December skiing

Hi guys and gals

I'd like to go skiing on the 15th December. How much risk am I taking snow wise? I'm thinking Maybe Chamonix as I can fly to Geneva from local airport or does anyone have any high altitude resorts that would be safeish?

Many thanks

Well, i'll post now what everyone else will write:

Its a risk, so if you can wait and go last minute to where the snow falls.

Most resorts open up around the second week in dec and the biggest are snowmaking a while before then. I think you would be ok if you booked somewhere like Tignes or Val Thoren but the best advice is to wait.

been to obertuern twice before Xmas and have had lots of snow

I wanted to ski early last year so decided to take the risk and went to Zermatt (10-17 December). It was ok but definitely not great. Lower runs weren't open so we spent most of our time on lifts trying to get to pistes that we're open and we only got to ski over to Italian side once the entire week as it was closed due to high winds every other day. The risk with going at that time is not only if there will be enough snow but the temperatures at that time are also bitterly cold... After our December skiing experience I would not recommend to spend your money at that time of year. We skied again in Meribel for 2 weeks a month later and it was AMAZING! IMO save your money and go a bit later. The middle of January has worked well for us two years in a row and it is also cheaper as its considered low season.

One positive with Chamonix would be that no need to book now. Plenty of last minute accommodation available that time of year and there are always flights into Geneva from UK so unlikely you will make any significant saving booking early. Runs down to town will unlikely be open, but all main ski areas will be. They are pretty relaxed about snow making. I would wait until 2nd week of December and then see what forecast is saying.

I skied Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis the first week they were open in December last year. It wasn'deep snow from top to bottom, the odd rock showing through on the unpisted slopes etc, but plenty for most purposes. A nice resort actually; much favoured by locals.

My daughter skied Tignes/Val d'Isere with her uni, the week before Christmas, and I think most of the ski area was open and there was masses of snow. And they are going to Val Thorens this year, for the same week.

As far as I know they economize by not opening all the lifts at the beginning of the season, even if there is enough snow, because they don't have enough customers for it to make sense, from the financial point of view.

This is what the Guardian had to say (in 2007):

http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2007/sep/27/skiing.top10

We skied La Plagne early in December last year and there was loads of snow, in fact too much but last season was very good for snow, who knows about next season? Only the snow god.