To go skiing in the next week or so or not?

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 veteye 28 Jan 2016
I know nothing about skiing. I went to Glen Shee about 4 years ago for a week and was declared an intermediate at the end of that time,but did not feel like one. Since then I have done nothing.

I have time off from Saturday(30th) until I go back to work on the 10th of February, unless I am nearby and can help with a case(which I don't mind if I am not tied up with my own stuff). Originally this time was off for study prior to an exam on the 10th,but for a whole host of reasons, I am not going to do that exam now until February 2017(It is voluntary anyway, but I want to do it). Nevertheless I am going to study for at least some of this time.
Meantime I thought to go to Scotland and possibly visit a friend who is an Orthopaedic specialist and thereby glean some ideas/experience from him when the weather is bad, and go out either munro bashing on my own, or go ice-climbing if I could find a partner when the weather is crisp and cold etc. Then I thought that I could try and improve my downhill skiing in Europe with a last minute package, as ultimately I would like to get to a point where I could consider going cross-country in Scotland as a logical goal. All this was going to be on my own; yet when my daughter heard about the skiing she suggested that I should certainly go and moreover take her(are you surprised?). She has to study for assignments as assessment during her year out from doing French and Spanish, as well.

So after that long introduction, is the weather good and are the conditions settled in Europe? I may have chance to go to Les Crosets near Avoriaz in Switzerland for 3 nights next week, but will need to add flights etc. Do I go and then add on another couple of nights in Chamonix area or wherever? Is Les Crosets good? It is near Les Dents du Midi, so is there Ice-climbing near there?(So that I could find other accommodation there where daughter could go skiing still and I might ice-climb) Or am I being far too optimistic that I will get to both ski,Ice-climb and study done in the space of 6-12 days?

What would you do?
Would you go to this bonny looking Swiss resort?
How much of a remortgage would I need?
(I know that my daughter lived last term in Geneva and that was pretty extortionate, and I'm used to the opposite end of the spending on holiday spectrum.I normally stay in bunkhouses or Alpine huts and tents.)

Rob
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 Oujmik 28 Jan 2016
In reply to veteye:

I believe skiing conditions are currently decent across the alps due to a few heavy falls of snow earlier this month although they're getting mild weather so the snow quality at lower altitudes may not be great but as a beginner (or low-intermediate, probably be unrealistic to pitch yourself any higher with one week four years ago!) that shouldn't be a massive barrier.

Switzerland can be very expensive in terms of living costs although I don't know if skiing costs are much higher as they have to compete with France, Italy and Austria. In general, skiing is an expensive holiday. As well as flights you'll need to factor in lift passes which can be anything in the range 10-50 euros per day (some resorts have restricted free or very cheap passes for beginners but even with only one week of experience they will probably offer too little freedom). Plus ski hire which is around maybe 10-20 euros a day. I always book for a week in advance so my prices may be a little off.
OP veteye 28 Jan 2016
In reply to Oujmik:

What about the possibility of three nights?Is that daft for all the expense of travel etc, or is it reasonable to find another venue for the following period?
 Oujmik 28 Jan 2016
In reply to veteye:

No reason why not, although the cost per day is generally more for shorter trips - three days of skiing is enough to get back into it although longer would be better if you aim to improve. I assume you have some accommodation already in Les Closets otherwise that could be a stumbling block.
 Dark-Cloud 28 Jan 2016
In reply to veteye:

I have done quote a few long weekends in Verbier, fly to Geneva, get the red eye on Saturday morning, back late Monday, you pretty much get 3 full days of skiing, Switzerland is as expensive as you make it, if you don't eat out every night and don't drink loads its similar to everywhere else.
 Gael Force 28 Jan 2016
In reply to veteye:

I'm out in France just now, the Le Croset area is near me but is too low and suffering badly in the warm temps. I'm skiing at Val Thorens presently which is nearly 1500m higher and the skiing is great there. Next week similar weather is forecast apart from a few showers on Sunday.
I would go to an Alpine resort with skiing above 2600m.
Don't waste your time in Scotland. (I'm Scottish)
robapplegate 28 Jan 2016
In reply to veteye:

You write too much. Just go skiing. Simples. It's always the right time to go skiing as long as it's winter.
OP veteye 28 Jan 2016
In reply to Gael Force:
I thought that Les Crosets was at 1700m!
So are you at 3200m?
It's above Champery.
39cm on Sunday.1C, so...
7C Monday?
Post edited at 23:26
OP veteye 28 Jan 2016
In reply to Gael Force:

Do I look to ski off Monte Rosa?

