Hi all
Couldn't get away this year because of work commitments. Kids are off next week but easter is late - is it too late?
went to Les Deux Alpes last Easter in march and had a good time but snow at the bottom was on the way out
Happy to suck up the school holiday prices - if its do-able
Would be going with two kids 7 and 8 (both 1 star in ESF)
Anyone got any suggestions?
Or just let me down gently 🙂
I just spoke to somebody this morning who's off to Val Thorens later this month. Reckons it should still be fine.
But he's getting there by plane - not a boat.
Not sure thart it's accurate but ... https://wepowder.com/en/weblog/2025/03/30/pa8-update-20-to-50-centimeters-for-austria-on-monday
Not too late. Im off to Val Thorens on Saturday
You just need to go high. I always go away at easter and it's always fine no matter how late. Over recent years I've done Cervinia, Zermatt, Champoluc, Pila, La Thuile, La Rosiere, Les Deux Alpes and it's always been great. In fact I've had more waist deep powder days at Easter than any other time of the season
I'm off to Val Thorens in a couple of weeks, they stay open until May 4th but the linked resorts (Courchevel, Meribel) all close April 21st. I've been before late April some of the home runs might be shut and I wouldn't ski past 3pm as conditions get very soft, but otherwise excellent. I'm actually staying lower in Les Menuires so will probably make our way up the mountain during the day then get the ski bus back.
I been away skiing in April loads of times and some really good snow. L2A was amazing on the top half, so we just stayed up there mostly. Grand Massif is always decent as well even though its not as high as some other it's proximity to Mont Blanc means it gets good snow, even late on. Bonus with easter is sitting outside bars on the slopes in a T-shirt.😎
I don't mind a few bits of slush low down, I find it really good fun!
thanks all, this is sounding promising!
We go to Les Arcs next Thursday so I bloody hope it's not too late!
The only time I have been snowboarding, we went to the Stubai Glacier in Austria.
Looks like there is still snow there:
I've got pals in northern Norway right now skiing some incredible looking snow. I don't ski at all but they say it's amazing and will probably stick around for a few weeks yet. I believe they are largely touring and doing backcountry stuff - but in any case the pictures are a world away from here at the moment!
Off on Wednesday to Val Claret. Looks like it will be fine. Typical Spring conditions. Good up high, slushy lower in the PM.
I do enjoy slush and bumps, but not all day though, and I know some people definitely struggle in slush.
I have never had a bad week at Easter. I have had superb conditions. Last Easter were some of the best off-piste conditions I have had for a while. I love the nice long days, and a beer outside in the sun for apres.
I did have a look on Iglu Ski, last night to see what was available, morbid curiosity.. Not many bargains except to places like Le Corbier, where it looks a bit shit TBH.
Serre Che did have some good options.
Do it! A week in the Alpes is better than a week at home or stuck in traffic on the motorway.
I'd be aiming for 3 Valleys, or Espace Killy, Les Arcs side of Paradiski too maybe. Went to Grand Massif last March and found it pretty dire, although it was a bad snow year.
Just back from Val Thorens. As others have said, the season there ends on 4th May. The snow higher up was fine, and the Orelle valley was particularly good. Down in Courcheval 1850 was a bit brown/sugary and I'm glad we weren't staying there (for lots of reasons)
On the VT side the lowest we went was the bottom of the Plan de l'eau lift, and it was fine early in the day. Looking across to Les Menuires it looked a bit grim, though there were white pistes.
17:00 on the run from the Folie Douce was carnage. I've never seen anything like it. Lots of very drunk, very bad skiers, on a piste that was pretty tricky by that time of day !
Les Menuires (below Val Thorens) is usually open a week longer than other resorts but less long than Val Thorens which is further up the same valley. If snow is poor low down just jump on the lift to Val Thorens. We went in late April once and got new snow most mornings. Mush in the resort by the afternoon but still great up in Val Thorens.
Les Menuires used to be a lot cheaper to stay in than Val Thorens. Don't know if this still applies.
I’m in Les Menuires at the moment. Proper spring conditions but as expected. I don’t think I’ve ever seen the whole of the pump track & skate park uncovered though. Higher up in VT is still great, down in Méribel is a bit sketchy. We were riding right down in to La Tania a couple of days ago too.
I’d happily come here again in a couple of weeks, VT will still be ace and spring slush is fun (on a board at least).
People parked next to us say that Sierra Nevada had loads of snow a week ago, too much to open one day whilst they cleared it.
In Les Arcs as I type. Snow above 2000m is pretty decent. The lower areas are very soft by the end of the day and the off piste is decidedly variable, but we’ve had 2 great days so far.
My Wife got back from Obergurgl on Saturday. Its a high resort and was all running well except the last bit was a bit slushy coming in to the resort late PM on the sunny days. On the day they left the snow was coming down heavily so some lifts were closed hence it should be good for another couple of weeks...
Went to Grand Massif last March and found it pretty dire, although it was a bad snow year.
Grand Massif (Morillon) last April!
Just got back at the weekend from the Grand Massif, Flaine is doing OK but the other villages are definitely suffering and skiing back to les Carroz is not possible without taking skis off and walking. It was snowing when we left though but the forecast all week fluctuated between 2-12 cm so who knows what fell in the end. Go higher would be my advice
Oof, just checked the Grand Massif web cams! It is suffering! I've had some amazing Easters there but think I'd be a bit worried if had booked to go there next week.
Unfortunately, no snow for me this year. 😓
Same as Sprootlet. We got back from Flaine, Grand Massif on Sunday. The skiing up high was glorious. Hard pack early morning and soup on the lower slopes after 1pm.
We've got friends going to Les Arcs at Easter and they've always had great conditions.
Les Carroz has always suffered early and late season. IME. I did a season working there in the 90's, we were bussing out to Flaine for lots of weeks..
paying attention out of interest
the nipper is skiing with school for a week from Friday, in Zell am See. Checked a webcam out earlier and looks snowy enough fingers crossed. Apparently there is a nearby glacier if it all goes to crap at the resort.
A mate of mine is instructing in the Zillertal right now. They've had 20cm of fresh powder since Sunday. Visibility is poor but it's set to change over the weekend with bluebird days on Sunday & Monday. More snow due next week.
He's just posted this. The jammy £$%!
I get weather updates from Livigno, it snowed quite heavily two days ago.
Fresh snow arrived over the last couple of days, there's still plenty about, just make sure you go somewhere high up as it'll be more snow-sure.
I'm off to Tignes with the eldest on Saturday.
Looks like it'll be t-shirt riding for me all week in Val Thorens!
Bluebird powder day for me in Montgenevre yesterday. Had a great 5 days there, en route home now. Lolz at the Foilie Douce story....know it well. About 1% of me does miss that type of holiday, the other 99% of me enjoys a more relaxed approach these days!
Despite what I said earlier, it was baking in Les Arcs/La Plagne yesterday. The pisteurs are working bloody hard to keep the piste good, but the snow was basically done by lunchtime and the place was deserted. The fun stuff off the Bellecote glacier was closed because Avy risk was too high; I managed to find one nice bit of snow off the Varet, but even then, the runout was sloppy.
In short, we’ve had a great week, but glad to be going home. Looking hot this coming week too.
