backcountry suggestions europe

hello forum,

i was wondering if people could give me a few suggestions on european resorts/areas that offer serious backcountry and powder, baring in mind im looking to go around the 26th dec to 5th jan, so thats going to make powder difficult to come across.

thanks for your time

La Grave
Verbier
St Anton

Its about all I can think of right now

cheers la grave looks intersting im worried about the snow conditions for that time of year though

do you know much about the conditions that can be expected at la grave during late december early jan?

thanks

goodacre88 wrote:cheers la grave looks intersting im worried about the snow conditions for that time of year though

do you know much about the conditions that can be expected at la grave during late december early jan?

thanks

Not for there, but I have been to 3 valleys and Austria over Xmas and early Jan and have never had a problem with lack of snow. If you go high enough up you will always find some snow.

goodacre88 wrote:

do you know much about the conditions that can be expected at la grave during late december early jan?

thanks

Changes winter to winter.
Are you looking for lift accessible back country or are you looking to skin up?

Verbier has the best lift accessible off piste in the world imho. If you are planning to hike in then you could do a lot worse than the Vanoise National Park, lots of places to base yourself but the better known ones Val d'Isere, Tignes, Les Arcs.

Neiltoo wrote

Changes winter to winter.

Spot on. There used to be a really good site that gave historical snow records for all main resorts, by month and year. It was useful, to the extent that you could read the trend for the resort. Sadly, the site folded. Iglu has restarted, but does not have the history.

Even given a resort's history, in any individual year, anything may happen, weatherwise.

The other point that Neil makes is also valid, in that what you are looking for is not clear. Are you gondola up, then Vail-type deep snow back bowls? Or are you starting at village level, and going up mountain, over the ridges, heading for the next village? Or something else?

'Serious backcountry' is open to a lot of discussion. I would be impressed if by serious you meant North face of the Aiguille du Midi serious :lol:

Better off telling the audience exactly what you are looking for.

Pablo Escobar wrote:'Serious backcountry' is open to a lot of discussion. I would be impressed if by serious you meant North face of the Aiguille du Midi serious :lol:

There was a time when I used to think that if snow would stick to it I would ski it. Then I spent a year in Chamonix :shock:

The definition of what is skiable seems to change when you enter that valley. :D