So much snow and not being able to get to the resorts makes smitty sad. I hold out the tiniest bit of hope that I can get a spring trip in, however in all likelihood the chances are close to zero.
We were meant to be in Aosta for my wife's 40th this weekend :-( Instead back in another UK lockdown, with things worse than last April. It's really hard to comprehend just how wrong a country can get it.... We've got an Easter week trip booked for La Thuile so as you say Smitty, holding out some hope, but fairly resigned to it not happening. Think a summer ski in Tignes might be in order....
I saw the following pic from Aosta valley on Instagram. WOW! Certainly more snow then when we were both at Champoluc last year fingers crossed for your Easter trip. Given the amount of snow Italy has got this year I’ve loosely planned a trip back to a Champoluc for a week with the same guide as last year. We’ll see.
ARRRGGH have been trying not to look..... It's my 40th next season so will be doing something big to make up for all this!
Bit of a dusting for Tyrol, 5 to 10 cm I'd say. Ellmau, Skiwelt, AT. Nice and cold and sun's out however. Would be a nice day.
Yr.No has approx 25mm of precip as snow on the forecast for next Wednesday (13 th Jan) for Ellmau, northern Tyrol. Should be the next major system. Been there on a few of the latest GFS runs, with a low over Turkey and a high over Spain, directing a northerly airflow over AT. 540 dam line pushed down to Africa. Should favour the northern Alps I'd imagine. Edit: this forecast seems to be changing/updating as I type, with some new warmth thrown in. Watch this space I guess.
Been keeping an eye out for Austria as we're all re-booked to visit next year and therefore we need to occasionally look at webcams to heighten froth levels. Who knows if we'll actually get to go but we can dream can't we? Anyhow, the first ten days we're booked to stay around the Innsbruck area so we've been familiarising ourselves with things in a virtual sense - how good are the 360 panomax webcams they have around Innsbruck! https://www.innsbruck.info/patscherkofel/webcam/ https://www.innsbruck.info/webcam/
Had fun at Patscherkofel years ago, was quite a bit more snow on the ground. If you zoom right in the second cam, can see the Nordkette infrastructure. Steeps right above the city.
We have our accommodation in a little apartment right next to the lower piste at Patscherkofel but it's just a base in the area for us really. I seriously doubt we will get to ski there as we are there from mid-December. I'm assuming we will need to do trips to Stubai and Kuhtai to ski but you never know I guess, we may get lucky! I'd love to go and have a look at Nordkette as well but I imagine being south-facing there is even less chance of snow there. Such is life when you have to tie in a big trip with Australian school holidays. I'd love to hear from anyone who's skied around Innsbruck and wants to reminisce on their trip though! Apologies for that thread-jack. Maybe I can bring it back on-topic with the snow forecast. Although I question the need to use almost the same colour for the 10-15 and the 70-90 band in the classifications. Could lead to significant over-froth when looking at the forecast!
I had Christmas week in the Zillertal (less than an hour up the road) a couple of years ago. Plenty of snow. We had a ball. I hope you get to Austria in December. It seems doubtful now but maybe the vaccine will make it possible.
We have actually booked Zillertal for New Year week, staying up at 1600m so hopefully decent chance of it being white. Everything is fully refundable so if the worst comes to the worst we will not be out of pocket. But we live in hope!
Yes, we are renting a car for the whole time we are there. Seemed like the best way to do it, especially given the first 10 days we are probably going to need to travel from our accommodation if we want to ski.
Staying quite high! (not driving up there I gues! ) If you go to Hintertux have a walk under the glacier - it's fun.
We are going to Zillertal Arena - seemed best for the kids. Staying up in Konigsleiten near the gondola station.
Innsbruck surprised me. We expected an easy warmup to start a month of skiing, on smaller intermediate areas. Huge dump as we arrived, but Axamer and Stubai were large with great terrain accessible off the lift or a short hike. Stayed at a hotel in the city with easy and well organised transport to Stubai Glacier, Axamer Lizum, Kuhtai, Nordkette https://www.ski.com.au/xf/threads/travelling-to-europe-2019-2020.84566/page-3#post-4102332 https://www.ski.com.au/xf/threads/europe-2018-19.81204/page-11#post-3800362 https://www.ski.com.au/xf/threads/travelling-to-europe-2019-2020.84566/page-10#post-4175794
Don't forget Schlick 2000 also, an easy day trip from Innsbruck with free ski bus. A bit further west you have areas easily accessible from Landeck - Fiss-Serfaus, Ischgl, St Anton and several smaller ones.
Not sure if i should feel bad about this, but I am kinda hoping Europe has a crap snow season. 2021 would be a good time for a low snow year given we are stuck in Australia. Will be a killer if they get huge dumps and a bumper season. I'm calling it 2021 Snow Schadenfreude.
