Help with ideas for next winter

[Mulletizer]

I know it is a long way off but I need to start getting ideas together for next winter. Basically what I plan for the winter dictates what I do in the preceeding summer; as I am trying to plan the summer so need to decide what I need to earn money for...

Whilst I love La Grave I want to see some of the other cool places around too, for any period from a couple of months to the whole winter. Finances dictate staying in one general area (unless it is 3rd World cheap). Mrs Mullet will (hopefully) be coming too; this rules out major-league dirt-bagging - although light d-bing is acceptable.Any suggestions of places/things to do would be very cool.

Here are the requirements/wishes:

• should involve bigass mountains; big vert runs would be cool, easily accessible steeps also cool (actually, bordering on essential)
• snow in profusion is essential
• can be anywhere in the world - literally anywhere - bearing in mind the above). No worries about whether I speak the lingo or not.
• it would be cool if it going to the place offers a new "cultural experience"
• hopefully not somewhere totally masculine (did I mention La Grave? ) or somewhere that Mrs Mullet will have to cover her skin. Male dominated is ok though
• must be a place where there's not a lot of attitude (count out Cham)
• preferably somewhere not jammed w/ Brits
• the place has got to give good bang to the buck (or have possible ways for Mrs M and me to support ourselves once there - bearing in mind I have UK nationality and the Mrs has UK and Swiss) and preferably cheap too
• if we'll need a car it must be a place where, as foreigners, we can legally and cheaply buy one and, hopefully, sell on afterwards

FWIW We are considering Hokkaido, Japan and doing a work-for-your-board-lodging-and-pass thingy.

Any suggestions would be gratefully received - countries, resorts, ranges - anything! Thanks in advance.

[Buster Highmen]

Nelson/Kootenays, BC.
Bellingham, WA.
SLC, UT.
Alagna, IT.

[comish]

Hokkaido Japan definitely qualifies under the "ass loads of snow" but the mountains aren't huge. Yote (sp?) is a big volcano, but everything else is rather small and not particularly steep. Especially coming from La Grave. Possibly the best place in the world for Pow (yes, better than alta since no "Pain Train" or WasAngeles touring) and absolutely shit loads of snow, but the mtns really aren't that steep. Niseko is a cool town.

I have a friend with an uninhabited tree house at the base of Yote that he isn't using. This thing is a rather schwank tree house. He spent a whole day in a hut up on Roger's Pass designing it with his buddy who was going to build it. He had a teepee on it in the summer, but I think that is either gone of snowed under. Anyway Yote was big enough that he enjoyed skiing 201 Asteriods and he weighs less than 160lbs so wasn't making many turns.

Not really much help, I know, but that's all I know about Hokkaido. I will go ski pow there someday.

[72Twenty]

Siberia/Russia?

Cultural experience.......

[tjb]

^^ BUMP ^^

'Cos I'm interested in people's thoughts too ....

[bad_roo]

Terskol. Cheap, huge-ass mountains, hell, you could even get used to the food.

[Snow Dog]

Mrs Mullet will (hopefully) be coming too; this rules out major-league dirt-bagging - although light d-bing is acceptable.Any suggestions of places/things to do would be very cool.

Dirtbagging with someone you love can be very romantic.

[verbier61]

alagna's (or might be gressoney's) cool but snow might be disappointing. This year, for instance, has ben so far almost a disaster.

[Blurred]

Don't come to Colorado. No snow, no mountains, no options. Urah definitely, you'll love the two canyons they have to offer.....

[ak_powder_monkey]

If I was planning a long term trip I'd go to New Zealand. i met an irish guy fishing this year who said he can usually find someone who needs a house sitter for about $5 a day and he buys a car for about a grand then sells it for more when he leaves. Makes me wonder what he was doing in AK... Granted you'd probably wanna go late july through september or thereabouts... Just my $.02

[subtle plague]

Siberia/Russia?

Cultural experience.......

nope no snow. too continental. except for kamtschatka (sp ?) but there you only have volcanoes.
and it is colder than a witches tit. (you dont wanna ski -30 to -40° C)

the himalaya looks interesting(in those magazine travel reports), although i can not imagine that the snow stays good very long because of the intense sunlight (maybe in steep shadows, but im not too sure if there any skiable ones because at 25-30° north the sun is never lower then 40-45° so the shadowed steeps would be reeeally steep )

in the Alps you could visit the Krippenstein shitloads of snow and serious steeps (but usually they are blown out/sluffed ) but it is only on place three on my list behind la grave and engelberg and you can not plan anything because of its low elevation. so i do not think coming from la grave it would be that much of an eye opener.
I heard Kasazstan has great mountains with a lot of snow. and you could try the caucasian mountains. mt. elbrus hasnt much steeps on the glaciated terrain(volcano again) but the rest looks mindblowing on the photos.
Or go to AK/BC. but going to AK/BC is sooo played
concerning the lower 48 (well except for that crowded Utah Pow which looks nice): i dont think anyting there could be of seroius interest for someone coming from la grave. All these mountains do look a bit hilly to european eyes

[Telepath]

Gressoney/Alagna if in Europe and they have snow; could be the best, could be dry. Kinda dangerous place to plan on before November.

