 Poster: A snowHead
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
| JT wrote: |
| my point was that IMV, foreign vehicles should pay to use our roads. When I go abroad I have to pay to use some roads in a tax... |
No you don't, which is the point several others are making and which you keep ignoring. Nobody forces you to use toll roads. France and Germany for example (I have no real driving experience of Austria..) have perfectly alternative suitable road networks outside of motorways. If you use those roads you won't be charged, unlike the locals whose taxes pay for the maintenance.
On the toll roads, you get charged for wide roads, good surface, plenty of service and rest areas and flowing traffic (most of the time..). Here the motorway network (or what I have seen of it to be fair..) is not to that standard. It is usually bad traffic, worse road surface, a service area one in ablue moon... If I was charged to use it, I certainly would not bother...
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
| Quote: |
a service area one in ablue moon..
|
which is hideously crowded, noisy and generally truly objectionable and where you pay through the nose even to get your own money out of a cash machine. We enjoy quiet picnics under the trees at well-sited tables on the quiet "aires" which are never far away on the French autoroutes and where yours is one of a small handful of cars.
The difference is that French drivers who come to England have no choice - they either stay at Dover or have to use our congested roads. In France, you have a choice. You can use their generally rather good and uncongested "Routes Nationale" or you can pay to use the faster autoroutes. So who should feel hard done by?
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
If Austria doesn't appeal to you then don't go to Austria.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
| Quote: |
If Austria doesn't appeal to you then don't go to Austria.
|
Tout a fais!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
I used to be a complete France-Only skier/ boarder. i went to St Anton last year after years of people banging on about how wonderful it was. I coulddnt imagine it would be much different to Val or Merihell - HOW WRONG WAS I.
Austria is awesome. I love it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I suppose the thing is that it's so limiting to be prepared to ski in only one country, or in only a handful of resorts in one country (whatever the country) when there is so much variety and opportunity out there. Maybe some people are just naturally conservative and averse to change. And equally naturally people with different experiences want to share the pleasure they've had - just like the threads trying to persuade reluctant skiers to have a go. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
pam w, definitely. Whether country or resort level or even the chalet/hotel etc., if you've been back to a place you like, then somewhere else needs to be at least 25% better just to be equal. But when it comes down to decisions, i'm sure most will err on the side of caution and what they know and are familiar with.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
| Quote: |
Here the motorway network (or what I have seen of it to be fair..) is not to that standard. It is usually bad traffic, worse road surface, a service area one in ablue moon... If I was charged to use it, I certainly would not bother...
|
The M6 Toll avoids Birmingham. Enough said.
The limited motorway network north of Preston works fine (except the M8 thru Glasgow but that is a feat of human endeavour). M6 (in north Lancs & Cumbria), M74, M90 are usually OK, barring accidents.
There is even a good service area - Westmorland farms just north of jct 38 (Tebay) M6 - both directions.
A few other motorways work. M61 is good except at each end. The M58 & (esp) M50 are quiet. Apparently the M46 is really quiet but I have never needed to use it. Are there any others?
Service areas are about 20 miles apart up here - how often do you need one?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Quote: |
most will err on the side of caution and what they know and are familiar with.
|
that's not true of Snowheads, few of whom seem only to have visited one resort. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
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:
|
|
abc, quiet, April is rubbish, no snow, everyone should go skiing at Half Term......
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
Abc, I was at the same EOSB as you and it was a good year for snow, but previous year I am told you could not ski to the hotel. Plus VT at 2200m is not really not in the 1000m - 2000m resort bracket. I was out every day at 8.30 and only shaded runs were hard and I recall a particular day when the skiers in my group opted to take the lift down at lower altitudes because the snow was so slushy.
I love spring skiing but I would not book now to stay at a French resort for any time after mid march with skiing limited to 1000 to 2000 m and my last week of the season trips have been to Saas Fee, St Anton, Chamonix, Val D and VT - bit of a theme that I doubt I will change
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Wed 30-09-09 9:02; edited 1 time in total
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
abc, I agree about spring snow.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
abc, agreed. No such thing as the wrong snow, just the wrong wax. Or technique.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
rayscoops,
| Quote: |
I have tended to head for higher resorts (L2A, AdH, Saas Fee, Verbier, Arosa) or the equivalnet Austrian resort like Saalbach/Hinterglemm or St Anton.
|
Never been to Saalbach Hinterglemm but I don't think itis a high reosrt, skiing barely touches 2000m.
Actually I tend to agree with your basic premise that after mid march I like a bit of height if booking in advance though find North facing slopes more improtant than height. South facing slopes can become soft very quickly in March, no objection to sking them when the timing is right but when wrong I want a little more variety than ice and slush and that short interval of lovely snow.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
rayscoops, N D de B and the rest of the Arly Valley probably have too many draglifts (one or two of them fairly ferocious) for comfortable riding on a snowboard.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| rayscoops wrote: |
| Abc, I was at the same EOSB as you and it was a good year for snow, but previous year I am told you could not ski to the hotel. Plus VT at 2200m is not really not in the 1000m - 2000m resort bracket. |
Except EoSB isn't in middle of March either.
