Pyrenees 25/26

A snowHead

It's a little way off but the forecast for the weekend is showing heavy snow but also strong winds.

A snowHead

Could someone with a premium account at Snowforecast share the 16 day forecast for Pas De La Casa?

Need to decide on march 15th if I cancel my booking at Aparthotel Les Olimpiades for march 30th.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

You need to Login to know who's really who.

We’re off to Andorra this coming weekend. The snow situation certainly doesn’t look as good as it was when we went out there at the start of Feb! Anyone out there able to say how it’s looking?

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Dont think you could ask for much better from March snow. All resort is open, snow depths have been holding. Spring skiing is mostly mornings, but thats nothing new

You'll need to Register first of course.

There’s seems to be some snow on the way next weekend and temperature drop with a lot of snow from march 22st.
Hoping it will hold until march 30th.

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

Don't worry about the snow situation. There's plenty down on the ground to last until the end of the season. It may sometimes be hard and frozen, or it may be a bit soft and wet, but there will be enough. In between all of that, it might snow a bit so you actually get some skiing on fresh snow!

Pretty much every lift and piste (that matters) in Andorra is open with good snow cover. This has been quite unusual in recent years and I've managed to ski until 20-something April each year.

After all it is free

With this snow cover its strange why Grandvalira is closing on april 6th.

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

For employment purposes they are better to give an indicative date, then see if they can retain seasonal workers a bit longer if necessary.

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

@calcurtis, that was only for Arcalis. Everywhere else closed on the previously announced closing date.

@Orange200, Yes, this.

Most contracts only go on until 31st March. They then ask if anyone is able to work after that date to keep stuff open. Given that a good majority of staff come from South America, some have flights booked already. Others have already given notice on their apartments and don't want to pay to stay for April but only be working (and being paid) a few days.

Jnr's an instructor in Andorra. He's been told they'll only keep him on into April if he has 2hrs of private lessons booked in for each day and he's one of the busiest where he works. He's in Andorra for a few weeks after but he'll leave his apartment at the end of the month and move in with us.

Arcalis is different. It's so small that they can keep it running with only a few lifties and pisteurs. Lots of the staff there tend to be in Andorra all year or they can get staff in who are here all year but have been based elsewhere during the main season.

snow reports

Thanks @Hammerite - I thought it was all of them as I could've sworn they announced it when I was in Pal last year but obviously not.

Which resort is he instructing in? (if you don't mind disclosing, of course)

@calcurtis, Season closing for most of Andorra was pretty late last year anyway. They pretty much try to close straight after Easter weekend. Not 100% sure why when it's still school holidays.

He instructs in Pas de la Casa.

You know it makes sense.

Baqueria bound for a few days this Sunday, forecast looks ideal, some snow over the weekend then sun!

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

@mrvinegar, Sounds good. I might try to go for a few days at Easter. I think my OH may want to head in the opposite direction to the coast though!

A snowHead

@hammerite can you DM the contact for the Pas de La Casa Ski Instructor - need one for my two kids from April 1st to 4th.
Thanks

A snowHead

@portugal82, message incoming.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

You need to Login to know who's really who.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Quick recap off yesterday's little outing to Piau-Engaly.

The high wind in the morning meant that the main lifts didn't open until just after 11h30, so we decided on a late start and headed up just before midday. The car park was less than half full, a good day was had.

Our last run of the day was quite peculiar. We disembarked from the lift and I had to stop and adjust my boot, so watched a dozen or so people head off down our chosen run. Just before we were set to go ourselves, there was a gust that became a whirlwind of snow. The chairlift alarms started going off, and we braced ourselves for a few minutes as it blew right through us and down the piste. It's not every day you ski down what resembles an untracked piste with a substantial layer of snow deposited like that after 4pm.

You'll need to Register first of course.

Spectacular day today in Baqueria , spent the whole day around Bonaigua which was closed yesterday due to wind , plenty of powder around but some of it was blown around with bits of ice between it , but as the day wore on the icy bits melted

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

First day on the slopes today at Pal, morning conditions were amazing. Stayed solid until about 1pm and then started to get slushy, called it a day about 3:30 when it was getting into super slushy territory.

Pack your suncream (and aftersun...) if you're heading here!

