Monte Rosa questions

I am planning a ski holiday in the Monte Rosa area (Champoluc, Gressoney-la-Trinite, Alagna Valsesia) this coming March 06. We have vacationed in Italy before, but never a ski trip. There may be up to 6 people in our party. My wife and I are committed to the trip; the others are still mulling it over. If you have skiied this area, I would appreciate some info on the following questions:
1. Are the skiing conditions usually decent the last two weeks of March? I understand the vagaries of snow seasons.
2. How are the crowds that time of year?
3. How difficult (time consuming) is it to ski from one valley to the next? Thusly, would you recommend staying in Gressoney?
4. Ski abilities in the group range from expert to strong advanced. My wife and an other female in the group are a little weak in powder and crud; anything to watch out for in this regard? We ski at Sun Valley, ID every other weekend as a reference point.
5. We would like to rent an apartment. Any suggestions?
6. If we end up farther away from the lifts, like say Gressoney-St-Jean. Does the ski resort offer ski shuttle busses?
7. Fly in to Torino or Milano?
8. Should we hire a guide during our first few days of skiing?
Any other tip/suggestions? I would really appreciate your help.

Monte Rosa is a great ski area, particularly for skiers able to venture off-piste. We've skiied in the Aosta Valley a number of times but only for one week from Champoluc.
1. You would have to be very unlucky to have bad conditions for the last half of March.
2. Not likely to be crowded - it's after the school "half term" breaks and well before Easter. You may find roads busy at the weekends as the area is popular with day/weekend trippers from Turin, but there's a lot of mountain so it's rarely busy.
3. The links between the valleys are good but can shut for high winds and/or high avalanche risk - though both are more likely in January/Feb than March. Alagna has the best off-piste although all the valleys have plenty - so I wouldn't worry too much about choosing one over the other.
4. Be prepared for anything, especially if going off piste... do be aware that Europe is very different to many US resorts; the off-piste is very easily accessible (especially true of this area) but it is assumed that you do your own risk assessment. Almost nothing away from the piste is marked or fenced off so don't assume the absence of a barrier means it's safe. There are cliffs quite close to some of the connecting runs.
5. No suggestions for apartments but can recommend the Hotel Castor in Champoluc! The locals are very friendly and helpful, though not all speak English.
6. There are some buses but check the resort sites for timetables.
7. Turin (Torino) is closer and has easier public transport links but Milan is perfectly feasible.
8. Definitely. See 4 above but apart from the safety aspect, the mountain area is relatively undeveloped - so local knowledge will find you the best skiing.

My husband and I have been skiing in Champoluc for the last seven years, generally for a month in January and the going back for a couple weeks in March ( I know life is hard). There was only one year when the snow was very limited however we still managed to ski every day as the snow making facilities coped well, as you will know you have just got to get on with it. Apart from Sundays when at peak times there can be a build up at the bottom of crest (compaired to other resorts though its maybe max. 10mins to get on).We stay in Champoluc as this is what suits us, entertainment at night is generally bars, rest. rather than partying to 4 in the morning ( thank god !)If you are still looking for appartments let me know.
The ski bus system is a little "Italian" my advise is ask someone, reading the bus time table is iteresting.Also if you are stuck on the wrong side of the valley from where you are staying it will be a very expensive taxi ride, be careful!
Please, please if you are going off piste take a guide there were several deaths last year, even people who have skied there a lot have problems, and now being relly old and stade I spoke to one of the guys who had to go down and collect the bodies and it is not funny,(Seing the wife returning home with three kids, when the father had died two days previous makes you think)The on piste safety is fantastic one of the few resorts where you are virtually guarenteed to be air lifted and in Aosta in 20mins(and not receive a huge bill when you return home)
Enjoy your ski
Susan

