 Poster: A snowHead
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| boarder2020 wrote: |
| Mike Pow wrote: |
| boarder2020 wrote: |
| @Mike Pow, Kazakhstan and kyrgyzstan are the better options. Unless Tajikistan is some kind of expedition style ski mountaineering trip which could be epic. |
That may well be the case but both Kaz and Kyrg have had a lot of press recently and it's difficult to pitch to the mags and papers |
Jyrgalan has it's first lift spinning next year of what is hoped to become a mega resort to rival the euro resorts. Could be an interesting story on the future on skiing in central Asia and probably a wider audience than backcountry trip.
Tajikistan has a lot of terrain, in fact I think one of the longest glaciers outside the poles is there. The issue is access. Expedition ski mountaineering trip for some first ascents and descents could be epic. If your looking at something like that let me know I would certainly be interested as well as a couple of Kyrgyz mountain guides. |
I'll keep you posted
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Having had a 'core' group for the last few years, I thought it would be simple, but no.
2 of them are moving to Oz
3 of them are having a break from skiing (just taken the next 2 months off work to tour Europe, so kills any more annual leave)
Had a substitue plan with my sister in law, brother in law and their 2 kids, which would be been easy to convince another family to join, and couple of other mates, and they initially said yes. Went over for dinner with a plan to get discussions properly under way, and they dropped that they've now booked a summer/beach hol, so can't afford a ski trip.
Only leaves my wife and I, and we are so far apart, skiing wise, that neither of us would enjoy it, so at the moment, I'm likely to book a solo trip for end Feb/early March.
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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 want to do the Roc On Snow event (opening weekend mid Dec) in Avoriaz again - 3-day lift pass for £60 (£20 per day) is a bargain. 6 of us went this year (sharing 2 apartments). It worked really well as a mini break for us Londoners:
1pm flight from City Airport on Thursday afternoon.
1hr 15 drive to Avoriaz (covered car park), via supermarket at Taninges.
checked in, hired skis, pizza.
Skiied all day Friday, Saturday, Sunday. Slopes weren't busy. Snow was fine. Sun was shining.
Left Avoriaz around 5pm on Sunday for 8.40pm Flight from Geneva landing 9.15pm at City Airport.
In bed for 10pm.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Well played
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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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Uniquely for me, pretty much the same as for 2025/26.
8 days in Colfosco in mid January 27, the hotel and flights were booked months ago back, three of us this time.
Plus I’d love to do another week with Warren Smith. Perhaps in Cervinia rather than Verbier on this occasion to try a new resort for me.
Gear … this thread has reminded me, my Arc'teryx jacket will need a seam repair, the original tape or glue has completely failed.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Off to La Plagne late January and Samoens mid March. May also do Les Arcs very early April. No new gear planned - actually looking to downsize the amount of kit I have.
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I have great admiration for people who plan a year or more in advance for their ski trip. I've just never been able to do that (nor for any holiday) unless really pushed. It frustrates at least 2 of my 3 regular ski buddies (which will be down to 2 for next season).
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Bagged a place on the SOPIB bash, I'll possibly do the previous week in Alp d'Huez as a warm up. Probably do the PSB and EOSB too.
Possibly an airbag on the kit list.
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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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Standard February visit to La Tzoumaz for me and the boy but also (hopefully) a pre Christmas trip as well.
We are lucky in that we now live in Paris and the advent of webcams means we can go "Oh, look there's snow. Let's jump in the car." Might persuade the non-skiing Mrs H to come as we will prbably only do a couple of days.
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| halfhand wrote: |
| I have great admiration for people who plan a year or more in advance for their ski trip. I've just never been able to do that (nor for any holiday) unless really pushed. |
Me neither. Fortunately, I’ve never been ‘pushed’ for that. I know I would simply say ‘count me out’.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Hoping to return to Zermatt having been there for the first time this year, and probably to Zell am See and thereabouts. All SCGB.
