Corona Virus

PCeeeee

Ah I know what you mean. There is a risk. I still think that there is plenty that the resorts can do and I think will, if they want to wait open. The school hols aren't helping either.

On the bright side if FFP2 are being worn the risk, even at very close quarters reduces significantly.. We wear them and goggles in work if we need to be near each other (less than 1.5m) for greater than 10 mins (cumulative throughout the day) and thus far have survived without any transmission.

I'll chance another day out next week and see how it looks after snow falls.

PCeeeee

Some12 wrote: »

Skallywag - Very nice! But the tight crowd looks like it could raise an alarm with the health services. Are you living in Austria at the moment?

I'm envious sitting here in Galway with very heavy rain & high wind pounding my house. I guess there's always waterskiing available in my garden or driveway - both are flooded!

I'm curious, do the FFP2 masks cause goggles to fog faster or leave a gap for air to rush in when going fast?

Have fun but do stay safe!

Fogs mine anyhow.

skallywag

Yip, I live in Austria, but to be honest lads I am not going out this season yet, the pics I have put up are from either friends here who have gone out, or from local media.

Each to their own, and I certainly do not mean this as a slight on any others, but I myself think that the risk is massively high at the moment when skiing, regardless of how careful the resorts are. I was hoping to see 'channels' let's say with at least 1m between everyone, but that's clearly not the case from those images.

Conditions great here since yesterday too, so would love to have been out today. I am not at all worried about catching it myself, but a few members of my misses's family would be quite fragile.

Yes. a buddy told me the FFP2 can definitively bring on fogging of the goggles. There are some v good sprays you can put onto the googles to prevent that though, 'anti-beschlag spray' in german. Works real well.

a148pro

I'm hoping that our lockdown might get our numbers below 100 per whatever and make an Austrian outing viable while other countries too high to get in. Would make a midweek short jaunt more viable, particularly once Austrian schools open.

But a lot, again, up in the air.

a148pro

Christmas 22 maybe

Absolute **** this

PCeeeee

a148pro wrote: »

Christmas 22 maybe

Absolute **** this

Friend was thinking about coming over when things settle a bit. The other thing to consider is the flights. Very limited schedule atm as we discovered.

a148pro

Yeah. Are irish allowed in without quarantine at moment? I mean if I knew work was cancelled I probably would go.

PCeeeee

a148pro wrote: »

Yeah. Are irish allowed in without quarantine at moment? I mean if I knew work was cancelled I probably would go.

No q for Irish atm but they update very quickly. Current list below. The changes work both ways to be fair they remove countries immediately if they improve numbers wise.

https://www.bag.admin.ch/bag/en/home/krankheiten/ausbrueche-epidemien-pandemien/aktuelle-ausbrueche-epidemien/novel-cov/empfehlungen-fuer-reisende/quarantaene-einreisende.html#1918240392

a148pro

Well we are down the swany for sure. Fastest growth in europe I think.

PCeeeee

a148pro wrote: »

Well we are down the swany for sure. Fastest growth in europe I think.

Criteria for q list is '14-day incidence. This incidence represents the number of new infections that have occurred per 100,000 people in the last 14 days. If the incidence in a particular country is at least 60 higher than the incidence in Switzerland, the country is put on the list, because it has a higher risk of infection than Switzerland'

Next update is Monday morning, we don't do numbers over the weekend. Current 14 day incidence rate is 583/100,000. Ireland is still only at 225/100,000. That said Irish 7 day is into 4 figures.

random_banter

Does anybody have a booking made with Crystal? I see that their late January weeks in France are now unavailable and next available is 6th Feb.

Still waiting to find out if France will open lifts on the 20th so was wondering have they cut their losses or have they been given a heads up.

Not seriously considering going at the moment just to the high cases but keeping a close eye to see if the situation improves.

mulbot

random_banter wrote: »

Does anybody have a booking made with Crystal? I see that their late January weeks in France are now unavailable and next available is 6th Feb.

Still waiting to find out if France will open lifts on the 20th so was wondering have they cut their losses or have they been given a heads up.

Not seriously considering going at the moment just to the high cases but keeping a close eye to see if the situation improves.

