Summer skiing

Hi, I've been winter skiing twice now, but don't want to wait another year
to go again, I've been hearing a bit about summer skiing on glaciers. Now I
don't know anything about this, but what's the difference between skiing in
summer and winter, is there difference with the snow on glaciers, where are
the best resorts for summer skiing, do any travel agents do this or do we
have to go direct?

Sorry for the many questions, any help would be appreciated.

Michele


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On Sun, 01 May 2005 13:26:51 GMT, "M"
wrote:

Hi, I've been winter skiing twice now, but don't want to wait another year
to go again, I've been hearing a bit about summer skiing on glaciers. Now I
don't know anything about this, but what's the difference between skiing in
summer and winter, is there difference with the snow on glaciers, where are
the best resorts for summer skiing, do any travel agents do this or do we
have to go direct?

Sorry for the many questions, any help would be appreciated.

There are several Alpine resorts that are open for summer skiing. By
definition, this is on glaciers, so will only be found in the higher
resorts. Those that spring to mind (in no particular order) are
Tignes, les 2 Alpes, les Diablerets, Saas Fee, Crans/Montana and
Zermatt.

Generally, these will open mid-end June, and will run from about 0800
to 1400 or thereabouts. Later than that and the snow turns to slush
that's not worth skiing. Of course, wherever you go it's going to be
weather-dependant. If it's a miserable cold summer, you may get fresh
powder and great skiing all day. Other times you'll really only be
looking at 2-3 of hours of decent skiing in the morning.

The skiing itself will also depend on conditions, but it will tend to
be sheet ice first thing in the morning (which is why you'll find so
many race teams practising then) and slush by lunchtime. There will be
a very limited number of runs open, and often the best ones will be
'reserved' for the aforementioned racers until it gets to soft for
them.

Other than that, and the temperature, it's pretty much the same. Do be
aware that at 3500m+ it can still get bitterly cold even if it's sunny
at the bottom, so you should make sure you've got at least some
warmish gear with you, and whatever you do don't ski without gloves -
as the ice melts it can get _very_ abrasive, so unless you can
guarantee never to fall over you'll be looking at some very grazed
hands without gloves.


--
Ace (brucedotrogers a.t rochedotcom)
Ski Club of Great Britain - http://www.skiclub.co.uk
All opinions expressed are personal and in no way represent those of the Ski Club.

"Ace" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 01 May 2005 13:26:51 GMT, "M"
wrote:

Other than that, and the temperature, it's pretty much the same. Do be
aware that at 3500m+ it can still get bitterly cold even if it's sunny
at the bottom, so you should make sure you've got at least some
warmish gear with you, and whatever you do don't ski without gloves -
as the ice melts it can get _very_ abrasive, so unless you can
guarantee never to fall over you'll be looking at some very grazed
hands without gloves.


Remeber loads of sun cream too as strong summer sun at that sort of height
is maximum UV exposure.

Joe

On Mon, 2 May 2005 09:56:51 +0100, "Joe Hunt"
wrote:


"Ace" wrote in message
.. .
On Sun, 01 May 2005 13:26:51 GMT, "M"
wrote:

Other than that, and the temperature, it's pretty much the same. Do be
aware that at 3500m+ it can still get bitterly cold even if it's sunny
at the bottom, so you should make sure you've got at least some
warmish gear with you, and whatever you do don't ski without gloves -
as the ice melts it can get _very_ abrasive, so unless you can
guarantee never to fall over you'll be looking at some very grazed
hands without gloves.


Remeber loads of sun cream too as strong summer sun at that sort of height
is maximum UV exposure.

Oh yes - _very_ good point, and another reason not to ski in just a
tee-shirt.

--
Ace (brucedotrogers a.t rochedotcom)
Ski Club of Great Britain - http://www.skiclub.co.uk
All opinions expressed are personal and in no way represent those of the Ski Club.

Felly sgrifennodd M :
where are
the best resorts for summer skiing, do any travel agents do this or do we
have to go direct?

Try Stryn in Norway. If you can go before 26th June you could consider
Riksgransen in Sweden. After 22nd May they're only open Thursday-Sunday,
but they open at night Thursday and Friday so you can ski under the midnight
sun (actually that's a slight con; the lifts are only open until 00:30, which
is not quite the celestial midnight).

Info from: http://www.riksgransen.nu/

Adrian

--
Adrian Shaw ais@
Adran Cyfrifiadureg, Prifysgol Cymru, aber.
Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, Cymru ac.
http://users.aber.ac.uk/ais uk

Ace wrote:
Those that spring to mind (in no particular order) are

FYI

les Diablerets

.... is shut this summer

On Tue, 03 May 2005 23:59:53 +0200, davidof
wrote:

Ace wrote:
Those that spring to mind (in no particular order) are

FYI

les Diablerets

... is shut this summer

I read on the page still open. Juni 18. - July 24.
Strange is there ist no info about the bankruptcy. Let see what the
banks make. ;-)

Johannes

Thanks for all the info, theres more resorts than I first thought, another
question I've got is does any travel agents cater for summer skiing, I can't
find anything of any of the 'common' sites, or do I have to go direct with
the hotels/resorts.

M

--
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Please remove the .nospam. to reply
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"Johannes" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 03 May 2005 23:59:53 +0200, davidof
wrote:

Ace wrote:
Those that spring to mind (in no particular order) are

FYI

les Diablerets

... is shut this summer

I read on the page still open. Juni 18. - July 24.
Strange is there ist no info about the bankruptcy. Let see what the
banks make. ;-)

Johannes

M wrote:
Thanks for all the info, theres more resorts than I first thought,
another
question I've got is does any travel agents cater for summer skiing,
I can't
find anything of any of the 'common' sites, or do I have to go direct
with
the hotels/resorts.

You'll probably have to book direct. I'd cross Crans Montana off your
list, Plaine Morte is totally flat. As already mentioned, if les
Diablerets is open at all, most of it is also almost flat. There might
be a short red. Not sure what's actually open in winter. The Grand
Motte (Tignes) on the other hand is pretty steep at the top and has
quite reasonable length. We did it one October and it was good fun for
a few days especially if you want to practise technique. We stayed
half board at the Hotel Aguille Percee in Tignes Le Lac which was
nothing to get excited about. We're hoping to go to Zermatt and maybe
Hintertux this summer/autumn.

Cheers.
Iain.

Hi, I've been winter skiing twice now, but don't want to wait another year
to go again, I've been hearing a bit about summer skiing on glaciers. Now
I don't know anything about this, but what's the difference between skiing
in summer and winter, is there difference with the snow on glaciers, where
are the best resorts for summer skiing, do any travel agents do this or do
we have to go direct?

Sorry for the many questions, any help would be appreciated.

Michele

Hi Michele,

I can strongly recommend to use the northern orientated glaciers in Austria
like 'Stubai Tal', 'Hintertux' and 'Sölden'. These locations have an
advantage to get better snow condition due to the fact that the weather in
Europe mostly has a northwest-eastern flow (stream). It often snows in the
summer and you will have great condition. Last year I remenber we had 80cm
fresh powder in Hintertux after two days of stormy summer weather in August.
In the western alps it was most likely near to zero, which is often the
case. In fact the northern ridge of the alps has definitely more and better
snow conditions, idenpendently if you in summer or winter. Last but not
least Switzerland and France is even more expensive.

Have fun and enjoy. Cheerio, Matthias