Latest posts for the topic "December skiing"

December skiing

Thu, 24 May 2012 18:07:13 GMT

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 :lol:

Re:December skiing

Thu, 24 May 2012 19:00:32 GMT

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.

Re:December skiing

Thu, 24 May 2012 22:14:33 GMT

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

Re:December skiing

Fri, 25 May 2012 05:19:50 GMT

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.

Re:December skiing

Fri, 25 May 2012 05:48:35 GMT

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.

Re:December skiing

Fri, 25 May 2012 09:39:58 GMT

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.

Re:December skiing

Fri, 25 May 2012 09:59:51 GMT

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

Re:December skiing

Fri, 25 May 2012 12:58:58 GMT

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.

Re:December skiing

Fri, 25 May 2012 16:55:22 GMT

Thanks for all your comments - food for thought :-)

Re:December skiing

Sun, 27 May 2012 09:18:36 GMT

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

Re:December skiing

Sun, 27 May 2012 13:01:39 GMT

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.

Re:December skiing

Sun, 27 May 2012 17:15:18 GMT

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

Re:December skiing

Sun, 27 May 2012 17:32:17 GMT

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.

Re:December skiing

Sun, 27 May 2012 17:44:08 GMT

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 :D

Re:December skiing

Mon, 2 Nov 2015 08:02:03 GMT

Looks like the dec13th week is cheapest on many companies books ATM ( first week for them )

Last year I waited until the first / second week of January and had a great time in Tignes ( albeit warm/ little fresh snow ) but these sem booked already ( Alpine elements ) I just want some easily accessed snow - doesn't have to be amazing... any thoughts?

Re:December skiing

Mon, 2 Nov 2015 08:32:17 GMT

mikeup wrote: any thoughts?

Wait and see! 8)

Neither the pre-Xmas week, nor the 1st/2nd week of January are ever busy so very unlikely to sell-out (I know, famous last words) so you can afford to hang on and see where the snow falls.

Re:December skiing

Tue, 3 Nov 2015 22:16:42 GMT

Plenty of it been falling early already this season

Re:December skiing

Mon, 9 Nov 2015 12:41:10 GMT

Don't book now, wait till season actually starts and snow falls. I flew into GVA yesterday and Alps didn't look very white, only mountain tops, freezing line is currently close to 4000m. December is dead anyway, so you shouldn't have issues with finding accommodation anywhere.

Re:December skiing

Mon, 9 Nov 2015 22:18:50 GMT

I've skied Tignes/Val D'Isere in mid December many times, never had a problem with too little snow, only too much closing the lifts!

Re:December skiing

Tue, 10 Nov 2015 07:24:37 GMT

^^^ You must have been lucky then. Not every December is the same and last December while certainly skiable was definitely not worth a trip, even higher resorts with glaciers struggled. This summer glaciers also took a big hit as it was too warm for overnight freeze. Over 12 years of living and skiing here from December to April I have seen all sorts of starts to the season, from amazing to dreadful. Sometimes some resorts do better than others, sometimes early season conditions are uniform across the Alps. But getting accommodation won't be difficult in any case as many people might be out of annual leave by December or saving themselves till Christmas. Makes sense to wait before booking.

Re:December skiing

Tue, 10 Nov 2015 18:15:55 GMT

i think best skiing is in bansko