Resigning myself to skiing on piste in January early February and want to try some Stockl CX and maximize my enjoyment on piste. I can always rent some wider skis if the opportunity presents itself.
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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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| abc wrote: |
| halfhand wrote: |
| I have great admiration for people who plan a year or more in advance for their ski trip. I've just never been able to do that (nor for any holiday) unless really pushed. |
Me neither. Fortunately, I’ve never been ‘pushed’ for that. I know I would simply say ‘count me out’. |
If you have the flexibility, booking as late as possible to chase best conditions and snow certainly makes sense. But I can't really see much difference in booking 12 months or 2-3 months out?
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Quite hard to post in a 2026/27 plans thread without some advance planning though. So there's that.
I dislike booking in advance, except if there's no other way to get that thing. It just increases my risk of it not working out; there's zero advantage other than availability. Or in the case of air travel, the concept that they can't increase the price, which sometimes is useful.
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You know it makes sense.
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| boarder2020 wrote: |
| abc wrote: |
| halfhand wrote: |
| I have great admiration for people who plan a year or more in advance for their ski trip. I've just never been able to do that (nor for any holiday) unless really pushed. |
Me neither. Fortunately, I’ve never been ‘pushed’ for that. I know I would simply say ‘count me out’. |
If you have the flexibility, booking as late as possible to chase best conditions and snow certainly makes sense. But I can't really see much difference in booking 12 months or 2-3 months out? |
Depends on whether that 2-3 month out is for January or April.
2 month before Easter of 2026 (this year) is February. It’s pretty clear at that point there’s no snow anywhere in the US, for example! That’s far better than booking 12 months in advance. More realistically, by end of Jan, which is 2 months before a good chunk of the season, there’s clear indication WHERE to go, or rather where NOT to go. Mind you, I don’t consider 2-3 month ahead as “late”. It’s “normal” in my book. To chase good snow, it’s more like 2-3 WEEKS.
But I agree, if it’s only about the snow, 2 months ahead of Christmas is no different than 12 months before Christmas.
But the real inflexibility of booking 12 months in advance has less to do with snow certainty but with lift’s uncertainties! A lot could happen in 12 months. Your kid may get cancer (god forbid); you may get made redundant, or got reposted to Japan! It’s the assumption that nothing will change in 12 months time that separates those who book from those who don’t.
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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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@abc, of course if you are looking at early/late season where conditions may be questionable it makes even more sense to book as late as possible.
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To chase good snow, it’s more like 2-3 WEEKS.
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Snow can go from "all time" to "bad" in less than a week. If you are really chasing powder I think you need to be looking at days not weeks.
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It’s the assumption that nothing will change in 12 months time that separates those who book from those who don’t.
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Fortunately most people's lives are relatively stable and if you have some life changing event losing a deposit for a ski trip is probably the least of your worries. I don't disagree that it makes little sense to book a whole year in advance (although perhaps early booking discounts make it worthwhile for some?). While I already have pretty defined travel plans for summer 2027 I'm certainly not going to be looking at flights till maximum of 6 months before. But I have huge flexibility as no kids and flexible work. I can see as for some it's a lot harder - if I was trying to organise a trip with a group of friends with kids, limited holiday time, can only travel peak dates so more limited accomodation etc. I could see us having to book >6 months in advance.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Week before Xmas, some sort of off piste lessons course. (Any suggestions?)
Week in La grave
Week in Andermatt and/or Gressoney
Some touring in Norway, probs Lyngen or Kvoyla
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| boarder2020 wrote: |
@abc, of course if you are looking at early/late season where conditions may be questionable it makes even more sense to book as late as possible.
| Quote: |
To chase good snow, it’s more like 2-3 WEEKS.
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Snow can go from "all time" to "bad" in less than a week. If you are really chasing powder I think you need to be looking at days not weeks. |
Not in Colorado or Utah.
