ronangel wrote: ↑Mon Oct 30, 2023 7:35 amHopefully not in London area!

There's always the Sno Zones at Hemel Hempsted and Milton Keynes! 

Hopefully not in London area!

If you are concerned about practical use of money set aside for skiing, Xmas is the wrong time to go. As mentioned by others on this thread the weather is variable year by year at Xmas and though snow-canons stand ready to help should it be mild, the total square meters of ski- able snow is a much smaller carpet, and off piste is sketchy. What the canons save is easy family skiing, kids, adults dabbling on skis. But it is crowded and lift lines are long. But if Xmas is mild and you are headed to the Alps do not discount the huge relaxation engendered by high altitude, clear air and total unwinding in spas and saunas, amid idyllic scenary. Its often worth it for all that.

Assuming sans kids, the best time to go is from late January to mid-March to get the most for your money (and time off) to ski. Then the Alps are a winter wonderland. But avaoid mid-Feb to end first week in March where half term which in the rest if Europe, starts on on 2nd week of Feb building upto a creshendo on the last week of Feb. Also be weary of the week following the half term rush where having spent 3 weeks rushed off their feet workers skip work and its shows in much slower service / longer queues in shops etc. Complex too in 2024 as Easter Sunday is 31st March (many European schools vacate ahead of Easter week, not after easter Sunday as here.)

My advice (with some knowledge of this): first two weeks of Feb is best for mix of accumulated snow, less people but still enough to keep all villages / services active, increasing solar radiation - light from sun  brilliance reflected on snow, is positive, hour or so extra daylight at end of day since new year is welcome, not to have to rise so early ato pack it all in and it's a quiet time for travel esp as normally high pressure over europe - less risks of weather hell disrupting flights - the bane of travel in winter, when slimmer airline schedules means it's harder to absorb displaced passengers extending one's delay so the last thing you want is a winter flight delay when the airports are packed: Xmas/half term/ Easter.

 

Last season was hit by the 'La Nina' weather pattern which meant for very late and sporadic snow.  Snow has started to fall in Scandinavia and a couple of the very northern resorts are open which bodes well.  As Jonny writes, Chamonix is not a typical ski only town.

My only reservations would be this.  Unless your chalet is on the slopes like Argentiere, then there's a lot of bussing around.  Secondly unless you're a really good skier then it's not the best of resorts for beginners or intermediates.

Hi Cheesestraws,

I have skied in Chamonix for many years, and my brother has a house there.  It's a great resort as it is a normally operating town as opposed to simply a 'resort', so there is lots to see and do.  The downside is that the ski areas are actually in four different areas along the valley, with only two of them linked by a cablecar, so you have to decide which area you are skiing in that day and pretty much stick to it (unless you want to drive or get a bus to another area).

Brevant links to Flegere and are relatively simple slopes.  Flegere is south facing so loses snow fairly early in the season (shouldn't be an issue at new year though).  Argentiere is a ten minute drive up the valley and is fantastic - lots of variety from tree line runs to masses of off-piste.  At the end of the valley, Le Tour is high, pretty snow sure and with both reds and blues, and also some pretty easy off-piste in and amongst the trees.  In other words, lots to do for everyone.

As far as timing is concerned, there are no guarantees that there will be snow over New Year.  In recent years the season seems to start much later and finish much earlier, but having said that, last year and the year before started off well in December, but had crazy warm temperatures by Christmas.  The reality is that if you want to be snow sure then go in January / February when it will be cheaper and have more chance of snow, but whatever time you go there is a risk of thinner slopes.  The other thing to remember is that I have also been there when they have closed the mountain for three days because there has been too much snow which causes avalanches - but at least in Chamonix you will still have plenty of other things to do!!

Jonny

Of course not.  Chamonix maintains 96 snow cannons on standby which if used will consume prodigous amounts of energy to replace snow that climate change may have melted.  And if you do go, try the train.

Wondering if any seasoned skiers have any insight into whether skiing over New Year is a good idea? We have ben invited to join a group of friends in Chamonix who want to rent a chalet, it will be expensive and I am not sure about the snow at this time of year? I would hate to go and not be able to ski. I've never been to Chamonix so I have no idea what it is usually like at this time.