 Poster: A snowHead
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Planning to go to Champoluc on 13\jan.
A few questions;
1: Is this too early? have seens suggestions that its not great for early snow?
2: Any hotel recommendations? Hotel Du Champoluc seems a decent cheap option on the piste
3: Gressoney is also an option. Is it better\worse. We like a resort close to decent slopes. Doesn't have to be lively but the odd cosy bar is always nice.
4: We're both average intermediates who like mileage and Italy. Monterosa seems about right. Am I wrong? (Have already done cervina\Zermatt\la Plagne\Arinsal and 3 valleys)
Thx in advance
P
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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gollancz,
1. That side of MonteRosa have invested heavily in automated snowmaking. So if it's cold enough you should be fine.
2. We would recommend the Castor (especially as it has the owners are friends and it has a good bar) & the Breithorn (although that may be more £££). Don't know the one you mention. Looks OK though. And certainly handy.
3. It is my belief that although Gressoney is more in the centre of the "area", Champoluc is a better village (more to do) but I haven't been into Gressoney itself. JT or GraemeN might have more insight. Champoluc has a number of cosy bars and restaurants (Fave restos are Sapin, Churen and Grange in that order). Bars include Hotel Castor, allegedly for next year the Breithorn which will be great if true as it's top Italian stylee apres ski (i.e. free food and good wine), the new cocktail bar, the Golosone, the Favre and the funny little bar up at St Jacques that you have to drive to. Nightlife slightly limited, Pachamama was a fine place but seems overpopulated by 16 year olds now. haven't been in the nightclub at West Road for years but you can still play pool. darts, etc.
4. Yeah, the skiing will be about right. Certainly for a week. Biggest mileage is over to Alagna and back. Nothing like as expansive as 3 valleys though. Lots of reasonable places to eat on mountain.
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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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Thanks for comprehensive advice.
castor doesn't seem to be used by UK TOs. Probably end up looking at a cheap deal to whatever hotel they have. everything else sounds cool though. will probably hold off booking to see what the snow gods do. Couldn't face another week on 20cm (Arinsal at christmas last year!)
Ta again.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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gollancz, check out ski2 - can't recall website but they specialise to Champoluc.
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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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I went to that area in a "snow drought" gollancz, and you could still ski down to resort on (presumably) man-made when it was green each side of the piste. Good area for intermediates and certainly bigger than Arinsal!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I stayed at Hotel Residence Valverde in Gressoney, excellent hotel, a few metres from the lift & ski back to the door. Nightlife is limited to a few bars only, which suited me.
Would love to go back there.
Can't comment on January snow, as I went there late march.
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gollancz,
Two villages in the Gressoney valley...le Trinite and St Jean. The latter might be a shade more lively... but isn't lift connected to the Monterosa area so....you'd need a car, IMV. Le Trinite is as quite as a mouse...and even the ski bums can't liven it up, most peeps are too knackered or concentrate on the skiing. The little centre is around the Hotel Dufour, Residence and Cristallo, IIRC and it is most lively at happy hour when people are organising their days out with guides... after that, it is sauna, dinner and a few beers and that is it....
Further up the valley Staffal has a few places open and people might stay there as it is the natural cross over point to hit both Champoluc and Alagne areas. Haven't stayed in Champoluc but I get the impression it is the most active at night...which is a relative term in the region, IMO.
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I have stayed in Staffal and will be going back again this season. I didn't go outside the hotel in the evening though, so don't know about any nightlife.
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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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thanks all. will pop back in jan and let you all kniow how its goes
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stay in champoluc and check on ski-2 as mentioned.
i went 05 Jan to 19 jan back in 96 and had 3 days of dumpage and 11 days of sunshine. chest deep down to Alagna. Bammmm.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Pow! Bammm! Splat?
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