Euro-Mags: best bet for January??

[the_eleven]

Will be in Europe 12/27-1/29/07.

Given January's reputation for being dry and cold, any ideas on best possilibites for decent coverage/fresh?

[p@wder]

Somewhere high with glacial terrain....
its a difficult one really. January should be ok with almost definite skiing at any large high resort, but for fresh power it is hit or miss really. The problem is with high resorts is that they are rocky and need more snow to make a base....

Tignes in France should be good (from personal experience). I would also say there is a big different betwene early Hanuary and late January. Contrary to what you said I would say january is often an unstable month in europe, normally why it is so cheap. this can amke a big difference between early and late Jan snow depths.

[p@wder]

doh, I can't read after all this wine. Early january you should try and aim high and just hope for fresh snow.

[cramp]

Somewhere high with glacial terrain....

Definitely not a good advice. Much of the real high regions in the Alps are in dry zones (e.g. Zermatt, St. Moritz, Alagna, Ortles, Oetztaler Alps, which are well known for there notoriously lack of good snow cover especially that early in the season. In addition, snow bridges over crevasses are not very firm yet making skiiing on glaciers comparatively dangerous at this time.

I would go to a region with general high precipitation, especially those which get most of the precipiation from north-westerly winds/storms.

A general good bet would be the Arlberg region, Davos-Klosters, Andermatt-Sedrun etc.

A good thing is, that since in January there are no crowds, you can just go where the snow is. You will find accommodation everywhere.

Personally, I avoid all Alpine dry zones at least until end of february.

[TeleAl]

Sounds like you're asking us to predict the weather.
And Europe is big. Imagine I asked where should I go in the US in Jan.
Not for nothing, but flip a coin for now.


But, ask in December, about a week before you get here.
I will happily share with you what I know.
Also, follow the Snow for the Euros thread.
Think snow.

[Hicks]

3 seasons watching Austria & Eastern 1/2 of CH get the Jan. storms...almost every 4 - 7 days.
Honestly, who can predict? ...but, Austria and Eastern CH if I was a betting my Jan ski trip on it.
Best advice: Stay flexible, don't get tied down. follow the snow.

That pretty much sums it up.

[TeleAl]

3 seasons watching Austria & Eastern 1/2 of CH get the Jan. storms...almost every 4 - 7 days.

Honestly, who can predict? ...but, Austria and Eastern CH if I was a betting my Jan ski trip on it.

I agree with that too.
And if I had to bet, that'd be it.

[Ripzalot]

Best advice: Stay flexible, don't get tied down. follow the snow.

and, this advice does it for me this upcoming ski season.
Everyone else will get told to SEARCH.

wow, that promise lasted almost one week!

OCD?

[Lostinthetrees]

wow, that promise lasted almost one week!

OCD?

u must be jonesin',
u not mtn bikin' after 12 hours of rain (and snow down to 3000m)
u certainly not hikin' (no, never hiking!)

For a wet Sunday try this:
http://www.seussville.com/grinch/coloring.swf

More fun than keeping track of my posts!

btw what an OCD?

[the_eleven]

Thanks to everone for the info. Search function didn't return specific info on January conditions.

Spent one season in Leysin, a few years back, but was hoping that those with more experience than I, could weigh in.

Lost gives some good advice, for snow, and life in general:

"Stay flexible, don't get tied down. follow the snow."

[klar]

one thing more about the high glacial places in december and january: it can be bloody cold. managed to get frostbite on cheek last year, didn't notice i couldn't feel my face because snow was nice.
other than that, what they said.

[Lostinthetrees]

...Lost gives some good advice, for snow, and life in general:

"Stay flexible, don't get tied down. follow the snow."

to be honest, 3 seasons ago TeleAl used that expression "follow the snow."
with so many ski station choices within 2 hours of Geneve it has become the mantra.
so credit goes to him for that "gem".

[Ripzalot]

blah blah blah...

BWAH! when you posted that last week i knew it wouldn't last.

biked 5-6 hours saturday in beautiful bluebird conditions. you?



my contribution...exactly what klar added. glacier resorts are a hedge against dry conditions but can be freaking cold due to their high altitude. really nothing you can do to guarantee success.

[bad_roo]

Will be in Europe 12/27-1/29/07.

Given January's reputation for being dry and cold, any ideas on best possilibites for decent coverage/fresh?

For that period my first choice would probably be the Arlberg followed by Engelberg/Andermatt.

The Oisans is well worth a look. You've got the high glacier stuff at Deux Alpes as a hedge, the trees at Serre Chevalier if it's dumping and La Grave for the bluebird aftermath. Perfecto.

[Franz Klammer]

Arlberg and a couple of the other Tyrolean resorts. The Snow for the Euros will provide plenty of in-depth coverage on upcoming storms - althought the snow oracles TeleAl, Ripzalot and the high priest of weather prediction, aka subtle plague, will spend most of their time argueing about which radar provides the most detailed/least incorrect predictions.

[Ripzalot]

Arlberg and a couple of the other Tyrolean resorts. The Snow for the Euros will provide plenty of in-depth coverage on upcoming storms - althought the snow oracles TeleAl, Ripzalot and the high priest of weather prediction, aka subtle plague, will spend most of their time argueing about which radar provides the most detailed/least incorrect predictions.

well, not from al. he refuses to engage in snow speculation at all. he'll give you the 411 the morning of, and maybe the night before if you are lucky. subtle is the mang, i am merely a radar image junkie. i just like the purty colors!

[Franz Klammer]

well, not from al. he refuses to engage in snow speculation at all. he'll give you the 411 the morning of, and maybe the night before if you are lucky.

The best thing about Europe is that a prediction the evening before is still early enough to get from Chamonix to St. Anton ...

[Ripzalot]

The best thing about Europe is that a prediction the evening before is still early enough to get from Chamonix to St. Anton ...

werd.

and it can be drastically different an hour's drive (even less!) anywhere along the chain. if you have the will, you can get the snow.

[Lostinthetrees]

BWAH! when you posted that last week i knew ...blah, blah, blah.

Wow, 24 hrs and u finished w/ that coloring book already?

What u on OTC, UTC, or OTR?

biked 5-6 hours saturday in beautiful bluebird conditions. you?

Saturday i started at 8AM from Givrine and hiked to La Dole. back at car at 12.
Work Sunday.

You and i picked the right day. Glad to hear you got out and into it!

[Dromond]

Years ago we got dumped on in January at Andermatt when the rest of the country was pretty much dry. Check it out...

[TeleAl]

althought the snow oracles TeleAl, Ripzalot and the high priest of weather prediction, aka subtle plague, will spend most of their time argueing about which radar provides the most detailed/least incorrect predictions.

Time out. I never predict.
I wake up and look outside, plus look at histories.
Predictions, especially those long range ones, are plain dumb.

Don't lump me into that bullshit pay for images group
or I will give you a few of these

Thank you Ripz for testifying.
Poor Ripz, he deals with my abuse over the stupidity of predictions on lift ride after lift ride.
But he likes to see my reaction, asking me the other day what I thought of the Farmer's Almanac for this season.
My reply was a simple exhale.

Now, I hope that is clear.

[comish]

For that period my first choice would probably be the Arlberg followed by Engelberg/Andermatt.
.

That would be my suggestion. I'm taking that suggestion and heading to St. Anton again. Crossing my fingers...