Latest posts for the topic "Snow "

Snow

Tue, 3 Jan 2012 11:05:37 GMT

Ok, heres something I dont get. So we are all aware of the slow start to the season, and how we were all bricking it about the lack of snow for so long. And now it looks like theres almost too much snow according to some reports, what with transfer buses getting stuck and the like.

So what I dont get is why do people book ski holidays in low lying resorts where the chance of warm or poor weather would ruin the skiing, and then come onto websites like these asking if anyone knows what conditions are like, or why its raining, or is there any chance of a cold snap please.....?

Surely if you go for a weeks skiing you dont want to take the chance of the skiing being rubbish or slopes being closed?

Maybe its just me, but I wont now go anywhere that hasn't got skiing above 2000m, or lowest slopes at at least 1500m. Last time I did, the conditions were poor compared to other nearby resorts with higher slopes, and that was just after lots of snow just after Christmas 2008 when there was hardly a shortage of snow around.

Can anyone explain why you would take this kind of risk, bearing in mind for some people it may be their one and only trip of the season?

Re:Snow

Tue, 3 Jan 2012 11:12:45 GMT

Perhaps some people just arent as smart as you Tony. :!:

Re:Snow

Tue, 3 Jan 2012 11:18:28 GMT

I tend to do two things January I tend not to worry too much about height of resort as normally ( Apart from last year) it is cold enough to maintain good quality snow down to 1200 mts, March things get a tad warmer lots more sunshine so I aim to book somewhere at about the 1800 mts mark.
As why people book to go to the lower resorts it is my opinion that they are influenced by inexperienced others.

Re:Snow

Tue, 3 Jan 2012 11:21:31 GMT

my main criteria is altitude, this year I decided on Val Thorens to be safe given last season indifferent snowfall.
its a playoff- snow sure resorts or low tree lined runs

Re:Snow

Tue, 3 Jan 2012 11:24:58 GMT

I tend to go high myself for the reasons you outline - that said I went to Kitzbuhel one year without thinking about altitude (It's got a classic downhill run - it must have snow right?) and suffered with runs down into town (though on top is high enough).

Kitz town is only around 900m - what other "great classic" resorts are low too but people dont necessarily think of the altitude because they are famous names?

Re:Snow

Tue, 3 Jan 2012 11:27:04 GMT

The was lot of snow so far this season but not so many cold days, freezing level is quite high so Tony makes a very good point. The best skiing to have at the moment is between 2000 and 3000 meters. Actually always the higher you ski the better the snow, because every 1000 meters temperature drops 6 degrees, and snow needs cold.

Re:Snow

Tue, 3 Jan 2012 11:39:11 GMT

I'm that paranoid I only book resorts with glaciers!

Re:Snow

Tue, 3 Jan 2012 11:47:35 GMT

I am that concerned about it, I let Tony H book all my ski holidays. Guaranteed Snow.

Re:Snow

Tue, 3 Jan 2012 11:52:30 GMT

I think a lot of it is to do with inexperience. Its easy to think that a ski resort is guaranteed to be covered in snow throughout the winter months, people who are inexperienced will look at the nice pictures in the sales books and think that's exactly what it will look like. They assume this because it's a ski resort, then upon arrival when they are met with greenery and sun they are shocked but have plenty of time to ponder this on the LONG chairlift up to the snow.

Its only once you actually look at annual weather data etc and take note of resort heights and which have glaciers you start to tailor your holidays accordingly.

Unfortunately I only have one trip this season in the first week of march, still not booked as I'm willing to risk paying a littler more on the prices now to ensure I get the snow. But at that time of year I can assure you it will be high up with a glacier.

Re:Snow

Tue, 3 Jan 2012 12:35:50 GMT

Always book a glacier, it's a skiing holiday after all. I can pay a lot less for green hills at home.

We had so much snow in La Plagne just before Xmas though that it made life pretty difficult. I'm not complaining (although I was when face down off piste and couldn't get up again cos the powder was sooo deep).

Re:Snow

Tue, 3 Jan 2012 13:55:21 GMT

In my 20 or so years of sking I have only once been caught out once with crap snow, I can't even remember the name of the resort but I know it was Austria and as it was with a group I had to go with the majority.

It's not entirely down to inexperience, I know that to get reasonable snow I have to go high, but it's not always possible for me in particular. We have a budget to stick to and with that budget we have to book late which often means less choice. Unfortunately we can't go in January when some of the best deals are because of work (booo!)

Last year I ended up in Niederau which is only about 850m at resort level because we booked late and it was all we could get for our budget, fortunately the snow was skiable even lower down and I had a great time.

I'm just grateful that I can go skiing, even if it's not pefect.