 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi All,
I could do with some advice...I'm planning a long weekend (18th Dec) with some friends, probably to Cervinia. But I'm not sure how likely the link to Zermatt is to be running?
I think the link is supposed to be open by then (might even be open now), but I also hear that it's closed a reasonable amount due to bad weather. I know the weather in late Dec is unknowable, but does anyone have any experience of using the link early(ish) season and know whether it's usually running or not?
If the link were likely to be closed then we might think about trying Cham (easier to get to) or Engelberg (more snow-sure than Cham?) instead. I'm happy to take advice on whether those are sensible options too...even if it's along the lines of "you're an idiot, go to Saas Fee" 
Thanks!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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go to zermatt every december and the link across has been open as early as 2nd dec...the problem is mainly high winds closing the Klien matterhorn cable car..but I've never seen this closed all day..but it does happen, but i wouldn't be put off by that.
Can't comment on Cham, Engleberg is a bit limited piste wise in my view if you're not off pisting it...but might be okay for a long weekend. Saas Fee is also good.
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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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wait and book as late as possible.
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ChrisWo, well it's closed if it's windy basically... tough to call that at this stage. Cervinia is exposed to the weather, but the Mont Blanc pulls it in up there too, so....
Don't go to Saas Fee - it sucks 
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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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kitenski, we might do, but there's always the problem of flights going up in price. It's complicated by the fact that we're having to rely on public transport, so there aren't all that many resorts that are easy/cheap to reach (with an evening flight, anyway)...
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can you not book flights, then finalise resort closer to the date?
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| red 27 wrote: |
ChrisWo, well it's closed if it's windy basically... tough to call that at this stage. Cervinia is exposed to the weather, but the Mont Blanc pulls it in up there too, so....
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You can always take the 2x drag lifts to get home from zermatt. Yep cold yep windy.. but if the alternative is getting stuck in zermatt it's amazing how keen you can be to make it up the drag lift. Even as a boarder who hates drags I managed to make it home (with a little help and advice from my mates)
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bertie bassett, Not 'Always'... if it's really windy and /or snowing heavily they close them too, and the top chair on the good (italian) side so there really is no way over or back...
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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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If I have the opportunity to get trapped in Zermatt (i.e. the link's open) then I'll be happy 
We probably will book flights soon - it's just that that probably rules out Cham/Engelberg, so we're kind of taking a decision by doing that. It's got to be done though!
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Just do it...the times the the lifts have been shut I've done other stuff and stayed on one side of the mountain, they tend mainly to be shut in the mornings if they're going to be closed for wind from experience.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Not sure if you've been there or not, but I'd probably skip Zermatt or Cham that early in the season and head to the Espace Killy (Val d'Isere/Tignes). Far more snow sure in my experience and more terrain is normally open than at either cham or zermatt. i've booked with these folks in the past, www.action-outdoors.co.uk , and they have deals going to quite a few of the large areas in france including Tignes/Val.
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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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ChrisWo, We were in Cervinia from 16th to 24th December the winter before last, which was a very bad start to the season. The Zermatt link was open everyday, with skiing down to resort in both Cervinia and Zermatt (but not Valtournenche). The link will never be closed because of lack of snow, only if it is too windy, though since there are substantial cable cars up both sides (with the option of a T bar on the Zermatt side and a fast chair the Cervinia side) it does seem to need to be pretty bad to close the link. There in March last winter the link was late opening on a couple of iffy days (bad enough so there was hardly anyone out), and closed just on one day of continuos blizzards.
For a December trip I would think it is one of the most reliable destinations.
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Isn't there a shuttle bus which runs between cervinia and zermatt which is included in the ski pass? i dont know ive never been there before but we're booked week of 22nd feb.
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You know it makes sense.
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ChrisWo, I've been in Zermatt for the last weekend in November for the last 3 years. The link's usually open. One day there was nothing open in Zermatt at all (wind), but you'll probably be OK. Eat in Chalet Etoile - the most left hand restaurant in Cervina (looking up the mountain).
Bipolar Bear, No, it's probably a 4.5 hour drive, make sure you get the last lift back or it's a night in an hotel for you!
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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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Thanks for the advice all - sounds like Cervinia is a decent bet. We'll definitely check out Chalet Etoile too...
The snow last night has got me *massively* excited about the coming season already - let's hope it stays cold and snowy
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Bipolar Bear wrote: |
| Isn't there a shuttle bus which runs between cervinia and zermatt which is included in the ski pass? i dont know ive never been there before but we're booked week of 22nd feb. |
No, it's lift and piste linked. Sometimes.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Been to Cervinia loadsa times - always managed to get to Zermatt and back again. One or two dodgy moments over the years - once an ice storm turned up unexpectedly! Minus 30 something with horizontal snow. The mountain staff have seen it all before ('you should be here when it gets REALLY bad!' etc) They know their stuff and always get ya back. Snow sure - Cervinia's not as picturesque as Zermatt but is much cheaper. Brilliant challenging skiing in Zermatt and ace motorway runs in Cervinia - something for everyone really. I'll be back again Jan 11th billeting at the Edelweiss in Cervinia (recommended unless ya wanna party every night til 4am!)