Also, you should really seriously consider Chx. Last week I felt pretty much as home there as I do in LG. It all depends on who you hang with and if you buy into the second-year-out swedish skibum wannabee thing. There are a lot of really cool people there and unlike LG there's always another bar to go if there's a crowd at one place. And dude, they have girls there. I'm seriously thinking of basing there a bit next year.

St. Anton is folksy, but seriously good.

Engelberg unfortunately is was way folksy and kinda attitude-rich now, but not that many people really ski that hard so with their current snow statistics there's easily be enough snow for you.

Slightly different ideas:
Bansko, Bulgaria. Half the Bigtrix crew spent a lot of time there this year.
Elbrus. Big, different.
Gulmarg, India. (depending on what Glisseur says when (if) he comes back in a week)

Knowing you I think you'd like Baker/Bellingham too. While it ain't exactly big it's got cool (decently steep but very consequence-free) terrain and you'd like the vibe in Bham. But after living for several seasons withing walking distance of the LG lift you might find the hourish drive to Baker a tad unnesessary.


My best idea for you for next winter though is to sack up and get some 916's Good recovery dood.

[verbier61]

Gressoney/Alagna if in Europe and they have snow; could be the best, could be dry. Kinda dangerous place to plan on before November.

uh.... even a november's choice can be dangerous.... They got serious dumping in november-december 04... and it was the last shit they got up to now

[ulty_guy]

mullety, go argentina/chile. cheap, loads of terrain, new cultural experience (you guys will pick up spanish in a flash after learning french), and lots of stuff to do beside skiing.

[ulty_guy]

harsh!

My best idea for you for next winter though is to sack up and get some 916's Good recovery dood.

as for alagna...i'm a huge lover of the place, but wouldn't want to be there for a whole winter. if you want to hit some serious steeps and couloirs, go for late march-early may. the rest of the season, you'll have a few great days a month, but the wind situation means that it doesn't stay very soft for very long.

[Plakespear]

Utah would work because-

Here are the requirements/wishes:
[list][*]should involve bigass mountains; big vert runs would be cool, easily accessible steeps also cool (actually, bordering on essential)
Check[*]snow in profusion is essential
Is 500 inches a year enough?[*]can be anywhere in the world - literally anywhere - bearing in mind the above). No worries about whether I speak the lingo or not.
Since you speak scottish, you probably will figure out American after a few months [*]it would be cool if it going to the place offers a new "cultural experience"
I'm sure within a few days of your arrival a nice looking young fella in a white shirt and tie will explain to you a new cultural experience.[*]hopefully not somewhere totally masculine (did I mention La Grave? ) or somewhere that Mrs Mullet will have to cover her skin. Male dominated is ok though
I heard there are so many women there some of the locals actually have a few wives.[*]must be a place where there's not a lot of attitude (count out Cham)
Well, there is the really sassy chic that lives there...[*]preferably somewhere not jammed w/ Brits
The liquor laws scare most of them away[*]the place has got to give good bang to the buck (or have possible ways for Mrs M and me to support ourselves once there - bearing in mind I have UK nationality and the Mrs has UK and Swiss) and preferably cheap too
Considering I always sleep in phUnk or MacDaddy's guest room when I'm there, I don't know the local rents. But I'm sure you could find someone looking for a roommate or two around here...[*]if we'll need a car it must be a place where, as foreigners, we can legally and cheaply buy one and, hopefully, sell on afterwards
As foreingers, not only can you buy and sell cars, you can probably get a license to drive a taxi (I think they give them out at customs at JFK if you present a non-US passport)

[bad_roo]

Alta Total Vert: 2150
La Grave Total Vert:7100

Therein could lie the problem.

[Mikey]

Maybe you should give Jackson some thought?

Nice range of terrain in bounds with awesome backcountry potential. Certainly no shortage of snow. No language issues. Lots of layed back, ripping skiers to hook up with. A reasonable male/female mix – well certainly compared to La Grave. Not too much attitude – there are a few wannabe Rockstars but there are so many ripping local skiers that they get diluted down. Hardly any brits – I was there for 2 weeks last month and only saw 1 other guy from the UK. Great atmosphere with some fun nightlife. Reasonably affordable. Granted the lift tickets are expensive, but with the exchange rate it’s very affordable. Rent’s go for about $600 a month in Teton Village and less in Jackson itself.

I’m giving it serious thought for myself next year, but can’t make up my mind as I’d also love to go to La Grave…

[subtle plague]

Alta Total Vert: 2150
La Grave Total Vert:7100

Therein could lie the problem.

nah... mullet only skies from p2 to p1 so he's used to 600m vertical only

edit from p2 to p1. not even mullet can ski upwards

[Mulletizer]

Firstly, many thanks for all the suggestions.

Secondly, Subtle Plague, I have no idea what you are talking about. I only ever ski from P3 to P2. I get lost if I try to ski in the trees.

Thirdly, Telepath, I wouldn't need to sack up to get those binders, I'd need to save up and build up my upper body so I could carry whatever they are attached to. BTW My Monsters look sweet with 80s day-glo Looks.

