 Poster: A snowHead
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We seem to have a few fans / semi regular visitors and intermittent recommendations for Pila so thought its deserved its own conditions thread, and its smaller neighbours deserve a mention.
New for 25-26 is the gondola extension. So a few steps from the Aosta -> Pila Gondola is a shiny new one taking you from Pila to the top of Coulis in 3 stages (the top stage of which was these last year).
new piste/lift map
https://pila.it/p12021l4/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/skirama_web.pdf
The new restaurant "Stella Di Pila" at the top (2723m) is open, albeit it appears to be some sort of 3 course buffet arrangement only - that may change when they need to attract skiers not just visitors from Aosta town. I believe it has a coffee / bar area too, and of course views to die for.
Also reopened & refurbished is the restaurant La Baraka at the top of the Chamole chair, which looks to have a whopping terrace.
Webcams page:
https://pila.it/en/real-time/webcams/
It had a much needed visit from the snow fairy 15th into 16th December and it appear a decent dump is heading its way 21st & 22nd too fingers crossed.
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Wed 17-12-25 16:14; edited 2 times in total
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@t44tomo, thanks for setting up (maybe add Courmayeur to the title?)
Anyone know if the Yeti restaurant in Pila is any good? It looks a decent menu.
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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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@ster, yes I can recommend the Yeti!
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@schnitzel_skier, thanks might be worth a try but definitely want to get up to Stella Di Pila, will need to see about the set meal tho.
Anyone going pre-Xmas going to try Stella Di Pila and can report back?
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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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| ster wrote: |
@t44tomo, thanks for setting up (maybe add Courmayeur to the title?)
Anyone know if the Yeti restaurant in Pila is any good? It looks a decent menu. |
Yes ate there last year when our injured friend came up the gondola to join us. More formal restaurant side on the left (as you face it) and more casual bar with very decent food, self service style, on the right.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| ster wrote: |
@schnitzel_skier, thanks might be worth a try but definitely want to get up to Stella Di Pila, will need to see about the set meal tho.
Anyone going pre-Xmas going to try Stella Di Pila and can report back? |
@rainman, said on general weather thread they were...
@ster Societe is very good too and erring to posher end if that's what you're after.
Last edited by You'll need to Register first of course. on Wed 17-12-25 16:23; edited 1 time in total
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@t44tomo, cheers. Impulse racing from whom we are getting a lesson seem to meet up there.
Might as well eat well as in Italy but the others like the informality. immediacy and choice of the Hermitage.
Last edited by Then you can post your own questions or snow reports... on Wed 17-12-25 16:25; edited 1 time in total
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| ster wrote: |
| @t44tomo, cheers. Impulse racing from whom we are getting a lesson seem to meet up there. |
that makes sense, at top of gondola but away from the "immediately off the gondola" crowds and on the way to chamole chair.
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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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Hoping to have a peek this week - am in Pila (staying in Aosta) from tomorrow until Sunday. Will report back if we make it up there.
Have been told - but not confirmed - that there are more slopes open than the 6 currently reported on the Pila website. Will also report back on that front.
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And, if anyone’s got recommendations for a cheap, cheerful and hearty slopeside place to eat (Yeti noted) I’d be grateful!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| rainman wrote: |
| And, if anyone’s got recommendations for a cheap, cheerful and hearty slopeside place to eat (Yeti noted) I’d be grateful! |
As above, the Hermitage fits the bill. Opposite of the bottom of La Nouva lift.
Large portions but get there early as all the ski schools go there, you do not want to be competing with a mob of hungry Italian kids
Last edited by snowHeads are a friendly bunch. on Wed 17-12-25 16:36; edited 1 time in total
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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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La Baoutson is nice and cosy down by the bottom of coulis 2 lift, and hearty food.
The Hermitage is also surprising good and good value for what looks a bit canteen like.
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@rainman, good stuff. I would have thought if its really only 6 runs open now they would open more this weekend.
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You know it makes sense.
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Thaks for the tips, all!
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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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| Quote: |
I would have thought if its really only 6 runs open now they would open more this weekend.
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I thought that last weekend as many other places in the valley were running cannons at night, but Pila didn't. La Thuile and Cervinia were excellent on piste and the last couple of days snow will have only made things better 
I can also report that the Stella di Pila terrace is dangerous for ski boots, we saw three people fall over in 10 minutes!
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Poster: A snowHead
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| leggyblonde wrote: |
I can also report that the Stella di Pila terrace is dangerous for ski boots, we saw three people fall over in 10 minutes! |
Have the used the same flooring as they like to put on stairs and in the toilets 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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’ve read a few reviews of the “buffet”. Doesn’t seem to be a buffet in the traditional sense, its not all you can eat, but you pick three course plates from what's laid out and thats it. Mixed reviews as to value for money. I thought they would go with an up market table service restaurant to match the setting.