I was going to book with them but I've been watching for a while and the updates on the site have pushed out the dates for booking continuously( Jan 7th...jsn 15th etc) so I'm holding off.

mulbot

If anyone is familiar with Switzerland,(an option I'm looking at if it's possible to go) what's the easiest way to get to the resorts from Geneva. Thanks.

the beer revolu

As a person who really values my annual ski holiday, I'm genuinely surprised that people are still looking at going skiing this season.
It's one year.
Do without for the common good.

Has everyone forgotten the role ski resorts had in hastening the spread of this virus across Europe?

a148pro

I don't think anyone is advocating the risky activities such as apres or lift queue throngs. Any resorts currently open (in Switzerland at least) are doing take away food and drink only, no bars or restaurants open and, in theory, lift queues are being managed. Skiing contributed to the spread the last time because people didn't know the virus was among them until it was too late.

if I went I'd almost certainly go self catering and try and find somewhere with chair lifts or just go ski touring altogether

Besides, the virus is already here and doing very well for itself as it is. Don't think going skiing is any riskier than allowing, as we have, tens of thousands of people to come into our country unchecked from other jurisdictions where the virus is rampant, or allowing "gastro" pubs to operate without any of the protections that are supposed to be in place, which I've seen right under my nose in dublin. Places without food menu or masks. Feck that.

PCeeeee

mulbot wrote: »

If anyone is familiar with Switzerland,(an option I'm looking at if it's possible to go) what's the easiest way to get to the resorts from Geneva. Thanks.

The easiest thing is to drive. IMO.

Or the train.

Where do you want to go?

I should say be careful, Ireland will almost certainly go on the red list here soon, meaning you'll have to do 14 days q on way in.

mulbot

PCeeeee wrote: »

The easiest thing is to drive. IMO.

Or the train.

Where do you want to go?

I should say be careful, Ireland will almost certainly go on the red list here soon, meaning you'll have to do 14 days q on way in.

Thanks for the reply. I had thought originally Saas Fee with a flight into Milan, but for now that's out. I would be open to any resort really, train from Geneva most probably

PCeeeee

mulbot wrote: »

Thanks for the reply. I had thought originally Saas Fee with a flight into Milan, but for now that's out. I would be open to any resort really, train from Geneva most probably

Saas Fee is about a three hour drive from Geneva. Or train will bring you as far as Simplon or Brig then Post Bus up to Saas Fee.

trashcan

the beer revolu wrote: »

As a person who really values my annual ski holiday, I'm genuinely surprised that people are still looking at going skiing this season.
It's one year.
Do without for the common good.

Has everyone forgotten the role ski resorts had in hastening the spread of this virus across Europe?

Same here. As disappointed as I am to write off this year, I don’t think it would be as enjoyable anyway in the current circumstances.

olaola

trashcan wrote: »

Same here. As disappointed as I am to write off this year, I don’t think it would be as enjoyable anyway in the current circumstances.

The photo memories are killing me! First time to miss a season in about 16 years. Even when I was pregnant, I went hiking & met with the others in huts etc. Planning to go hiking in Hinterglemm in July... fingers crossed.

PCeeeee

olaola wrote: »

The photo memories are killing me! First time to miss a season in about 16 years. Even when I was pregnant, I went hiking & met with the others in huts etc. Planning to go hiking in Hinterglemm in July... fingers crossed.

Say hello to the goats in Goatstall for me ðŸ˜

olaola

PCeeeee wrote: »

Say hello to the goats in Goatstall for me ðŸ˜

It's right behind the hotel! It's weird seeing it all in the summer, all the apres places are closed and in the middle of green fields.
I hope we get a bit of snow here... just to have a bit of craic with the sleds etc! Give some of the gear an airing.

PCeeeee

olaola wrote: »

It's right behind the hotel! It's weird seeing it all in the summer, all the apres places are closed and in the middle of green fields.
I hope we get a bit of snow here... just to have a bit of craic with the sleds etc! Give some of the gear an airing.

A long time ago I passed through Austria in summertime. It looked gorgeous. I always meant to go back but never made it. Someday.

Enjoy.

olaola

PCeeeee wrote: »

A long time ago I passed through Austria in summertime. It looked gorgeous. I always meant to go back but never made it. Someday.

Enjoy.

Thanks!! I really recommend it - they really have invested in summer infrastructure to make it a year round business. Loads to do. You can get some cracking weather and the value is great. We stay in a 5* hotel, 3/4 board (with 8 course dinners!) for less per night than a mobile home in Italy/France.

