Hi we are beginners and would like some advice on where to go, we have the decided on the following options:
First week of Arpril - Morzine
OR
Second week of April - Morzine or Chamonix (approx £550 cheaper for our whole group to go second week)
We have opted for a catered chalet so we are not too bothered about nightlife or restaurants, our priority would be snow and good options for beginners. Would you risk going the second week to save money and which would resort would be a better bet to guarantee snow.
We also have a small child beginning to ski so a good ski school would be a consideration for us.
many thanks
Skiing in April - Morzine or Chamonix?
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It's not that tricky IMO. I wouldn't worry about the snow in either area. Morzine/the PDS has higher areas that are snow sure. Last year Chamonix had no snow on its lower slopes in April, much like Morzine, but higher up both Chamonix and the PDS had snow. In Fact Avoriaz (which is a lift away from Morzine had snow on both lower and higher slopes in April. Chamonix was without snow on it's lower slopes from the first week in march.
Chamonix April 2011 upper - 99cm Lower - 0cm
Avoriaz April 2011 upper - 100cm Lower - 36cm
Morzine April 2011 upper - 80cm lower - 5cm
Chamonix average upper - 298cm Lower - 31cm
Avoriaz average upper - 195cm Lower - 142cm
Morzine average upper - 193 Lower 16cm
(All figures from first week (in April )
As I said I wouldn't worry about snow in either area for April this year...I would make my choice based on the other criteria.
I've not been to Chamonix so cannot give advice re ski schools etc.
I only said it because my friend went lastt season for a b/d weekend on April 1, and they didn't ski at all, they said it wasn't worth it. But it looks like it will be enough snow this year.
From down in the village it certainly looked like it wasn't worth it, but when you made the effort you could go high and find something to ski on. I wouldn't say it was great and we did consider making use of free passes that we had to many other resorts in other ski areas, including Chamonix but they were even worse off or just as bad. Last year was a wash out for a lot of places but this year is a whole different ball game!!! Yay
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Started by Aprilskier in France 03-Feb-2012 - 18 Replies
Aprilskier posted Feb-2012
Verbier_ski_bum
reply to 'Skiing in April - Morzine or Chamonix?' posted Feb-2012
Well, your choice is a tricky one. I've never skied in Morzine, but I know it's not a very high resort (just like the rest of PDS) so going in April might be pushing it a bit. Though this season so far has been execptional snow-wise and you may well get away with it. Last season I know it was quite abysmal in Morzine by the end of March. Mountains are higher in Chamonix so it's should be better than Morzine for this time of the year, but it's not really a beginners' resort, although ski schools do a good job of putting newbies on skis there. Chamonix got tons of snow this season and it's guaranteed to have better than Morzine snow conditions. So maybe just bite it, go to Chamonix and stick with a ski school.
Ian Wickham
reply to 'Skiing in April - Morzine or Chamonix?' posted Feb-2012
A Late booking is the order of the day ...... chase the snow 8)
Snowb4ndit
reply to 'Skiing in April - Morzine or Chamonix?' posted Feb-2012
verbier_ski_bum wrote:Well, your choice is a tricky one. I've never skied in Morzine, but I know it's not a very high resort (just like the rest of PDS) so going in April might be pushing it a bit. Though this season so far has been execptional snow-wise and you may well get away with it. Last season I know it was quite abysmal in Morzine by the end of March. Mountains are higher in Chamonix so it's should be better than Morzine for this time of the year, but it's not really a beginners' resort, although ski schools do a good job of putting newbies on skis there. Chamonix got tons of snow this season and it's guaranteed to have better than Morzine snow conditions. So maybe just bite it, go to Chamonix and stick with a ski school.
It's not that tricky IMO. I wouldn't worry about the snow in either area. Morzine/the PDS has higher areas that are snow sure. Last year Chamonix had no snow on its lower slopes in April, much like Morzine, but higher up both Chamonix and the PDS had snow. In Fact Avoriaz (which is a lift away from Morzine had snow on both lower and higher slopes in April. Chamonix was without snow on it's lower slopes from the first week in march.
Chamonix April 2011 upper - 99cm Lower - 0cm
Avoriaz April 2011 upper - 100cm Lower - 36cm
Morzine April 2011 upper - 80cm lower - 5cm
Chamonix average upper - 298cm Lower - 31cm
Avoriaz average upper - 195cm Lower - 142cm
Morzine average upper - 193 Lower 16cm
(All figures from first week (in April )
As I said I wouldn't worry about snow in either area for April this year...I would make my choice based on the other criteria.
I've not been to Chamonix so cannot give advice re ski schools etc.