But there is also a bar with sandwiches that people say is decent.
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I think we might visit it as a morning coffee stop, or pm bombardino. One of our party joining us this year will defo want to go up there, but wont ski back down from there, but will defo appreciate the views and photo opportunity!! She could have an aperol and then race us back down gondola vs skis
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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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My daughter found the very top of Pila a bit vertiginous.
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We were in the Yeti every morning for breakfast/our meeting point before teaching for the day. Blew my mind how cheap it was vs everywhere else I've ever skied! Coffee and a croissant and you'll have cash left over from a €5 note.
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Thanks for creating the thread, we are off to Pila 18th Jan which is rapidly approaching, the recent snow on the webcam was very welcome.
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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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La Baraka at the top of Chamole was great for an insta-friendly aperol and bombardino last week. Good DJ too on the terrace
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| t44tomo wrote: |
I think Aperol and Insta go hand in hand. |
Aperol, surely why Instagram was invented.
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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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| ster wrote: |
| t44tomo wrote: |
I think Aperol and Insta go hand in hand. |
Aperol, surely why Instagram was invented. |
They deserve each other!
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Umm… any snow thoughts?
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You know it makes sense.
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Drizzling in Aosta this evening, but very chilly - maybe 3 degrees. Hoping there may have been a dusting up high. Bought a day pass for tomorrow. The chap at the desk suggested they are unlikely to open much more at Pila than the current 6 slopes until Monday. Will see what tomorrow looks like and make a call (and report back) once we’ve assessed the skiing and snow in the morning.
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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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Is the low number of slopes open because of lack of snow or because, like many smaller resorts, Pila only opens properly Christmas week? That's the case in Les Saisies, where some of my family are heading tomorrow - and lots of other small French resorts.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Origen wrote: |
| Is the low number of slopes open because of lack of snow or because, like many smaller resorts, Pila only opens properly Christmas week? |
Here’s hoping. But more snow forecasted next week in any case.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Lovely day on skis in Pila today. Started cold and a bit murky, but brightened up around lunchtime. Snow conditions are very good on the seven open runs, but it does seem that’s all we’re going to see until early next week. Some slopes (unopened) have a large number of saplings and twigs showing through. And nothing open at all on the Couis 2 side. Might head elsewhere tomorrow in search of more terrain.
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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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Whizzed down the valley to La Thuile today in search of more open pistes. Up on the mountain by 10:15. Lots more open there than in Pila, thankfully. Snow is in fantastic condition on piste - a little bit of give, barely any thin bits - perfect for ripping about, particularly on the Forclaz/ San Bernardo/ Belvedere side. Although it felt quite busy down in the village, numbers dispersed really easily once out and about. Viz dropped later in the day, as the clouds rolled in, plus we saw a few snow flurries but nothing to trouble the scorer. A couple of us ducked the rope to ski back to base on the #2, which had some very bare patches just above the Edelweiss, but was otherwise excellent. Some forecasts are suggesting a few more cm tomorrow. Currently drizzling in Aosta town.
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Any suggestions for non skier activities? We’re a party of 6 2 of which are non skiers. Staying in Courmayer end of Jan and have a car so plan to do some day trips to Pila, La Thuile and possibly. Cervinia. In particular is there any way for non skier to get up to the Petit St Bernard pass and over to the castle on La Rosier?
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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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The Roman museum (separate from the remains) in Aosta is very interesting but all the interpretive stuff is only in French and Italian. I speak enough French to understand it but would have struggled mightily if it had been in Italian, where my knowledge is not much better than GCSE level. I spent two days around Aosta (as opposed to up the mountain). One of them was bitterly cold - the other really mild! Within less than a week. There's a lot of French spoken in that valley (though oddly enough the sharks who claimed not to have touched the oil in my gearbox, whilst changing my clutch, spoke not a single word.....)
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Skied back at Pila today, and it was a real pea-souper. Skiing in cloud all day, vis was down to a couple of metres at times. Snowed lightly pretty much all day, and the piste conditions were actually very good. A couple more slopes open - surely they’ll open up a bit more tomorrow. More snow forecast this week. Christmas should be lovely.
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| rainman wrote: |
| A couple more slopes open - surely they’ll open up a bit more tomorrow. More snow forecast this week. Christmas should be lovely. |
Come on snow gods! Does sacrificing work?
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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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| ster wrote: |
| rainman wrote: |
| A couple more slopes open - surely they’ll open up a bit more tomorrow. More snow forecast this week. Christmas should be lovely. |
Come on snow gods! Does sacrificing work? |
Potentially, decent amount of falling white stuff on the webcams currently.
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@t44tomo, yes the forecast is good for some snow over the next few days then blue skies post-Xmas, its all about timing &, importantly, luck!
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