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where in the world to go skiing in april?

post #1 of 16
3/4/06 at 5:34am
Thread Starter 
my wife and i will be at big sky march 18-24 - our first trip there and really looking forward to it.

we love skiing the rockies and sierras: summit county, park city, tahoe resorts. we've been to whistler but not banff. we'd love to ski in europe and new zealand.

it's my turn to plan our wedding anniversary trip and i thought it would be fun to go skiing, especially somewhere different. so, where in the world is the best skiing in early to mid april?

thanks in advance,

keith
memphis
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post #2 of 16
3/4/06 at 5:40am
Tignes, France. Glacier skiing - used to be open 365 days a year. I think they close for a month now.
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post #3 of 16
3/4/06 at 6:20am
There only one place to go skiing in April and have a REALLY good time....

If you go to the Meet on the Hill Forum and look around I bet you figure it out pretty quickly!
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post #4 of 16
3/5/06 at 4:50am
That time of year the most reliable snow in North America will be at Sunshine Village near Banff. April is their big dump time of year
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post #5 of 16
3/5/06 at 3:30pm
Hintertux, Austria. Guaranteed decent skiing because it has a glacier - IMO the best glacier in Austria. Check out this hotel. http://www.hohenhaus.at/english/hh-n...ter/preise.htm I stayed there once when we got stuck at the top of the valley because it was snowing so hard and we didn't have chains to get down. It was the second week of May. Incredible spa, but many Americans have issues with the first rule of the spa (hot tubs, saunas, steambaths, etc) and that is keine Bekleiderung - no clothing. The Europeans have no issue with this unless some folks wear bathing suits...The prices include breakfast and dinner. You will love it!
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post #6 of 16
3/5/06 at 8:20pm
I loved FERNIE, in British Colombia in mid April 2 years ago. It was warm weather , we had a decked-out house ON MOUNTAIN, and the American dollar goes VERY far in Canada. You are getting very close to the end of their season and that means good sales on ski equip and such. Keep 2 things in mind: getting to Canada is an all day affair (I'm from Delaware) and the skiing is VERY challenging. (Tougher than Steamboat, Keystone, Alta, Snowbird, Big Sky)
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post #7 of 16
3/5/06 at 10:40pm
fernie can be rain or snow not just in april, but anytime.

Sunshine is a great bet, can be full winter snow or spring slush. I've been skiing full winter, boot top snow at the last weekend of may (closing weeked) Also banff is a bit more in spring mode with some hiking and back in calgary full spring/summer with biking, golf etc (but really just ski the rest sucks)
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post #8 of 16
3/6/06 at 6:38pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mikebike
That time of year the most reliable snow in North America will be at Sunshine Village near Banff. April is their big dump time of year
I second that. Found surprisingly good conditions there in early May 01 and then April 03. Freshies even when snow up the street was alreay running down into Lake Louise. Even so L.L. might be worth checking out.
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post #9 of 16
3/8/06 at 10:24pm
If you decide to stay in the states, don't rule out Tahoe for good conditions in April - we've had a good recent slew of snow and cold temps, and unless a long warm stretch hits or we get the pineapple express rain come in, we should be good to ski through April.
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post #10 of 16
3/8/06 at 11:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Uncle Louie
There only one place to go skiing in April and have a REALLY good time....

If you go to the Meet on the Hill Forum and look around I bet you figure it out pretty quickly!
Vail is always awesome in mid April, especially the powder days on the back bowls.

To me there is nothing more romantic than a powder day...
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post #11 of 16
3/9/06 at 4:42am
I'd shy away from the Rockies in mid-April. Their wonderful snow can turn to dangerous mush in warm weather. You're best bet that late in the year is something further west like Whistler, Mt. Bachelor or the Tahoe area. The heavier snows those areas get hold up much better to the heat.

PS - PM me sometime next week. I should be skiing Big Sky the first weekend you are there & I'll gladly show you around.
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post #12 of 16
3/9/06 at 4:58am
anytime of the year the Little Cottonwood resorts of Alta and Snowbird are your #1 bet for good ski conditions, and they just happen to have terrain, access and cost that'll match anyplace. This is even more true for April.
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post #13 of 16
3/9/06 at 7:07pm
In North America, in order of preference: Mammoth, Mt. Bachelor, Little Cottonwood Canyon, Whistler, Summit County, Banff areas.

In the Alps you looking for the same criteria of high altitude and north exposure. Look for a lift system where you can stay up high.
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post #14 of 16
3/9/06 at 7:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by viking kaj
Vail is always awesome in mid April, especially the powder days on the back bowls.

To me there is nothing more romantic than a powder day...
I'd agree that's about as good as it gets. I've had some great days. However, you can't plan a vacation around it at all. Most of the time Vail sucks in April.

Anyway, I can't wait to be "sick" if Vail has a big powder day in April. I already feel a cold coming on...
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post #15 of 16
3/9/06 at 11:50pm
I lived near Bachelor for years, now I live in Fernie, so I look forward to good April skiing either way, but I don't think anywhere can touch Bachelor. They got 22 inches today, have 198 on the ground and could easily stay open top to bottom until july 4th if the skiers would just keep coming. Fernie has a ton of snow, but will close April 18th. Bachelor will close June 1.
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post #16 of 16
3/13/06 at 9:57am
Arapahoe Basin . . .

then come back in May
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