Europe 2025/26

[ChrisC]

Yes I could navigate those on my own and we did on the day after being guided.

The Euros do not ski on cloudy, snowy days - sometimes to their detriment.

Tomorrow, Saturday with sun and new snow will be busy.

That has glacial features. You have to know the section to be skiing hard skier's right to avoid them. Not sure I would try that 7 years later.

It’s easier than one would think. Skiers right hugging the rock wall/cliff (we skied) or skier’s left on opposite side almost hugging opposite rock bands. There are some guidance tracks other skiers too.

Center Steinberg is heavily crevassed.

Ah, the unofficial guide explains Steinberg and why you're considering Galtiberg.

We are dependent on 20 + year old memories. Glaciers could move

Most brought harnesses.

 

[skiandgolfnut]

Chris, are those figures CM or IN? I assume IN.

Remains astonishing how difficult it is to get accurate snowfall information from these areas in the absence of live trip reports. Whiterisk reports 7 cm at the Titlis station for the past 3 days. Opensnow, which is normally highly suspect, actually shows an "estimated" 8 inches fell over the last 48 hours. Nothing on Engelberg's website. I dont recall a single forecast since I've begun tracking this over the last two weeks or so calling for anything like that.

Good for you, those photos look great! Engelberg will have to wait for a different year for me.

We elected to go with Serre Chevalier and arrive Monday. Looks like a storm Monday night/Tuesday so looking forward to some actual Alps treeskiing, a first for me.

 

[Tony Crocker]

looking forward to some actual Alps treeskiing

Those southern Alps larch forests are the only places it's any good. Liz and I scored some of it in Sauze d'Oulx. The snow was old by the time we got to Serre Chevalier but we could tell it would be promising, especially the far western sector below Bachas. We all liked Serre Chevalier in 2023, and skiandgolfnut will be skiing it in much fresher snow than we had.

 

[Tony Crocker]

It's still a month out but I'm keeping an eye on the various Innsbruck ski areas for our early March visit.

You're lucky there's way more snowmaking in Austria, because it's the Alps analogy this season to Colorado in the American West. James also has the option of some Austrian glacier resorts on Indy Pass, plus Kühtai has a base elevation of 2,000 meters.

 

[ChrisC]

Chris, are those figures CM or IN? I assume IN.

Yes. I mix metric and imperial - or break it out.

Base: 100 cm / 40 in
Snow Thurs: 5-20 cm / 2-8 in
Snow Friday after lift opening: 10-15 cm/ 4-6

The Swiss Gvt measurement station is only halfway up Engelberg. There is a 10-20cm band, and obviously, we were skiing where snow accumulates even more.

Remains astonishing how difficult it is to get accurate snowfall information from these areas in the absence of live trip reports. Whiterisk reports 7 cm at the Titlis station for the past 3 days. Opensnow, which is normally highly suspect, actually shows an "estimated" 8 inches fell over the last 48 hours. Nothing on Engelberg's website. I dont recall a single forecast since I've begun tracking this over the last two weeks or so calling for anything like that.

No. The forecast changed as the Northwest flow hit the Swiss Alps - its first Alpine mountain range. Villars, Gstaad, Glacier 3000 and Murren/Grindelwald received even more.

Good for you, those photos look great! Engelberg will have to wait for a different year for me.

Last year worked out the same. 20-40 cm / 8-16 in on Tue/Wednesday before Thursday arrival. Lots of orographic induced snowfall.

We elected to go with Serre Chevalier and arrive Monday. Looks like a storm Monday night/Tuesday so looking forward to some actual Alps treeskiing, a first for me.

Serre Chevalier would be my pick with the expected southern storm track/flow. They received 60cm on Thursday.

Weather to ski’s top 10 weather-proof ski resorts – Europe

Weather to ski’s guide to the best weather-proof resorts – resorts with a good snow record, but plenty of trees for bad weather days.

www.weathertoski.co.uk

Monterosa - one gets stranded in a valley with only a couple of low-altitude lifts available
Cervinia - lots of closures and severe winds
Vialattea - links close, stuck in one valley. Longer, mountainous travel by car to other ski areas
Serre Chavalier - 2/3 of the mountain is sheltered, and it's lower in general, so less wind to close links. Shuttle buses run to all 4 resort bases.

