Please can we have a "how much snow is there?" Thread?

[Iamblossom]

Getting a bit worried, we are going to Les Gets for new year, huge group of us in one chalet. What if there is no snow at all???

Does anyone have any decent intel on what is predicted/forecast for the next few weeks???

Just back....it is getting better. On Sunday at Risoul, there was perhaps 10-15cm fresh powder. The open pistes were good and the ones without an artificial base were getting some cover.

Am currently in Megeve, and it has snowed for the last two nights.
From the weather forecast it looks likes it's going to snow daily for the next 10days, and get progressively colder.
Which means Feb 1/2 term will be packed but at least there is snow!
I really feel for the local businesses who will have suffered over the Christmas period. Two years of no snow must really take its toll.

we going again in Feb half term (Tignes) - busy I can cope with - no snow was really tough.

I also really feel for the resorts. They were helicoptering in snow at one point. Imagine how much money they have spent. Les Gets for example is soooooooooo beautiful and it is a tragedy that people (like us) will not go there again because of the risk of another bad experience.

great photos radiator

Thanks Blossom.

I agree it is so sad for the lower places. We went to a tiny resort that just had the nursery slope open....for free. My son had a snowboard lesson (ESF guy and him were the only people on the piste for a while). I want to give them my business, but can't! I did buy some great ex hire skis for €50...here's hoping they'll get used later in the season.

We are back in March...hoping that it will be good. We've also got people going to stay in our place in February and March....I want them to enjoy themselves and have lots of snow!

Getting excited now,
We go to Andorra end of month and snowing really heavy there at moment ,
Can't wait to start packing

We spent Christmas in Finland and for snow you can't beat it. I would thoroughly recommend Ruka. It's not miles and miles of piste, but it was good enough for a week and it was amazing snow.

I agree, the last 2 years have taken their toll on Xmas skiing further south, it's a late booking situation or don't bother IMO.

Bucket loads in St Anton, mainly down my neck, though still a few pistes not yet open.

Do people think its a phenomenon which will continue (the lack of snow at Christmas?) We had such a brilliant time, I am really tempted to book again next Christmas. We'd still go high.

But we are tied to school holidays - this was the first time we've been since children (we always went at the end of January before which was great). I really don't fancy February half term because everyone says it is really busy, but the Easter holidays start at the end of March in 2017 so thinking about that. What is Easter like (if you actually avoid the Easter weekend)? Is it always likely to be good snow that late in the season? I sooo loved the wide open empty slopes at Christmas, worried I'll hate it (especially when you're watching 3 little ones - although they'll be almost 12/12 and 8 by then) if its really busy. Queuing for lifts etc.

I avoid half term, but have never had a problem at Easter with crowds. The snow isn't as good, but it's perfectly ok to ski on. Get on the slopes at 9 and finish early if it's a bit sticky. It's not been a problem for us in france about 1600-1700+ metres.

Yay, loving these threads, still over 7 weeks for our family, started packing and shopping list !!!

Hubby off for a sneaky lads only this weekend so is slightly excited !! Understatement !!

Lostmummy, ive done Andorra a few times and stayed in El Tarter, nice place, where did you stay ??

LOVE THIS BOARD !! :)

I've skied during Easter hols the last 3 years and we're going again this year. It's not as busy as Feb HT. I'd always aim high, but TBH if a sport is weather dependent then there is risk. Last year we had a dump the week before we arrived and it was amazing. The years before 'spring' conditions I.e. Ice then soft into the resort, but high up that was less noticeable.

I love this board too and spend too much time here

Also love it! Have discovered so much fro previous posters over the years about destinations/hotels/logistics etc - its great to see other people as obsessive as me
In previous year I would go after Xmas, Feb 1/2 term and easter and we have hade very king of condition. We always go high, usually the 3V. I used to do ski-in ski out when the dc were small, now not so bothered about that as I usually go alone. After frustrating transfers (and hating the hassle of flying) I now drive. I love driving, and it means I can go on any day and avoid the traffic hassle of Saturday transfers, and also ski a day on Saturdays when the slopes are quieter.

