Early season skiing...

rn

Right to cut a long story short I want to go on a couple of ski trips this coming 10/11 season. I want to do 3 seprate weeks because I need the rest in between Due to the holiday situation at work I was hoping to fit in one week early - in december.

The idea week workwise is 12-19 december... the following week is running into christmas day which I want to be at home for frankly.

I was on crystal and directski. Both allow me to select the 12th but both are coming up with error...

Is the 12th of December too early to be going skiing? I guess it depends on the year really. Would the put holidays on stream closer to the time or will I have to do a DIY job... Something I wouldn't be opposed to doing - but would use them to avoid some hastle.

Fattes

Most operators start a little later than the 12th but a bit of advice would to be go independant as you will get incredible value at that time of hte year wiht hotels etc direct

Resorts to look at that early would go High and glacial just to be sure

Mayrhofen / Hintertux

St Anton

Val Disere

Chamonix

Val Thorens

Zermatt

Saas Fee

rn

Hmmm I'd be kinda interested in Val thorens - was in merribel before and was really impressed at the standards there.

Where would you find out information around transfers?

Unfortunately there is only going to be one of me at that time of the year Going with a group again in Late jan/early feb.

Fattes

Hit the web, there are plenty of Transfer companies around Geneva airport and if you get really lucky you may be able to throw a tour rep a few quid to allow you on their bus!

jellies

I was out in Alpe d'Huez for the opening weekend last year.

Definitely enough snow up high for some turns, but some of the runs back down to the resort (1350) were a bit on the rocky side.

I'd be hoping to get out for the same weekend this year, so hopefully we'll have some fresh snow!!

Personally I'd DIY it at that time of the year as should be no problem getting accomodation etc.

Poster King

I'm pretty Sure Chamonix doesn't open that early, even though it is high up.
Zermatt is a very good bet. I was there the last weekend in November 2 years ago.
St Anton in early Dec was excellent the year before. Val d'Isere, Tignes and Val Thorens are also good bets in early season.
Don't use a tour operator, book really cheap flights now, and if snow comes, book the rest a few days before

Timmy_shreds

If your willing to fly to Canada Whistler opens mid November.
This season we opened on 14th November with 4m of fresh and 60cm of new snow each day....sometimes 80cm.
Plenty of early season precip. with top notch grooming every night.
Bound to be some good offers kicking around as the flight companies will have started operations with no customers to fill the flights. Your Euro goes quite a long way here and its half the price to eat on the hill than in Europe. Empty slopes and no lift Qs.

Fattes

I'm pretty Sure Chamonix doesn't open that early, even though it is high up.

Traditionally opens the first weekend in Deecmber most years.

rn

I wouldn't rule out canada but two factors against - timezone and travel time - but it would be very very interesting. Was thinking about canada for a March ski trip, but I could always do France then...

But cheers for the advice/suggestions - greatly, greatly appreciated.

rjp123

Would whistler be prone to early season rain as opposed to one of the interior bc resorts? Was looking at bigwhite/ fernie for early dec

Fattes

Whistler has a better snow record than Big White and Fernie Early in the Season,

Despite Fernies epic reputation it really needs lots of snow to enjoy as if it does not have a couple of meters of snow it sucks with all the rocks etc

Canada early on is hit and miss some years they get great early snow others not so much.

Safest bet that early is WHistler though.

rjp123

thanks. whats the story with the lifts closing at 3pm over there. would you constantly be watching the clock or not roaming too far. ?

Fattes

Same as Europe lift opening times are dictated by daylight hours,

You just make usre you are near the top at 3 with no lifts required to get to the bottom

rjp123

but in europe (france) the lifts earliest closing would be around 4.30 as far as i recall. is it just that it gets darker in bc earlier? bc doesnt seem a huge deal more north than alps?

Mr.BBunny

I was in Val D'Isere last year on the 12th for a week and we had some great skiing. Like the others say, I would pick one of the high resorts, but Val D'Isere was great, with some good off piste available, although some rock hopping was undertaken. Book cheap flights to Geneva, and then you can pick your resort as time gets closer - I don't think there will be too much pressure on acc. at that stage of the season.