J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by Wanderer

Welcome to the forum. You have clearly caught the bug badly doing 3 or 4 weeks per year since you started. You will be in good company with lots of other addicts on here.

La Plagne and St Anton are both great, but very different, resorts so you should have a great season. Enjoy!!!

Smokey Barr wrote:Never have, and never will take out travel insurance. Call me stupid, but my bank balance is a lot healthier for it…

.... presumably because you have not have to make a claim to date!

A short hop on a helicopter to hospital could cost you thousands and this is the transport option of choice in many resorts. Some have suggested that the resorts use the helicopters way too frequently to spread the cost of having the service available when it is really needed!

Its obviously up to you but I think skiing without insurance is lunacy.

As regards alcohol on the slopes, obviously being hammered while skiing is asking for trouble, quite apart from any possible financial considerations. On the other hand a glass of beer at lunchtime is unlikely to make much difference. However, if your insurance policy states that cover does not apply where you have consumed any alcohol, then you could be in trouble. If they are not that specific, I suspect it would be very difficult for them to renege but they could make life difficult, delaying the payment of your claim and possibly forcing you to take them to court.

The Totem will probably be fairly full with families but it is a great option for a ski trip. The location could not be better with the hotel being effectively ski-in, ski-out. The food was pretty decent last year and they include wine with dinner and lunch if you are so inclined!

It may seem strange thinking of going back to the hotel at lunchtime but the great location of the Totem makes this a realistic option. However, be careful with your skis. There were a couple of pairs stolen last year from outside the hotel at lunchtime!!!

The pubs are not great but there are a few about.

Ian Wickham wrote:I always tell people imagine you have a pole going through your head knees and boots, and as Dave Mac says hands forward.

Wickers: Perhaps you should reflect on your comments before posting! I can only imagine the sort of comments that this particular gem of wisdom will generate!!!!!

At least during the season, the cr*p will freeze and be buried under new snowfalls. However, I have often wondered what the slopes around the villages must be like when the snow melts and all the detritus is left behind - it doesn't really bear thinking about it too long!!!

Off to St Anton next week and was horrified to see weather forecasts suggesting temperatures as low as -45c with wind chill :evil:

I presume at some temperature, the risk of frostbite or frostnip becomes much more real. Can anybody shed some light on the temperature that we should watch out for and take extra precautions?

Any other tips regarding extremely low temperatures also welcome?

It' really a question of grip. Most hiking boots will give you reasonable grip on the icy footpaths that you often meet on holidays. I presume that the "snow boots" that you see in ski resorts would claim to be better on the ice but I am not so sure.

The one that does puzzle me is "moon boots". Presumably, they work or would not still be able to command the premium prize they sell for :shock:

Just checked out forecast for St Anton. Forecasting some very low temperatures. Monday morning, with wind chill, they are forecasting -45c at the top!!!

Not sure how you could wrap up to deal with that type of temperature!!! Sounds like frostbite territory!!!