Innsbruck is such an ideal base from my perspective. I love using public transport, but so many options / flexibility with your own vehicle. I think Axamer is wildly underrated. Some great terrain & off piste routes. And Stubai is ever reliable. Kuhtai is a lot of fun. The parallel glaciers to the west of Innsbruck don't go too badly either, the 'bigger' resorts of Solden & Obergurgl, but some of the smaller area are real gems, particularly if it's backcountry your after. Pitztal & adjoining Rifflsee have some huge lines. Don't hear Vental mentioned very much. That place is a step back in time, in a good way, despite being so close to Solden.
I'm fascinated by the Nordkette. Is the whole resort really as steep as people make out? It sounds like going up the Hafelekar might be a step too far for me (I'm a realist!) - it's made out to be uber-steep and presumably it's all ungroomed? Although I'm guessing it softens off a bit in the afternoon with the sun on it? Is there much terrain on the lower lift(s)? We don't really need mad off piste so if there turned out to be snow I'm kind of wondering if it's worth a visit just for a few runs on the lower areas and the views of Innsbruck? Although my daughter will try and get me up the Hafelekar no doubt...
Nordkette is basically two small areas, both easily accessible from Innsbruck metro area. Lift goes right into town. The lower bit is Nordpark with two chairs, huge famous terrain park, and some easy intermediate stuff. Top via the Hafelekar cable car is for tourists with great views of Innsbruck and Alps. Not obvious where to ski. So we watched two other people step onto the barrier wall, put on skis and jump off. Ok then. Gotta love Europe Lookers left and beyond with a short hike is more off-piste to scare the schnitzel out of you We just did the two yellow runs, steep but the snow was average as it's low altitude and also baked.
Thanks Zeroz, most informative. We're passing back through Innsbruck briefly in the last week of January so may be able to get up there then if there is no early snow. Sounds like best to wait for a nice warm sunny afternoon and then put our best respective feet forward - ie me on snowboard, daughter on skis. Wife and son can then watch from the peanut gallery and laugh as she torches me to the bottom. Such is the cross I bear in our family. Back to this year, 72 hour forecast still looking pretty solid.
Paris agrees to turn Champs-Élysées into 'extraordinary garden' | Paris | The Guardian Champs-Elysees: Paris verwandelt Prachtstraße in „Garten“ - news.ORF.at Like it!
Snowing in Albertville France... such a good feeling getting off the train after 5 hours and to the base towns. Cold. Busy. Sigh Big week of snow coming https://www.yr.no/en/forecast/daily-table/2-2971074/France/Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes/Savoy/Val d Isere Would normally be boarding a plane in about a week. Sadly, doubt 2022 will happen at this stage Massive 2023 here we come...
Dumping down 30 to 50cm was the Val Thorens report Current Zermatt cam Wow that glow of dumping snow https://zermatt.roundshot.co/zermatterhof/
2pm today we were booked to fly to Tbilisi. Week skiing the Caucuses and then heading to Alps for more skiing. Instead, I am deciding whether I should mow the lawn or clean a blocked gutter. 60cm for Gudauri, Georgia, by Monday, on top of a great base. Resort is closed.
Was meant to be flying to Europe for 14 weeks in next few days. This thread sux and can ggf. **** **** **** **** ****
So many memories of Euro snow trips. Sigh. I’m sure I’ll get back one day but also so glad I’ve managed to ski at so many places on my bucket list. Forget holding onto my long service leave until I retire like some people I know. Got mine paid out to help pay for a trip to 3 Valleys, Chamonix and Dolomites in Italy. I’ve also been to St Anton, Lech, Saalbach and ValD’Esere. My car is a 2003 model, my bathroom and kitchen really need updating and I regret nothing
Chamonix this morning, from Instagram Another 20 to 30cm overnight Massive snowfalls predicted in about 5 to 7 days....
Yes, and snowing again in Kufstein. Bit of a sunny break forecast mid week before regular snow falls continue later in the week for northern Tyrol.
https://planetski.eu/2021/01/18/ski-resorts-in-france-await-their-fate/ Really can't see them opening for the busiest part of the season....
Then on the other hand if you don’t mind touring you have plenty of POW to play with. Think I need to block some of my Cham friends on FB GM yesterday..
Austria. Closed to tourists until March at earliest. Have had to can planned Feb trip. https://www.austria.info/de/service...h#alles-rund-um-die-einreise-nach-oesterreich
Yep Chamonix emailed yesterday about refunding season passes. They are running magic carpets for local kids which is good, a friend of mine’s kid is doing a bit of that after school and on saturdays etc.
