How Snowsure is Meribel in December?

A snowHead

Fairly simple question, we know that it can be a gamble anywhere, but currently looking at a chalet at 1600m in Meribel for Dec 2011.

Opinions on whether it's worth the gamble for mid-December next year? There's a good deal on the chalet, and I'm very tempted, but we don't want to end up with long bus rides or several lifts to get to snow.

If it makes any difference, chalet is close to Morel and Adret lifts.

All input, suggestions and advice appreciated. We've done Tignes to death now, and really need to go somewhere else next year.

TIA.

A snowHead

Monium,

1. Almost nowhere is snow sure in December doubly so if you don't have a glacier and Meribel didn't have a glacier last time I looked.

2. and I'm just being cheeky here, "We've done Tignes to death now", I just wonder how many weeks you've done there - against the background that I've done more than 100 weeks in Morzine and I still love it.

(And I'm quite a demanding skier.)

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Monium, it was rubbish this week Wink

http://vimeo.com/17924144

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I think it's impossible to answer that question in any useful way. Would it make you feel better if you were in a green resort while everyone was saying that "normally the snow is fine at this type of year"?

For what it's worth (almost nothing) I skied knee deep champagne powder in Meribel last week.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

skimottaret,

Boy I looked tired in that vid!

Monium,

I have been in the 3v the last two years at xmas (La Tania & VT) and the snow has been very good, VT was a bit severe with wind, cold, blizzards etc.

As rob@rar says last week was awesome even though I struggled to get through it rolling eyes

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I understand that this is very subjective, and that it's no good walking around in the mud when it's normally 2 foot deep, but really want to understand the risk before deciding to take it (or not) - knowing that nowhere has snow makes me feel better than finding out that we're in the only resort for hundreds of miles that hasn't got snow.

under a new name, some of our guys have done 11 trips to Espace Killy now. After one week in Morzine I was ready for another resort. We like to go to different places, we like to do new things. We will go back, but probably after we've done several other resorts. Some of the group are likely to drop out if we go back to Tignes again.

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

Monium, I've skied in the Trois Vallees at or just before Christmas for maybe 10 years. Always had enough snow for a reasonable proportion of the piste network to be open. Some years, like this year, got lucky and had a decent fall of snow so great skiing to be had; other years it was a bit thin and icy. But always possible to ski.

After all it is free

Monium, forgot to mention, the Adret lift wasn't open last week (it opened on the 18th) which I assumed was a planned decision because the resort had too few skiers to open every lift.

I wouldn't risk Meribel in December.

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

mid December always has some really good deals - I don't see the point of booking a year in advance.

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

snow reports

Yes, I can see the point with that kind of group. In that case, given how many higher resorts there are, I wouldn't book for Meribel in mid December.

Monium, I wasn't being critical (I hope you didn't think I might be), genuinely just curious. Can understand that, the allure of the unknown, etc. Much to be appreciated.

You know it makes sense.

I would say no. You are taking on a lot of risk in advance. Book higher and or further east for mid December.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

skimottaret, love the video. Once again, my lunch hour has been made more bearable. And hopefully it will all still be there and lovely when we head out in March snowHead

FWIW we've been at Mottaret over Christmas in recent years, along with Les Arcs and Serre Che, and had plenty of skiing to do. It might be pebbly, and you might have to take the lift up/down to avoid nastier bits of piste, but there was certainly enough to entertain if you went high enough. Can't comment on Meribel as a centre per se, as we never really bothered skiing down that low the last time we were there.

Head high, young man, head high. snowHead

A snowHead

Now you lot have me doubting myself. So opinions on Reberty (altitude 2000m) as a base to ski 3V from in December? Better than Meribel, better access to glacier at Val T in case of warm wet winter?

A snowHead

Yes. 500m higher. But no doubt Meribel has other attributes - pretty quiet in mid December up in Reberty, I should think. wink

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Not worried about quiet - Tignes in December was quiet, didn't stop us going through 60 litres of red and 30 litres of white Smile

We tend to socialise in the chalet, so quiet resort means piste to ourselves with little downside.

Anyone been to Reberty in recent seasons with opinions?

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We did Meribel pre-Christmas for many years. Some years it was brilliant, some years it wasn't so good. One year it was so bad that the T/O's snow guarantee kicked in, and we got the same week the following year free!. Nice thing about Meribel, is that if the snow is poor there, one big lift and you are in the top of Courchevel.

But for a group? No. Go to Tignes instead. A group of friends go first week of December every year. This year they came back with the usual stories of deserted pisted, excellent snow, decent off piste.... Only downside is that it is colder than Altnaharra.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

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How Snowsure is Meribel in December?

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