Ski trip over Christmas?

Steveire

Hi,

I'm trying to find out if I can go on a ski trip from the 23rd December for a week.

Are there any other boards groups up to the same this year? Any recommendations of places that have snow this time of year? I'm looking into kuhtai in Austria at the moment, but I don't really know what to expect wrt prices etc.

Cheers,

Steve.

d2ww

Has it even snowed anywhere in the Alps in the last month?

Steveire

This is the place I'm looking at: https://www.j2ski.com/ski_resorts/Austria/Soll_Piste_Map.html

I can't really find info about whether it is ski-able already...

a148pro

That's soll, not kuhtai? Unless they're close?

Last I checked temps across Alps had been warm and not much natural snow fall in last two weeks, nor more predicted in next week. So I'd aim high if I was you. Soll not high, kuhtai seems to be though.

In general I think Christmas week isn't cheap but i've never been at that time of year.

d2ww

I'm not following this too closely as I'm not out til February, but this is what fell in the last 7 days, http://www.snow-forecast.com/maps/dynamic/alps?over=none&symbols=snow&type=snow.last7days
before that, it was 3 weeks ago.

Steveire

Yep, sorry for the confusion. I looked at a few places and ended up booking the trip to Soll.

Snow forecast doesn't look great, but that's a risk I knowingly took .

Steve

It's better than last year, should be ok.

I'm heading to Obertauern, they were bussing in people from other resorts to there as it was one of the few places with snow last Christmas.

d2ww

http://http://www.skiclub.co.uk/skiclub/snowreports/snowreport.aspx/Kitzbuhel#.WFpdL_mLTIU
This is what it's like around the corner in Kitzbuhel, I'd make sure that you have good sharp edges on those skis, looks like you will need them!

maddness

Go high, Tignes, Three Valleys. Good piste skiing at the moment.

Pending

For anyone tempted by a last minute deal Crystal still have some great bargains for Xmas week. Several options under €300 for flights & accommodation! :-)

I think I got the last bargain for the new year week! Less than €1500 for 2, including HB and ski passes in Mayrhofen.

maddness

Without wanting to sound too negative, is there any snow in Mayrhofen?

Pending

maddness wrote: »

Without wanting to sound too negative, is there any snow in Mayrhofen?

It's pretty safe. All except the lowest runs will be fine, and as a backup the lift pass includes Hintertux. So worst case scenario is a 20 minute free bus ride to the glacier. No off piste of course unless it dumps, or I could go with a guide up on the glacier like I did a couple of summers ago if I'm really bored with what's open.

St Johann in Tirol was also on offer... I didn't go for that one ;-)

lawred2

Jealous

a148pro

Best conditions now seem to be Aosta valley and Piedemonte in Italy, both of which got a lot of snow earlier this week

Some talk of a change and snow for Austria in early new year

Otherwise aim high high high

Steve

In obertauern, Austria, plenty of snow, pistes are really good.. 20cm more forecast for the weekend.

lawred2

Steve wrote: »

In obertauern, Austria, plenty of snow, pistes are really good.. 20cm more forecast for the weekend.

Is Christmas lovely in the resorts? Is it busy?

Christmas in the Alps has always been on the top of my wish list

Steve

lawred2 wrote: »

Is Christmas lovely in the resorts? Is it busy?

Christmas in the Alps has always been on the top of my wish list

Yes, it's beautiful. Friday there was hardly anyone on the slopes yesterday and today it was busy.

If you can speak even the smallest amount of German, Austrian people are the best craic..

Steveire

It wasn't too busy in Soll last week, but definitely worth it and a great way to spend Christmas. Conditions were not ideal, but I was fine with that as it makes sense to get experience on all sorts.

Here's some photos giving an impression of the conditions .

AlternateID

awh a Christmas xray.

a148pro

Nice work, doesn't look too bad (the snow, not the fracture - don't know about that)

Steveire

Heh, yeah luckily there's no fracture . I had a bad fall on Thursday though, my last day of ski school, and couldn't ski on Friday. Knew there was that risk from the start though, so it's grand.