Pyrenees 25/26

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@Cardo, for the lunch vouchers, I think there’s a list somewhere showing what serves what so it’s possible to plan a bit. Personally, I find the food on the mountain here pretty poor. I prefer to go to the independent places piste side in Pas.

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We would nearly always go to the Italian upstairs at ET, by the ski school meeting point.

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Heavy snow since last night up in the villages.

Quite a bit precipitation forecast for the next week how much falls as snow is debatable because the snow line keeps fluctuating.

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If I was to rent a car in Barcelona airport what would you locals recommend as the best route to Pas?

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Into France through Puigcerda, take the (toll) tunnel de Puymorens and directly into Andorra on the Pas side.

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That's what I was thinking, just wanted a second opinion from those in the know. Thanks

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Is the landslide above that? Or now cleared?

@Orange200, Landslide is below the Puymorens tunnel.

@Maort, Depends when you travel and what the weather is like. Personally, I’d go via Guissona/Ponts, into Andorra from the Spanish border and then drive up through to Pas. Saves on tolls - there’s also a toll for the Cadi tunnel. This is usually the best route if it’s snowing heavily too (the French border closes regularly).

If you’re likely to be heading into Andorra at a busy time, then I’d go the way @moody_git suggests.

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Yet another big storm rolling in.

French Pyrenees due well over 100cm, from Fri to Tues.

Snowline bouncing around, from 700m to 1800m.

Main RN20 access road, from Ax (France) to eastern Andorra, remains closed, due to big rockfall.

About 100 yards of road smashed up.

May be closed til spring.

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Yep, the scheduled reopening is the 8th March (for the time being, but not official and highly improbable).

Traffic is currently diverted via the Cerdagne valley and through the tunnel de Puymorens to enter Andorra from France, just don't take the col as all the donkeys that won't buy decent chains and winter tyres are also the ones that won't pay for the tunnel!

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@Whitegold, @moody_git, our local news is reporting 3 months until the road is back open.

Been snowing here on and off since 7am yesterday morning. Down where I am only a few cm have stuck but it’s a bit more higher up. Very windy though so who knows how much will hang around!

That's a more realistic timescale!

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Hi all,

We’re arriving into Barcelona on Friday 20th and have hired a van to drive up to Pas de la Casa. Just wondering if I need to book snow chains with the hire vehicle for the transfer? Are they usually required / checked on that route?

Also, any tips on the best route to take or ones to avoid? I assume Google will send us via the C-16 through the Cadí Tunnel? How long should we realistically allow on a Friday evening with traffic?

Second question — we’ve slightly messed up with accommodation. We’ve booked a basic 2-bed apartment in Pas, but having looked at it properly it’s not going to be big enough for our family. It’s unfortunately non-refundable. We paid £2000.00 for the 7 nights.

Is there anyone on here who’d be interested in taking it at a discounted price? Happy to let it go cheaper just to recover some of the cost. Drop me a PM and I’ll send over the booking link and details.

Finally — I’m an experienced skier and always keen to get some decent off-piste in. If anyone knows a good local guide, or if anyone on here fancies meeting up for a morning’s skiing between 20th–26th Feb, give me a shout.

Thanks in advance — really looking forward to skiing Pas!

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@Wrighty1994, I’d take the route via Guissona and Ponts into Andorra. Yes, you’ll need socks or chains. They might be needed and police have been stopping Spanish registered vehicles - €180 fine if you’ve not got any.

With regards to a guide, you’d have to contact the ski school. All guides/instructors in Andorra work through them unless you want to go proper back country away from the ski area then you can use a mountain guide. My lad instructs in Pas but I don’t know whether he’s allowed to take clients off piste. At the moment, I’d guarantee that they’re being told not to go anywhere off piste anyway as the avalanche warning is 4.

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Another 30-40cm due tomorrow.

Wave after wave of precip.

Looks like rain below 1500m.

Will be windy again.

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Thinking of booking Pas de La Casa for Easter 30/3 to 3/4 but I just saw it’s the last week the resort is open.
Do you guys think the chance for slush skiing is high at Pas de La Casa that week?

