snow conditions like in Pas de la Casa

Have ski'd in Andorra and will go back again at some point.
My only gripe was that the mountain cafe's were a bit naff & you had to ski down to the bottom for a decent meal.

The ski schools were good, the drink cheap (compared with France) and the snow was pretty good.

The snow was OK in a year when there wasn't much snow anywhere - a lot of man made snow but unlike many ski areas they really do use their snow making facilities.

Pas De La Casa is part of the Grandvalira ski area which has 193km of pistes. Resort altitude is 2050m and the highest piste is 2640m so it is pretty much snowsure through out the season, with an average snowfall of 250cms.

Since the 1990's the area between France and the Catalonian region of Spain, with Andorra imbetween the two, has had much investment and expansion. There are now nearly a hundred ski resorts dotted around the area and the major centres have invested in snowmaking and new lifts interlinking some areas. As far as I am aware there are developments in progress that will see the area expand by another 60km.

Competition between the five major ski areas has led to major spending on the lift infrastructure and other state-of-the-art facilities. All five areas are now included on a 'Ski Andorra' pass making it possible to stay in or near the capital, La Vella, and ski to a different resort every day. Similarly, with all the ski areas within a short drive of one another, you may easily stay in one and ski in several others during your stay.

Pas De La Casa - Grau Roig has established a lift link to the country's biggest ski area Soldeu - El Tarter forming one of the largest lift linked areas in the Pyrenées. Because of it's north facing position snow quality and quantity is virtually guaranteed from early December to mid-May in Pas de la casa and it has computer controlled state-of-the-art snow-making which provides back-up when required. Soldeu is also able to augment natural snow, on 90km of ski runs, with 1097 Snow Cannons.

I've been to Andorra on several occasions including, Soldeu, P De la C and El Tarter and all occasions the conditions were great. Poor snow didn't even occur to me and on two occasions I went during the xmas period.

I prefer Soldeu as a town to Pas but I am in no doubt you will have a fab time. Andorra seems to be underated by many people. I'm guessing they have never been there or not been for many many years or perhaps only had a fleeting glance during very low season.

It is definitely an area worth considering IMO :D

PS... Alcohol is cheaper than most places in europe as it is a tax free area!

snowb4ndit wrote:Pas De La Casa is part of the Grandvalira ski area which has 193km of pistes. ............
Competition between the five major ski areas has led to major spending on the lift infrastructure and other state-of-the-art facilities. .............
Pas De La Casa - Grau Roig has established a lift link to the country's biggest ski area Soldeu - El Tarter forming one of the largest lift linked areas in the Pyrenées. Because of it's north facing position snow quality and quantity is virtually guaranteed from early December to mid-May ...........
I've been to Andorra on several occasions ..........

Gosh Snow4ndit !!!!
I am dead impressed and the area must really have made a positive impression for you to be able to remember all that !!
:thumbup:

OldAndy wrote:

snowb4ndit wrote:Pas De La Casa is part of the Grandvalira ski area which has 193km of pistes. ............
Competition between the five major ski areas has led to major spending on the lift infrastructure and other state-of-the-art facilities. .............
Pas De La Casa - Grau Roig has established a lift link to the country's biggest ski area Soldeu - El Tarter forming one of the largest lift linked areas in the Pyrenées. Because of it's north facing position snow quality and quantity is virtually guaranteed from early December to mid-May ...........
I've been to Andorra on several occasions ..........

Gosh Snow4ndit !!!!
I am dead impressed and the area must really have made a positive impression for you to be able to remember all that !!
:thumbup:

I sense a hint of sarcasm there OldAndy!

Like I said I have been several times and the area really did make a positive impression, in fact, enough of an impression for me to remember and retrieve some factual information and pass it on to the OP.

Now...Remind me, what your contribution was, to the discussion about snow conditions in Pas De La Casa? :roll:

Snow4ndit, I am a bit of a Andorran fan too, tomorrow nights visit (yea!!) will be my 5th visit to Andorra and that coming from an impossible to please bunch is not a bad recommendation. Thanks for posting a positive view on a great area !!! )

Have a gret time snocanon.
Myself and 5 others ( 40 somethings ) are off to Pas next weekend.
I Imagine there maybe some alcholic beverages consumed. Best places anyone :?:
Also will no dought go for a good meal at some stage, any suggestions :?:
Big Uo Andorre :thumbup:

Snocannon wrote:Snow4ndit, I am a bit of a Andorran fan too, tomorrow nights visit (yea!!) will be my 5th visit to Andorra and that coming from an impossible to please bunch is not a bad recommendation. Thanks for posting a positive view on a great area !!! )

I look forward to your report...And don't forget some pictures!

Our group have been to Grandvilara for the last 3 years. We are going to Austria for the first time in a few weeks time but will definitely go back to Soldeu/Pas in the future.