Europe 2025/26

[ChrisC]

There are many issues with the lift system at La Grave. The pulse gondola is nearing the end of its useful life, and the glacial surface lifts are affected by glacial retreat and other issues. One surface lift is already removed - snowcat or touring is required for 2nd glcaial suface lift access.

In 2017, the Alpe d'Huez Tourist Development Company (SATA), with its subsidiary SATG, took over the public service delegation for the cable car's management from the municipality; this public service delegation includes upgrading the two existing sections, restoring the mountain restaurant, and constructing a third section leading to a higher altitude, under the Dôme de la Lauze (3,559 m ). The project to build the third section has sparked debate and various actions (administrative appeals, ZAD protests), with some wanting it to be completed while others question its value.

La Grave was closed almost all of last season 2024-25:

In December 2024, the opening of the cable cars was postponed to allow for the emergency replacement of one of the supporting cables on the first section, for safety reasons. The new opening date was then scheduled for the end of January 2025. However, a major technical incident occurred on January 20, 2025: an anchor failed, causing the cable being replaced to fall and damaging pylon P2. No injuries were reported. The reopening after the repairs was estimated for March 29, 2025.
Currently, a snowcat is sometimes used instead of one of the glacier surface lifts due to operational issues. Like Whistler - specifically Blackcomb.

Proposed Third Stage Cable Car replacement for summer and winter use:

Third section
A third section of the cable cars would link the Col des Ruillans at 3,211 meters altitude to the Dôme de la Lauze at over 3,500 meters by flying over the Girose glacier. After years of studies and appeals, preparatory work was scheduled to take place in the autumn of 2023 in order to allow the actual work to begin in the spring of 2024; however, due to opposition, notably from environmental associations , in October 2023, this work could not be carried out and was postponed

After Winter 2024/25, no new protests are organized. Local economic reality trumps environmentalism?


Great read - and video

La Grave 2050

« Comment se projeter dans l’avenir en prenant en compte à la fois l’écosystème, la pérennité de la vie locale, l’accueil des amoureux des grands espaces, des simples curieux de la montagne ou des professionnels...

la-grave.com

 

[ChrisC]

Since I'm in Jimk's age bracket I have more sympathy for him regarding ChrisC's comments. This might be his only shot at a full Alps experience. His son has decades to return if he wants to ski La Grave type terrain.

Yes, you are right.

 

[ChrisC]

Just FYI Alpe d'Huez. The Pic Blanc cable car was damaged by the October 2025 Winter Storm Benjamin (they are naming storms in the Alps, too?). Cables and Structure required fixing. Opening: January 30, 2026, hopefully.



There are reservations available and extended hours to ski the Sarenne Glacier via Marmottes lifts.

Book Sarenne access - Alpe d'Huez, french ski resort

Book your Sarenne access at Alpe d’Huez. Reserve your time slot for the Marmottes 3 cable car and ski the Sarenne run from opening time.

skipass.alpedhuez.com

Pic Blanc opening info, and Tunnel update:

 

[Tony Crocker]

Yes, they all look quite good with 180-200cm summit snow bases, and 40-80cm resort bases.

OK I'm finally sold. We just booked air to Milan arriving March 23, returning April 8.

 

[Sbooker]

OK I'm finally sold. We just booked air to Milan arriving March 23, returning April 8.

We are arriving the same date at Malpensa too.

 

[Tony Crocker]

We are arriving the same date at Malpensa too.

Hopefully you have not committed to any ski locations yet. I very much hope that these southern storms will continue long enough to get Zermatt adequately covered. If that happens, I strongly recommend sbooker and Kylie join us there for a few days. We'll even provide free guide service. We have been waiting for Zermatt to have the coverage it had in 2014, and that has not happened on most of our trips since.

Just below Zermatt in the upper Rhone Valley you hit the French speaking part of Switzerland, containing Verbier plus several James-style areas with visiting. If we go to Zermatt, we will check out Saas-Fee for a day too.

Current state of the season plus late season altitude/exposure point to the big Tarantaise resorts (Val Thorens, Val d'Isere, etc.) being the safest bets. We have been to them before, but if that's where the best skiing is, we will do that. Farther south in France has plenty of snow but not as good altitude/exposure in late season.

 

[ChrisC]

There are lots of high-altitude ski resorts near Milan, which are doing well or at least average:

• Les 2 Alpes, La Grave and Alpe d'Huez
• Top 50% of Serre Chevalier
• ViaLattea - Montgenevre, Siestriere
• Val d'Aosta - Monterosa, Cervinia, Pila, La Thuile
• Zermatt & Saas Fee (Zermatt seems to be lagging in snowfall again - Cervinia seems to have 1.5-2x amount. Saas Fee's snow base does not matter since you will be on piste more than a tree-lined resort like Les Gets, Megeve, etc. The glacial crevasses are scary.

I don't know much about the ski resorts in the Maritimes/Queyras, but are randomly having the best snow year in the Alps.

 

[Sbooker]

Hopefully you have not committed to any ski locations yet. I very much hope that these southern storms will continue long enough to get Zermatt adequately covered. If that happens, I strongly recommend sbooker and Kylie join us there for a few days. We'll even provide free guide service. We have been waiting for Zermatt to have the coverage it had in 2014, and that has not happened on most of our trips since.

Just below Zermatt in the upper Rhone Valley you hit the French speaking part of Switzerland, containing Verbier plus several James-style areas with visiting. If we go to Zermatt, we will check out Saas-Fee for a day too.

Current state of the season plus late season altitude/exposure point to the big Tarantaise resorts (Val Thorens, Val d'Isere, etc.) being the safest bets. We have been to them before, but if that's where the best skiing is, we will do that. Farther south in France has plenty of snow but not as good altitude/exposure in late season.

We’ve not committed to anything but Kylie has plans to catch up with the daughter of one of her French classmates at some point. She has a restaurant in Grenoble.
We’ll see how things pan out I suppose.

 

[ChrisC]

very much hope that these southern storms will continue long enough to get Zermatt adequately covered. If that happens, I strongly recommend sbooker and Kylie join us there for a few days. We'll even provide free guide service. We have been waiting for Zermatt to have the coverage it had in 2014, and that has not happened on most of our trips since.

Zermatt continues to underperform, missing storms that its neighbors (Cervinia and Saas Fee) received. Likely fine for intermediates and piste skiing, but not freeride in Zermatt proper now.

Although many southern multi-meter storms (100 cm+) were forecasted this January, only one materialized. Early season (Oct-Nov) was great.

From the Swiss Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF site WhiteRisk, Zermatt's best freeride/expert zones show the following snow totals (orange highlighted):

• Hohtalli: 50-80 cm base.
• Rothorn: 50-80 cm base.

Again, not a single one of Zermatt's Yellow Routes is open yet.

Conversely, Cervinia is reporting a 60-150 cm base. You can see increasing snow bases near the Italian border, from Matterhorn to Testa Grigia. Its freeride skiing from Plateau Rosa is likely good. Not quite on par with Hohtallie, but quite good. (I finally was able to ski some of the area last April with my friend's son).

Saas Fee is also doing average snow-wise. However, I strongly advise against off-piste skiing here, even with a guide. So heavily crevassed. I think it is all ski touring focused - like hut-to-hut skiing. Maybe mid-mountain Säntis is approachable off-piste since it's on rock/not glacier.

Gornergrat summit station is reporting 79cm after 10cm on Sunday. The average for this date is 120cm.

Zermatt needs one big storm, which can happen if things finally align.

Last year's info. Hohtallli's expert skiing opened in mid-March (just one or two yellow routes from Rote Nase). Some locals noted that ski guides were using the Rote Nosa before the official opening to guide clients.

I did not venture over in April 2025 since Cervinia was skiing better with recent snowfall, and we did not have International Ski Passes.

I wish I could access the snow totals from previous years. Zermatt's Gornergrat 2023-24 snow base was near record from March until May!

 

[skiandgolfnut]

We were able to rebook our flights for next Sunday 2/1 to Milan which seems like an upgrade over Zurich. Thankfully the snow in New York got us a full refund . Nothing booked yet but I emailed the guiding offices in Cervinia and Monterosa as those look like the best options within 2.5 hours (did Courmayeur in 2023 so want to try somewhere new). Will also consider Via Lattea areas. They wrote me the below, sounds like the off piste at Cervinia is in good shape right now with more snow hopefully on the way this week. Significantly cheaper pricing than in Switzerland.

Dear Andrew,

Thank you very much for your kind message,

We would be delighted to organize off-piste skiing for you. Please find here below our daily rates:

• 1 person: €460
• 2 people: €230 per person
• 3 people: €170 per person
• 4 people: €140 per person
• 5 people: €120 per person

Not included in the rate: ski pass, ski equipment, lunches, and, in the case of freeride, safety kit (shovel, avalanche transceiver, probe, and ABS backpack).

At the moment the condition for the off piste are quite good,

We kindly recommend booking in advance.

Please do not hesitate to contact us for any further information

we remain at your disposal.

kind regards

 

[ChrisC]

We were able to rebook our flights for next Sunday 2/1 to Milan which seems like an upgrade over Zurich. Thankfully the snow in New York got us a full refund . Nothing booked yet but I emailed the guiding offices in Cervinia and Monterosa as those look like the best options within 2.5 hours (did Courmayeur in 2023 so want to try somewhere new). Will also consider Via Lattea areas. They wrote me the below, sounds like the off piste at Cervinia is in good shape right now with more snow hopefully on the way this week. Significantly cheaper pricing than in Switzerland.

Yes, Italy is half the price of Switzerland: guides, food, lodging, etc.

Sometimes in Italy, the snow isn't always as good as NW/N ski resorts, but not this year! Especially Italian-French Piemonte/Piedmont border regions and most of the Aosta Valley: La Thuile, Cervinia, etc. (My friend who skied Zermatt during the holidays said Zermatt was a bit of a bust (crowds and snowmaking runs), and Cevina had at least 2x the snow. He will return to Zermatt sometime in March! Although January snows have helped.)

(Aside: The Dolomites are performing horribly snow-wise, as is typical. All snowmaking, but super advanced and 80-90% coverage! NBC and Italy Tourism are lucky for snowfall this week, so the camera would not be filming a bunch of beautiful, snowless Dolomites.)

Both Cervinia and Monterosa would be decent choices right now. Cervinia-Zermatt is much larger, so I would choose that location as well. Monterosa - despite its huge 3-valley footprint - has few pistes, and I do not know how well its freeride terrain is skiing right now.
I don't know if you like sampling other resorts on a trip, but stopping off for a day to check out Monterosa is worthwhile. However, it might be as fun to buy International Passes/upgrade passes and ski Zermatt for a day or two; it's always worthwhile, even if just on groomers, despite not much off-piste yet in its valley.

 

[Sbooker]

Adventures — Altitude Guides

Adventures for all tastes, seasons and ages. In Haute-Maurienne, but also in the rest of the Alps. With Altitude.

altitude-guides.com

If anyone is looking for an affordable destination with relatively no crowds or competition for powder and a decent snow record and plenty of terrain over 2000 metres the Maurienne Valley is a good place to consider.
Group guiding at 155 Euro per day.

Edit. The lodging is almost give away outside of school holidays. Plenty can be had for $100 USD per night.

 

[Tony Crocker]

If anyone is looking for an affordable destination with relatively no crowds or competition for powder and a decent snow record and plenty of terrain over 2000 metres the Maurienne Valley is a good place to consider.

By late March I'd like to see significant terrain north facing over 2,500 meters for winter snow. In Jan/Feb 2023 we skied Valloire/Valmeinier on the second day of the trip and Sybelles on the last day. The reality is that we will probably have to manage a lot of spring conditions as we did on the similarly timed trip in 2022. But we have lots of experience in that department. I will be analyzing a bunch of trail maps before we get over there.

 

[ChrisC]

They wrote me the below, sounds like the off piste at Cervinia is in good shape right now with more snow hopefully on the way this week.

Although many of Cervinia can skew on to the easier side, the Plateau Rosa cable car pistes and freeride are the real deal. Also, the ~7000 ft vertical and 14-mile runs from Klein Matterhorn to Valtournenche are unique. The Goillet chair is now HS and services north-facing advanced pistes and freeride. (Most of Cervinia faces West, and some S/SW).

Plateau Rosa -Cervinia
Not my photos. Skied with friends last April '25 - far right and left - with avalanche ratings of 2/5, mostly scouting and following tracks with equipment.

The off-piste for Monterosa is documented by Tony and me, and ViaLattea is detailed resort-by-resort by Tony. It's likely quite good this year, and it's the best-value European mega resort, but there are a couple of choke points.

 

[skiandgolfnut]

Read through all previous trip reports. All seem great and worth trying. Am pretty agnostic between Monterosa ViaLattea and Cervinia and will likely decide based on guide/hotel availability. We need 3 rooms and have found options fairly limited across all areas. Pretty surprising given it is midweek and for the most part prior to half term in most countries. Chatgpt seems to think Switzerland winter sports weeks might be effecting availability but that would surprise me if much Swiss traffic spilled into Italy. Have not yet heard back from any guiding offices other than Cervinia so awaiting word on that front. Seems to be that all of these areas are getting some snow this evening.

Will also add serre chevalier to the list given loads of positive trip reports on here.

 

[ChrisC]

We need 3 rooms and have found options fairly limited across all areas. Pretty surprising given it is midweek and for the most part prior to half term in most countries

Might be running into 5-7 night minimums in February? But usually, places will release rooms by now. You might want to go to individual websites, or write a few promising places (cut-and-paste one genAI email) and blast them and see what comes back.

Yes, Serre Chevalier is a nice resort: authentic, French, very well-interconnected, reasonable, skis mostly intermediate with good pockets of expert terrain. You can stop at one of the ViaLattea resorts on your way to or in the morning to Serre Che. I like Montgenevre-Claviere a bit better than Sestriere or Sauze, because it sits directly on the main highway (vs. mountain road), with mostly all modern lifts and well-connected north and south sides. The town of Briancon is quite large - like Chamonix - and will host some of the Olympic events in 2030. Lots of lodging!

Monterosa. Gressoney is small, Alagna is smaller. Although not as optimally located, Champoluc might be better for multiple nights. St. Jean is a short 2-5-minute drive from the Gressoney ski lifts and an authentic Italian town.