Trois Vallées?
 Dark-Cloud 29 Jan 2016
In reply to veteye:

Either would be very good.
 SiWood 29 Jan 2016
In reply to veteye:

I skied at Les Crosets (and around Avoriaz and Chatel) on Wednesday. Conditions were holding up quite well on piste considering the warm temperatures (up to 15 degrees in the sun and not dropping below zero at night). I would have descibed things as like skiing in spring. There was quite a contrast between top and bottom of the mountain (starting to get a bit slushy on the valley runs but good piste conditions at the top). Pretty much all pistes and lifts open. Wonderful views towards Les Dents and Mt Blanc. On steep sunny slopes there was evidnce of some wet slough type avalanches but generally safe and firm conditions off piste (wasnt really venturing far off piste).
 Martin Bennett 29 Jan 2016
In reply to Gael Force:

Think he's talking about Les Crosets not Le Croset. It's in Portes du Soleil, a good distance from you with the little matter of Mont Blanc in between. It's at about 1700m and probably OK at the mo, though I understand it's warming up again all over the Alps?
 kevin stephens 29 Jan 2016
In reply to veteye:

I would go to Chamonix or nearby areas Les Houches, Argentiere

It will be expensive to get weekend flights so near to the time but with numerous flights to Geneva and easy/cheap transfer (if you don't want to hire a car) you would save a lot but booking mid week to mid week. Also with Cham etc there is a wide range of accommodation including cheapish bunkhouses you can book for a few days at a time, whereas other ski resorts you may only be able to book for whole weeks.

It is getting warmer and the benefits of last snowfall seem to be a while ago now. Les Houches seems to be holding up well and is best for a rusty skier returning to the slopes

The low level ice climbing in Argentiere seems to be in poor shape this season but I guess you can always play on the Bossons glacier
 andy 29 Jan 2016
In reply to Martin Bennett:
We're in Morzine this week and have skied in Avoriaz, Chatel and Morzine/Les Gets. It's not great, to be honest. Well above freezing all day so anything below about 2000m or that gets the sun is pretty ropey - it's too warm for snowmaking so resort runs are very patchy. It seriously needs some more snow.

Most stuff's open and on piste is ok-ish, but if you want to do anything more adventurous it's a bit pants.
 Gael Force 29 Jan 2016
In reply to Martin Bennett:
It's absolutely shite below 2000 m.
Post edited at 21:51
OP veteye 29 Jan 2016
In reply to Gael Force:

Booked for Courchevel 1850.
Trying to sort flights.
My daughter has boots.When adding hold luggage it says that you have to book ski/and or boots in the sports luggage at £60.Can I put them in ordinary hold luggage?(£27)
1
 kevin stephens 30 Jan 2016
In reply to veteye:
Yes I always put ski boots in my normal hold bag, no problems if you are within the weight limit, if not stuff heavy clothes in your hand luggage
 Gael Force 01 Feb 2016
In reply to veteye:

Good choice, it's easy to ski over to Val Thorens from there, but in any case the skiing is good in Courchevel.
It's much cheaper to book hire skis on line by the way.
OP veteye 03 Feb 2016
In reply to Gael Force:

It snowed steadily today in Courchevel, and the temperature was about -4C, so here at least there are reasonably cool temperatures for the required conditions for skiing.
Tonight we may go skiing on the floodlit route, but haven't decided if three long sessions in a day may be a little bit illogical.(We probably will go as it sounds good fun)
Glad we chose Courchevel, albeit about as expensive as Geneva if not more so.

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