Help me plan a trip to Verbier in mid December

[Two06]

Hi all,

For those with Euro experience (I also posted this in the Euro thread):

I'm going to be flying into Zurich in mid December for a 3 week solo ski trip. My main objective is to ski Verbier and maybe ski the Bec.

I have a lot of experience skiing big mountain terrain in Whistler and Jackson hole. I've never skied Europe. I'm proficient with ice axe and crampons and would consider skiing some bigger lines with a guide.

How would you recommend I plan the ski trip? Stay in one place (Verbier?) Or maybe two (Verbier and Chamonix)? I see that all these areas are connect by tram: Mont Gele, Mont Fort, Les 4 Vallees, Mont Rouge, Thyon.

1. Is the terrain around those areas near Verbier all worth skiing?

2. Should I go to Chamonix or stay in Switzerland the whole time?

3. Recommendations on where to stay in Verbier/Cham?

4. Recommendations on finding a Guide?

5. Places to eat, non skiing things to do?

6. Anyone want to meet up and ski?

TIA

[Charlie Don't Surf]

Push your trip back a month month, or two, or three.

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[bobinch]

What he said ^^^

Noone skis the Bec in December. It’s a giant rock and needs the base to have built up

[Rudimatt7]

Wait til spring.

[frorider]

Mid December??

[subtle plague]

You can have good cons somewhere in the alps in December, it's just not likely. Even less likely with he bec. Next to impo

[AmmergauerTele]

Still book flight - just no hotel. That time of year before xmas should be easy to get into places. Couple days before, see where the best snow is....Austria, France, Italy, Switzerland - then go there. Be flexible. Maybe a place with a glacier - could be a low snow year, but up high should be decent. May get lucky, get a dump and some sweet tree skiing without much pressure on it. Go and enjoy the experience - great food, beverage, culture. Stay in village, walk around, enjoy!

[AmmergauerTele]

If Austria is looking good - hit St Anton/Lech/Zurs. Meander over to Ischgl then up to Solden & Obergurgl/Hochgurgl or Serfaus. All so close together - mind blowing amount of skiing if terrain is open.

[schindlerpiste]

In mid-december?
More like Sölden. In early/mid-dec. I'd be close to a gletscher. Snow can be iffy

[obi wan kenobi]

Hi all,

1. Is the terrain around those areas near Verbier all worth skiing?

2. Should I go to Chamonix or stay in Switzerland the whole time?



TIA

Yes, the terrain around those areas is worth it. You will be surprised and scared.
Travel around.
Mid December is bad. Do not go. Go not before Mid-February.

[Charlie Don't Surf]

For reference on conditions in western suisse here is some mid-december stoke from the last 4 or so seasons. Areas include Chandolin, Glacier 3000, Les Marecots, Arolla, Verbier (monoboard), Leysin and Le Moleson- all within an hour or so from verbier. Plenty of fun but not the season's best conditions.

To your first question: Is the terrain around those areas near Verbier all worth skiing?

Verbier and the 4 vallées is a first rate ski area. Of course there is really good skiing. The cool part about the connected stations is that the smaller areas open up a lot of nice descents. You can get a good idea here:
https://fatmap.com/guidebooks/5741/f...5853,satellite



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[mirransko]

Beautiful views ah and this area. Beautiful winter nature.

[Pins and Skins]

If you have time, consider heading east to Zermatt. And if you're really up for it, you can ski tour from Verbier to Zermatt along the Verbier branch of the Haute Route. Although like the group said, Dec conditions may not be great

Great video from Faction on the Verbier-Zermatt route: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPi_JbWC5Qs

Other stuff: shit is expensive over there!

[bobinch]

If you have time, consider heading east to Zermatt. And if you're really up for it, you can ski tour from Verbier to Zermatt along the Verbier branch of the Haute Route. Although like the group said, Dec conditions may not be great

Great video from Faction on the Verbier-Zermatt route: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPi_JbWC5Qs

Other stuff: shit is expensive over there!

Take a tent. The huts don’t open until March

[bw_wp_hedonism]

Bring rock skis.


