 Poster: A snowHead
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We'll be staying in La Thuile but fancy a bit of resort hopping as we'll have cars. Courmayeur looks well easy to get to, Pila looks doable...
Anybody tried getting as far as Cervinia from there, or even the Monterosa area? How long are the journey times between these places? Is it worth the bother?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Courmayer and Pila can both be done in about 30 mins, providing the road down from La Thuile is clear. Not sure about the rest though
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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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For car journey times, I find www.viamichelin.com pretty accurate. It is the best routeplanner I have found for driving on the continent.
Driving in Aosta is pretty easy but some exits off the autostrada have tolls, some don't.
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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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paulio, The Aoste valley is itself very small ,, and the autostrada a good one. The issue, as always, is the roads into and out of each 'ski' resort, so timing totally dependent upon conditions.
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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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Have you considered sneaking out of the Mont Blanc tunnel at the French side and pocket Chamonix? You do get whacked for using the Tunnel twice though but it is only 25 miles from La Thuile..
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Pila is definitely worth a visit - great skiing and relatively quiet.
The good news is that you don't have to drive all the way to Pila as the gondola runs from Aosta (in the valley) to Pila and there's a big car park at the gondola station. That then saves you a 20 - 30 minute drive up a winding mountain road.
Aosta is worth a wander at night if you get the chance. A town with Roman gates, amphitheatre and bridge. A nice (but quiet) pedestrianised centre and some cheap, excellent restaurants.
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Yeah. In fact my original plan was to be based in Aosta as an alternative to a normal ski resort, and use it's centrality in the valley to day trip to and from the surrounding resorts depending on conditions. It looks a nice place, we'll definitely pay a visit.
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paulio, I honestly wouldn't bother !
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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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I'm with Frosty the Snowman on that one:- I stayed in Aosta on the basis that a proper town should have better shopping/nightlife than a ski resort..... the much-lauded nightlife was very hit & miss, a bar would be busy one night then completely deserted the next. Odd place, I thought.
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We're not staying there now. We'll be in La Thuile. Will almost certainly do Pila as a day trip skiing though, so a quick yomp round the city seems inevitable.
But: anybody tried driving La Thuile -> Cervinia? That's a resort I fancy a go at but if the drive is nightmarish I won't bother.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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As others have alluded to, once off the autostrada it all depends on how much/how recently snow has fallen. Cervinia is a long drive up a tight road. Better to stop at Valtournenche and get the gondola from there. Allow a good 90 mins, and forget it at the weekend or after recent snow, becoz it will take longer. I wouldn't bother with Monterosa, too far, you don't want to waste all your holiday in the car.
Courmayeur is a must, drive through on the main road and park at Entreves just before the Mt Blanc tunnel. Careful not to confuse with the Punta Helbnronner lift at la Palud, it is only off-piste down from that.
If you are feeling adventurous paulio, there are loads of little resorts:
http://www.skivallee.it/interna.asp?codpage=stazioni_sci
most look too small to bother with, even for a day trip, but Crevacol (St-Rhemy-en-Bosses) is supposed to be fairly decent, and is an easy drive up the main approach to the Grand St Bernard tunnel. South-facing so could be risky late season. Let us know what it is like if you make it there.
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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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Pila is definitely good fun and very quiet EXCEPT at the weekend when it's mobbed with Italian weekend warriors. I'd plan to visit during the week if poss.
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Cheers everyone.
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You know it makes sense.
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Quick question.
Does anyone know if we're likely to need chains for any part of the Geneva<->La Thuile journey? What is the final twisty bit up to the resort like?
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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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Last bit is a main road in summer so pretty good from memory.
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FAQ
