Is this the worst start to the season ever?

Brutal day in the N Alps, most be huge accumulations of snow up high. Looking like a few days reading a book before things open back up. No need to worry about touching bottom anymore, snorkel days ahead.

Well maybe we hit it lucky. Arrived in Soll on Sat 2 Jan to green everywhere apart from the white ribbons that were the piste. Went to bed apprehensive on Sat night, woke up Sunday to find white everywhere. Not perfect as there was still a lot of ice underneath but at least it helped. Only about 2/3 of runs and lifts open. Soll home run closed as was the run down to the Silla lift from Hochsoll, so to get to Scheffau/Ellmau/Going Etc it was a long diversion around the mountain. Overall resort was quiet, could even get seats in the Salvenstadl after 4pm (unheard of). I suspect down to the conditions. Think they are due some snow this week, but they need a real dump to get it into the shape it should be. Think next season I will not take a risk on low resort for first trip.

DougR wrote:Think next season I will not take a risk on low resort for first trip.

Very good advice. Personally I wouldn't gamble on a low resort pre booking at any time of year now, although would book to go at short notice once conditions had been established. I don't quite understand people booking in advance for Christmas or New year, early or late season for places like Soll, Niederau, or Morzine even, as thats got to be regarded as taking a big gamble these days.
Ive shifted my early January week to late January in recent years for precisely these reasons, and even then we have had one instance of really poor snow coverage and that was Bad Gastein which you would hardly call low altitude! Easter can also be quite variable and I really think waiting to book late is the key, if of course you are able to.

Its incredible how quickly it can all change though. 2 weeks ago people were saying conditions were dreadful, space coverage, and now pistes are closed because theres too much snow.

I think a lot of people will opt for a resort like Morzine rather than say Val d'isere because of cost reasons. Our Christmas week in VDI was fairly astronomic as was our new year week in Zermatt the year before (in terms of accommodation). Like Tony, I wouldn't even contemplate gambling on a low resort but then I do have the financial means to pay more for our family ski holiday than perhaps others may do.

We were talking to the accommodation rental people in December when in resort and postulated that it's possible that resorts like Val d'Isere and Tignes will become more desirable for Christmas/New Year in the future. I think this means that accommodation costs will only go one way.

Word of the day award to BB for "postulated"

I don't consider anywhere low for all the reasons above

If I was booking late then that would be fine but, for various reasons, we book early so high/snow sure is top of list. 1m base in Courchevel and 2m on top now for my trip in 2 weeks time but that's a resort that's higher than some places peak height. Yes you pay a premium in 3V, EK etc but for me its VFM if compared to going somewhere cheaper that has a smaller domain before you start and then have that reduced further by lack of snow

Few years ago went to Kitzbuhel at end of Jan and was skiing on bald bits at the bottom of the Horn. This year they have greenlit the Hannenkahm races but its not sure to be on the Streif.... Damn shame as I loved the resort but its just too low to gamble on if you're booking in advance

Clearly you CAN have great weeks anywhere at any time but its a calculated gamble going low early in the season

Was discussing this kind of issue with a mate the other day and, similarly to BB's postulation, we agreed that the Rockies are going to get more attractive and, probably as a result, therefore more expensive