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[subtle plague]

If you have time, consider heading east to Zermatt. And if you're really up for it, you can ski tour from Verbier to Zermatt along the Verbier branch of the Haute Route. Although like the group said, Dec conditions may not be great

Great video from Faction on the Verbier-Zermatt route: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPi_JbWC5Qs

Other stuff: shit is expensive over there!

The haute Route in December is as smart as heliskiing in ak in December.

Edit: skiing....?expensive? Coming from the US?

[Pins and Skins]

hahaha well said, obviously go later if he is able to!

nah, the skiing costs are manageable. It’s everything else that’s ridic, I still remember my 35 dollar spag bol that looked like it came out of a Frenchman’s ass. And that was 2012!

The haute Route in December is as smart as heliskiing in ak in December.

Edit: skiing....?expensive? Coming from the US?

[Buster Highmen]

https://www.urlaubimenzian.at/en/allinclusive.php
http://www.hotel-europe-monetier.com...ier/tarifs.php
http://www.la-tambra.com/en/prices.html

imho, Yurp is much less expensive if one tries to find reasonable rates.

Water cooler destinations like Verbier/Cham/St. Anton tend to be a bit more, but still more affordable than most water cooler destinations in N.Am.

As for the OP's query, if you're set on Verbier in December, go, it's a fantastic place.

[oftpiste]

When I went to Verbier someone (Buster?) turned me on to the place I ended up staying. It was great for a solo traveler and less $ than anything else in town for their one oddball (but wonderful) small room. Wish I could recall the name. Full or half board or package is the way to go.

[Buster Highmen]

https://www.hotel-chamois.ch/

I hope their dog is still doing well.

There are less expensive places just down in Le Chable as well.

[subtle plague]

https://www.hotel-chamois.ch/

I hope their dog is still doing well.

There are less expensive places just down in Le Chable as well.

But whatever you choose don't choose the bunker in le chable.
Hellhole...underground youth hostel style in an actual bunker.
I only stayed there once. For free because friends sneaked us in. And that was too much Money.

[oftpiste]

Yup. Thanks again. That was a lifesaver and the everyone there was were great. I was too broke at the time to eat in the restaurant there which looked incredible but was incredibly expensive. I was doing sandwiches and boxed wine from the supermarket on my little balcony.

https://www.hotel-chamois.ch/

I hope their dog is still doing well.

There are less expensive places just down in Le Chable as well.

[MrPow]

Hi all,

For those with Euro experience (I also posted this in the Euro thread):

I'm going to be flying into Zurich in mid December for a 3 week solo ski trip. My main objective is to ski Verbier and maybe ski the Bec.

I have a lot of experience skiing big mountain terrain in Whistler and Jackson hole. I've never skied Europe. I'm proficient with ice axe and crampons and would consider skiing some bigger lines with a guide.

How would you recommend I plan the ski trip? Stay in one place (Verbier?) Or maybe two (Verbier and Chamonix)? I see that all these areas are connect by tram: Mont Gele, Mont Fort, Les 4 Vallees, Mont Rouge, Thyon.

1. Is the terrain around those areas near Verbier all worth skiing?

2. Should I go to Chamonix or stay in Switzerland the whole time?

3. Recommendations on where to stay in Verbier/Cham?

4. Recommendations on finding a Guide?

5. Places to eat, non skiing things to do?

6. Anyone want to meet up and ski?

TIA

- what they said about december. I went in mid March and had a blast. It dumped a few feet one day. met a group of guys from seattle who who were staying in Cham. rented a private van and made it over to Verbier for the day.
- verbier to cham or vice versa (solo) is quite a trek. involves taking a bus then a train. private taxi might cost you around $500. You could a plan a week in Verbier, a week in Cham and a week where the snow flies. Maybe engleberg.
- i have been to cham and verbier separately - solo. I used a guide in Cham every day. easy to get a group guide. In verbier - I could not find any group guides. private was expensive. But I followed the crowds - off piste. Verbier is the only place in europe - I have seen - which is similar to US - where people are skiing off piste all over the place without guides.
- I stayed in verbier - in a room above a bar and paid dearly about $350 a night. cham has a lot more affordable places.

[mirransko]

Epic views of winter nature. How not to fall in love. I envy and salute.