 Poster: A snowHead
|
Hello,
Ok sorry for the clickbait title hehe. I know many resorts are doable all the way until April but many messages on the forum are from (sometimes) a decade ago and I know things have been changing drastically in the last years.
I have been checking for the 22-26 March (the only date a group of us can do) and flights with car to Geneva, Munich or Milan are similar prices. That should give us the freedom to then go move around (but each one limits you to a side of the Alps).
We are all piste skiers so what we need in nice groomed resorts. Off piste is less of a concern. I know on those late dates nobody is chasing powder anymore.
Happy to hear from the crowd here what options you think May be best. Personally, I like the Munich to Austria version as hotels always come with a nice spa/sauna and food is reasonable, etc. I am a little scared of ending stuck on a French resort where skiing is the o my activity. Italy is an option too but places like Cervinia are veeeery expensive and therefore don’t seem much different than going to France.
Thanks!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
In a normal season any commercial north’ish facing ski station above 1500m will comfortably be offering skiing that week .
I have a place in Sainte Foy Tarentaise 1550m to 2650m plus , and that is one of my favourite times of the season , the days are long , its starting to get warmer but snow depths are still good . You are wrong about not chasing powder there is a lot of new snow that time of the year although you have to be quick to catch it before it turns on the more sunnier slopes .
So as an example I would expect all but one or two minor low slopes to be open in Sainte Foy that time of year .
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
@Yona, Check out La Thuile easy access from Turin , great food , cheap and a very good snow record .
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
@Yona, "things have been changing drastically in the last years"
Where? How? 
anyway.... Monterosa from Milan might work?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
You mentioned Austria from Munich.
Obertauern, a small city with its own ski resort. Not a big place but usually in the shade and close to Radstadt for the evenings
Obergurgl with Solden on the same ski pass. Ski resorts.
Ischgl.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
| under a new name wrote: |
@Yona, "things have been changing drastically in the last years"
Where? How?
anyway.... Monterosa from Milan might work? |
Consensus seems to be seasons are more … unpredictable.
I only started skiing a few years ago so hear a lot of stories of how it was much better ten or twenty years ago.
Maybe we are just suffering from recency bias. I know last year was quite amazing depending of when you travelled and the year before a little awful at the end (yet some people were enjoying Valtho in April still).
Thanks for all the recommendations, please keep them coming and I will check all the different options.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"recency bias"
that.
Although it is clear that there's a warming trend. For sure.
But covid winter 2021 was a classic.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@Yona, one can absolutely ski at the end of March and plenty of us are absolutely still chasing (and getting) powder at that time - and later. Actually if anything's changed it's that the last few years the conditions have been better end of season (April) than in February!
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
I do it every season. It’s less crowded, cheaper, great weather. What’s not to like? Even the occasional powder surprise. Go for it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I did Tignes in 2023 from the 1st to the 6th of April and we even had two pow days!
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
My general impression is that in recent years later season has not become particularly more risky but the whole season become riskier. Recently there has been rain in high resorts in midwinter which is not something I ever experienced before though it has to be said communication about weather and conditions has changed a lot since I first started skiing.
Doubtless there will be times when late March turns out to be bad but I don't think it has been the pattern recently.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
I'd put Ischgl on your list. Their planned ski season runs until the start if May so late March isn't really "late" in their term.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
Thanks @rickboden, we are most likely going with that. There are good options from Turin and the group seems to prefer Italy (if the snow is bad at least we will have crazy good food and gelato … not to say France or Austria are not good but it is just a different food scene and prices are more affordable).
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
Turin? Never a bad choice, excellent food and wine.
Book the flights and wait with the accommodation till about a week before so you can go where the snow will be better.
Cervinia/Gressoney/La Thuile.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
@Yona, the massive snowmaking system in Dolomiti ensures you’ll be skiing even if on white ribbons. No argument with your point about food; I’m in Matera now, carbo loading!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
Turin gives lots of great options in the Aosta which should still have excellent snow late March.
If you're really unlucky and Italy is not looking good it's no distance to the Frejus tunnel with some good options in the Maurienne including Orelle which links into Val Thorens.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
Whatever, but Sölden has the pair of glaciers so it opens first and... closes last, usually around the May bank holiday.
If you want later, rent a helicopter - or walk up - in Iceland.
But late March sounds pretty early to me. In BC March is peak season.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
@Yona, If Austria then Ischgl will be in full swing (its open until beginning of May), Arlberg also likely to be fully open, Zillertal is nearer to Munich and still likely to be good. Smaller high places like Obertauern & Obergurgl are often good at this time (can be cold & miserable in mid winter).
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
Geneva = Zermatt
Munich = Lech
Milan = Monterosa
Turin = Serre Chevalier
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
We've booked Cervinia that week for the annual lads trip; flights to Turin (Sun to Sun) very cheap atm. Transfers and ski in ski out B&B accom also a pretty good deal (considering we have snoring snobs in the group that like to pay a premium for their own boudoir). If you check the week itself its also one of the quietest across all European school holidays so not a bad time to go IMO
Like anywhere its a gamble as conditions can be 'warmer' however with a base at 2000M and decent altitude moonscape skiing, for a mixed ability group we are hoping its a safe bet . . . better food options than Tignes and cheaper than Obergurgl!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@luigi
Coffee prices are up at a princely 2Euros! Stealing barstuwards . . . . still, significantly better than being charged the same price for a glass of tap water over the border!
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
I would just book your flights to either Geneva or Milan for now - you can then observe how the season develops, track availability and make a call on a specific resort nearer the time. Otherwise, you’ll spend the next 5 months fretting about what conditions may be like for that resort in late March, whether you’ve made the right decision etc. Both airports will give you access to a large number of resorts.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
