 Poster: A snowHead
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Hey
Just a quick question from a rookie,
From the last few years, would you say there will be enough snow in the third week of Decemeber to open most of the runs on a high resort in the Alps?
Cheers
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Strongtea, welcome to Snowheads! 
The short answer is "nobody has any idea".
The slightly longer answer is that if you aim for a very high or best of all a glacier resort then there's very likely to be some skiing in mid/late December. Quite how much is anyone's guess. Last couple 3 or 4 years I've done a long weekend in mid December in a highish French resort, and always got some good skiing in (usually on powder), but I always go expecting to do some hill walking if things go wrong!
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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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Strongtea, the answer is yes but you can afford to wait and see. Height isn't the only factor. How far into the continent you go is important too which is why most "low" altitude resorts in Austria schedule their opening week-ends for mid December and they expect skiing to village level.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Bode Swiller makes a very good point...for the last 3/4 years I've also done a long weekend in November in Austria or Switzerland, and generally had as good conditions as the weekend in France 
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Strongtea, the last few winters don't necessarily have much of a bearing on the coming winter. That said most of them bar 2006/7 saw quite cold starts to winter.
It does rather depend on which resorts you are referring to though? Keep in mind that opening all the terrain may also be a question of expected customer numbers and nothing to do with the weather.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Thanks for the responses guys, tis much appreciated.
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opening all the terrain may also be a question of expected customer numbers and nothing to do with the weather.
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you can find opening dates on their websites, generally. Smallish places might open weekends only, or as nozawaonsen says, not at all, regardless of how much snow they get.
Watch out for Christmas dates, when things get seriously more expensive. Before that, you'd be a bit bonkers to book accommodation; book a flight, then decide where to go at the last minute.
(Last year, in some places, that week was about the best of a bad season...)
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and the Easter school holidays! Far too hot and too little snow this year. Should I go to the Canaries instead? 
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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.
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The best snow will be found on the upper slopes.
I can't believe that has not been said already!!
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Thanks for all the input guys, we would probably be looking at somewhere in France / Switzerland, maybe Tignes....
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I have been going skiing the week before Christmas for the last 5 years (ie 3rd week in Dec!) and I've had very good snow every year - often much better than January.
Resorts have been Val D'Isere, Courchevel, Meribel Mottaret and La Plagne.
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