PCeeeee

olaola wrote: »

Thanks!! I really recommend it - they really have invested in summer infrastructure to make it a year round business. Loads to do. You can get some cracking weather and the value is great. We stay in a 5* hotel, 3/4 board (with 8 course dinners!) for less per night than a mobile home in Italy/France.

A via feratta is on my list of things to do. You have me sold😀

I'm done with putting things off. Covid has thought me that

a148pro

trashcan wrote: »

Same here. As disappointed as I am to write off this year, I don’t think it would be as enjoyable anyway in the current circumstances.

In fairness this is worth bearing in mind - I've done a few under the radar trips during lockdown cycling alone, and while it was great to get out it was hard to relax worrying about gardai or locals confronting you. If you aren't resigned to going and are worried about it it wouldn't be worth it.

Going to try and do a bit in ireland now, hiking and then skiing a bit down. Anyone get out in the snow?

KnicksInSix

We've one last week left here in South Tyrol, best snow in years and we haven't had one single solitary hour of skiing All areas are shut by Government mandate. We are close to Schnals and I've seen a few Team Germany/Andorra/vans in the area so some runs are allowed for professionals I guess? Normally we have 3/4 trips planned each year but this is the first time in nearly a decade with nothing on the cards. Local news is up in arms over the activities across the border in Tirol.

PCeeeee

The r number is creeping up here in Suisse. Ominous rumblings in the papers about the consequences of that.

In the meantime I've had a few days over Christmas. My local mountain is accessible entirely by chairlifts so is totally stress free. Was up this morning in the freezing cold and fog. I felt very lucky.

skallywag

a148pro wrote: »

In fairness this is worth bearing in mind - I've done a few under the radar trips during lockdown cycling alone, and while it was great to get out it was hard to relax worrying about gardai or locals confronting you. If you aren't resigned to going and are worried about it it wouldn't be worth it.

I think this raises a very good point.

Imagine the scenario where it was indeed possible to conveniently go skiing at the moment. Skiing itself is now (well, probably ..) relatively safe, in that there is no Apres Ski, they have put measures in place to have distanced queuing, etc. So I would not tend to worry so much about getting infected.

That said, the public perception at the moment re skiing is muck. I think if I was to head from Ireland on a ski trip at the moment, with the numbers etc. currently being as high as they are, etc., then my friends, family, co-workers etc. would go absolutely insane, to the point that one could be looking at major fallings out with long term consequences, etc.

Those of us who ski know what the real situation on the ground is, but the public perception is currently so damaged that I think I would really keep away from it right now, i.e. even imagining a situation that one could easily still go from Ireland, and did not have to quarantine, etc.

blue note

Loads of things that you're not allowed to do right now are probably very safe on an individual level. Going to a shopping centre I believe is actually very low risk. The problem is if you allow it a small number of people will get it. Some of them will pass it to no one and some will pass it to a few, and the same goes for each of those people.

It's hard to get people on side getting them to not do things they enjoy doing that are low risk on an individual basis. Skiing as described above probably is low risk, but if people start going a few will come back with the disease. There's no avoiding airports, or supermarkets when you're there if you're self catering, or a few queues for lifts etc. And they're the careful people. Once you allow it you'll have the less careful people too.

And of course, loads or things are low risk. Going to a beach resort, eating outside. That's very low risk too. Same with a golf holiday. But the higher we set the level of risk we're willing to accept, the more cases we'll have, simple as that. We decided to abandon rules over Christmas and now they're talking about 7000 confirmed cases a day. To be honest, I think there was no stopping people spending Christmas with their families. It has killed people without doubt, but without admitting it, we did decide it was worth it.

I just don't see skiing happening this year. If you allow it you have to allow other types of holidays too. And I just don't see us getting the numbers down enough while there's still snow anywhere.

maddness

skallywag wrote: »

I think this raises a very good point.

Imagine the scenario where it was indeed possible to conveniently go skiing at the moment. Skiing itself is now (well, probably ..) relatively safe, in that there is no Apres Ski, they have put measures in place to have distanced queuing, etc. So I would not tend to worry so much about getting infected.