Unlike marine climate of the east and west coast, the interior continental climate doesn’t change much during mid-winter. Once there’s a good few feet of snow on the ground, it’s not going anywhere. It’s exactly in mid-winter that 2-3 weeks would be a good balance point between assured good snow and good prices for booking. Any shorter than that, you’re paying through the nose (or could be a bargain if you’re luckyt to get a cancellation)
| Quote: |
| Quote: |
It’s the assumption that nothing will change in 12 months time that separates those who book from those who don’t.
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Fortunately most people's lives are relatively stable and if you have some life changing event losing a deposit for a ski trip is probably the least of your worries. |
Not true. Getting pregnant (or your wife getting pregment) isn’t consider a disaster, but could easily change skiing plans. That’s just one example. Getting a significantly better job offer would be another positive change that could in the short term impacts one’s skiing plan. I can think of quite a few other non-negative events that may CHANGE one’s skiing plans, even positively! (Once I started on a new job in November that was quite passe in working from home for extended period. I was practically encouraged to take a multi-week stay at ski country and work remotely from there, which I gleefully took advantage of. Had I book a 1 week trip for that period, it would have been wasted - either the trip would have been wasted, or the opportunity to do a multi-week trip wasted)
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| if I was trying to organise a trip with a group of friends with kids, limited holiday time, can only travel peak dates so more limited accomodation etc. I could see us having to book >6 months in advance. |
That’s about the only time I would book that far in advance. (Going to a snowhead bash that is in popular demand would fall into that)
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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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Unlike marine climate of the east and west coast, the interior continental climate doesn’t change much during mid-winter.
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As said mid winter you are probably safe to book anywhere and get *reasonable* conditions. My experience doing multiple seasons in kicking horse (certainly not maritime!) says a week can be the difference between knee deep powder and ice. Sure, we are not talking snow Vs no snow, but if you are powder hunting you really need to be there for the storm, which means booking very late.
Maybe you and your friends lives are just more eventful than me and my friends, I certainly am not too worried about getting pregnant  Most people I know are booking at least 6 months in advance, and I'm yet to hear about anyone having to cancel. Of course if you are in the process of trying to get pregnant, moving jobs etc. But again we are going back to individual differences and why some have more flexibility than others.
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Had I book a 1 week trip for that period, it would have been wasted - either the trip would have been wasted, or the opportunity to do a multi-week trip wasted)
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You could just extend the original trip or do 2 trips. This winter my plans changed due to getting a longer visa, I just moved the flight back for a small charge - hardly the end of the world. But as said I'm super flexible with almost zero commitments - the average persons trip is much more set in stone due to other commitments.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| boarder2020 wrote: |
| Quote: |
Unlike marine climate of the east and west coast, the interior continental climate doesn’t change much during mid-winter.
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As said mid winter you are probably safe to book anywhere and get *reasonable* conditions. My experience doing multiple seasons in kicking horse (certainly not maritime!) says a week can be the difference between knee deep powder and ice. Sure, we are not talking snow Vs no snow, but if you are powder hunting you really need to be there for the storm, which means booking very late. |
I haven’t quite figured out that part of Canadian interior yet (been hit by such drastic changes in my own trips). Partly because the same doesn’t really happen in CO/UT in my many years of doing ski trips there, getting ice (melt & re-freeze) in mid-winter simply doesn’t happen often there, but seemed to happen more often in the Canadian Rockies.
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Had I book a 1 week trip for that period, it would have been wasted - either the trip would have been wasted, or the opportunity to do a multi-week trip wasted)
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You could just extend the original trip. |
That would mean the original “plan” is pretty useless (aka “wasted”). Sure, you just made a new one. Would be just as good to wait till that point before “making” the plan in the first place. Chances are, if your “original plan” invovles substantial discount, extending it at a later point would not have received the same advance discount.
And with a substantially longer stay, many of the original criteria may no longer apply. So it’s not a given you wanted to use the same accommodation or even go to the same destination when you’re doing a 4 week stay instead of a 1 week stay!