I am sure I will have down days at La Grave and will end up at Serre Chevalier on a storm day, Le Monêtier-les-Bains - trees and steeps - if the pass is open.

The southern Alps are approaching 200-300cm snow bases at the summit.


La Grave is 65cm new in the last week and 210cm base.

 

[jamesdeluxe]

it's the Alps analogy this season to Colorado in the American West. James also has the option of some Austrian glacier resorts on Indy Pass, plus Kühtai has a base elevation of 2,000 meters.

More Innsbruck photos have been posted on Alpinfans and it appears that the snow drought there is over. With only two Indy Pass days for all of the "city" ski areas, I'll have to go into worldskitraveller mode to see most of them or purchase a third day for 25% off, which comes to a reasonable €39. Yes, I plan to ski Pitztal and Kaunertal glaciers.

 

[ChrisC]

More Innsbruck photos have been posted on Alpinfans and it appears that the snow drought there is over. With only two Indy Pass days for all of the "city" ski areas, I'll have to go into worldskitraveller mode to see most of them or purchase a third day for 25% off, which comes to a reasonable €39. Yes, I plan to ski Pitztal and Kaunertal glaciers.

Yes, finally a North/Northwest storm track that Austria always benefits from.....and almost all the pistes are open!

Some of the Innsbruck ski areas look like they could be combined outside the big ones: Stubai, Kuhtai, etc.

 

[ChrisC]

Jan 31, 2026

Sunny and definitely busy, but lifts are relatively low capacity, and the freeride terrain is so extensive that it is still easy to find areas of untracked snow.

More Big 5: Laub, Steinberg, and Sulz. But with the sun now!

End-of-day run down Galtiberg, 6k vertical feet, and bus back into town for Apres-ski.

The Laub - Jackson’s Hobacks on steroids! 4-5k vert ft north-facing wall. Not sure when it gets daylight for the first time each winter - mid Feb?

More Titlus rotating tram and Steinberg

 

[jimk]

I wrote up a blow by blow account of my recent day doing the Vallee Blanche. See HERE

I want to thank everyone here who provided info and answered some of my pre-trip questions. In fact, I wrote the above article to sort of pay it forward for the next guy with questions about this activity. Jim

 

[jamesdeluxe]

blow by blow account of my recent day doing the Vallee Blanche

Nice piece. Glad to be able to read about it because I wouldn't do well with a bootpack descent like that.

 

[Tony Crocker]

I'm sure James would do just fine.

I wouldn't do well with a bootpack descent like that.

Everyone is roped up and wearing crampons. Remember also that Jimk and son were there under very low tide conditions, opening weekend I think we discussed earlier. Despite James' aversion to high profile tourist destinations, Vallee Blanche lives up to the hype. And now that his wife can join him, this should be on their list within the next few seasons. Chamonix was the first Euro destination for Liz in 2001 and me in 2004. Liz had a bad weather week, so we did it together in 2018. The classic route with a decent snowpack is well within the comfort zone of most intermediate skiers with a decent fitness level for the two hikes at top and bottom. Jimk said the guides were concerned about deteriorating weather. On a nice day there's no vibe I saw either time about pushing the pace. Everyone is there for the mind blowing scenery and taking lots of pictures.

 

[ChrisC]

Nice piece. Glad to be able to read about it because I wouldn't do well with a bootpack descent like that.

It’s quite wide (3-4 ft almost) and if you focus on just steps, it’s quite simple.

Boot packs at Big Sky, some Telluride are serious.
Highlands Bowl, Spankys and others - mostly moderate.

National Parks: AngelsLanding. Or Half Dome. Serious.

Remember also that Jimk and son were there under very low tide conditions, opening weekend I think we discussed earlier

I don’t think they were low-tide, just early for glaciers.

Prime is really March to mid April - very busy! Many crevasses gone.

I skied Valley Blanche in late January 2006 and conditions were similar. Our group skied into Chamonix town.

The Gondola/Train is more fun than a hike/traverse.

 

[jamesdeluxe]

I'm sure James would do just fine.

It’s quite wide (3-4 ft almost) and if you focus on just steps, it’s quite simple.