That said, the public perception at the moment re skiing is muck. I think if I was to head from Ireland on a ski trip at the moment, with the numbers etc. currently being as high as they are, etc., then my friends, family, co-workers etc. would go absolutely insane, to the point that one could be looking at major fallings out with long term consequences, etc.

Those of us who ski know what the real situation on the ground is, but the public perception is currently so damaged that I think I would really keep away from it right now, i.e. even imagining a situation that one could easily still go from Ireland, and did not have to quarantine, etc.

You make some great points. As much as it pains me to admit it I have resigned myself to the fact that I won’t ski this season. In the grand scheme of things I’d be happy just to get out to the pub for a pint or to a match or hug my elderly parents so the skiing can wait.

random_banter

skallywag wrote: »

I think this raises a very good point.

Imagine the scenario where it was indeed possible to conveniently go skiing at the moment. Skiing itself is now (well, probably ..) relatively safe, in that there is no Apres Ski, they have put measures in place to have distanced queuing, etc. So I would not tend to worry so much about getting infected.

That said, the public perception at the moment re skiing is muck. I think if I was to head from Ireland on a ski trip at the moment, with the numbers etc. currently being as high as they are, etc., then my friends, family, co-workers etc. would go absolutely insane, to the point that one could be looking at major fallings out with long term consequences, etc.

Those of us who ski know what the real situation on the ground is, but the public perception is currently so damaged that I think I would really keep away from it right now, i.e. even imagining a situation that one could easily still go from Ireland, and did not have to quarantine, etc.

You’re right about the perception of skiing being muck at the moment. That concern has been at the back of my mind too.

Really annoying considering the amount of people who took off and will go on other kinds of holidays in the next while (before the situation is under control) which won’t be seen as badly as skiing - even though they’ll still involve airports, supermarkets, and probably bars/restaurants too.

I still like to dream about late March/early April possibilities should levels be way down across the board, but I know that’s just a dream at this point. Our trip last year was March 14th so that didn’t happen either. It’s nice to dream about all the trips when this is over, just hope I’m not too old/unfit bu then

the beer revolu

I don't accept that skiing is relatively safe.
Chair lifts, gondolas, cable cars, queues. Even with restaurants open, supermarkets in ski resorts are usually very busy and often pretty cramped.
We've seen the photos of "socially distanced queuing '.

I don't think anyone should be going on unnecessary trips - I'd feel exactly the same about someone going on a sun holiday - there's just no justifying it.

blue note

the beer revolu wrote: »

I don't accept that skiing is relatively safe.
Chair lifts, gondolas, cable cars, queues. Even with restaurants open, supermarkets in ski resorts are usually very busy and often pretty cramped.
We've seen the photos of "socially distanced queuing '.

I don't think anyone should be going on unnecessary trips - I'd feel exactly the same about someone going on a sun holiday - there's just no justifying it.

It's safe if all the skiers and businesses do everything right. And not all of them will. So if skiing (or sun holidays) are opened up, you're accepting the likes of the big queues, or people sharing gondolas and cars, etc. It's unfortunate, but that's what will happen.

skallywag

the beer revolu wrote: »

I don't accept that skiing is relatively safe.
Chair lifts, gondolas, cable cars, queues. Even with restaurants open, supermarkets in ski resorts are usually very busy and often pretty cramped.
We've seen the photos of "socially distanced queuing '.

I don't think anyone should be going on unnecessary trips - I'd feel exactly the same about someone going on a sun holiday - there's just no justifying it.

The queuing situation improved pretty quickly after those images went around, but you make a valid point, particularly with respect to gondolas, it's really hard to see how these can be safe under any circumstances where they are shared with others. They have cut gondola capacity to 50% in Austrian resorts, but there is still of course risk in that.

Concerning the chair lifts there is a lot of discussion going on. Austria has cut the capacity to 50% on those with a 'confining bubble' which protects you from the weather, but is still operating at 100% for those with no cover. A lot are of the opinion that there is little or no risk sitting beside someone in the open air on a lift, but I do not fully buy into that.

It is interesting to see that the bigger resorts in Austria such as Ischgl have not opened at all yet. They clearly cannot afford to operate without having the tourists in town. I see no way that Austria is going to allow the hotels & restaurants etc. to open this season, so it could be a pretty quiet year for them this year.

