 Poster: A snowHead
|
We’re based in Staffal. When we tried to book ski school it’s not operating week of Jan 25 th. Only private lessons available.
Not had this happen before Children are 12 , 10 and 6 so are at different stages. They were looking forward to classes.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
No not full. They replied to request by saying sorry no ski school that week.
Thank you will follow up your link.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
Children in a small resort outside school holidays seem unlikely to have group lessons available.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
@James the Last, D'you think? Never come across it myself ...
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
Agree never been a problem. Last 2 years in Montgenevre lots of ski schools. Also in Italy Pila & Corvara First time in Gressoney area though.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| under a new name wrote: |
@Onnem, looks amazing.
@maverick, Itineraries? Which would they be?
La Grange by the Frachey funicular seems OK, several changes of ownership since we were last there.
In Champoluc, Le Sapin is always excellent. Take cash. Also excellent are l'Essentiel d'Andreone and the Bistro Breithorn. The Sans Souci does nice beers and burgers.
On the mountain, Novez, just above the Crest gondola is exceptional. |
Le sapin was alright but didn't think it was particularly great.
Novez was sensational though and they very kindly stayed open for dinner on two nights in a row for us despite not having any other bookings. Really talented cooking and a great wine list. The gondola timings are quite awkward as there is a 3 hour gap between the 730 and 2230 ones so ear early or settle in for a session if you're not staying on the mountain as we were.
Mosso towards alagna was also incredibly good but does require negotiating the black run down if the route across to the blue is closed as it was just before Christmas but the food is worth it and they also have some cracking bottles in small formats. It's a shame there isn't more to see at the science institute it's attached to.
Eno-therapy in champoluc is a great wine bar with lots of nice options by the glass.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@lyricproofvest, I'd forgotten about Mosso. It wasn't open when we were over early December. I hadn't thought about Novez in teh evening. Sweet idea.
Shame the Sapin didn't perform.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
In the usual conundrum of sifting through loads of resorts, loads of options etc etc and total indecision!!
Advanced skier - loved previous stays in St Anton, Cervinia, Avoriaz. My ideal day is ski first lift to last, then eat well. Not too fussed about massive apres although a wine or 2 is always pleasant 
Looking for a week towards end of January - think I'm down to a final challenge between Lech & Gressoney (Staffl). Never been to Monterosa area - those who have been seem to rave about it but I have no firsthand reports.
Any advice re Monterosa?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@rich1, no idea about Lech but Staffal is quite quiet.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
@rich1, I've been to both (Lech skiing only, I was staying at St Anton). Both are great, but feel quite different.
Lech felt more luxurious. Things like heated seats on chair lifts and gondolas. If cost wasn't an issue I'd probably pick Lech: bigger, luxurious and Austrian cakes as a bonus.
Monterosa is lovely too. It's not as big as it looks on the map: you have three valleys and two passes with roughly one way up/down. The tagged on bits by some of the villages tend to have slower lifts, so may be a visit once thing, but not part of your daily circuit across the resort. And if you are into ski mountaineering, Monterosa is great. Both are good for off piste if the snow gods smile upon you.
TL/DR: Both are great, love both, you'll have a great time in either. Don't sweat the choice too much!
|
|
|
|
|
|
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@wimpytwo, I'm not quite sure about "It's not as big as it looks on the map"??
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
| under a new name wrote: |
| @wimpytwo, I'm not quite sure about "It's not as big as it looks on the map"?? |
I found the opposite. It looks small on the map with few runs, but they’re all long and beautiful. If I wasn’t competing a scratch off map of European ski resorts then I’d go back again. Compare it to Obergurgl, where I’m currently skiing, you have it exact opposite with a map that promised much but has delivered much less.
All imho.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
@under a new name, I just meant that some of the areas you would probably not frequent as much as lifts are slower. So there are more pistes and lifts on the map than you'd probably go to regularly if chasing distance/as much skiing as possible. E.g. the lifts on the gressoney area. Which is not to say the areas aren't lovely. Maybe i should have phrased it as: the lifts connecting the two high passes with the three valleys are nearly all fast. Some of the lifts by the villages are older/slower.
As Badbobby says, lots of long beautiful runs, specially good if you like cruisy reds.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
Yes, the 2 man lifts stink!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
Does anyone know the name of the ski hire shop in Staffal ? I think opposite Chalet de Lys hotel.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
@wimpytwo, ah. OK I see what you mean. For sure the two lifts up to the Punta Jolanda area are direly slow but access some fine terrain and the PJ resto is nice.
@Gufo, no, but google maps?
Like this? https://maps.app.goo.gl/31XxXBjRHETJUkC5A
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
Thanks for the link
Can anyone recommend any of the rental shops. .?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
| Quote: |
Yes, the 2 man lifts stink!
|
Unless you're staying in Gressoney, you only really need the second one for skiing purposes, and it takes 10 minutes when all goes well. Not ideal, but not disastrous, and it keeps that part quiet.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@Onnem, being the one the map points to. Are there any others in Staffal? I mean, I can't even remember that one hah hah.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I asked for recommendations where to hire top class GS skis, and this is the one that was recommended.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
@Onnem, that might be good then? In Champoluc, it's mostly "carver" race skis  although one of the shops did rent FIS Stöcklis. Which were very nice.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyone out there just now ? With 3 weeks to go should we be starting the snow dance ?
