J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by verbier_ski_bum

Mountains are fun, but they are not amusement parks and things like that can happen. My boss was driving up when this happen, there was a massive traffic jam as a result and it took him almost 2 hours to be able to turn back to Geneva. He only found out what happened on Monday when I told him.

Flights for 99p? I rate transporting myself way higher than that. For 99p I would rather walk :)

Hopefully this storm will move West. It's much needed as blazing sun destroys snow way too quickly. Since we got the last dump temps soared and yesterday if felt like the storm was not a week ago but at least a month (and we were actually touring!).

I change skis on a average every two years, boots I try to keep for as long as I can, jackets and pants I change every 3-4 seasons when I want new colours. Gloves - as soon as they start leaking.

A buff is handy to protect your neck from burning in the sun if you forgot to put sun cream :) On Saturday I wore a merino T-shirt for base layer, a micro fleece and a shell, but took shell off after one run. The biggest problem for me is ski boots - my feet were melting. Light gloves are a must or you hands will be melting together with feet. Went touring yesterday just to have a break from alpine boots (and find some snow), and spent most of the day in a t-shirt. Sun was brutal and a tube of sunblock was gone in a day.

You should put snow chains once you hit the road with a good solid layer of compacted snow or ice. Listen to radio announcements, you may also see police at motorway exits stopping cars and making them put chains. If the road has been cleared (plowed) with some patches remain you don't really need chains as driving on bare pavement will be awkward and not good for either your car or the road surface.

it's never a good idea to go to low resorts at this time of the year unless the season is unusually cold and snowy. Freezing level the coming weekend will go up to 3000 m. I am sure there might still be snow left but not sure skiing spring slush is what beginners need. And snow turns into mash potatoes below 1000 m in no time once temperatures go up.

Probably both - big snow accumulations on upper mountain, lot of this snow was windblown. Winds were very high too. Verbier stayed opened, but not many skiable slopes and running lifts. Temps are supposed to drop this week but back to high by Sunday.