Val Thorens or Tignes for mid December
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It gets you hauled off the hill if you need it, without having to debate the validity of your insurance policy with the bloodwagon crew. France has plenty of form in this area.
Edit: If you choose Val Thorens this extra insurance is an absolute must. I have personal experience of the way the resort runs it's rescue service, and it's not nice.
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Started by Snowbirddevotee in France 15-Oct-2009 - 5 Replies
Snowbirddevotee posted Oct-2009
I'm taking a quick trip to the French Alps through Geneva in mid-December. Val Thorens and Tignes both apparently have reliable snow at that time. I am an experienced skier looking for advanced terrain. Does anyone know which of those resorts is better for steep terrain, accessible in bounds, w/o a guide?
Bandit
reply to 'Val Thorens or Tignes for mid December' posted Oct-2009
Between the two, I reckon Tignes/Val has the edge. Bear in mind that it's early season, so there will be crevasses to look out for up high.
Europe does not really go in for "in bounds". You are either on piste or off it. If it's the latter, make sure you have plenty of insurance cover, and particularly for France, buy Carre Neige as well http://www.carreneige.com/index.php/the-no1-for-winter-sports-insurance.html or you may face paying in cash.
There are some pretty amazing couloirs on the Val side down by La Daille.
Europe does not really go in for "in bounds". You are either on piste or off it. If it's the latter, make sure you have plenty of insurance cover, and particularly for France, buy Carre Neige as well http://www.carreneige.com/index.php/the-no1-for-winter-sports-insurance.html or you may face paying in cash.
There are some pretty amazing couloirs on the Val side down by La Daille.
Snowbirddevotee
reply to 'Val Thorens or Tignes for mid December' posted Oct-2009
well, I don't like to be a scared y cat, but for that price I guess I can afford it.
Bandit
reply to 'Val Thorens or Tignes for mid December' posted Oct-2009
snowbirddevotee wrote:well, I don't like to be a scared y cat, but for that price I guess I can afford it.
It gets you hauled off the hill if you need it, without having to debate the validity of your insurance policy with the bloodwagon crew. France has plenty of form in this area.
Edit: If you choose Val Thorens this extra insurance is an absolute must. I have personal experience of the way the resort runs it's rescue service, and it's not nice.
Edited 1 time. Last update at 15-Oct-2009
Snowbirddevotee
reply to 'Val Thorens or Tignes for mid December' posted Oct-2009
Does anyone have experience that can compare Saas Fee with Tignes/ValThorens? All 3 are high elevation early openers.
Bandit
reply to 'Val Thorens or Tignes for mid December' posted Oct-2009
I have skied all three. Saas-Fee is usually open all year round. If you want to ski offpiste in Saas-Fee you should choose a local Mountain Guide, as the glacier is heavily crevassed, and pretty lethal. A local guide will know of suitable terrain.
Zermatt nearby, may be a better bet for early season off piste, as it has more non glacial terrain. Zermatt ski area tends to close for a month in late Spring, but generally is open year round.
Zermatt nearby, may be a better bet for early season off piste, as it has more non glacial terrain. Zermatt ski area tends to close for a month in late Spring, but generally is open year round.
Topic last updated on 16-October-2009 at 08:20