Which “wasted” the multi-week opportunity as I call it.
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Maybe you and your friends lives are just more eventful than me and my friends, I certainly am not too worried about getting pregnant Most people I know are booking at least 6 months in advance, and I'm yet to hear about anyone having to cancel. Of course if you are in the process of trying to get pregnant, moving jobs etc. But again we are going back to individual differences and why some have more flexibility than others.
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“Flexibility” is something some people try to avoid, while others take advantage of.
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This winter my plans changed due to getting a longer visa, I just moved the flight back for a small charge - hardly the end of the world. But as said I'm super flexible with almost zero commitments - the average persons trip is much more set in stone due to other commitments. |
But that’s exactly my point. Those “other commitments”, each and every one of them could change during the 12 months! That’s the true risk of “plans” in such advance dates. The more of such “other commitments” you have, the more likely one of them may change over the same period.
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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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well, this season is barely over, and after having 4 separate weeks in the 3valleys, though two of them was back to back firstly in VT then 2nd week in LM.
i have made my first booking for next season, booked a swanky (well, swanky for me anyway, indoor swimming pool and spa area in the building) 3 bedroom apartment in a nice complex in Les Menuires for the week before Christmas. great discounted deal online today, worked out to be around £1000 for the week, instead of £2000.
plan is, for myself, my two daughters plus their boyfriends, probably one car via Eurotunnel with me and my eldest and her other half, with the youngest and her BF going via Eurostar and train. though it could change with 2 cars being taken, if there are deals on Eurotunnel during the summer, just to get the travel plans sorted out instead of waiting for the release of sncf tickets!!
i will then probably look into another week in the 3v's for mid march as well, but will need to see who will be going on that one. if it turns out that a second 3v trip is on the cards, i will probably go for the discounted season pass again (if available), did this the season just past, and it worked out fantastic value, but it still roughly breaks even for two trips, if you factor in potentially 8 days skiing per trip.
Gear wise, i do not really need anything, skis are relatively new, bought new salomon boa ski boots early this year, and they are fantastic, probably the best fitting boots i have ever owned. this is even without being professionally fitted as i bought them online, with a really good discount compared to buying them in a shop. bought new ski jacket and pants this year as well, so all sorted there as well.
it is nearly equal amount of time from my first trip last season (mid december 25) to first trip next season, so roll on next season 
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Going to have at least three, hopefully more weeks in PDS , not sorted the accommodation yet as waiting on family numbers coming at some point, most likely in les gets but might do one week in chatel to concentrate on that area, have bought cheap season pass as returning visitors for around 540 quid.
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We'd normally ski at Easter, and it is nice and early next year BUT we are also planning a trip to Costa Rica, and the weather is better at Easter than in the summer, so like last year, our Easter trip will move to half term.
With that in mind, I'm going to swap our destinations around. Now looking at Les Arcs at Christmas, and Andorra in February half term.
We loved Andorra last Christmas, and 4 nights wasn't long enough, I definitely have unfinished business there. However, the snow was reported to be the best it had been in years, so I was a bit twitchy about returning at Christmas in case it wasn't as good. We did Les Arcs in half term last year and it was too people-y.
So I figured that LA would perfectly fit the 'go high' narrative at Christmas, and the snow in Andorra in February would be a bit more guaranteed. Very aware that they're both going to be busy weeks but hey-ho.
Gear.
I've just bought some Burton dungaree salopettes after falling in love with the same ones on a woman in Folie, and accosting her to find out where they were from.
Lad1 needs new salopettes. He'd managed to shred the hems of his, so they were binned before coming home at Easter.
Lad2 is growing at an alarming rate so will likely need new everything.
Lad1 was very jealous that I had a solo day skiing whilst they were making their way from Paris, so now wants his own kit. He's close to his feet being fully grown (almost 15, size 11 shoe) so he's been told not until he fully stops.
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FAQ
