 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi all,
Does anyone know what the snow conditions are typically like in Zermatt during the first week of April?
Will the slopes be holding up well or will they be a bit slushy?
Am considering going - conditions seem to be above average this year so that should help!
Many thanks in advance,
Mike
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Zermatt's top is higher than just about anywhere so you'll find some decent skiing. The glacier is great for skiing a slow line fast (anyone recognise the quote???)
But whether you can ski back to town depends so much on what happens in the forecast warm weather this week. If you are determined to go, then Zermatt is probably as snow-sure as anywhere.
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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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MCBD, I was in Zermatt the 1st week of April in 2003 and there was more than enough skiing. The Rothorn, Stockhorn, Gornegrat and Klein Matterhorn are all over 3000m and the snow was good down to at least 2000 meters in most cases.
The only run down to Zermatt that was open was from Furi on the Klen Metterhorn side (North facing), but the snow started getting slushy at Furi, and it was noticeable that the run crept back a couple of hundred meters during the week meaning a little bit of walking at the bottom each day.
The slopes down the back of the Rothorn seemed fine most of the day (down to Blauherd at 2500), but below this was slushy in the afternoon. The South facing runs down to Gant (To link to Stockhorn) were generally slushy from mid morning onwards.
The Stockhorn/Gornegrat slopes were also fine down to around Riffelalp (2200). Had a great blast down Red 8 on the final afternoon to Riffelalp despite the day seeming clear and mild at the end of the afternoon - biste bashers were already out, but snow was fine. Could ski down to Furi (1800) to link to Klein Matterhorn, but did have to walk some 200 meters and snow was slushy near bottom.
Klein Matterhorn was fine down to Furgg (2400) almost all day, and the snow would only just be starting to get slushy late afternoon at Furi (1800) - I would recommend taking the gondola down from Furi at the end of the day to avoid the slushy track below this. As these slopes are North Facing they stayed marvellous most of the day. (Warning - flat reds with polling at top!)
The worst area was Schwarzsee, which come mid morning had most of its runs chopped up into slushy moghuls. The exceptions being the winding run down to Furi (15) which is shaded and seemed fine even late afternoon. The other exception being the North facing Red down to Furg from Hornli.
On the Italian (Cervinia) side, the slopes were fine until the last couple of hundred meters down to the resort itself (2000) meters - although being South (?) facing tended to be hard in the morning, but by mid-morning were in beautfiul condition which it seemed to retain at least until mid afternoon.
Had blue sky and mild temperatures most of the time (roll neck and shell stuff), but remember that the top of the Klein Metterhorn is 3800+, and we got caught in an absolute blizzard one afternoon with visibility down to around 5 meters coming back from Cervinia so pack for all weather types!
Go!
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Was skiing in Zermatt yesterday.
Great week, didnt see a cloud all week, possible to ski in decent conditions before midday.
Possible to ski to bottom of Kleine Matterhorn area but slushy at the bottom and no fun. Pistes above Trockner steg ok and excellent on the glacier.
Rothorn and Gornegrat starting to suffer from full blast of the sun. Resort run from Gornegrat knackered a hundred or more metres from the end, best to ski to Landtunnel and take train down.
Hard /icy conditions throughout with snow.
If a return to colder conditions is forcast then fine, but otherwise it might turn out a little disappointing.
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