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Started By
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Anyone ever snow ski in The Alps?
Posted on 2/15/17 at 9:03 am
Posted on 2/15/17 at 9:03 am
Chamonix-Mont Blanc more specifically. Plan to leave out of Paris and fly into Geneva and ski near there.
Have skied for ~10 years all over Colorado and Whistler. Prefer blues and some blacks and bowls. What am I in for going there in Mid April?
Have skied for ~10 years all over Colorado and Whistler. Prefer blues and some blacks and bowls. What am I in for going there in Mid April?
6
Posted on 2/15/17 at 9:58 am to s14suspense
They are not the super protected and controlled mountains you are used to. They are massive, a lot more vertical, raw, relatively un-maintained/controlled ski resorts. They put lifts to the top of anything and you can find yourself in way over your head in a lot of trouble very easily.
Remember, it's the home/origin of ski mountaineering and it's a very large part of their culture.
Remember, it's the home/origin of ski mountaineering and it's a very large part of their culture.
Posted on 2/15/17 at 10:07 am to ColoradoAg03
quote:
They are massive, a lot more vertical, raw, relatively un-maintained/controlled
I don't snow ski, but when we visited the Swiss Alps, I can remember thinking how steep and rough it looked compared to others I've seen.
Posted on 2/15/17 at 11:41 am to ColoradoAg03
Yeah, that's exactly what I'm curious about. Can't imagine it's not skiable for us but I'm sure it's more challenging.
Posted on 2/15/17 at 11:54 am to s14suspense
I'd avoid attempting to descend the Aiguille du Midi if I were you.
Posted on 2/15/17 at 11:57 am to ColoradoAg03
Also, there are a lot of glaciers, seracs, and crevasses on those mountains. Might be worth paying a guide your first day.
Posted on 2/15/17 at 12:20 pm to ColoradoAg03
Damn, ok. Thanks.
Posted on 2/15/17 at 12:46 pm to s14suspense
There's obviously plenty of acreage for all levels though.
Posted on 2/15/17 at 2:49 pm to s14suspense
As a kid, I skied in Wengen, Switzerland. Took a train up the mountain and skied back down to the village. The powder was much different than a lot of the snow machine ice I had skied on in northern New Mexico.
Posted on 2/16/17 at 11:31 am to s14suspense
I am out here now in Grenoble and the skiing season has been great so far. The French Alps have recently gotten a good amount of powder the last few weeks including Alpe D'Huez, Chamonix, Les Deux Alpes, etc.
Not sure how it'll be in mid April since its my first time here, but I am planning on a trip late March to Val d'Isere and when we booked it they said it would still be great for that late in the season.
Not sure how it'll be in mid April since its my first time here, but I am planning on a trip late March to Val d'Isere and when we booked it they said it would still be great for that late in the season.
Posted on 2/16/17 at 12:10 pm to soleckma
I am not man enough for them....but everyone recommends getting a guide for at least the first day.
I am doing Mayrhofen (Zillertal) in March, so if it all goes bad, they have great Apres
I am doing Mayrhofen (Zillertal) in March, so if it all goes bad, they have great Apres
Posted on 2/16/17 at 1:59 pm to tccdc
I've never skied the alps but I've been there in the summer time a couple times at the ski resorts. As said, plenty of everything for you. Its not like Euros are born skiing anymore than Americans in Colorado or something.
But yeah, I mean they have much less liability so generally you can more easily get into more dangerous routes.
But yeah, I mean they have much less liability so generally you can more easily get into more dangerous routes.
Posted on 2/16/17 at 7:23 pm to soleckma
That's awesome man. Thanks. It's all booked now so we going no matter what. I'll bump this with pics and shite if it's not locked by then.
Posted on 2/17/17 at 2:11 pm to s14suspense
I went to Zermatt this time last year having never been on ski's before. Why not right? Almost like learning to drive a stick shift in a Ferrari. We had a blast but I was in way over my head and like others have said, it's steep and narrow runs.
Posted on 2/17/17 at 2:24 pm to s14suspense
Watch Blizzard of Ahhhs and you'll have a pretty good idea.
1) I'm jealous
2) April?? Europe, particular western Europe has had an extremely mild winter. I hope you'll be ok.
1) I'm jealous
2) April?? Europe, particular western Europe has had an extremely mild winter. I hope you'll be ok.
Posted on 2/17/17 at 4:55 pm to s14suspense
I have never skied in the Alps but while in Zermatt we did take the cable cars and ski lifts to the top of the Klein Matterhorn (Little Matterhorn) which is the mountain next to and overlooking the Matterhorn. The skiing there is for experts only. We were up there in street clothes watching the skiers wiz by. We explored a cave carved in to a glacier. When we emerged, there was a white out blizzard going on. On the way down we stopped at various levels to admire the scenery. On one side was the Matterhorn and in the other side we were looking down at the snow covered Alps with the town of Zermatt in the distance. When I am asked to identify the most spectacular scenery I have ever seen, this is my answer. It was incredible.
Posted on 2/17/17 at 7:40 pm to bayoubengals88
Watching Blizzard of Ahhs now. Crazy shite. Nice to see Chamonix in action though.
Posted on 4/17/17 at 6:03 am to soleckma
Made it to Chamonix. Mountain shuts down tomorrow but I'm skiing on a Monday in the alps in April. Things could be worse.
Grand Montes was pretty challenging due to the conditions but Brevent and De Balme were a little easier.
Definitely an experience.
Posted on 4/17/17 at 6:09 am to s14suspense
Beautiful day today
Posted on 4/17/17 at 6:46 am to s14suspense
Wow that looks epic! Enjoy it man. You definitely snuck it in right at the end of the season!
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