Tips for spring skiing please?

[Muchtoomuchtodo]

I've only ever skied during December and January but am looking at booking a short break during the Easter holidays.

What would I change kit wise? We usually wear a merino base layer (top and bottom) with a fleece and insulated salopettes and jacket. Neck buff, thick gloves.... I often add a glove liner and thin hat under my helmet too.

Any thoughts on locations? I've seen a good deal in Les Carroz but have never been there before. It would be me and our 2 ds's (10 and 7 and both very proficient).

[WhoTheFuckIsSimon]

Higher is better but at least easter is early this year. Ive skiied in chamonix at the end of March and some of the runs back into resort were patchy by the afternoons.

Somewhere like Tignes would be good or Val disere. Les arcs?

I seem to remember I had a base layer and then my ski jacket. Didn't have a fleece on under the jacket like I would earlier on. Wouldn't bother with a buff if it's warm or a hat under the helmet.

[dontcallmethatyoucunt]

Tignes, cervinia, val thorens... I've skied in a T-shirt at Easter!

[Muchtoomuchtodo]

I've found good deals in Les Carroz and samoens. Neither are especially high but are claiming to have amazing snow at the moment!

[GiraffeHouse]

Chamonix is usually fine at Easter, just stay high (Argentiere best). The season runs until May but I presume just on the glacier by then. Can be a good time for the Vallée Blanche.
Mind you it's not been the best season in Europe this year so who knows.
I just leave off the midlayer and usually end up with my jacket undone by the end of the day.
We're off on Friday, can't wait!

[lovetoskimum]

Skied Les Arcs last easter, skiing in t shirts all week :)

Lovely sun all day.

just got back this weekend, booking for 2017 as we type !!!

giraffe - very jealous !! Enjoy and have a blast xx

Any more :)

[PestoSkiissimos]

Where are you booking to go to next year Lovetoskimum ?

[lovetoskimum]

Pesto, back to Arc 2000, just love it there and the apartment was slope side and lovely :)

Gets me through the rest of the year !! :)

[PestoSkiissimos]

Oooh How lovely! I don't blame you. We are off to Italy and I haven't skiied there for years but I don't know yet where I want to go next year. Anywhere where it's high I suppose.

[lovetoskimum]

Pesto, just really like the skiing there, good resort and nice and high :)

Not that I am obsessed but I still keep checking the webcams !! :)

[Muchtoomuchtodo]

I've booked to go to Les Carroz.

Should I be getting thinner jackets and gloves? We wear thick insulated ones usually because we're used to January conditions!

[DuchessofAnkh]

depends on the weather, but I find that no long johns required and mostly just short sleeved t-shirt. Also no neck buff, no glove liners and no hat....

[HopeandSoap]

It depends on the weather, it can still be really cold but also warm. A shell jacket is great in warmer weather and you can keep spare layers in a backpack. Remember sun cream and sunscreen for your lips too. Never use vasiline in the sun!

[User543212345]

I tend to ditch most/all of the base layers and open all the vents on my salopettes and jacket - the same ones that keep me plenty warm enough in January - and keep the zip at half mast on the jacket and do ok. If it's really warm I'll just be in a vest, salopettes and jacket. As for gloves I think the thick ones are still fine (I only have one pair of gloves and have never suffered with hot hands in spring conditions).

It can get really slow and slushy in the afternoons when you're spring skiing, which isn't super fun, so first lift up and finish early afternoon with a glass of something is our preferred schedule when we're there in spring.

Unspeakably jealous that you're going. Our possibly cheeky extra week away was kiboshed by our oven breaking down and needing replacement.

[Muchtoomuchtodo]

This trip has gone from initial conception to booking in 27 hours! Plans for a warm holiday have been kiboshed (great word!) by an injured DH and I decided that the rest of us shouldn't miss out completely - especially as it's my 40th while we're away!

I posted in chaletsdirect and couldn't believe my luck - £500 for 3 of us for 4 nights in a catered chalet. It's an area that I've never skied before but the owners sound great and are happy to help me get my bearings in the resort, advise re skiing areas etc so we're going to give it a go!

Do any of your kids wear sunglasses? I'm looking for some wrap around style ones but not coming up with much.

[snowgirl1]

We've just got back from Flaine, which is in the same ski area as Le Carroz. There is lots of snow - I'm sure you'll have a great week. Unless money is no object, I wouldn't get new ski jackets/salopettes. Just ditch the glove liners, long johns, fleece and hat under your helmet. Have fun! And don't forget sunscreen - we had blue skies pretty much all week.

[lovetoskimum]

Snowgirl, skied Flaine when daughter was 6 months old, great area, we had really nice self catering apartment with heated outdoor pool :)

Much, so jealous of you :) have a fab time :)

Sweary, shame about oven, that's not fair, hope you manage to go next year :)

Awaiting costing for next year and then booking :)

[User543212345]

loveto don't feel too sorry for us - it would have been our third week this season

Enjoy your trip much - do report back. All I've seen has said conditions are fab. Unspeakably jealous!

[lovetoskimum]

Much, enjoy 40th birthday skiing !! Happy Birthday for then :)

Sweary, thanks for that !!

checking web cams again :)

[Muchtoomuchtodo]

Thanks everyone, especially snowgirl. The conditions were one thing that I was a bit unsure about (though the company said it's great but they're bound to) so that's reassuring.

This will be our 3rd trip this year - DH injured himself on trip number one. I'm being a bit selfish booking this one but we had great plans for my 40th (family holiday, white sand, warm sea....) so this will be a nice replacement.

[lovetoskimum]

Sounds like conditions are fab for all still to go,

Enjoy all and keep posting updates and pictures :)

[clarrylove]

For kids sunglasses, just bought some Foster Grant wraparound ones for DS in Sainsburys. Not in the kids section. On a stand In the toiletries/beauty section.

[citykat]

In Alps now - adults in ski jacket and trousers and T shirt, DH has ditched ski gloves and is wearing cycling ones. Kids in jackets and one top. No neck wear. Still wearing goggles though. Is v v sunny. Side vents on jacket open......

[Muchtoomuchtodo]

Thanks, that's really useful.

[PatriciaHolm]

We're in the Alps now and it's cold! We had a lovely sunny Saturday but yesterday and today are much chillier and it's snowing. So come prepared for all eventualities...

[Muchtoomuchtodo]

Lol! I'll pack the usual I think and add a few extra tshirts in case we need those instead of a thermal under a fleece.

Might leave the thin coats behind too.

Is there much snow at resort level (we're going to Les Carroz). I usually only take snow boots and slippers. Might add something lighter for around town if it's likely to be snow free.