[Wobage]

Anyone w/good beta on how this snow season is turning out in various portions of the Alps ? Heard from an Italian that Dolomites getting warm winds and decreased snowpack but Austrian Alps doing good. Thinking about using all the $$ I made this winter to head to the Euro Alps in late April for a combo of lift served and hut tours skiing. Any info appreciated.

[steven hatcher]

Here we go again:

Good early- to mid-season series of storms. While the snowpack is generally good it's also old. No real accumulations of significance anywhere for six weeks or so.

Excellent snowpack in central CH up through the Tirol, Arlberg, and to the Salzburgerland. Good also in the Savoie, Maurienne, Isere, and most everywhere in the northern French Alps.

It's been very warm for ten days or so and looks to continue that way. The freezing level is rising to 3,000 meters today and for the rest of the week before dropping again.

The Dolomites have suffered all winter and never even accumulated much of a base. I wouldn't bother.

Don't count on resorts being open late April, especially lower elevation. Without significant snowfall and especially if the warm temps continue, your best bets will be the areas around glaciers.

How's that for a quick summary?
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Home Is Where Your Skis Is

[Wobage]

Thx for the helpful info. Did some quick websearches and thinking it might be practical to fly into Munchen, rent car, and do a road trip to ski the high/glacier Austrian resort areas of Zillertal/Hinterux, Pitztal, Stubaital, and Solden. Would also check out Alrberg if still enough snow end of April. Any areas I should add/consider (or not consider....)?? Would be in ski bum mode and find budget lodgings and bring BC gear to see if can find a hut or two open in the vicinities as well. Any other advice/inro for Austria would be appreciated.

[steven hatcher]

Yes, by all accounts there will be plenty of snow in those areas at the end of April. Again, you'll have to check the closing dates for smaller resorts but the glaciers should be open then. Apparently the one problem Austria has suffered from this year (as well as much of Europe) is a serious and havoc-wreaking wind. Many higher ridge lines and peaks have been scoured, some completely clean.

Many of the Swiss huts are starting to open. Check here to find maps and status of openings. Austrian hut info here.
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Home Is Where Your Skis Is

[KenR]

"Europe" is a big place (tho not as big as "America").

It's likely true that there's been no snowfall in any place of significance. Fortunately I do lots of my skiing in

"the wasteland" of the French Alps . . . where it's not around Chamonix ... not around La Grave ... not even around Val d'Isere. Rather the unknown non-significance stuck which separates those.

Anyway just over a week ago we were skiing day after day of fresh snow amidst spectacular (unknown) peaks. Mostly in sunshine (except for the day when the additional fresh snow came).

warning: Most (tho not all) of this fresh snow in its less-tracked forms was in the backcountry, not lift-served.

Snow depth is excellent this year in the "wasteland".

Ken

[Wobage]

Thx for the info - Steven, the hut weblink info is much appreciated. I knew there were a lot of huts, but had no idea there were so many. Looks like a lot of trip options once you know your way around. I heard that snowing again in Garmisch, so hopefully Austria is getting a snow refresher.

[phil26]

Sitting watching from Britain, I'd look at Ken R's advice, though not discount Stephen's. Your key comment was wanting to operate as a 'ski bum'. Far easier to do this in my mind in the west than in the east, though it depends how far down in the valley's you are prepared to stay. The Beaufortain and around is just so much cheaper than anywhere else in the Alps - think Leadville or Fairplay for examples from Colorado.

[Wobage]

I checked out the webinfo on the Beaufortain (per Phil26) and pleasantly surprised at what looks like some nice mtns to explore on a future trip. Looks like heading to Austria will be the program for this year as I have a contact (friend from college years) that has a place for me to stay near Garmisch and is connecting me with some of the German Alpine Club (DAV) skitours in the Roijental, Langtalereckhutte/Otztaler, Stubaier Alpen and/or Weisskugel areas. Still figuring out where these places are, but I suspect that anywhere a DAv group goes skitouring is going to be good? And of course any additional beta/advice from t-tippers is always appreciated.

[ghostofcarl]

It's been a couple years but I found how one approached things was more important than where exactly one was in the Alps (excepting Switzerland, because they've the absurd currency). There isn't "so much cheaper" and the trite "stay down valley" advice, is, well, trite. If it's only a week or so the savings won't necessarily be vast, but you'll spend more quality time behind the wheel You can find cheap, good, skiing in Austria, Italy and France. Poms love the western alps