not sure if it happened but that would help
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?
I was in Flims/Laax last week as well, conditions on piste were generally excellent, off piste above 1800m was fine, below it sketchy...but I'd have called it above average, not below overall for snow conditions.
@ankitind, I have only been to the Arlberg this season but I would say conditions are better this year than they have been for the past two. Yes there have been extended periods of dry weather but there has been snow too (@BobinCH, was posting pics of his powder skiing exploits in the Arlberg at the same time as he took the image above, those slopes catch a lot of sun and are infamous for poor snow just above the village). It seems as if many of the lower areas have been suffering from high temperatures (even rain!) but no issues with Ischgl & Sölden, St Moritz has a fairly dry climate so maybe not so much snow there and I guess a bit warm for the ponies on the lake. If skiing (rather than posing) is your main focus I would be inclined to swap St Moritz for St Anton or Lech. Though St Moritz does have the high, partly glacier area at Diavolezza which can be ideal in spring conditions.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
I would second the recommendation for Flims / Laax. I was there in early Feb and they had plenty of snow. At this point in 2024 and 2023 they hada warm February and lower conditions were poor. This year is better and the forecast is good for the next week or so. It's very accessible from Zurich and it's a great resort.
Probably more blues than reds but there's also 4 or 5 groomed blacks that are basically red runs. Sattel (black) has a narrow section at the top but then opens out into an amazing run that drops 1100m.
We also visited Arosa and that was in good condition too. It's high and has different aspects so you can always find good snow.
I am travelling between 15th March to 7th April. Shortlisting few resorts . (Already done 3 Vallees, Zermat, Dolomites - so they are out).
- Ichgl
- Jungfrau
- Arosa
- Solden
- St Moritz
We can pick 3 resort. Any suggestion - what to pick and what to avoid?
Looking for intermediate resorts. Comfortable doing red than blacks
Lech/St.Anton - I have heard is too crowded in these weeks. Is it true?
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Andermatt. My favourite place to ski, cracking reds over to Sedrun and you can get train to St Moritz. Open until May.
After all it is free
After all it is free
Did champoluc in January and it had great conditions, sauze d'oulx two weeks ago was again very good, lots of snow and cold..... I'm In Sestreire on Sunday and it's looking very good, bit of snow today and tomorrow hopefully just to top everything up...this season in Italy has been great...
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.
@Scarlet, I know there's a whole load of variation (esp. with altitude) but it gets my goat when whole seasons across the whole skiing Alps are described as "bad" based on a few reports from punters who don't like slush* (and when the season has, while not exceptional, been pretty good round here in my neck of the woods).
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ankitind wrote:
I am travelling between 15th March to 7th April. Shortlisting few resorts . (Already done 3 Vallees, Zermat, Dolomites - so they are out).
- Ichgl
- Jungfrau
- Arosa
- Solden
- St Moritz
We can pick 3 resort. Any suggestion - what to pick and what to avoid?
Looking for intermediate resorts. Comfortable doing red than blacks
Lech/St.Anton - I have heard is too crowded in these weeks. Is it true?
We were in St Anton / Lech last week (holiday week) and crowds were not too bad so I think you’d be fine with your dates. I was thinking of going to Ischgl on the last day but read that has bigger queues at the base. For intermediate piste cruising I would suggest Lech or Oberlech (if you have the budget) over St Anton. You could combine Arlberg with Ischgl or Montafon (we really liked but it’s lower), Engelberg, Andermatt and maybe Jungfrau. I would extend from 3 resorts for 7 days each to 5 resorts for 4 to 5 days each to give you more variety. During that period, if you are just a couple you could easily leave the choice of resort and accommodation to the last minute when you will better understand snow conditions. That’s what we did for Engelberg and Montafon (booked the day before)
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
@under a new name, even though I mostly only ski at the weekends, I can get a feel for how good the conditions are by how much chatter there is on social media. This year, for weeks, there is almost nothing. A guide I follow is taking his clients exclusively to Lech (and tbf, that looks pretty nice, but he knows the area and doesn't mind the drive). The avalanche forecast currently includes the line "Only a small amount of snow is lying for the time of year." Pistes are still nice, though even at Stubai, the lower ones are suffering. I'm glad I got new piste skis in December – except for two occasions, they're the only skis I've used.
However, I have seen several weather maps in the last couple of months where the snow has been forecast in the west and stopped after the Arlberg, which suggests you've had a fair bit more over your way. Video/photo evidence appears to support this. I've nothing against slush though – just take bigger skis
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.
@ankitind, the Arlberg is always busy. I was in St Anton for the first weekend (many lifts not open) and was surprised by how many people there were, I assumed I would be sitting on my own in a bar, not a bit of it, pretty much as "normal". That said the end of March is not high season so the busiest weeks are past (next week will be one of the busiest as it is Fasching - beginning of Lent, carnival). Outside of New Year, which I avoid as it is insanely busy (they stop selling lift tickets), the other weeks are OK and you will find quieter places especially outside of late morning peak hours. The Arlberg is just about the snowiest spot in the Alps and that's partly the attraction especially when conditions are only so so elsewhere. Its not cheap though.
On your list I would put Arlberg well ahead of St Moritz or Sölden. Jungfrau is beautiful but not sure about snow conditions. Ischgl good especially for piste skiing, one of the main access gondolas can have big queues but use one of the others far fewer people.
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
Lech is fully booked - I don't mind driving 20-40 mins a day to lift parking. Being not an apres-ski person, as kids will be along. Any suggestion staying near Lech and driving daily to parking.
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
My daughter is skiing with friends in the Valais, in Anzere, and its been dumping for the past few days. Conditions look fab.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
@ankitind, Parking at Zürs is free and next to the lifts (best piste skiing is at Zürs anyway), you could try Stuben (which is part of the Arlberg so no need to drive) or further down the Klostertal in Klösterle or Dalass. Probably also worth emailing the Lech tourist office to ask as they might be able to find accommodation for your dates
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
@ankitind, I'll be back in Ischgl for a week in on March 15th.
I was there two weeks ago and the conditions were amazing and the current temps are keeping things that way....locals expect some fresh stuff by the end of this week.
See you there?
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Parking in Lech is also free at the last car park in town by the Schlosskopf lift if you have a ski pass. It's a big car park, always plenty of space. (https://www.lechzuers.com/de/tagesparkplatz-schlosskopf) The lift is an very old chairlift but fine. You can ski back to the same chairlift at the end of the day.
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
(and when the season has, while not exceptional, been pretty good round here in my neck of the woods).