I don't believe that it happened when I skied with Tony; however, I have vestibular/balance issues that make me freak out a bit with serious exposure where the conventional wisdom for most people is "keep your eyes on the path in front of you; don't look to the side at the thousand verts below where you can fall." When I was in grade school, I always dreaded the tumbling portion of gym class because doing even a couple somersaults would make me dizzy for days. That's my deal.

 

[jimk]

I don't believe that it happened when I skied with Tony; however, I have vestibular/balance issues that make me freak out a bit with serious exposure where the conventional wisdom for most people is "keep your eyes on the path in front of you; don't look to the side at the thousand verts below where you can fall." When I was in grade school, I always dreaded the tumbling portion of gym class because doing even a couple somersaults would make me dizzy for days. That's my deal.

I can relate. I'm fearless with the safety bar down on pretty much any chairlift, but in the old days when some hairy ones did not have bars it could make me anxious and I was known to grab the outside frame of the chair rather tightly As Chris said, I kept myself composed by focusing on the trail right in front of me, for the most part, during the steep ridge descent to start the Vallee Blanche.

 

[Tony Crocker]

the old days when some hairy ones did not have bars

Chair 23 was the classic example. All of the older lifts (except 25, allegedly can't handle the extra weight) at Mammoth got them retrofitted in 2021-22, so not that long ago.

I kept myself composed by focusing on the trail right in front of me

Maybe part of the notoriety of that VB arete is that it's a descent. When I did the Via Ferrata in Briancon with Extremely Canadian in 2008, I quickly realized I had better be looking up where I was going and not down.

 

[jasoncapecod]

Chair 23 was the classic example. All of the older lifts (except 25, allegedly can't handle the extra weight) at Mammoth got them retrofitted in 2021-22, so not that long ago.

Maybe part of the notoriety of that VB arete is that it's a descent. When I did the Via Ferrata in Briancon with Extremely Canadian in 2008, I quickly realized I had better be looking up where I was going and not down.

biggest problem i see here is, newbies wearing crampons...they tend to grab pant legs, if you not experienced...having ice climbed for many years and climbed disappointment cleaver on Rainier..im pretty comfortable wearing them...

 

[MarzNC]

I wrote up a blow by blow account of my recent day doing the Vallee Blanche. See HERE

I want to thank everyone here who provided info and answered some of my pre-trip questions. In fact, I wrote the above article to sort of pay it forward for the next guy with questions about this activity. Jim

Thanks for the link to your trip report. Glad you had good visibility.

Having seen the entrance in person, can't quite decide if I would do Valle Blanche or not. My daughter and I went to Chamonix in April 2025 but that trip was always meant to be for sightseeing only. She spent the week before visiting with her godmother in Switzerland. Even though we managed to get in a few hours skiing groomers at Grand Montets the day before. We spent most of the day checking out all the sights at the top.

Vallee Blanche first impressions (not skiing), April 26, 2025

 

[Tony Crocker]

Vallee Blanche looks closed for weather when MarzNC was there. While I stand by my view that VB is easily accessible for intermediates with decent fitness, there's no way you want to be there if there is any question about visibility. Presumably the required guide services make that call.

 

[skiandgolfnut]

I have a big fear of heights and usually struggle without my skis on in those situations and found the Courmayeur cable car entrance to the VB a perfect alternative. Not sure how much of the experience I missed by doing it that way but I was glad to avoid the walk down.

 

[MarzNC]

Vallee Blanche looks closed for weather when MarzNC was there. While I stand by my view that VB is easily accessible for intermediates with decent fitness, there's no way you want to be there if there is any question about visibility. Presumably the required guide services make that call.

?? There were people headed down to ski Vallee Blanche the entire time we were at the top of the peak. All those black dots on the snow are people.

The clouds didn't roll in until mid-afternoon and were pretty high. The pictures I posted were taken just before 4pm. My daughter and I took the last tram down after stopping at the mid-station. We took the 12:40 tram up with blue skies in all directions and clouds below but not above Chamonix yet. There was a steady flow of small groups with skis heading towards the access tunnel the entire afternoon.

The issue being discussed isn't about any concern skiing down, but of the walk down a reasonably steep walkway that drops off on both sides. Personally I would rather be walking up instead of down. Of course, hiking up at that altitude can be tough for other reasons.

View of Chamonix, about 1:00pm, April 26, 2025