J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by Ian Wickham

Tony_H wrote:Mr W. I used to always have the misconception, as you appear to, that low altitude always means less snow and not as cold. I think that generally lower altitude resorts have the possibility of suffering a little more compared to those higher up. If for example you compare the village of Mayrhofen at 690m with the village of Val Thorens at around 2300m, you would expect to have more snow for more of the season in VT.
Austrian resorts often are lower than their respective ski areas, as quite often they are in valleys beneath the mountains. Mayrhofen, Schladming, etc. However, some of these places are renowned for being in snow pockets or with micro climates of their own. Otherwise, how would you explain why the area around Soll for instance offers good skiing most of the season round?
I think its fair to say that if you ski lower down, you have more chance of struggling if conditions are not perfect, for example after periods of sustained sun or lack of snow, or rising temperatures. However, I have been to Mayrhofen and Sauze d'Oulx in Feb when its been 15c in resort (yes, even at 1500m in Italy) and yet get up the mountain up to around 2000m and the skiing has been outstanding.
Its wrong to dismiss Austria for low lying resorts, although I take your point about the ambience with snow on the ground. For me, its not essential, as long as the ski area has plenty of the white stuff.
If you are going late season, I think you can expect to experience difficulties anywhere under 1500m for example, although thats certainly no rule of thumb or benchmark to compare to.

I get the distinct impression your image of Austria has been tarnished and blinkered by a previous bad experience?

ParalyticSkiCrazie wrote:My igoogle has the webcam gadget - and yes each day I watch the snow disappear :( you can have a glass of my wine if you can guess which resort I watch :wink: It does stay on in the summer which is nice :lol:

Vincentus wrote:" N Brigade" ?????
You Brits and your code names.
So, Ian what does it mean?

ise wrote:

Ian Wickham wrote:
So are you telling me that a resort at 700m would not be affected by the sun compared to some where higher, that just doesn't ring true, for example I have only been able to ski to the bottom of LGb (1000m) possible three out of the five years of visiting due to poor snow conditions in that area, Chinaillon at 1300m the snow has stayed fine.

The reason why in the same ski station it's different at 1000m from 1300m is the temperature lapse rate. You're not saying you think the sun's stronger the lower down the mountain you get are you? Obviously it's the reverse, UV radiation increases by around 15% for every 1000m you ascend.

RoseR wrote:Is any-one out there as sad as me. I look daily on the webcams of places I have been to or places I am going to. Every day I tell Hubby there's snow at so and so, there's fresh powder at some-where else. Then...........you spot the first bit of green/brown showing through and every day that patch gets bigger and bigger, then its all green with flowers showing. I always feel slightly sad, thats the end of skiing for the year :cry: Then it all starts again in November, avidly studying again for the first signs of snow.

ise wrote:

Ian Wickham wrote:

ise wrote:just trying to point out that the amount of snow that falls is a lot more to do with latitude and location than altitude

Agreed, Austria has a lot of snow fall but it was the general ware and tear on the lower slopes with higher temperature I was really getting at, I was not trying to Austria bash believe it or not :shock: I was just interested in what people see as the norm and except :D

I don't think Austria gets significantly more snow than anywhere else. Why do you think the lower slopes are so warm? Isn't latitude and location more important to temperature than height? Otherwise Siberia and the Sahara would have the same snow conditions :lol:

ise wrote:just trying to point out that the amount of snow that falls is a lot more to do with latitude and location than altitude

RoseR wrote:

Ian Wickham wrote:

ise wrote:

Ian Wickham wrote: As you all know I have never skied Austria, But at such low altitudes the snow must suffer, worn patches, and even icy, if I am right do you guys except that as the norm for an Austrian ski resort ???

Have you been to the Arctic? Average elevation around 2300m and it's full of snow :D

I was really basing my interest at resort level where a lot of resorts are below 1000m, I do like snow at resort level it adds to the whole ambience of my holiday, and no never been to the Arctic I think I'll stick to LGb at least for one more year :wink:

The Finnish resorts average about 790m but I have never seen so much snow in my life. :lol: