2026/27 season plans

[Sbooker]

Have we got a thread for this yet? If so I couldn't find it.
I'll be in France with my wife and kids and my kid's partners from March 6 for the best part of a few weeks. Air tickets have been bought. So that is done.
I've just negotiated a leave pass for a two week solo trip (Kylie will be working) for the end of January. On the surface Japan makes sense but we got lucky with snow there earlier this year and this El Nino worries me because of the relative low elevation. Snoworks have a course in St Anton at that time. Then there is Piste to Powder which specialize in that vicinity more than Snoworks do. Then there is USA. I believe Canada is less likely to have a decent season compared to the lower latitudes of the States.
So this can't be renegotiated I want to lock air tickets in real soon. Airfares will only get more expensive from here too. I'll also have to buy a pass if going to USA.....
Any thoughts from the people on here?

 

[Tony Crocker]

Last 2 weeks of January are peak for Japan, and I don’t recall much El Niño impact.

 

[Sbooker]

Last 2 weeks of January are peak for Japan, and I don’t recall much El Niño impact.

Yes. It makes sense in a normal year but a lot of the Japan gurus say El Niño can be a negative factor - particularly for Honshu.

 

[Tony Crocker]

Maybe Honshu, I doubt Hokkaido. I’m not able to look it up now but I don’t recall any meaningful correlation of the SnowJapan stats with El Niño.

 

[EMSC]

Maybe Honshu, I doubt Hokkaido. I’m not able to look it up now but I don’t recall any meaningful correlation of the SnowJapan stats with El Niño.

I read the opensnow thing they just published a few days ago about super el-nino correlations. They had Japan as less snow overall, but apparently due to to early and late season having negative correlations, with January having normal or slightly better snowfall. I think that even if their data shows correlations that are unique to super El-nino years of the past that there still would not be any where near enough total data to be confident. I'd want, say, 30 years+ of only super el-nino data to start being confident.

Opensnow gave fairly detailed maps/correlations by month for most regions of the US and for multiple foreign countries/EU. It will be VERY interesting when people start comparing back to that information/maps as the season goes along!

 

[Sbooker]

I read the opensnow thing they just published a few days ago about super el-nino correlations. They had Japan as less snow overall, but apparently due to to early and late season having negative correlations, with January having normal or slightly better snowfall. I think that even if their data shows correlations that are unique to super El-nino years of the past that there still would not be any where near enough total data to be confident. I'd want, say, 30 years+ of only super el-nino data to start being confident.

Opensnow gave fairly detailed maps/correlations by month for most regions of the US and for multiple foreign countries/EU. It will be VERY interesting when people start comparing back to that information/maps as the season goes along!

Japan would be soooo much easier for me but I'm very leery of getting rained on. It's been a common thing the last few years.

 

[Tony Crocker]

Late January Hokkaido I would not worry so much. Bad conditions can occur just as often or even more in Europe or North America in a short time frame and fixed location.

 

[Tony Crocker]

I'd want, say, 30 years+ of only super el-nino data to start being confident.

Yes, that’s why I look at El Niño months not seasons to have more data. I’ll probably send OpenSnow an e-mail when I get home. It’s absolute BS for that map to be forecasting above average precipitation for Utah and Colorado.

 

[Sbooker]

Late January Hokkaido I would not worry so much. Bad conditions can occur just as often or even more in Europe or North America in a short time frame and fixed location.

Rained on off piste or refrozen bullet proof off piste can keep you restricted to groomers at low elevations anywhere. Being restricted to the almost exclusively mellow pitch groomers in Japan would get old quickly. I get your point though. I’ll probably buy a ticket to Tokyo and play it by ear.

 

[ChrisC]

I've just negotiated a leave pass for a two week solo trip (Kylie will be working) for the end of January. On the surface Japan makes sense but we got lucky with snow there earlier this year and this El Nino worries me because of the relative low elevation. Snoworks have a course in St Anton at that time. Then there is Piste to Powder which specialize in that vicinity more than Snoworks do.

St. Anton & the Arlberg are superior to Japan in every way, except maybe snow (and that's debatable in mid-winter/January). Especially with reasonably priced group guiding. It's simply a global bucket-list destination and experience! Especially since you have done Japan.

While everyone inevitably defaults to the Japan-equals-snow argument, I think it’s overblown. Even if Japan’s consistent ocean-effect snowfall is reliable, the terrain is largely average to slightly below average. It lacks true alpine exposure and steep terrain; on-piste trails get skied out quickly, and off-piste/freeride options are mostly limited to tight hardwoods or bamboo. If you are looking for superior tree skiing, I would argue Western North America, with its big pines, is a far better choice. And NW flow and Nordstau storms really boost Western Austria in early/mid winter to nearly 400" snowfalls.

I know you skied St. Anton once, but you accidentally chose to follow the crowd at St. Anton (largest, reasonable) base over to the more intermediate slopes of Zurs/Lech. This is the highest-traffic, industrial skiing zone.

And Tony brings up south-facing St. Anton, but often ignores that you can easily ski endless north-facing slopes and off-piste from St. Anton's base on Rendl, or ski over to north-facing Stuben. And St. Anton's slopes around February 1st were in great shape on top 2-3 days after a storm, with temps (20-30F daytime / 0-10F nighttime).


I put the Euro Resorts in some tiers (with a weight to expert terrain, freeride, big vertical):

Val d'Isère-Tignes (+Ste. Foy) and the Arlberg (St. Anton-Rendl-Stuben-Zürs-Lech-Warth).

• Terrain is equal - Val d'Isère more alpine, St. Anton more storm-proof.
• Snow - Val d'ISere better preservation/late season, St. Anton better quantity, mid-season quality.

Verbier - A little smaller and more expensive, but easier to access steep freeride.

Chamonix (fragmented), Zermatt-Cervinia (snow?), Engelberg+Andermatt (smaller, snowy, not much for intermediates)


Mentions: 3 Vallées (size! but steeps?), La Grave+Les Deux Alpes+Alpe d'Huez, Monterosa (snow?), Davos+St. Moritz, Zinal+Grimentz+St. Luc

Scenery/Uniqueness: Jungfrau, Dolomites


Again, the Arlberg is the one European resort where I paid almost the equivalent of a guide fee/lift ticket pass in cabs, since we were skiing into so many remote villages and valleys.

 

[ChrisC]

Thread 'Ski Arlberg (St. Anton/St. Christoph/Stuben/Lech/Zürs/Warth-Schröcken, Austria): January 28 - February 3, 2019'

Oct 31, 2024

Planning a trip to Austria (and W. Switzerland) involved reviewing old trip photos, so I thought I would post some.

After skiing Engleberg and Andermatt, I picked up my brother at Zurich airport, and we went to the Arlberg (Austria's largest connected ski complex)—staying at a half-board inn in St. Anton for a week. The largest villages in the Ski Arberg complex are St. Anton and Lech (both make good bases). Stuben might be the best value since it is central to Zurs, St. Anton, near Lech, and has excellent home slopes - with cheaper lodging options.

Ski Arlberg Map

January...

• ChrisC
• Replies: 13
• Forum: Europe & Asia

 

[Sbooker]

with a weight to expert terrain, freeride, big vertical):

The expert terrain doesn’t apply to me.

 

[Tony Crocker]

In fairness late January is ideal for the Arlberg because exposure does not matter much then. St. Anton is the Jackson Hole of the Alps in both positives and negatives.

Since Sbooker is solo and wants to challenge himself, Piste-to-Powder guides would be a good way to do that. They split by 4 ability tiers so Sbooker will get an appropriate fit.

 

[ChrisC]

The expert terrain doesn’t apply to me.

You are definitely not skiing intermediate terrain.

You are signing up for Freeride/Off-Piste Guiding and skiing expert terrain at Val d'Isere/Tignes, such as Vallon de la Sache or a tour to the Maurienne Valley.

So the expert focus does apply to you. Maybe not extreme couloirs, but certainly big alpine terrain and experiences.


I would say the Arlberg is even better than Val d'Isère-Tignes for this type of high-low-expert pitch faces, off-piste, etc., particularly the slopes around Zürs, Lech, Warth, and Stuben. Very easy to find 700-1000 m / 2000-3000 ft verticals with fresh powder without crowds.

 

[Sbooker]

Thread 'Ski Arlberg (St. Anton/St. Christoph/Stuben/Lech/Zürs/Warth-Schröcken, Austria): January 28 - February 3, 2019'

Oct 31, 2024

Planning a trip to Austria (and W. Switzerland) involved reviewing old trip photos, so I thought I would post some.

After skiing Engleberg and Andermatt, I picked up my brother at Zurich airport, and we went to the Arlberg (Austria's largest connected ski complex)—staying at a half-board inn in St. Anton for a week. The largest villages in the Ski Arberg complex are St. Anton and Lech (both make good bases). Stuben might be the best value since it is central to Zurs, St. Anton, near Lech, and has excellent home slopes - with cheaper lodging options.

Ski Arlberg Map

January...

• ChrisC
• Replies: 13
• Forum: Europe & Asia

That looks pretty hard to argue with.

 

[Sbooker]

@jamesdeluxe ’s post about his time in Arlberg in 2005 has convinced me to go to Austria in January.
Now to choose whether to do the Snoworks course with an ‘instructor’ that I’m familiar with (and a local guide) or just go with Piste to Powder. Snoworks are marginally more expensive but will likely have other gapers in the group.

