J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by verbier_ski_bum

By "private" you mean you need private lessons or an intructor not associated with a ski school?

Geneva airport has two exits. If you arrive on a French flight you can exit directly on a French side without passing through Swiss territory. Do you know which side your trasfer bus will collect you from? If it's French side then upon leaving the plane follow the signs "France". Your baggage should be there too, if it's not collected it will be forwarded to the main carousel on Swiss side. Just in case say at check-in that you need to go to the French side, but they will probably ask you anyway. The airport itself while busy is definitely not the Zoo. It's relatively small so you need to try very hard to get lost. It's nothing like JFK or CDG. Re web check-in airlines normally send you email with all information. When you check in your skis they will tell you where you can collect them. I live on Swiss side so no idea about departures. You can probably use either side for this. If entering through Swiss side to your right there is a corridor which says Sector France.

Tony_H wrote:

verbier_ski_bum wrote:Four years ago we had a very good season in terms of snow and three years ago it was exeptional - didn't stop snowing until June, but after last season I learned that it may not snow for week and weeks and then the season will be over. There is some snow forecast for Sunday, but given that the forecast changed in last 24 hours, I won't be holding my breath, I believe it when I see it:) Would be cool if this forecast snow will turn up to be a big storm that will last for few days, but all I know that at the moment it's not that great on slopes. My friend is teaching and I got a message from him half an hour ago saying he could think about at least dozen places he would rather be instead of slopes if he had a choice.

Yep I was in Verbs first week in April 2008 and the snow was superb. However, 2 weeks before the deals went crazy as they were struggling for snow. I booked and the snow fell!!!!!

If this is the case, have you ever considered moving?:)

At Easter in 2008 it snowed for 3 days. They had to open Le Chable lift at night because people in cars couldn't get up even with chains. Now I know why...:)

3 hours.

Four years ago we had a very good season in terms of snow and three years ago it was exeptional - didn't stop snowing until June, but after last season I learned that it may not snow for week and weeks and then the season will be over. There is some snow forecast for Sunday, but given that the forecast changed in last 24 hours, I won't be holding my breath, I believe it when I see it:) Would be cool if this forecast snow will turn up to be a big storm that will last for few days, but all I know that at the moment it's not that great on slopes. My friend is teaching and I got a message from him half an hour ago saying he could think about at least dozen places he would rather be instead of slopes if he had a choice.

OldAndy wrote:The warm weather looks like going over this weekend with much colder stuff coming along but the suggested precipitation is fast disapearing from the forecast - pity, the slopes could have done with a bit of a freshener after the warm week.

It'll be great next week :thumbup:

The slopes could do with some serious refreshment for a couple of weeks now, but somehow I suspect the next snowfall will be next season (an inch here and there doesn't count)

Well, with temps like that the snow will be more like mushed potatoes, and on lower slopes it will start turning brown, boots will feel a bit weird, you can easily burn your face - don't forget sunblock and don't miss your ears when you apply it, if you have insulated jacket rather than a shell you will be too hot. Get up early and finish at noon - it will be much more pleasant at a sunny terrace than on slopes. It will be a bit cooler up in the mountain than in town, but not by much. If the town is deep in the valley (like Chamonix) it can be cooler in town. If this is not your vacation week consider yourself lucky:)

If summer happens to be dry just the fact that there is a glacier won't make it snow. Last year summer was very wet, so there was powder in July/August. It doesn't mean there will be powder next July. Dry spells are not uncommon in Switzerland and they can last for extended periods too.