 Poster: A snowHead
|
Not the normal 'what's the snow like there' post, but rather, what is the weather like generally there compared to the french alps?
I know we can expect it to be colder, but the whole of my previous skiing career has been in the french alps and i've always been lucky to have blue skies with a big dump mid week, so maybe 2 days with cloud, snow and flat light.
Non snowhead friends who have skied in north america have commented that you don't tend to get the blue skies like you do in the alps, and that most days are overcast. So i thought i'd ask the consensus of the Snowheads to get an overall review of how much it tends to snow, how cloudy its often is and whether the light is poor.
Thanks in advance.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
|
|
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?
|
Its been booked for a while, and we are going in feb, so blue skies may be a possibility 
Personally, i'm not bothered if it is cloudy, but my wife to be has been spoilt by the weather in the french alps over the last few years.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
my wife, who until recently had done all her skiing at Whistler, was amazed when she saw a photo from a French resort with deck chairs and people out sunbathing. a totally foreign concept for her!
i'd concur with stuarth though - you get used to the bad visibility and it makes you a better skier
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
i went end of jan last year we had 7 out of 9 days as sunny and only around freezing temps. downside of this was no new snow and an icy crust. i guess you just cant win either way!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
| Bones wrote: |
Imagine getting wet walking through the 'village ' then sitting on a wet chairlift,
|
That's when it pays to go up in the gondola. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| lower wrote: |
| Non snowhead friends who have skied in north america have commented that you don't tend to get the blue skies like you do in the alps, and that most days are overcast. |
That's a bit of an over-generalisation for a continent that is larger than Europe; sort of like saying the weather is the same in Greece as it is in Scotland!
But yes, it has been known to rain in Whistler
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
Martin Bell, never been to greece but cant believe the weather is different to Scotland. You will be saying next its been known to rain in Scotland as well. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
geetee, or Merlins or the GLC
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
garywilk, you have to do at least a few runs before you can call it beer o'clock. After all it will be snowing on the mountain and it would be a shame to miss all the good stuff up there.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
geetee, But it doesnt go to the top of Blackcomb
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
Bones, so ski Whistler 
|
|
|
|
|
|
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 haven't been to Europe, but Whistler in general is overcast / cloudy. We don't get that many bluebird days, but we do get a lot of snow, and this year is looking like another great season. Temps are normally warm by a ski resort standard, rarely is it colder than -10 and normally it hovers around the -3 to -5 Celsius. You mentioned you are coming in Feb, the only thing I can guarantee you, is that we will have a nice base by then. Feb is normally a colder, clearer and less snow month. so it is probably your best bet for bluebird days.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
wbsr, we've had plenty of sunny days in April too - 3 seasons ago we were practically in t-shirts and shorts and sunbathing outside Dusty's. Of course the ski-out had gone but there was plenty of skiing up on the mountain.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
| wbsr wrote: |
| I haven't been to Europe, but Whistler in general is overcast / cloudy. We don't get that many bluebird days, but we do get a lot of snow, and this year is looking like another great season. Temps are normally warm by a ski resort standard, rarely is it colder than -10 and normally it hovers around the -3 to -5 Celsius. You mentioned you are coming in Feb, the only thing I can guarantee you, is that we will have a nice base by then. Feb is normally a colder, clearer and less snow month. so it is probably your best bet for bluebird days. |
Thanks WBSR, just what i need to reassure my fiance with.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| geetee wrote: |
| By the way, I heard a vicious rumour that you've given up skiing... |
That's what I heard too!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| lower wrote: |
| wbsr wrote: |
| I haven't been to Europe, but Whistler in general is overcast / cloudy. We don't get that many bluebird days, but we do get a lot of snow, and this year is looking like another great season. Temps are normally warm by a ski resort standard, rarely is it colder than -10 and normally it hovers around the -3 to -5 Celsius. You mentioned you are coming in Feb, the only thing I can guarantee you, is that we will have a nice base by then. Feb is normally a colder, clearer and less snow month. so it is probably your best bet for bluebird days. |
Thanks WBSR, just what i need to reassure my fiance with. |
If your sheila likes sun, then she will be disappointed.
I would say a typical 6-day week in the French Alps during Feb involves:
67% sun
33% cloud and snow
For Whistler in Feb, you should expect:
67% cloud, snow and rain
33% sun
Be prepared for an earbashing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
Its all booked and has been for some time, so no option for changing anyway (its out honeymoon).
Some friends have told her it just snows all the time and is -30 on most days, so what people have posted on here is actually positive
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Illicit, thats how it rolls.
it is throwing down with powder (54cm today) mid mountain!
Fernie rained all 5 days i was there to the top, so i guess it is the luck of the draw
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
Just luck of the draw i suppose.
In Tahoe in Feb( couple of years ago ) we had around 4- 6 inches minimium of powder each night followed by blue skies each day for two weeks - Fresh tracks sitting outside restaurants in t shirts and skiing back to mountain bases in Feb. Colorado had virtually the same thing tho not fresh snow every night in March, sunshine a good snow and able to ski back to resort level.
