 Poster: A snowHead
|
Three 22 year olds, male, of to Pas on 11th Jan. None skied anywhere other than the Alps. One a powder hound who's being skiing since 4 years old, one an early intermediate and one with only Snozone under his belt. Apres they can and will sort without any parental questioning aka interference  . We are told Andorra is not great for off piste. What are Snowheads' opinions and suggestions? Many thanks.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
Hi Aneira
You'll have no probs finding lively apres in Pas, and the Grandvalira ski area has plenty of terrain to keep all 3 of you happy.
It's sort of true re the off-piste though, it's certainly not epic in comparision to VDI, 3 Valleys, Cham. etc., but there are plenty of inter-piste snowfields to play around in the Andorran resorts to deliver a pow fix as long as the conditions allow. The thing about Andorra is that the warmer southern temperatures degrade ungroomed snow quicker than in the Alps, and the ski area in Grandvalira covers relatively rounded mountaintops, so most of the in-bounds off-piste is a bit tame; true off-piste away from the ski area (with a local mountain guide natch) is as full-on as you want it to be.
There are 2 crackin in-bounds freeride zones to check out: one on the Grau Roig side of the peak of Pic Blanc, directly above Pas (lift-accessible, but you must book to use it with an instructor/guide), plus the weekend-only ratrac-tow (cat-skiing) operation on the Pic d'Encampadana in the neighbouring El Tarter sector (all included on the full GV skipass  ). Assuming you'll be leaving on Sunday 18th, get your butts over there early on Saturday 17th - no need to book, just turn up a grab a tow behind the cat.
The cliffs & couloirs on the face of the Tossal de la Llosada above El Tarter's snowbowl can also scare the bejesus out of you if you're up for a spot of steeper stuff.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
great place you will love it
just get prepared for a long transfer on the coach as it stops in the middle of the route for a pee break
a couple of hours i think free toloooooose airport ???
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
Aneira, I was there in December and it was great. The runs are a littke short but aside from that, fantastic. Not overcrowded, booze is very cheap and food isn't pricey. I ski but did 3 days on a board as the others are keen boarders, there is planty of off piste to do. I'm not sure about backcountry stuff but I know there are guides there.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