December skiing

Thanks for all your comments - food for thought

I have skied Tignes and Chamonix that time of the year and always had snow, the problem was that two weeks prior to going the place was still grey and brown which gets you into a panic prior to going.

The other fact is at that time you can get too much snow and will be at the mercy of avalanche risk. Chamonix last year was Avalanche risk 5 which meant a lot of the ski areas were closed and the only ones open were way too full.

Worth a gamble to book now but better to wait and book late if there are only a few of you.

TP

AllyG wrote:
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.

But do they cut the price of the lift pass? I bet they don't.

some places give a weeks pass inclusive if you book the right hotel

No idea how to attach a picture but Chamonix this December was epic. Almost waist deep powder on VB and when risk was too high skiing in St Gervais was awesome! Nobody was skiing so not sure where reports from TP about crowding come from. All depends what you want from holiday but offers best skiing in world.

http://www.highmountainguides.com/index.php/eng/Gallery/Chamonix-Off-Piste-Skiing/Ski-St.-Gervais/Powder-Stormy-Weather-Trees-Great-Skiing-in-St.-Gervais

http://www.highmountainguides.com/index.php/eng/Gallery/Chamonix-Off-Piste-Skiing/Ski-Vallee-Blanche/Deep-Powder-in-the-Vallee-Blanche-Chamonix

My feedback to guide.
Rob, thanks for a great weeks skiing. As others were complaining "Chamonix, more like shambles" with lifts shut due to high winds, low visibility and avalanche risk you managed to give us a great week.

Day 1) Morzine (Chamonix shut due to weather and Avalanche risk) awful weather (even made Scottish friend invest in new gloves).
Day 2) Plan de l'Aiguille descent followed by awesome Vallee Blanche (almost waist deep powder).
Day 3) Grands Montets (30cm Fresh everywhere including piste and memorable face plant from Alistair)
Day 4) Italy (Avalanche risk was now at 5 in Chamonix), bit of Ski de Fonde followed by nice descent through trees.
Day 5) St Gervais, great little resort and some fun powder.

Weather was a real challenge but your flexibility (some days we were on plan C) and willingness to hunt out places in vicinity made for memorable week. Without you I fear might have been one of those complaining in bar about weather. Instead it was huge grins and groans about stiff legs.

Snapzzz wrote:

AllyG wrote:
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.

But do they cut the price of the lift pass? I bet they don't.

Snapzzz,

Val Thorens does cut the lift pass price early season - it's 60 euros less for a 3 Valleys pass for 10th-16th December as compared with 1st Jan - 13th April. And the accommodation is much cheaper as well. But of course, as I said, the number of lifts in operation will be less if you go very early, and there is a risk that the snow might not be that good, and the ski area will be limited.

Lift pass prices here:
http://www.valthorens.com/pdf/page-setam/ValThorens-Forfaits-Tarifs-2011-2012-GB.pdf

Ranchero_1979, it sounds like you had a great time with plenty of snow early season in Chamonix