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
@Gufo, it's damn cold, with plenty of snow for piste skiing. Snow second half of this week. I wouldn't worry.
|
|
|
|
|
|
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
|
|
Anybody tying to get to la Trinite, road was blocked by a rockfall earlier today.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Glad I found this thread. We are travelling to Champoluc for the first time just under 3 weeks. We have a group of mixed ability skiers. Most have skiied before in Les arcs. Some of them mostly stick to blues in France but having looked at the piste map I am a bit worried about the lack of blue runs. What are the red runs like particularly above Crest gondola? as we are staying in hotel opposite the gondola can anyone recommend some "easier reds" for some confidence building or do we need to get on the bus to Frachey and ski the blue over there? Thanks
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
| EGP01 wrote: |
| Glad I found this thread. We are travelling to Champoluc for the first time just under 3 weeks. We have a group of mixed ability skiers. Most have skiied before in Les arcs. Some of them mostly stick to blues in France but having looked at the piste map I am a bit worried about the lack of blue runs. What are the red runs like particularly above Crest gondola? as we are staying in hotel opposite the gondola can anyone recommend some "easier reds" for some confidence building or do we need to get on the bus to Frachey and ski the blue over there? Thanks |
The reds in the main are very reasonable, pretty wide and well groomed usually. For the less confident skier there is one very serious consideration which is (well it certainly used to be) called "the goat". They obviously reclassified it to black 2-4 years ago and quite rightly. That said it is only the top section that is genuinely black. I'm a pretty confident skier and I hated negotiating the goat top section. The issue is that it's the one and only way to ski over to the much bigger areas accessed from Frachey. Over there the reds are so big, wide and long with only a few steeper sections so most people should be absolutely fine there.
Honestly if some of your group are a bit nervous then I would totally suggest getting the bus up to Frachey to avoid meeting the goat. Marriages will thank you for that decision!!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
@EGP01, on the whole, I'd say the "red" runs are much more like firm French blues. And immaculately groomed.
The only real red run crux (a section now re-marked I think as black) is the run from Sarezza at the top of Champoluc down to the Belvedere chair which has one narrowish corner that can get a bit scraped and clogged with the nervous.
The black runs down to Staffal are probably best avoided, as is the black run into the Alagna bowl. Not that challenging as black runs go, but some almost steep sections.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
Thanks a@Adamski, definitely sounds like Frachey is a better bet especially for the first day or 2. Are the buses frequent?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
@EGP01, from memory yes pretty frequent, should be info on the moterosa ski website on that.
Once you're there the more confident skiers in your group will be skiing the goat and can report back on the likely marital implications ... it is a horrible top section, narrow, steep, scraped up, generally dodging screaming beginners whilst trying not to get taken out by kids and general loonies. Defo avoid on Saturday mornings when Turin and Milan arrive en masse.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
|
@under a new name, when we went last Feb, the black at the very top of champ was extremely icy. It caught out a lot of people and there’s no bail out.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
The tourist office are helpful for buses. They run to time table. They are more frequent in peak seasons. They are stuck into the bus stops.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
@under a new name, when we went last Feb, the black at the very top of champ was extremely icy. It caught out a lot of people and there’s no bail out.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
@Badbobby, I think we're talking about the same thing and it's usually only rough round that corner. It's not really black apart from that section. It can get pretty scraped. But it's really only a very short section that's narrow.
You should have seen it 20 years ago when it was narrow like that all the way down that pitch till it flattened off! 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| EGP01 wrote: |
| Glad I found this thread. We are travelling to Champoluc for the first time just under 3 weeks. We have a group of mixed ability skiers. Most have skiied before in Les arcs. Some of them mostly stick to blues in France but having looked at the piste map I am a bit worried about the lack of blue runs. What are the red runs like particularly above Crest gondola? as we are staying in hotel opposite the gondola can anyone recommend some "easier reds" for some confidence building or do we need to get on the bus to Frachey and ski the blue over there? Thanks |
The red runs are from the crest gondola are absolutely fine. there is one narrowish section which looks worse from the chairlift up than it is.
The issue with going up above crest is you have to take the black to access the rest of the mountain. I wasn't very confident before my trip just before christmas but it was ok. It's steep but if it's on a weekday and quiet it's absolutely fine if you can take your time, different story if it gets cutup and busy at the weekend so i'd recommend tackling it for the first time when it's less busy. I actually found it really useful for building confidence and in the end the black down to saffal was my second favourite run of the resort.
Option to avoid it would be to take the bus/drive and go up the furnicular at frachey.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@under a new name, yes, it opens up and sweeps down left to a natural flat bit. I got in a lot of trouble for taking the 7 and 9 year olds there last Feb….
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
|
Is Antagnod worth visiting? From the piste map Doesn't look like many runs open there atm
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@EGP01, not really. There aren't a lot of runs there to open.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
