Freedom in the Alps

I'm coming up on a very good deal in the next few weeks. Where ever I want to go in Europe and where ever I want to ski. I'll be leaving from London. What's the best way to go. I don't really know where to go, but I'd like to try something other then Austria. Are the French Alps good?

what can I say :thumbup: except I am extremely jealous ...Austria is wonderful but the skiing in France is better and higher at this time of year ...I was in Val Thorens and the amount of runs in the 3 Valleys (600k)is unmatched

http://www.valthorens.com/winter-en/home-page.1.html
http://www.j2ski.com/ski_resorts/France/The_Three_Valleys.html

cheap flights to Geneva then train to Moutiers
http://www.altibus.com/

IceGhost wrote:I'm coming up on a very good deal in the next few weeks. Where ever I want to go in Europe and where ever I want to ski. I'll be leaving from London. What's the best way to go. I don't really know where to go, but I'd like to try something other then Austria. Are the French Alps good?

In the next few weeks many of the smaller resorts will close despite the snowfall being abundant. Look at large resorts, and check opening dates carefully!
If you pick the Tarentaise,... Val D'Isere, Tignes, Courchevel etc, you will find mega resorts with large ski domains.
If you choose the Mont Blanc region, Chamonix, Argentiere, the resorts are less linked up, but the mountains are a bit more "in yer face" )
Chamonix has really easy access from Geneva, only 1 hour and plenty of minibus operators.

Enjoy :D

Chamonix I was thinking about skiing it. That's something I need to do with a guide and group, right? I heard it has crevasses. I'm assuming since it's a glacier that it will be relatively smooth sailing.

The Chamonix valley has lots and lots of marked, patrolled slopes, as well as The Vallee Blanche, for which you will need a guide. for example. Argentiere has Grand Montets which has lift served skiing steep enough for most folks.
I have been to Chamonix lots of times, and have yet to ski the Vallee Blanche, it's weather and conditions dependant, and there is no point going up to the Aguille du Midi if the weather is poor, nothing to see!

IceGhost wrote:Chamonix I was thinking about skiing it. That's something I need to do with a guide and group, right? I heard it has crevasses. I'm assuming since it's a glacier that it will be relatively smooth sailing.

Most of the route is straightforward with a guide. The start can cause a few refusers.....

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ronlayters/13237815/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ronlayters/47980143/

2 things to consider. You will be wearing ski boots and carrying skis when you walk down this. There is normally a rope to hold onto each side in winter. :D

my god, bandit have you skied that?

amanda n wrote:my god, bandit have you skied that?

I have, several times. It's a straight forward enough route albeit in the high alpine environment. I've skied (and boarded) some more serious lines from there as well. The start is just a classic, standard traverse of an alpine ridge, pretty much bread and butter stuff for this sort of skiing or climbing but a bit spacey if you've not done it before.