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@portugal82, the conditions could be doing anything that week. Who knows?

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Chances for slush skiing everywhere are reasonable that week but I have always enjoyed skiing a Easter as do lots of people so I wouldn't let it stand in the way of a booking at all. Sunny terraces and outside lunches with welcome vitamin D hits. If it is very warm you could also do a bit of touring in the mountains but the skiing is generally fine and often very enjoyable.

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Is it true that the Pyrenees and Andorra have had mega snow fall this season so far……I’ve seen reports of 2.5m at village levels for pas de la casa and 3.5m plus at top…? I’m asking as I’ve found a very good deal with half board for week of march 14th to march 21st. Given the base and depth of snow to date it’s unlikely to be ‘slush’ type skiing for this week…..would anyone who has been out there the past few weeks concur with the conditions I’ve heard about up to now? Also can they deteriorate a lot in 3.5 weeks time..?

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They've had mega sneachta alright. Seems like it's snowed every single day since beginning of December, can't imagine there being a better choice if you're looking to go somewhere on that date.

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@Sneachta2013, the amount of snow on the ground doesn't affect whether you'll be skiing on slush or not; that'll depend on what the weather / temperature is like when you're there.

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@Sneachta2013, I live in Andorra. There’s more snow than at any point in the past 5 years I’ve been here. There’ll be plenty of snow still in 3.5 weeks. As @denfinella says though, the temperatures and amount of sun will impact whether you’re skiing slush or not. March has typically been good for fresh snowfall, but then Jan/Feb are mostly dry and they’ve been far from it this season. We’ve barely seen the sun!

I've been several times mid march onwards and if there's plenty of snow base left it's still glorious skiing even if it's a bit slushy. Afternoons will be more slushy , so to get the best skiing focus on the mornings when they've been groomed

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Any reccomendations for Ski hire? Particular in need of somewhere that will be able to get me some All mountains or anything with some decent width under foot with all the POW about!!

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@Wrighty1994, try Pas 83 for ski hire.

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Looks dry and warm now for a while!

Zero iso rocketing up to nearly 4000m on Sunday.

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@mrvinegar, apart from Thursday!

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Just checking the forecast for Andorra (Pal Arinsal specifically) off the back of a post regarding the FIS Ski WC in Soldeu next week and saw the temperature are getting up to nearly +10 celcius which is making me worried about conditions by the time I get there on 15/03.

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@calcurtis, what happens next week will have very little impact on conditions when you’re here. There’s between 2-3m of snow down at the moment. That’ll take a fair amount of time to melt away so there’ll be plenty of snow to ski on. It’s more the condition of the snow (from whatever the weather is like) when you actually get here that could impact your enjoyment.

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Any experienced skiiers want to meet up for a few runs tomorrow morning 23rd?

My family are having a day off need a skiing buddy.

Im happy on any run difficulty and love off piste too

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@Wrighty1994, sorry, I missed this. I'm also back at work now so won't be skiing until the weekend. Hope you've had a good day. I must admit, I've really enjoyed the warmer sunny days. It makes a nice change for this season where it feels like we've been in a cloud for most of it!

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@mrvinegar, unfortunately, I didn't get to ski on Sunday and Saturday was the first day of really warm, sunny weather. To be honest it was great. Very firm/crusty early on, but from 13-15:30 I was skiing nice creamy snow. It was lovely.

I would think it will be ok for a little while longer as long as there's some freeze overnight.

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I booked Pas De La Casa 30th March but with free cancellation until 15th of March.

Hope to able to understand if snow will be good with 15 days in advance.

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I suspect with current snow depths there will still be plenty of snow but by then it'll likely be warm and sunny. Realistically you will leave it right up to the wire, as 2 weeks out it'll be more predictable. After so much rain the UK I am quite tempted to go at the same time purely to soak up some rays, enjoy the scenery and stock up on Jose L Piedra!

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Long term forecast showing more snow and cold now for March! Here's hoping!

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Pyrenees 25/26

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