Chamonix on the cheap?/How is Kitzbuhl?

[powderfinger]

I have never been to Western Europe. Not the best time to go since the U.S. dollar is at an all time low but our friend in Kitzbuhel may not be there another year.

I flying into A-dam on the 15th of January with a buddy. We will be leaving for home from A-dam on the 29th of January. We will be in Kitzbuhel for at least a few days. Eurorail pass will be taken care of. But as far as Chamonix is it do-able on a budget?

Is the Agullie di Midi all off piste? Do you need to hire a guide? I am not sure if my buddy would go for a day or so to Chamonix but I thought I'd try.

As far as Kitzbuhl I have not yet talked to this friend about the place. How is it for everyday skiing/riding. Anyone been there for a downhill event?

If I don't go to Chamonix is there another place that would be a great place to ski that would be cheapish? Or should we just ski Kitzbuhel the whole time?

We will be hosteling most of the time lving out of our backpacks. Has anyone ever shipped thier gear over before? Would it be better to ship it once we got ot Amsterdam? Or is it not worth the hassel? Hopefully I can borrow gear but maybe I should lug my boots?

Sorry for my lack of knowledge and thanks for you help!

[Mrs Roo]

http://tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12853

read this thread from start to finish

[powderfinger]

Found a shytload of info when I did a search...

So my remaining questions are:

Is the Agullie di Midi all off piste? Do you need to hire a guide?

As far as Kitzbuhel I have not yet talked to this friend about the place. How is it for everyday skiing/riding. Anyone been there for a downhill event?


We will be hosteling most of the time lving out of our backpacks. Has anyone ever shipped thier gear over before? Would it be better to ship it once we got to Amsterdam? Or is it not worth the hassel? Hopefully I can borrow gear but maybe I should lug my boots?

[TeleAl]

First, Amsterdam is no where near Cham nor Kitzbuhl. By train, Cham is about 15 hours from A'dam. The trip can fly by easily with the help of a special bon bon (or 5) for the ride. I imagine it as far from Kitzbuhl too.

Check out www.easyjet.com for cheap flights to/from Geneva from/to A'dam.

Aiguille du Midi:
I suggest going with someone that knows the Aiguille du Midi skiing. Crevaces are everywhere. 1 mistake could be your life. I know guides that will not go there certain times of the year due to the nature of the glacier and the crevace movement.

Nearby, Argentiere offers some great huge skiing. And, in Argentiere is cheaper lodging. Check out the Belvedere for cheap diggs.

Gear:
Good question. I have no suggestions.


My suggestion:
Find good snow, stay put, ski it and ski it well. Making the trip to these 2 resorts in such a short period of time is going to waste more time travelling when you could be making turns. Both resorts will be here for your next trip.

[Mrs Roo]

Found a shytload of info when I did a search...

So my remaining questions are:

Is the Agullie di Midi all off piste? Do you need to hire a guide?

Yes and yes

[powderfinger]

Thanks!

We are still in the planing stages of the trip. My buddy lives a couple hours away but we are meeting up soon. We have our plane tickets so far. We will definitly look into cheap flights. (Wow those are cheap!)

[Mrs Roo]

Unless you get to run the Hahnenkamm straight after a race event, there's not too much that's tricky in Kitz. It's largely low level rolling hills although the new gondola makes getting to the best snow up at Pass Thurn a whole lot easier. The town, on the other hand, is a belter. Really good nightlife and old school Austrian vibe.

Unless you're really determined, getting across to the French Alps from Kitzbuhel with no car is going to be a pain in the ass. I'd either commit to going to Austria or to France. If you are going to Austria, try to get to St Anton and the Ischgl/Paznaun area for decent off piste. Hicks tells me that Galtur is the powder mecca.

If I was in your position, I would politely try to blow off Kitzbuhel and get down to La Grave for the Euro Mini. There will be a bunch of us there from 22nd to 29th January and there are going to be side trips to Serre Chevalier and Alpe d'Huez plus you'd get to ski with people who knew their way around an exclusively off piste 7,000 feet of vert.

But that's just me.

[powderfinger]

Ms. roo-

Thank you very much for your help...It would be a blast to blow off for the mini I'm sure but one of the big reasons we are going is too see this buddy. I will have to check out those other places in Austria.

It looks like the Hahnenkamm is January 21st - 23rd so we most likely will be there!

thanks!

[Hicks]

Hicks tells me that Galtur is the powder mecca.

Bwahaha!

I guess your lovin' husband said that one....

Seriously Galtuer is fine if you are into AT, Jamtal and Wiesbaderer hut up in the Silvretta are the spots to hit.
But I agree Kitz is for nightlife only.

[edg]

Not condoing not taking a guide, but if you take the tourist Vallée Blanche route, and are resonably profficient at glacial travel, you don't NEED a guide. However, that's pretty long and flat, and if you want to try something more adventurous with a chance of better snow, guide is a good idea...

edg

[Lostinthetrees]

My suggestion:
Find good snow, stay put, ski it and ski it well. Making the trip to these 2 resorts in such a short period of time is going to waste more time travelling when you could be making turns. Both resorts will be here for your next trip.

Listen to TeleAl. If Austria is a must do, then hang in Austria.

Bring your boots!

Forget your skis. If you hang in Western Austria hitting the resorts you can find skis to rent and dump them when done. You don't need the hassle of hauling around skis on trains/buses.

Argentiere and Cham both have plenty of great pistes to ski. If you don't have the minimal safety gear (and the experience to use it!) for glacier travel, then your are risking your lives no matter what your ability. If u just gotta Do-It! ...you can hire a guide, rent the minimum gear in Cham for the day. $$$.

Weather: Last year Western Austria and Eastern CH continually got dumped on and Western CH and the Alpes de Haute Savoire got shafted until the end of Jan. Same weather pattern taking place this season. May be worse...last year at least I was skiing Avoriaz,PDS on-piste at this time.

Listen to TeleAl and enjoy Austria.
litt

[Superstar Punani]

Is the Agullie di Midi all off piste? Do you need to hire a guide?

No. Just ignore the black and yellow sign up top- it's there for decoration only. They actually airlift snowcats in there to groom the Vallee Blanche.

[powderfinger]

Hey give me a break I ski the black diamonds here in Minnesota how different could it be in Chamonix?

I guess I should have just asked if you need to hire a guide. Funny no one called me on it before you.

And btw I am not a jerk off or a newbie but I am a bit of a gaper.


As far as glacier skiing I don't know shit. There haven't been any here for thousands of years. The only other time I have been to Europe I skied at Folgefonn in Norway in June but something tells me it's not quite the same as Chamonix.

Maybe France will be another trip.

Thanks everyone!

[Superstar Punani]

Hey give me a break I ski the black diamonds here in Minnesota how different cou ld it be in Chamonix?

I guess I should have just asked if you need to hire a guide. Funny no one called me on it before you.

And btw I am not a jerk off or a newbie but I am a bit of a gaper.


As far as glacier skiing I don't know shit. There haven't been any here for thousands of years. The only other time I have been to Europe I skied at Folgefonn in Norway in June but something tells me it's not quite the same as Chamonix.

Maybe France will be another trip.

Thanks everyone!

Glad to be of help.

[verbier61]

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