Best Skiing at the Moment
For Backcountry Skiers Seeking the Deepest Powder Snow in the Alps
Most ski holidays planned by guides, tour operators or individuals are resort-based. The problem with this arrangement lies in the difficulty to predict far in advance what the snow conditions will be like.
Best Skiing at the Moment is the brain-child of UIAGM-certified Mountain Guide, Andreas Bengtsson who runs Mountain Guide Travel, based in the European Alps. The concept for a one week trip involves seeking out the best back-country skiing conditions for the season within about a 3.5 hour drive of the meeting point. Powder enthusiasts signed up for a 'Best Skiing' week only find out at the 11th hour where they are going skiing.
"Good off piste skiing is not about a specific resort. It's all about being at the right place at the right time", Bengtsson explains. "It's all quite simple. You book a flight to Geneva, a week with us, and we go wherever the snow is best", he adds.
The Secret to Finding the Best Snow
Deep, untracked, powder snow is the most coveted condition sought out by back country skiing enthusiasts. Known affectionately as the Swedish powder-hound, Bengtsson has acquired a reputation as a master snow detective. He also works with a team of accomplished snow sleuths.
Best Skiing at the Moment mountain guides check regular, updated, local area forecasts, satellite maps and communicate with a network of guides and other professionals positioned around the Alps to obtain the most current information on conditions.
Destinations are determined at the last minute. Deciding where the best skiing is, is part art, part science. It comes from years of experience in specific mountain areas and familiarity with localized weather patterns. The weather and conditions can vary enormously from valley to neighboring valley. It is not unusual, for example, to experience heavy snowfalls in the Chamonix area, drive 20 minutes through the Mont Blanc tunnel to Courmayeur, Italy and be met by sunshine and t-shirt weather.
The best snow is not only a question of quantity. The quality of the snow is important too. Snow quality can be affected by a combination of things including elevation and aspect of a slope, temperature, wind and humidity.
100 Ski Resort Locations
One of the main modifiers of the snow that impacts on skiing conditions is crowds. Listed below are some of the popular locations for this guided week of skiing. Protecting trade secrets, what's not mentioned of course, are the obscure ski areas where the snow typically lies untracked days after a storm.
Considering Geneva as the center of a circle with a radius of three hours driving time, the area of the circle contains well over 100 ski resorts. This surfeit of snow-holiday options is unique to central Europe and provides an enormous scope for great skiing.
- Possible destinations in France include — La Grave, Alp d'Huez, Les 2 Alpes and Chamonix, with La Grave being the farthest away at 3.5 hrs and Chamonix, the closest, at just over an hour's drive.
- Swiss resorts likely visited include: Andermatt, Engleberg and Zinal.
- In Italy the Best Skiing at the Moment team may consider Helbronner, Courmayeur and La Thuile.
Who Can Join Best Skiing at the Moment?
Best Skiing at the Moment is suited to expert black run skiers with a solid off-piste background. Some ski touring experience is recommended but not mandatory. An adventurous spirit is certainly an asset.
What's Included in a Best Skiing at the Moment Guided Package
- Professional UIAGM / IFMGA certified Mountain Guide
- 6 days of guided skiing
- Safety equipment for backcountry and glacier skiing (transceiver, shovel probe, rope, harness, carabiners)
- Airport transfers to and from Geneva airport
- Road transport during the week
- Ski pass for 6 days
- Three star twin room hotel accommodation including breakfast. (A single supplement can be arranged at additional cost).
The cost of skiing for a week guaranteed to provide the best skiing in the Alps is €1530 at 2008 / '09 prices.
Ski enthusiasts seeking ultimate powder conditions in a week's skiing should consider the mystery and sense of adventure pursuing, with a half dozen like-minded skiers, the Best Skiing at the Moment!
More articles in this adventure skiing series include: Chamonix to Zermatt Haute Route and Sailing and Skiing the Lyngen Alps of Norway.
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