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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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Cervinia is open now! great conditions 15/90 powder and -7. how is it in France? LOL
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Shuttle bus !! It's about 230km by road - shuttle piste-basher would be quicker
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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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ok point taken - bussing it between resorts obviously isnt an everyday option. from skimonkeys post above i take it that getting stranded would be a very rare occurrance, but if it were to happen - due to conditions or whattever - does zermatt have procedures in place for this? if they close the t-bars can they still get people back over the mountain in a cat? i imagine especially in peak season finding overnight accom in zermatt last minute would be difficult if not impossible as well as expensive. in this situation does bussing it back then become an option - are there regular services at night or would they put on a special bus? how likely are the roads to close due to weather? not that im worried, just interested. i think we will all just buy a cervinia area pass, but i assume we will want to go over to zermatt at least one day during the week.
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Bipolar, that raises an interesting question were the unlikely to occur. Most linked resorts aren't really that far apart by road so any repatriation, for want of a better phrase, would be not too difficult to arrange. These two must be about the farthest there is. Can anyone think of two further apart by conventional travel ?
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dsoutar, interesting question indeed. I could only think of La Rosiere to La Thuile, but Google says that's only about 140km - still wouldn't want to do it in a taxi, but I reckon you could if you had to. I think that link is less likley to close though, as it's lower and less exposed (though don't have any evidence to back this up!).
What *would* Zermatt do if they had to shut the link unexpectedly at about 2pm...how many skiers could potentially be stranded, a couple of thousand? No way Zermatt could fit in that many people in peak season, surely? Probably not viable for them to pay to bus everyone back though, either! I guess it'd just be everyone for themselves in trying to find beds down the valley 
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Went to La Ros last year and were warned that it was a 2 hour car trip back from La Thuile or a very expensive skidoo ride back over should we get stuck!
The lift again tends to be closed by high winds and was closed a couple of days whilst we were there.
However on talking to people there I got the impression that the lifties only opened the lift when they were certain they could keep it open most of the day so that people could get back and it was very very rare it was closed in the afternoon if it had been open in the morning.
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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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| Quote: |
I could do with some advice...
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Heading to Cervinia tomorrow (from Cham) for a pre-season slide so I'll let you know what the conditions are like. Chamonix is not going to be fully open until the 20th Dec. However, Grands Montets is often open at the weekend from mid to late November snow permitting. The snowline creeping down on the north facing slopes in Cham but really nothing to speak of on Brevent-Flegere side yet.
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Bipolar Bear, I think the problem is probably the other way round- Zermatt based skiers being stuck in Cervinia. The T-bar going Zermatt-Cervinia can run in the wind (I guess it shuts when none of the other lifts can open), however the access back from Cervinia to Zermatt is by bubble and tram. I came back up last November in a hell of a gale when the bubble was stopping every few minutes and we got perilously close to the pylons at times. Much more and they would have had to shut it. My guess is that Cervinia would be better placed to accommodate stranded Zermatt based skiers than vice-versa.
However I think both sides are cautious about opening the link if they know the weather is likely to deteriorate. Does anyone have any experience of being stuck?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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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| Quote: |
Heading to Cervinia tomorrow (from Cham) for a pre-season slide so I'll let you know what the conditions are like.
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Cervinia in absolutely fantastic condition. 75% open Already! Like skiing in February. Off piste all day. 30 cm of fresh and good base. Didn't hit a rock all day. Absolutely awesome. Completely blown away. I will get some pics and possibly video up asap. You won't believe it til you see it!
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You know it makes sense.
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You b*stard, I hate you !!
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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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I have been battling with uploading some skiing footage without success. I will have another go tomorrow. In the meantime, here are a few pics to whet your appetite.
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Poster: A snowHead
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more snow forecast the next few days well.....5 weeks today..and counting..
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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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As some have mentioned the link can be closed. whilst staying at Club Med in Cervinia (recommended if you dont mind French sing alongs and line dancing) me and 3 mates went to see a girly friend in Zermatt whu was doing the season inorder to provide her with provisions of Marmite(apparently its like gold dust there) and new underwear ( given to me by her mother...dont ask!). Thank god there was no customs on the border.
Any hoo great night was spent by all in Zermatt and we woke slightly shabby keen to get back to our hotel in cervinia for some much need R and R. When we got to Tronc... Stag we found that not only was the cable car closed but every other lift including the drag !!!. After much pleading with the lifties they they agreed to open the drag all the way to the customs hut ( I think the tears swung it). On boards we held on for our lives to the end of the drag and we were then ferried by skidoo by swiss border patrol to the top restaurant on the Italy side where we were treated to a free hot chocci. Before we were escorted down closed slopes to Cervinia by the Italian Piste Hors they had to go searching and retrieve my numpty pal's board as he had left it outside and it had blown away!!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Rowley B QC, Ha! great story... Did you bribe them with more knickers? Did you have German and Italian speakers in the Party?
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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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no just the usual englishman abroad translation ie speaking very loadly with lots of hand signals 
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FAQ
...though you need to get steadier on the camera 