J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by Geoff Smith

Alpe d'Huez is well worth considering for a mixed group of skiers. There is excellent off piste and many black runs for the experts and a huge bowl of excellent easy runs for the beginners immediately above the resort. Alpe d'Huez boasts the longest black (16 kilometres), and also the greatest descent (3,300 - 1100 metres) without the need to use lifts, in the Alps.
Sharon Shinwell objected to prices and concrete. To avoid both stay at one of the satellite resorts e.g. Oz en Oisans , Vaujany or Villard Reculas. They are attractive, small scale and relatively inexpensive. The mountain scenery, throughout the domain,is, by common consent, outstanding.

Geoff Smith

Last year many of the big French ski resort mountains were green, except at the very top, until the end of November. Three days of dumping occurred at the beginning of December. I had an excellent week's skiing in the middle of that month. The season subsequently turned out to be a very good one except for a brief period in February.

On the other hand I can recall occasions when temperatures have risen to 15C in the middle of January with rain as high as 2800 metres.

Keep your fingers crossed. A change of weather is perfectly possible in the next two or three weeks with the, then, possibility of good skiing from mid December onwards. On the other hand....

Having said all of this it is generally speaking much safer, from a 'good snow' perspective to ski from New Year onwards.

Geoff Smith

If you want Austria, a reasonable safe bet for good snow and a plenty of beginners' skiing then definitely try either Obertauen or Obergurgl. Both are among the highest resorts in Austria. Obergurgl is the more attractive of the two.

Geoff Smith

Excellent and very helpful advice about hands from Pavelski!

Geoff Smith

I agree that the area immediately above Alpe d'Huez is rather bleak when the tough weather sets in. However there is very good, and often quiet skiing, to be had at Auris, Vaujany and Oz en Oisans among the trees. Links to all of these locations , by lift, are fast and easy.

Geoff smith

Alpe d'Huez, or the Massif Des Grandes Rousses, which is the name for the entire ski area linking Alpe dHuez to several other villages and resorts, has an excellent January snow record. Lift queues are virtually non existent, there is a wide range of pistes for all levels, excellent off- piste itineraries and several very much better mountain restaurants than in most French ski areas.

Alpe d'Huez, itself ,is excellent for night life. If you prefer something quieter, with easy access to the entire ski domain, try Oz-en- Oisans. It is a delightful small resort with good runs back directly to hotels and apartments and two fast lifts out, one to above Alpe d'Huez and the other to Montfrais above Vaujany. It is the 'buckle of the belt'.

The Massif Des Grandes Rousses is an outstanding and large, but for some reason, under-rated ski area. I recommend it highly.

Geoff Smith