But like I said, I wouldn't be too sad that everyone head to the beach right after half term so I can have all of those "low altitude" and "non-snow sure" mountains to myself all of March! 
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
| rayscoops wrote: |
T Bar, yes agreed about Hinterglemm and I was worried about that myself, but Austrian resorts from 1000 - 2000 m seem more like 1300 - 2300 m in comparison to other regions (main places I have been anyway),
|
That is pretty well exactly what was suggested to me last year - add 300m to the Austrian height to get an equivalent French/Swiss height.
| Quote: |
maybe the 'freeze' line is lower in Austria or it simply gets more snow, not sure, |
I think it is a combination of factors. Austria is a little further West, so does get more snow for the altitude, since that means the prevailing winds hit Austria first. But also, the skiing tends to be more over meadows than over rocks, which means thinner coverage is needed for the same level of skiability.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
alex_heney,
| Quote: |
Austria is a little further West, so does get more snow for the altitude, since that means the prevailing winds hit Austria first
|
Er its further East.
Further away from the Atlantic and its warming efect.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
Having experienced both many times including this year Chamonix and L2A in France and Saalbach and Zell am See in Austria it would be a close call. However you get much nicer accomodation in Austria at a better price than the rubbish apartments that litter French resorts. It's hard to beat the mountain charm of Austria and we were on the snow or beside the lifts in Austria but had to bus it in Chamonix. Food and drink prices more reasonable in Austria. Skiing was challenging and varied in all 4 resorts IMO.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
| Quote: |
i would just avoid them or knuckle down
|
you'd cut out too much good territory if you avoided them, rayscoops
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Damn Pam W, you build it up for me then take it away
|
|
|
|
|
|
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:
|
| rayscoops wrote: |
| [ok so we have a deal, you can have the slush at 1000m and I can have the nice soft pistes and pow from 1500 m up |
I have no problem heading to low elavation resorts in mid-March, especially regions that have history of cold, dry snow, typically away from the ocean.
When the storm comes in, which there's usually many especially in March, the trees in the low resorts are a treat to ski. I much prefer it than inching my way down a treeless high alpine slope!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
|
|
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?
|
abc,
| Quote: |
When the storm comes in, which there's usually many especially in March, the trees in the low resorts are a treat to ski. I much prefer it than inching my way down a treeless high alpine slope!
|
I've probably had more blisteringly hot sunny days that stormy days in March where the snow low donwn has been La Soupe. QUite like a combination of high and low skiing to cover both eventualities especially if I m booking well in advance.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
at least we talking about snow, where is best, where is not 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
robboj, aaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| T Bar wrote: |
| QUite like a combination of high and low skiing to cover both eventualities especially if I m booking well in advance. |
That's very much my point. It's not so much the sheer size of the resort, nor the elevation of the highest lift, it's the variety of available slopes that defines a "GOOD" resort for me.
A resort that has slopes facing different aspect and spans above and below treeline, are much more pleasent to ski than a high "snow sure" glacier, for example.
Everyone wants powder, or at least fresh snow. But when it's actually snowing, it can get really unpleasent to be stuck with wind blasted icicles on your face and nowhere to hide.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Right then, I have been wondering about this idea that Austrian resorts are effectively higher than the equivalent Freanch resorts, so I have just checked freeze levels of Notre Dame de Bellecombe (Fr 1000 - 2000m) and Saalbach (Austria 1000 - 2000m) for the month of March 2008 and this is the result. Basically Saalbach/Hinterglemm is colder on all accounts.
NDdB average afternoon freeze level is 1700m
Saalb average afternoon freeze level is 1300m
It was colder in Saalbach on 22 days of the month, and colder in NDdB on 8 days, one day it was the same temperature
The freeze line was 2000m and above on 10 occassions at NDdB
The freeze line was 2000m and above on 3 occassions at Saalbach
The freeze line was 1000m and below on 4 occassions at NDdB
The freeze line was 1000m and below on 7 occassions at Saalbach
The freeze line was 1500m and below on 10 occassions at NDdB
The freeze line was 1500m and below on 21 occassions at Saalbach
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
Hope its very practical as I'm doing it with my family from Liverpool to Obertauern. Overnights in Ashford (getting to the Kent coast is always the worst bit), and Munich. Setting off on Thursday 5pm, Munich Friday Pm, Slopes Obertauern 10am Saturday! Just give yourself time and allow for 1 hour delay in every 5 planned, and generally its a great way to start as I hate Airports even more than flying.
I have driven a number of times to the French Alps and Obertauern is only a couple of hours further.
Doh! Edit - above refers to Andy last post on page 2 -- keep up!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
With regard to Ray and going way back to Geography A level, anything furhter into the continent will be colder in Winter and Hotter in Summer, all other things being equal as an example of a continental climate, wouldn't it?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
And you're "sure" of that???
but it did not matter because the skiing was from 2300 m down superb !! 