All in all I have decided myself not to go out this season, though I know others who are out all the time. I guess it is something you need to decide on an individual basis, based on your own view of things etc.

a148pro

I'm not sure a gondola is any worse than any public transport, unless you're closer than you would be on any other public transport. Usually you are, you're packed like sardines, which would be an obvious risk but I assume they are limiting numbers. And on the other hand the average gondola is a shorter journey than public transport.

I think on a chair lift there's little to no risk unless you're sitting right beside them. There's really close to no evidence that outside spread is statistically significant. Now in reality in the average Ski holiday there will be pinch points despite everyone's best intentions, but I'd say in the right circumstances it could be done relatively safely.

blue note

The chair lifts are probably very low risk. I'd imagine the gondolas are high risk though. Public transport is very spaced out at the moment, hardly anyone taking it. I spoke to a couple of people who got trains at rush hour and they did you could have a train carriage to yourself.

Even if you're just with one other person in a gondola, you're in a very small enclosed space with them for 10 or 15 minutes. And the lifts from the town tend to be gondolas, first thing in the morning if the resorts are item they'll be busy. They might run them at 50% capacity or something, but I'd say the gondolas are a major problem with skiing at the moment. Far more risky than public transport.

a148pro

Anyway - I still believe, just, or hope at least. There's a reality here, this is cyclical, and not just the virus but also people's tolerances. My sense of it is that come mid to late March our numbers will be lower than most of Europe and we will repeat the bankrupt cycle of relaxing restrictions leading to another rise in numbers. Why? Not just because our politicians are idiots, but also because we will actually want it. Similarly, tolerances in europe for keeping places locked down will also expire. So my sincere, and rather cynical hope is that our low numbers may align with that and make a trip viable. But if it doesn't, there's obviously a feck lot more important stuff going on out there.

skallywag

Some conditions out there at the moment, have no seen so much snow come down at the flatland level ...

maddness

skallywag wrote: »

Some conditions out there at the moment, have no seen so much snow come down at the flatland level ...

It’s awful depressing looking at the resort webcams at them moment, all that powder and no way to ski it.

skallywag

Yeah, it's some fall the last few days, and more on the forecast. Heaviest fall in the valleys in over 70 years in some places.

Billy Mays

Haven't looked at one webcam this Winter

Ye're only torturing yourselves

a148pro

Is there much skiing being done? Am I right in thinking austria is open but only for locals?

a148pro

Unfortunately I don't have confidence we'll get our numbers down now. Didn't think our numbers would be the obstacle to me going but now looks that way.

skallywag

a148pro wrote: »

Is there much skiing being done? Am I right in thinking austria is open but only for locals?

Yip, the diehards are out.

Correct, resorts in Austria can open.

trashcan

Billy Mays wrote: »

Haven't looked at one webcam this Winter

Ye're only torturing yourselves

I know, but I can’t help myself. Had (very, as it turns out) optimistically booked a week starting last Saturday, should have been returning home today. Gutting. Have another week booked for end of Feb, but chances of it happening are roughly zero the way it’s looking.

Billy Mays

trashcan wrote: »

I know, but I can’t help myself. Had (very, as it turns out) optimistically booked a week starting last Saturday, should have been returning home today. Gutting. Have another week booked for end of Feb, but chances of it happening are roughly zero the way it’s looking.

I booked for the second week in Feb but realiatically it was never gonna happen. May look at going high towards the end of the season if it's viable but not holding out much hope.

I got back from St Anton last year the week before they shut it down so I'm looking at it that I'm lucky this isn't my second year running with no trip. For plenty of people it will be.

trashcan

Billy Mays wrote: »

I booked for the second week in Feb but realiatically it was never gonna happen. May look at going high towards the end of the season if it's viable but not holding out much hope.

I got back from St Anton last year the week before they shut it down so I'm looking at it that I'm lucky this isn't my second year running with no trip. For plenty of people it will be.

Same here, got back just before it all broke last year. Owner of the hotel we stayed in ended up in hospital a couple of weeks later, as did a guy who plays and sings in the hotel bar.

skallywag

Austria just announced an extension to the lockdown, so impacting hotels, etc. Seems the will not be doing much business in February anyway.

a148pro

skallywag wrote: »

Austria just announced an extension to the lockdown, so impacting hotels, etc. Seems the will not be doing much business in February anyway.

What are the rules around travelling within austria there?