Ultra do you drive overnight?

Pleasedont I have done every combination trying to get the ultimate one!
Because DH doesn't ski I am sole driver. I mostly now drive down to the tunnel early evening ( from London) and then two or three hours the other side, and stop over in a cheap hotel somewhere along the AutoRoute des Anglais eg Reims. Then early start next day and drive to Meribel or Courchevel to arrive around lunchtime, when temp is warmest for driving up the mountain...
On the last day I ski till about lunchtime, and then drive for about 5 hours, stop in cheap hotel and drive the rest the next day. But depending on snow, I might vary it - don't like drvin g up the mountain is a blizzard or if it isgrim conditions on the last day, might leave earlier and stop off to visit eg Paris for the day.
When we flew, I really hate the crack-of dawn start on the last day, horrible airport transfer & check-in and having to take skis back at 5pm the day before etc. Now I just chuck them in the car and it doesn't feel like the holiday has come to an abrupt end.

Ha yes, the ultimate travel option. We've driven, coached and flown, but not done the train. I'm trying to reduce costs so we can up the number of times we go, but the drive has been truly awful before and I wonder if we're missing a trick. Are you outside of school holidays these days?

I have to say though, Finland (Ruka) was a revelation; 25 minute transfer and PILES of snow. Def worth a visit if you're not afraid of thermal underwear!

fiends, hmm or friends maybe! I turn them into fiends

We did Norway (Geilo) one year that was fantastic snow at Easter. Neilson messed up the flights so it was a hideous overnight flight and several hours on a coach then arrived a the hotel to find we had been allocated a rwin room, for three of us, and the rep has scarpered. Was sorted and we had a good time after that, but wouldn't risk Neilson again.
I was previously restricted to school hols, but DC school had longer holidays ( indie) and one wonderful year their half term was a week earlier than every other school. Now the DC are teenagers I can leave them with Dh and go at a time when there is a good dump of snow, and choose a mid week departure.

Lovetoskimum, we are staying at the Del Clos,
It was perfect for us as nr the slopes and everything was arranged for us, being first time skiers we found it made everything so easy, staying same place again this time,
If we can go skiing again next year we may look at self catering chalets / driving to France etc to save pennies & as the girls will be able to ski more by then we won't need the lessons/child care options as much.
Only downside to Andorra is the 3 HR coach transfer ( but that's what kindles/ I player etc are for...) and love the feeling of getting higher up into the mountains xx

Lostmummy Flights to Geneva (as long as you're flexible) were really cheap. Flight was arriving in Geneva (well, should have) at 1.45pm so we'd have have time to pick up car, and drive to resort for early evening-ish, and then flight home was at 9.45pm so we skied all day until 4pm, took skis back, got in car, drove 3 hours to airport and checked in. Went with Easyjet and flights were £300 for 5 of us (over Christmas week). Car hire was about £270 and we paid about £100 in excess insurance, petrol and tolls (including the Mont Blanc tunnel).

Wow, that will def increase chances of affording a trip next year....
Not even done this years yet and planning next years..can't see why my husband thinks I have a holiday problem...!!
Thank you

Unfortunately we were delayed going so the plan was slightly scuppered but there is an EU directive that says airlines have to pay a fixed amount of compensation when you're delayed for more than 3 hours unless there are exceptional circumstances (for our flight, it was 250 euros per person). So yes, we had a waste of 5 hours at the airport but got around 1250 euros back (£900). Not bad pays for flights at Easter

I have never found going at Feb half term a problem personally. Never had ridiculous queues for lifts. Yes the restaurants up the mountain get busy but that just adds to the atmosphere in my view, particularly if the sun is out and you can sit outside. Heaven. The busiest slopes I have ever skied on were last Friday in Avoriaz, the only resort in the Porte de soleil with any snow at all.

So excited about going again and only got back on Sunday!

Have just finished washing all the ski gear with waterproofing liquid ready to be repacked.