Take Life With A Pinch Of Salt... A Wedge Of Lime, & A Shot Of Tequila :-)
Edited 1 time. Last update at 03-Feb-2012
Verbier_ski_bum
reply to 'Skiing in April - Morzine or Chamonix?' posted Feb-2012
snowb4ndit wrote:verbier_ski_bum wrote:Well, your choice is a tricky one. I've never skied in Morzine, but I know it's not a very high resort (just like the rest of PDS) so going in April might be pushing it a bit. Though this season so far has been execptional snow-wise and you may well get away with it. Last season I know it was quite abysmal in Morzine by the end of March. Mountains are higher in Chamonix so it's should be better than Morzine for this time of the year, but it's not really a beginners' resort, although ski schools do a good job of putting newbies on skis there. Chamonix got tons of snow this season and it's guaranteed to have better than Morzine snow conditions. So maybe just bite it, go to Chamonix and stick with a ski school.
It's not that tricky IMO. I wouldn't worry about the snow in either area. Morzine/the PDS has higher areas that are snow sure. Last year Chamonix had no snow on its lower slopes in April, much like Morzine, but higher up both Chamonix and the PDS had snow. In Fact Avoriaz (which is a lift away from Morzine had snow on both lower and higher slopes in April. Chamonix was without snow on it's lower slopes from the first week in march.
Chamonix April 2011 upper - 99cm Lower - 0cm
Avoriaz April 2011 upper - 100cm Lower - 36cm
Morzine April 2011 upper - 80cm lower - 5cm
Chamonix average upper - 298cm Lower - 31cm
Avoriaz average upper - 195cm Lower - 142cm
Morzine average upper - 193 Lower 16cm
(All figures from first week (in April )
As I said I wouldn't worry about snow in either area for April this year...I would make my choice based on the other criteria.
I've not been to Chamonix so cannot give advice re ski schools etc.
I only said it because my friend went lastt season for a b/d weekend on April 1, and they didn't ski at all, they said it wasn't worth it. But it looks like it will be enough snow this year.
Verbier_ski_bum
reply to 'Skiing in April - Morzine or Chamonix?' posted Feb-2012
You need also to consider that Chamonix is 'proper' town so going to the mountain (there is a choice of different ski areas too, but they are disconnected) will involve commuting. So, if this taken into account, maybe for newbies Morzine will be better.
Snowb4ndit
reply to 'Skiing in April - Morzine or Chamonix?' posted Feb-2012
verbier_ski_bum wrote:snowb4ndit wrote:verbier_ski_bum wrote:Well, your choice is a tricky one. I've never skied in Morzine, but I know it's not a very high resort (just like the rest of PDS) so going in April might be pushing it a bit. Though this season so far has been execptional snow-wise and you may well get away with it. Last season I know it was quite abysmal in Morzine by the end of March. Mountains are higher in Chamonix so it's should be better than Morzine for this time of the year, but it's not really a beginners' resort, although ski schools do a good job of putting newbies on skis there. Chamonix got tons of snow this season and it's guaranteed to have better than Morzine snow conditions. So maybe just bite it, go to Chamonix and stick with a ski school.
It's not that tricky IMO. I wouldn't worry about the snow in either area. Morzine/the PDS has higher areas that are snow sure. Last year Chamonix had no snow on its lower slopes in April, much like Morzine, but higher up both Chamonix and the PDS had snow. In Fact Avoriaz (which is a lift away from Morzine had snow on both lower and higher slopes in April. Chamonix was without snow on it's lower slopes from the first week in march.
Chamonix April 2011 upper - 99cm Lower - 0cm
Avoriaz April 2011 upper - 100cm Lower - 36cm
Morzine April 2011 upper - 80cm lower - 5cm
Chamonix average upper - 298cm Lower - 31cm
Avoriaz average upper - 195cm Lower - 142cm
Morzine average upper - 193 Lower 16cm
(All figures from first week (in April )
As I said I wouldn't worry about snow in either area for April this year...I would make my choice based on the other criteria.
I've not been to Chamonix so cannot give advice re ski schools etc.
I only said it because my friend went lastt season for a b/d weekend on April 1, and they didn't ski at all, they said it wasn't worth it. But it looks like it will be enough snow this year.
From down in the village it certainly looked like it wasn't worth it, but when you made the effort you could go high and find something to ski on. I wouldn't say it was great and we did consider making use of free passes that we had to many other resorts in other ski areas, including Chamonix but they were even worse off or just as bad. Last year was a wash out for a lot of places but this year is a whole different ball game!!! Yay
Take Life With A Pinch Of Salt... A Wedge Of Lime, & A Shot Of Tequila :-)
Topic last updated on 19-February-2012 at 18:59