 Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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In the wintertime.....? 
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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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TwistBarbie, Allegedly Valdesqui ( if that is where you mean) had snow in the beginning of December and unlike other resorts it opens as soon as it can.
The french folks I know in the South seem to expect to ski before Xmas in The Pyrennees or the Southern Alps as that is where they expect it snow first .... hearsay accurately reported 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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I've tried to board near Madrid but it's been a dead loss when I've been there. They certainly get snow but on the times I've been there it was a non-starter. People living there tell me it can be OK but at weekends it's very, very busy. Having hiked round a couple of the stations in winter I can see it would be busy, there's not many lifts and it's a very small area. It's a nice area though, nice scenery etc.
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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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I was expecting the opening to be quite late. I'm asking because I'll be visiting my brother in Madrid sometime in Jan/Feb and we thought we might like to try a day at one of the local ski areas (Navacerrada or Valdesqui). He thought that last year the runs weren't really open until mid-Feb (leaving us plenty of time for a short trip in Sierra Nevada via Granada in Jan).
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Don't forget La Pinilla, less crowded and better slopes, but in the left hand usually has less snow than Valdesquí.
Salu2
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There's always Xanadu - in which case the answer is all year round!
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| Okanagan wrote: |
| There's always Xanadu - in which case the answer is all year round! |
We call it here "La nevera" (The fridge)  . Great traffic jams every weekend.
Salu2
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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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| Quote: |
leaving us plenty of time for a short trip in Sierra Nevada via Granada in Jan).
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Spaniard:Which are closer, the Pyreneean resorts or SN? I remember overnight buses from Madrid to the P. areas. Of course visiting Granada can often eclipse the joys of skiing. 
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I favour valdesqui as it's higher. Navacerrada always appears rockier, valcotos has closed and I've never been to pinilla - its a little further and slightly lower. When the snow appears seems variable. Sometimes early Dec, sometimes no decent snow till Jan. At some point in the season, it's always been decent and by that I mean sufficient and dry fluffy stuff. I've been 3 weekends over the season in a couple of previous years and had good snow, so it's definitely worth a go though like any ski station there'll be an element of luck. In season, check out
http://www.buscanieve.com/Estaciones/Estaciones-pistas-esqui.asp
http://www.grupojoven.com/Principal/parte_nieve.htm
Leave madrid 0715. You'll be in Valdesqui about 0820. You'll be able to park pretty near the lift ticket office and the queue even on a weekend won't be too bad. The ticket office is right at the bottom of the lifts. I've never had a long wait for the lifts unless going back down to the very bottom just after lunch when the half-day skiers come in. Another tip - leave earlyish say 1530 unless you want a 2.5 hour drive back to Madrid.
Didn't like Xanadu. Too flat by half. Completely empty when I went though.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I can't even recall the names I have to say. My memory is that there's two or three close together, if I had to guess I reckon I went up to the Valdesqui which sounds familar. However, all this reminds me I took some photo's although, like I said, there's not a lot of snow
Last edited by snowHeads are a friendly bunch. on Wed 19-09-12 7:41; edited 1 time in total
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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.
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I first went over 10 years ago and last went this year. I've had snow there as good as anywhere in Europe (though not as good as the US), but wouldn't pretend to be able to give statistically representative information about conditions. However, if ise feels it's a waste of time... 
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You know it makes sense.
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sorry to spoil your fun but I said nothing of the sort.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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slikedges, Any pics pl?. The only ones we have to go on, are ise, 's and it looks pants
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Poster: A snowHead
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ise, chill, i know you didn't 
snowbunny, yes, but pre-digital. I'd have to pull them out of an album or three, scan them, net-prepare them etc. Lo siento, no puedo.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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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Comprendo, pero es una opportunidad que no quiero tomar.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| Mac46 wrote: |
| Quote: |
leaving us plenty of time for a short trip in Sierra Nevada via Granada in Jan).
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Spaniard:Which are closer, the Pyreneean resorts or SN? I remember overnight buses from Madrid to the P. areas. Of course visiting Granada can often eclipse the joys of skiing. |
Hello,
Sierra Nevada is a little bit closer to Madrid than the Pirinees, except may be Astun or Candanchú, four hours drive, Andorra or Baqueira may take 6 hours. f you are planning to go to Sierra Nevada avoid holidays, weekends and the mid winter season, is the most crowded resort I've ever seen, nevertheless if you go in spring you could enjoy one the best spring skiing available in Europe, is the Sierra Nevada paradox.
Salu2
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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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Was in Sierra Navada on Thursday.
At 2100m it was 10 degrees, fully 18 degrees cooler than on the Costa del Sol, end of September.
Ugly old place, town very haphazzard (and seemingly built on a near vertical incline!) and slopes like a moonscape, bare, arid and rocky as are all the local mountains.
Some sort of radar station opposite the town.
Good road up to it from Granada, just over half an hour from outskirts. Granada is now motorway all the way from Malaga airport.
Nevertheless, Im curious and intend going when possible.
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FAQ
Those folks in your shots look like ramblers. I saw far more snow in Andorra last May, the slopes were closed for the season, but the snow was deep, and it snowed all the time I was there 