At the moment I think I feel that another continent is calling me (and I include Russia in that too, even though it isn't). The PNW, aforementioned BC spots and areas of Utah and Co are sure-as-hell tempting, despite the limited vert ( ). In fact, everywhere that has been mentioned is tempting although the Russian food is a siginificant "push" factor fromn going there (did I mention that there are reasons other than skiing for being in France? ).

Since I might ( ) have to consider career paths soon (if I decide I don't want to cut myself off from the possibility of employability for ever) this could be the last winter for a while when I will have a few months to go somewhere. So it seems that it might be a good opportunity to go somewhere "off-the-map" rather than to somewhere I can go on a regular holiday. So I think I might hear the developing countries calling too.

For now Southern Hemisphere places are off the menu. In June I will be coming of the back of six years of either consecutive Northern-Southern Hemisphere winters or of mostly living in Scotland (=winter 12 month a year). Call me a traitor to the faith but I want to cook this summer.

FWIW Some other places I have been thinking about are Manali and possibly Gulmarg if the India/Pakistan situation calms. Likewise, if things calm down there Nepali is a definite possibility (although I can no longer expect a regal welcome there ). Also tempted by the Stans. Any info about experiences of these places would be gratefully received.

Will be considering all the suggestions here and discussing them with Mrs Mullet. Please keep the ideas coming.

Mullet / Al

[Rusty Nails]

You can definitely live cheap with great food in places like Brasov, Romania. You could even split time between there and another locale. I enjoying Sinaia (Spelling???) more than the other more built up places, but it was all cool.

Also, how about Turkey? Very US friendly, cheap, great food -- trans-country bus system kicks ass. I have never been there during ski season, but enjoyed my non-skiing time there immensely.

[Mulletizer]

Also, how about Turkey? Very US friendly, cheap, great food -- trans-country bus system kicks ass. I have never been there during ski season, but enjoyed my non-skiing time there immensely.

Also a consideration although I forgot to mention it; one of my friends here has been skiing there more and more and loves it. Is US friendly good?

Logically Romania, Bulgaria and Slovakia should be high on my list but, illogically, I don't feel that keen on them. No idea why, just a feeling... But I heard the beer in those countries is g-oooood.

[Rusty Nails]

I meant US friendly in contrast to many of the other Stans where you are certainly more of a "target" -- Anyhoo, I've heard great things as well and love the country as a fun and affordable getaway.

[lemon boy]

Just a couple of thoughts on Russia for you (I've been there, my wife is from there but I haven't skied there but am working on it).

Mullet: should involve bigass mountains; big vert runs would be cool, easily accessible steeps also cool (actually, bordering on essential)

Lemon: I understand that they have this, particularily around Sochi. (Krasnaya Polyana)

M: snow in profusion is essential

LB: Ditto, I believe it is basically maritime snowpack

M: can be anywhere in the world - literally anywhere - bearing in mind the above). No worries about whether I speak the lingo or not.

LB: In russia almost everyone has had some english but very few speak it. You absolutely must learn how to read cyrillic. There is virtually no English (or other) signage.

M: it would be cool if it going to the place offers a new "cultural experience"

LB: Russia = Check

M: hopefully not somewhere totally masculine (did I mention La Grave? ) or somewhere that Mrs Mullet will have to cover her skin. Male dominated is ok though

LB: Russia = Check

M: must be a place where there's not a lot of attitude (count out Cham)

LB: ?????????????????? Russians in general do have a lot of tude but not the kind you're talking about.

M: preferably somewhere not jammed w/ Brits

LB:Check

M: the place has got to give good bang to the buck (or have possible ways for Mrs M and me to support ourselves once there - bearing in mind I have UK nationality and the Mrs has UK and Swiss) and preferably cheap too

LB: I believe getting a foreign work visa is as easy as finding hen's teeth (read impossible*) you might be able to teach english. But it is in general relatively inexpensive outside Moscow/St. Peters (although I bet the resort areas are a little more expensive)

M: if we'll need a car it must be a place where, as foreigners, we can legally and cheaply buy one and, hopefully, sell on afterwards

LB: ?????????Dunno, might be impossible* and would likely require frequent "lubrication*" But, they in general have good but funky "public" transp and private bus lines that are cheap as well.

Healthcare is suckass there but probably better than in india so you should be relatively okay.

*A few words on impossibility: Russia runs on payola and bribery. What cannot be bought with money can be bought with big money. 99.99999% of the time any problem, issue whatever can be handled with the skillful application of money. Any person who is in any position to wield power over you will basically expect a bribe.
Maybe duboix can fill you in more. If you have specific questions I can get my wife to answer them.

[shmerham]

Dolomites?

Just throwing ideas out. I'm no expert, but I've heard Italy is more inexpensive than france or switzerland or austria. Wouldn't get la grave vert, but from watching tgr movies and knowing how big the superski area is, it looks like there's enough terrain and challenge to satisfy. Definite culture and I'm sure it would be mrs. friendly. Not sure about snow though. Is it hit or miss from a season standpoint?