 

[ChrisC]

I like other things about the Arlberg compared to Japan for late January:

1. Logistics (Train vs. Rental Car)
If you are traveling solo, you can save significant time, money, and hassle by taking the train from Zurich to St. Anton. The transit system is incredibly efficient—it’s roughly a 2-hour and 45-minute trip with only one change, running 16 times per day. By using the train, you avoid the headaches of rental car inspections, refueling, navigation, parking fees, and finding spaces. Japan, conversely, essentially requires a rental car once you arrive at the airport in Hokkaido.

2. Guided Groups
Joining a guided group through providers like Piste to Powder or Snoworks will likely result in a better overall experience in Austria. Their guides know exactly where to find the best conditions, and since you’re traveling solo, these groups provide a built-in social component. Austria’s terrain is expansive, and in January, the snow quality is usually excellent. When I went to Andermatt Days in March 2020 (2.5 days), I made instant connections and met a great group of people to spend time with.

3. Lodging Base.
St. Anton has a huge variety of lodging options. I assume your guided groups will originate there. Zurs seemed nice, but expensive and dull - great skiing, perhaps the best location. Lech - excellent, but a bit too far away.

4. Beer
No commentary necessary. Austria?! Japan has whiskey and light beer, but not microbrews and après-ski.


Whatever time/$ you save by only traveling to Japan, I think you make up for it by eliminating a car $ and having a high-quality experience with guides.

 

[Sbooker]

I like other things about the Arlberg compared to Japan for late January:

1. Logistics (Train vs. Rental Car)
If you are traveling solo, you can save significant time, money, and hassle by taking the train from Zurich to St. Anton. The transit system is incredibly efficient—it’s roughly a 2-hour and 45-minute trip with only one change, running 16 times per day. By using the train, you avoid the headaches of rental car inspections, refueling, navigation, parking fees, and finding spaces. Japan, conversely, essentially requires a rental car once you arrive at the airport in Hokkaido.

2. Guided Groups
Joining a guided group through providers like Piste to Powder or Snoworks will likely result in a better overall experience in Austria. Their guides know exactly where to find the best conditions, and since you’re traveling solo, these groups provide a built-in social component. Austria’s terrain is expansive, and in January, the snow quality is usually excellent. When I went to Andermatt Days in March 2020 (2.5 days), I made instant connections and met a great group of people to spend time with.

3. Lodging Base.
St. Anton has a huge variety of lodging options. I assume your guided groups will originate there. Zurs seemed nice, but expensive and dull - great skiing, perhaps the best location. Lech - excellent, but a bit too far away.

4. Beer
No commentary necessary. Austria?! Japan has whiskey and light beer, but not microbrews and après-ski.


Whatever time/$ you save by only traveling to Japan, I think you make up for it by eliminating a car $ and having a high-quality experience with guides.

1. Yes, I’ll be on public transport.
2. Yes. When I’ve done Snoworks before I’ve always ended up having dinner with other group members. Sometimes I skip late afternoon apres because I’ve become less keen on sessions on the grog as I age.
3. I’m a tight arse so I’m not keen on shelling out gazillions of Aussie pesos for accommodation. I contacted the tourist office yesterday and they put me in touch with Pension Baren in Nasserein. It’s only a three minute ski bus ride from the main St Anton base. 10 minute walk if not in ski boots. It’s under 1000 Euro for the 7 nights and includes breakfast. (The breakfast has eggs. Huge bonus).
4. I cannot agree on the beer thing. Japan has a huge craft beer scene happening. And their staples of Asahi and Sapporo and Kirin are decent. Austria has decent beer of course but it’s pretty limited to wheat beer and pilsner. Granted Austria are world gold medalists for apres.

 

[Sbooker]

Warm up days choice determines destination airport. Munich for a couple of ski days around Innsbruck. Zurich for a couple of ski days in Jungfrau. Thoughts?

 

[Sbooker]

1. Yes, I’ll be on public transport.
2. Yes. When I’ve done Snoworks before I’ve always ended up having dinner with other group members. Sometimes I skip late afternoon apres because I’ve become less keen on sessions on the grog as I age.
3. I’m a tight arse so I’m not keen on shelling out gazillions of Aussie pesos for accommodation. I contacted the tourist office yesterday and they put me in touch with Pension Baren in Nasserein. It’s only a three minute ski bus ride from the main St Anton base. 10 minute walk if not in ski boots. It’s under 1000 Euro for the 7 nights and includes breakfast. (The breakfast has eggs. Huge bonus).
4. I cannot agree on the beer thing. Japan has a huge craft beer scene happening. And their staples of Asahi and Sapporo and Kirin are decent. Austria has decent beer of course but it’s pretty limited to wheat beer and pilsner. Granted Austria are world gold medalists for apres.

I was looking at the accommodation offer late last night. I just had a better look. It’s actually cheaper that I thought. I must have done a quick calculation in my head that rounded it to about 1000AUD.

728 Euro for 7 nights is within my self imposed budget.