Europe 2025/26
- Thread starter ChrisC
- Start date
ChrisC
Well-known member
I don't know where you are going, but obviously glacier skiing could be in the mix. Zermatt can be accessed from Switzerland on the north side, and Cervinia from the south and west - especially from France once the passes open. Besides, the best summer skiing (until July) in Zermatt is actually --> Cervinia! By far! This is never written about and neglected by winter/ski writers. Cervinia had advanced intermediate/low expert terrain open with accessible couloirs till early summer. Zermatt had the classic Matterhorn views, some OK intermediate pitches, but lots of flats.
How did you route this trip?
It looks like the premier carriers of the Middle East are no longer reliable for the near future: Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar.
I have flown Turkish Airlines, and it's a steal for Europe! Especially skiing (they need to preserve (summer) year-round capacity, so winter seats are unfilled).
Coach (trans-Atlantic portion) includes Large Seats/Pitch (industry-leading), a Lacoste amenities bag (Economy Plus-like), 2 free checked bags at base fare (do not need to pull a James and argue ski bag and boot bag are one!), and get 1 or 2 free nights in Istanbul (if you want. It's definitely one of Europe's or Asia's Top 10 Cities, not a Dubai (i.e. Miami/Dallas/Houston) Shopping Mall!). More importantly, its winter passenger occupancy rate is so low that you get a full row or an empty middle seat to yourself. Food is excellent, much above average.
We’ve skied Cervinia and Zermatt. The plan was not to take skis or do any novelty skiing but because winter is really hanging on I’m flirting with the thoughts of skiing at Duex Alpes again.
This trip was to replace a trip that got cancelled in March just gone. We were flying via the Middle East and operation Epic Fury resulted in the non adventurous people at Qatar airlines cancelling our flights. To be fair there were bombs being lobbed at our stopover airport in Doha.
We rebooked flying with Singapore. We’ve had only good experiences with them so far.
The unusually cold weather has me rethinking our plans to be honest. We’re also booked to go to the Dolomites and Slovenia and Croatia in September for hiking so it won’t kill us if this hiking trip doesn’t happen.
I guess we could go check out the Mediterranean and foothills nearby including Verdon Gorge. Or maybe we could go to Spain as we haven’t been there before. Or Corsica even…..
jasoncapecod
Well-known member
We had a blast summer skiing and hiking in Zermatt. In my rock climbing era , Verdon Gorge was a dream trip...
ChrisC
Well-known member
During a month-long European summer trip, I was able to ski in Zermatt in July with very little extra consideration.
I brought generic mountain/outdoor gear (hiking, mountain biking, skiing, etc.) for the Alps (Interlaken/Zermatt, Switzerland), Ligurian Alps (Cinque Terre), and Bavaria (Neuschwanstein). Basically, all that was required was a Gore-Tex jacket, water-repellent pants, a wool hat, and gloves.
Really, my only 'extra' summer-skiing gear was pants and gloves. Probably could have just skied in hiking pants. Other gear was easily hired/rented in Zermatt.
Yes, Les 2 Alpes looks quite snowy!
All of my Southern Hemisphere ski trips have included significant time devoted to other activities. Yes, it’s not a big deal to take clothing. I do recommend taking your ski boots though.
ChrisC
Well-known member
Well, I am not taking boots for a single summer ski day in the Alps!
The reality will be boots with a sloppy fit.Tourism to South America or Japan, all gear comes! And gets stored at a non-skiing location. I will drag 50lbs of gear around for 3 days or more+...approximate cutoff. Definitely boots.
That's almost my cutoff for Scuba-diving. For a single day (AM and PM diving), I will not drag everything except basics.
I’ll be in the Alps on Sunday. There has been a rapid change from an unusually cold spring in the French alps to normal temps now. By next week it’s predicted to be about 85 degrees in the valleys. Hopefully the south faces in the alpine are walkable.
Might have to take my togs.
Might have to take my togs.
ChrisC
Well-known member
The Alps have had a very snowy May!
I would strongly consider skiing over hiking for a day.
Les Deux Alpes looks especially worthwhile: glaciers (2 sectors) and the Signal Lift. The NEWer 2-Stage Jandri S3 services this, another lift marvel. And snow bases ar 40-150 inches / 110-360 cm. Curerntly, over 3000ft+/1000m of vertical is open.
