How late can can you go skiing in Europe ??

Ise mentioned in another topic that he'll be skiing late into May.
With the exception of summer glacier skiing:

1)What's the latest it's usually possible to plunder Europes slopes?
2)Where are the best places for late late skiing?

Graham

hi,Val D'isere will be open until 6th may this year and is alsways a good bet as it has plenty of high slopes and is also linked to Tignes which has a village height of 2100meters and has the Grande Motte Glacier which goes up to around 3450 meters(11,400ft approximately),in switzerland Zermatt usually has a long ski season as does Cervinia on the Italian side,Chamonix can also be good with skiing in Argentiere and the Glacier de Montets(although the town of chamonix itself being at low altitude may well be free of snow by april,but in some cases april can bring heavy falls of snow).

I suppose the places to look for are resorts with high altitude skiing,mainly north or northeast facing slopes with a glacier thrown in for good measure,and to keep an eye on the snow reports and maybe make a last minute booking nearer the time when you an see which resorts will give the best skiing late season.

hope this is of use.
many regards
jon.

hymac580 wrote:Ise mentioned in another topic that he'll be skiing late into May.
With the exception of summer glacier skiing:

1)What's the latest it's usually possible to plunder Europes slopes?
2)Where are the best places for late late skiing?

Graham

May 28th is the plan, ski from the Jungfrau to Konkordiaplatz, climb to the Lötschenlücke and ski down to the village of Blatten.

Round here (with lifts), there's Zermatt and Saas Fee and I imagine Verbier will be open late (if you like that sort of thing) along with Engelberg. They'll be some more but I only keep track of things local enough to get to.

ise wrote: I imagine Verbier will be open late (if you like that sort of thing)

What exactly do you mean by that? Is the skiing there not any good, or is it the "snob value" of the place that you dont like?

I was once on the slopes at about a quarter past five, if thats any help to you.

Tony_H wrote:

ise wrote: I imagine Verbier will be open late (if you like that sort of thing)

What exactly do you mean by that? Is the skiing there not any good, or is it the "snob value" of the place that you dont like?

I have not stayed in Verbier, and would not choose to do so. Okay if someone gave me a freebie and twisted my arm...you get the idea
It's a mega resort, lots of people, traffic, dorks on skis, queues, folks with more money than common sense etc.
Nendaz was bad enough, as it was a little too close and some of the Verbier holidaymakers made it that far over
If you like La Plagne/Tignes/Val D'Isere/Val Thorens etc, it's a pricier Swiss version IMHO.
I prefer my skiing on the whole to be a little less manufactured. If you follow the link in my sig, and read the entry "Dam Crusty", you will see what I mean. There is of course room for all tastes in the mountains

I absolutely like my skiing the same way, Bandit.

I know VT was purpose built, but it certainly doesnt have the snob value you mention.

skidaddle wrote:I was once on the slopes at about a quarter past five, if thats any help to you.

Hahaha,

I was staying in Flizmoos in the Ski Amade region last week, and was busy dancing my (sweaty) socks off in the apres ski at about 7pm when they decided to turn on the lights on the beginners' slope and open the lift to all. Needless to say after the 7 or 8 VRB's and couple of Weizen's I had just consumed I was very eager. So I spent the next hour racing a crazy Dutch bloke who insisted on giving me rum at every available opportunity

I guess the subsequent snowboarding home at 4.30am across fields etc for 4km would have to go in the "how early can you ski in europe" thread.