After all it is free

We’ve just done Friday and Saturday in Grandvalira. Friday was really nice, despite the slightly slushy snow later in the day. Lovely sunshine and the slopes were very skiable with few bumps, even later in the day. One of my wife’s favourite ski days, I reckon. Saturday was completely different, with the temperatures dropping considerably and the overnight snow (and light dusting throughout the day). The slopes varied depending on what facet they were on, but many were a thin layer of powder atop ice, which later in the day meant small moguls surrounded by ice, which made for interesting skiing on not very sharp rental skis! Wind was also quite considerable in the higher areas, especially later in the day. We found El Tarter and Grau Roig seemed to be in best nick as they were reasonably sheltered from the wind, whilst Soldeu was pretty wind blasted. Still managed a good two days of skiing, though.

We have free cancellation until tomorrow for Pas De La Casa from Tuesday 31/3 to Sunday 5/4.

Snowforecast shows no snow coming in this week so we are struggling to decide if we go.

We got a half-board deal at Hotel Cristina with 4 days lift pass for 2.080€ for our family of 4.

Would appreciate any Snowheads advice.

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

What’s your alternative? Go to Hintertux, or stay home and paint the kitchen? Very Happy

snow reports

Do it.

You know it makes sense.

@portugal82,
1. You don't need fresh snow to ski. I skied Grandvalira at the weekend and had great days skiing.
2. There's still metres of snow.
3. There's snow forecast at the weekend anyway.
4. Any fresh snow this time of year will transform from powder to heavy stuff quite quickly.
5. When it snows in Andorra quite often it's windy and lifts can close (but not always).
6. Skiing in bright sunshine is fantastic. Skiing in cloud and flat light can be a bit meh.
7. This is the best end of season for a number of years.

I'm off work from Saturday for a couple of weeks. I'll be making the most of getting out and hammering the slopes where I can.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

Thank you all for your words of encouragement.

I managed to anticipate my arrival at Hotel Cristina for this Sunday so I can benefit from the fresh snow due to arrive during the weekend.

Hoping to get good snow despite going so late in the season.

A snowHead

Blown off the hill this morning at Soldeu. Did one run, and reckoned I didn’t fancy any more exfoliation. Went down to La Vella and had a wander round. I have never seen so many pharmacies - seemed to one about every 25 yards ! I wonder how they all turn a profit, unless La Vella is full of hypochondriacs.

A snowHead

Its seems the wind might get even worse during the weekend with a chance of getting up to 150km/h Crying or Very sad

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Selling tax free meds to the French and Spanish? I was told there were so many tyre fitters for the same reason, get all the cross border trade.

You need to Login to know who's really who.

@deerman, pharmacies are very much regulated here in Andorra. You're right there are a lot, but even simple things like paracetamol need to be bought over the counter. There is a very heavy "seek medical advice" culture here though. I rock up to work with a cold and an Andorran tells me to go to the doctor - they're dismayed that I don't!

Also don't confuse perfume shops with a pharmacy. Whilst the pharamacies sometimes tread on the toes of a perfume shop, the perfume shop isn't allowed to do the same.

@Orange200, tyres aren't particularly cheap here. Nearly every car I've seen at the tyre fitters (I make two visits a year to swap tyres over and walk past many regularly!) has Andorran plates.

@portugal82, by the time you're out skiing it might be a bit breezy on the tops, but it'll be fine.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Quite a lot of snow overnight also very windy. More snow forecast midweek. The weather is seemingly unaware that the season finishes next week.

You'll need to Register first of course.

A pretty good day in all. Some places with snow drifts, some places wind blown and icy, other places with lovely pockets of powder. Clock changed made a difference because it didn’t get sticky down low until after 15:00.

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

Amazing first day today!
Never has a powder day in almost April.
Wednesday is due to have another huge snow dump.

After all it is free

That’s a huge dump for any day of the season in Andorra, let alone in April. The main problem will be lift closures because of wind.

Thursday will be outstanding (avi risk excepting).

Pal was awful today. Any loose snow had been blown away leaving ice not just hard pack. Piste patrol closed a few key pistes for safety making it difficult to get about.

Tomorrow, it’s highly likely that the Funicamp will be closed and other high lifts. Jnr is supposed to be teaching at the top of the Funi with a school group and they’ve been moved to Grau.

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

Funicamp and most other lifts did open in the end. Schools (and instructors) still diverted to Grau though because they’d apparently had an awful day of it yesterday and Grau is a bit more sheltered.

I skied for a couple of hours. Wind wasn’t awful and apart from wind blown tops, the snow was excellent.

Help!!

Pyrenees 25/26

snowHeads Forum Index >>> Snow Reports - weather - snow conditions