My husband and I have been skiing in Champoluc for the last seven years, generally for a month in January and the going back for a couple weeks in March ( I know life is hard). There was only one year when the snow was very limited however we still managed to ski every day as the snow making facilities coped well, as you will know you have just got to get on with it. Apart from Sundays when at peak times there can be a build up at the bottom of crest (compaired to other resorts though its maybe max. 10mins to get on).We stay in Champoluc as this is what suits us, entertainment at night is generally bars, rest. rather than partying to 4 in the morning ( thank god !)If you are still looking for appartments let me know.
The ski bus system is a little "Italian" my advise is ask someone, reading the bus time table is iteresting.Also if you are stuck on the wrong side of the valley from where you are staying it will be a very expensive taxi ride, be careful!
Please, please if you are going off piste take a guide there were several deaths last year, even people who have skied there a lot have problems, and now being relly old and stade I spoke to one of the guys who had to go down and collect the bodies and it is not funny,(Seing the wife returning home with three kids, when the father had died two days previous makes you think)The on piste safety is fantastic one of the few resorts where you are virtually guarenteed to be air lifted and in Aosta in 20mins(and not receive a huge bill when you return home)
Enjoy your ski
Susan

My husband and I have been skiing in Champoluc for the last seven years, generally for a month in January and the going back for a couple weeks in March ( I know life is hard). There was only one year when the snow was very limited however we still managed to ski every day as the snow making facilities coped well, as you will know you have just got to get on with it. Apart from Sundays when at peak times there can be a build up at the bottom of crest (compaired to other resorts though its maybe max. 10mins to get on).We stay in Champoluc as this is what suits us, entertainment at night is generally bars, rest. rather than partying to 4 in the morning ( thank god !)If you are still looking for appartments let me know.
The ski bus system is a little "Italian" my advise is ask someone, reading the bus time table is iteresting.Also if you are stuck on the wrong side of the valley from where you are staying it will be a very expensive taxi ride, be careful!
Please, please if you are going off piste take a guide there were several deaths last year, even people who have skied there a lot have problems, and now being relly old and stade I spoke to one of the guys who had to go down and collect the bodies and it is not funny,(Seing the wife returning home with three kids, when the father had died two days previous makes you think)The on piste safety is fantastic one of the few resorts where you are virtually guarenteed to be air lifted and in Aosta in 20mins(and not receive a huge bill when you return home)
Enjoy your ski
Susan

Thanks for the info on Monte Rosa. Very helpful indeed. I will be making plane reservations very soon and I have narrowed down likely apartments to rent. Do you know anything about Residenza Del Sole in Gressoney St. Jean? There will be five of us and it appears to be a good choice. If you have any other recommendations I would appreciate it. You mentioned guides and we had indeed thought of that as well, but thanks for the serious reminder (one of the party members has more testosterone than common sense). Can you recommend anyone? Would appreciate info on that as well.
Israel

Sorry do not know appartment.For a ski guide there is always the world champion speed skier, simone origone who is based in Champoluc, he would deft. ski the pants off your more adventurous skiers ( however do remember he can ski at just over 162kms per hour!) His brother Jean Noel Origone is also there and speaks perfect English.Enjoy yourselves - We will be returning from Champoluc on 12th Feb and then returning on the 5th March so I'll try to let you know what the conditions are like

Do YOU SusanR by any chance know how the transport works to Monte Rose from the Dolomites? Or how the transport works from Monte Rosa to Venice? We are going to the Dolomites and we are trying to find out how to get to Monte Rosa from there?

Regards
Oskar Forsten
Finland

Sorry have no idea, however if you can get to verres ( by Train) you can get a bus from there . Also I think that there is a ski bus transfer from Milan to Aosta during the winter -
Susan

Do you still have a problem regarding Gressoney, Chapoluc and Alagna. Let me know. www.skiwithmax.com

My parents live in front of Residenza del sole in gressoney... this year the ONLY problem is that it's terribly freezing (-10C at noon), and most importantly NO SNOW AT ALL. it's all artificial, and icy. If it doesn't snow naturally, that's gonna be hard! Good luck wizofiz

Thanks bflydivas! I have been checking the snow report almost daily...not looking good Still have a month a half to go before departure. Naturally, my local ski areas are having a spectacular snow year! Would you mind terribly helping me out with some questions? 1. Do you (or parents) know a guide they would recommend? English speaking would be preferable, but I speak some Italian and can translate for my group. 2. Can you recommend a ski shop to rent equipment? 3. Eating - always a priority; any recommendations on places to eat?
Last, anything a first-time visitor should know so as to be a good guest and efficient traveler in your home town? Thanks
Wizofiz