The Signal lift sector faces north, and has very good expert terrain to skier's right and left!
Overall, Les 2 Alpes likely offers skiing equivalent to Zermatt/Cervinia.
Ouverture des pistes de ski – État des pistes | Les 2 Alpes
Pour une journée de ski parfaite, consultez les ouvertures de pistes et remontées mécaniques, la météo par secteur, les hauteurs de neige, les risques
Tempting but all that extra gear for a day on what could be sticky snow…..The Alps have had a very snowy May!
I would strongly consider skiing over hiking for a day.
Les Deux Alpes looks especially worthwhile: glaciers (2 sectors) and the Signal Lift. The NEWer 2-Stage Jandri S3 services this, another lift marvel. And snow bases ar 40-150 inches / 110-360 cm. Curerntly, over 3000ft+/1000m of vertical is open.
The Signal lift sector faces north, and has very good expert terrain to skier's right and left!
Overall, Les 2 Alpes likely offers skiing equivalent to Zermatt/Cervinia.
Ouverture des pistes de ski – État des pistes | Les 2 Alpes
Pour une journée de ski parfaite, consultez les ouvertures de pistes et remontées mécaniques, la météo par secteur, les hauteurs de neige, les risqueswww.les2alpes.com
View attachment 51223
And I’m about to turn 54 and I’ve never gone on an overseas trip without skiing. The time is right to break that one dimensional streak.
jasoncapecod
Well-known member
I’m going to turn 64Tempting but all that extra gear for a day on what could be sticky snow…..
And I’m about to turn 54 and I’ve never gone on an overseas trip without skiing. The time is right to break that one dimensional streak.
Now I seem to visit ski resorts in summer
ChrisC
Well-known member
There is no extra gear! Rent! Assuming you will pack for outdoor activities in France/Alps (and expect some rain/inclement weather), you are not really bringing extra gear.
Expect you have a shell and a hat. You really just need maybe some light gloves and pants (even hiking can suffice). You just re-use layers.
How many Francophone afternoons are you realistically going to have, struggling with the French language to converse with the shopkeeper at the fromagerie? After a few days, enough! Even Rick Steves advocates getting out.
I have skied the following on rental gear (USA ski areas on business-related trips when not living in the Northwest):
- Zermatt/Crevinia - June
- Crystal Mountain WA - June and July
- Whistler/Blackcomb - June
- Timbeline Lodge OR - August
Again, your summer ski day is a small window, not a full day. Start early so you find the 2-4 hours that are worthwhile, then call it a day. You don't need gear for every scenario. Also, if the weather sucks, just cancel entirely and do something else (maybe better weather down low, next valley, indoors, etc).
Extra points for honesty!
That's ^^ what I fear going places where I can't speak the language -- assuming that people are taking the piss out of me while smiling in a friendly manner.
ChrisC
Well-known member
The late-season conditions at Les 2 Alpes appear excellent!
Look at mid-mountain station: Jandri 2600 M. There is only a single 'open' piste to the mid-station, but the reality seems to be anything might be skiable.
This is semi-equivalent to my visit in early April 2025.
www.les2alpes.com
The summit glaciers look nice!
Look at mid-mountain station: Jandri 2600 M. There is only a single 'open' piste to the mid-station, but the reality seems to be anything might be skiable.
This is semi-equivalent to my visit in early April 2025.
Webcam du domaine skiable en live | Les 2 Alpes
Consultez les webcams des 2 Alpes en live avant de partir sur les pistes de ski : enneigement, météo, panoramas 360°. Un moyen efficace et pratique
The summit glaciers look nice!
Last edited:
ChrisC
Well-known member
The best terrain is likely some of the longer glacier runs, and the Signal Chair zone, which is a semi-glaciated bowl with grommed drainages, and some expert/stepper chutes funneling into them - all highly visible from chairlift and other aspects.
Green = Open as of 5/22/2026
Yellow = Signal Lift Zone
Open Ski Map (Topo with north-facing looker). One can see La Grave immediately next door (looker's left).
Note: I disliked the setup of Les 2 Alpes for years, despite having some great ski days. My issue was the layout: a long ridge, but not very wide. Same criticism people make of Aspen Highlands.
I changed my opinion on my last visit in April 2025. It really has a number of great north-facing expert zones! A lot! The snow stays great; storms funnel into the mountain well (likely nearby La Meije helps unload storms from NW and W.) It's one of the highest ski resorts in the Alps (always forget this). And a super modern lift infrastructure now serves all areas - basically, there are no more 'slow' chair/gondolas. Everything is first rate!
I would not a week there; although it's super affordable and almost every lodging is slopeside or easily walkable. Definitely worth a day (or two).
Again, the combination of:
Caveat: Zermatt/Cervinia/Monterosa are more questionable for snowfall and should always be saved till mid-late winter.
Whoops: Add Chamonix to the above list. My definition includes: Auguille du Midi, Brevent-Flegere, Grands Montets, Le Tour -- PLUS Courmayeur, Les Contamines, Megeve (storms), and possibly Verbier. All 15-60-minute day trips.
Green = Open as of 5/22/2026
Yellow = Signal Lift Zone
Open Ski Map (Topo with north-facing looker). One can see La Grave immediately next door (looker's left).
OpenSkiMap.org
Explore downhill, nordic & backcountry skiing worldwide using this interactive map based on open data.
openskimap.org
Note: I disliked the setup of Les 2 Alpes for years, despite having some great ski days. My issue was the layout: a long ridge, but not very wide. Same criticism people make of Aspen Highlands.
I changed my opinion on my last visit in April 2025. It really has a number of great north-facing expert zones! A lot! The snow stays great; storms funnel into the mountain well (likely nearby La Meije helps unload storms from NW and W.) It's one of the highest ski resorts in the Alps (always forget this). And a super modern lift infrastructure now serves all areas - basically, there are no more 'slow' chair/gondolas. Everything is first rate!
I would not a week there; although it's super affordable and almost every lodging is slopeside or easily walkable. Definitely worth a day (or two).
Again, the combination of:
- Alpes d'Huez
- Les 2 Alpes
- La Grave
- Serre Chevalier
- Montgenevre
Caveat: Zermatt/Cervinia/Monterosa are more questionable for snowfall and should always be saved till mid-late winter.
Whoops: Add Chamonix to the above list. My definition includes: Auguille du Midi, Brevent-Flegere, Grands Montets, Le Tour -- PLUS Courmayeur, Les Contamines, Megeve (storms), and possibly Verbier. All 15-60-minute day trips.
Last edited:
I agree with ChrisC's sell to Sbooker here. Surely Sbooker has read enough of my late season Mammoth reports (including this week!) to see the upside of late spring skiing in right places (meaning not Australia!). Recall that on one of those trips I forgot my ski boots and had to rent.
Corn snow is my favorite condition to ski groomers. And steep terrain can be more forgiving in well timed spring conditions also.French is Sbooker's wife Kylie's hobby of the past several years. That's one of the reasons they lean toward French ski areas.
If they are in the Grenoble/Briancon region for several days, they can easily cherry pick the most appropriate one for Les Deux Alpes.
We’ll be hiking with a little bit of biking. We have clothing that could suit summer skiing.
ChrisC
Well-known member
Summer skiing / mountain biking / hiking / bungee - all the same clothing!
I thought it would be useful to have a Summer Skiing Report where the main focus wasn't skiing (it was quite low on the activity list). Also, I've finally digitized all my photos and organized them in Google Photos, so they are easy to access.
Visited Zermatt for 2 nights and 3 days in late June 2005 during an overall European trip (Paris->Amsterdam->many stops->Rome) via train.
Zermatt Trail Map (2004)
skimap.org
Zermatt Summer Ski Area.
A lot of these surface lifts are now gone (redundant with the newer high-speed S3...
Visited Zermatt for 2 nights and 3 days in late June 2005 during an overall European trip (Paris->Amsterdam->many stops->Rome) via train.
Zermatt Trail Map (2004)
Matterhorn ski maps
Explore 69 ski trail maps from 1942-2025 for Matterhorn (Zermatt/Breuil-Cervinia/Valtournenche) in West Switzerland and Valais, Italy / Switzerland.
skimap.org
Zermatt Summer Ski Area.
A lot of these surface lifts are now gone (redundant with the newer high-speed S3...