Our first part of our family ski trip in Pila- Aosta

Family trip to Pila, Valle d'Aosta - Half term- Photo by The-Ski-Guru.

So we made it to Aosta, back in the flat we always rent in Charvensod, at the outskirts of Aosta, and we went for dinner to meet our family friends that are also with us during this week. Dinner in this family restaurant and Pizzeria Millenium is always fun, easy with the kids, and good on the wallet!

The tram to piste 15- Pila- Photo by: The-Ski-Guru.
The tram to piste 15- Pila- Photo by: The-Ski-Guru.

We went to sleep ready for the first day of going skiing – for me it is always a bit of a nightmare to organise the first day of skiing – more if I am carrying my family with me.

Continue reading “Our first part of our family ski trip in Pila- Aosta”

Avalanches claim several lives this past weekend in Switzerland

An Avalanche claimed a death in Arolla- Photo: Arolla in Switzerland.

In one report from Swissinfo.ch – a 40-year old hiker and a 57-year-old cross-country skier lost their lives in two separate avalanches in the Swiss Alps in recent days.

Arolla3-photo.
Arolla3-photo.

The hiker was a in a group of four that were swept away by an avalanche on Saturday near a steep gorge at 3,600m above the village of Arolla, which is popular starting point for hiking and ski tours. Rescue services managed to reach them and they were transported to hospitals in Martigny and Sion. However, the 40-year old woman from Valais died on Saturday night in the hospital. The other three hikers are recovering but are not in danger of losing their lives.

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The family road trip ski holiday started – a trip to Italy via France

France was all covered in snow during our trip to the Alps - Photo: The-Ski-Guru

Finally the day for our annual family ski trip started, and we’ve left home at 4 AM in the morning to take a 7 AM Eurotunnel. It was freezing cold and the motorway seemed a bit icy. We made it in great time to the Eurotunnel in Folkestone and we were allowed to board in early – Just a quick coffee and porridge for me, a bacon butty for my husband and some croissants for the boys with some good coffee before boarding on the train.

The Eurotunnel Folkestone roof was decorated with a ski theme. Photo by The-Ski-Guru.
The Eurotunnel Folkestone roof was decorated with a ski theme. Photo by The-Ski-Guru.

We were before 8 AM in Calais -first thing to do is to remember to drive on the right! I dare not drive on the other side of the road, I needed to learn how to drive on the left side in the UK and it confused me a lot. Luckily, my husband is better for doing so.

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I have been away on holidays – will post about it in the next few days

Mum and kid riding the chairlift together- Pila Ski in the Sky, above the city of Aosta - Photo - The-Ski-Guru.

I am back from holidays with backs full of dirty clothes, have done three full loads and I am not ready yet to put all away…. but promise that will make a report of our fantastic trip… when I feel human again!

Going up the gondola, one happy child - Photo by The-Ski-Guru - Pila, Aosta Valley.
Going up the gondola, one happy child – Photo by The-Ski-Guru – Pila, Aosta Valley.

I need a holiday from my holidays! More soon!

The-Ski-Guru

Featured Image: Mum and kid riding the chairlift together- Pila Ski in the Sky, above the city of Aosta – Photo – The-Ski-Guru.

In the meantime, you can keep on reading more ski news at The-Ski-Guru

Follow us through our hashtags #theskiguru and #skinewsatyourfingertips in social media.

Or you can read more on driving to the mountains tips here.

If you want to choose where to go and ski in Europe, you can start by comparing the resorts’ ski passes rates.

Katie Ormerod will not compete in PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games

Katie Ormerod - X Games - Roxy photo

Team GB snowboard athlete Katie Ormerod has been ruled out of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games following a severe fracture to her right heel bone.

Katie Ormerod - photo from Roxy
Katie Ormerod – photo from Roxy

The 20-year-old from Brighouse was due to compete in snowboard slopestyle and snowboard big air and will undergo emergency surgery in the morning.

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Patagonia Worn Wear campaign is a radical idea to encourage recycling.

Patagonia Worn Wear EU Winter Tour Dates - Photo by Patagonia

The Patagonia Worn Wear is a trade-in campaign organised by Patagonia, which accepts Patagonia clothing that functions perfectly and is in good condition. When you take your good quality, used Patagonia gear, the store will give you credit to use in their stores.

The Worn Wear Clothing comes from our closets and garages, maybe they just have a small thing to be repaired, and are just collecting dust. Patagonia repairs the items and cleaned them using CO2, which saves water and energy compared to traditional methods.

Patagonia Worn Wear tour.
Patagonia Worn Wear tour.

Patagonia has always being a social responsible company and they think that we need to reduce our impact in the planet producing high quality garments that will last for years, and which could be repaired, so you do not need to buy anything new.

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Alpe Cimbra, a real gem in the Trentino Dolomites yet to discover.

Alpe Cimbra resort - Fancy a bit of horse-riding through the snowy forests? Photo by: Azienda per il Turismo Folgaria Lavarone Lusérn

Alpe Cimbra, is still an unknown secret and a real gem in the Trentino Dolomites.

People travelling to the Trentino Dolomites tend to go to Madonna di Campiglio or Val di Fassa, which are both great destinations – Madonna di Campiglio also share its slopes with Pinzolo, and Folgarida and Marilleva in Val di Sole.

Ski Sunrise at Baita Tonda - Folgaria - Photo by: Azienda per il Turismo Folgaria Lavarone Lusérn
Ski Sunrise at Baita Tonda – Folgaria – Photo by: Azienda per il Turismo Folgaria Lavarone Lusérn

Then Val di Fassa is connected to the Sella Ronda – a massive ski carousel of 1,200+ km of skiing around the Grupo della Sella massif. There are some little jewels such as San Martino di Castrozza, Andalo Paganella and Val di Fiemme (which we have produced a Must Read Guide). But Alpe Cimbra is not very renown in the UK and USA.

Alpe Cimbra is located in the Northern Italian Alps of Trentino. It is a different alternative to the better-known resorts of the Dolomites.

A pit-stop while skiing to have a drink - Photo by: Azienda per il Turismo Folgaria Lavarone Lusérn
A pit-stop while skiing to have a drink – Photo by: Azienda per il Turismo Folgaria Lavarone Lusérn

Continue reading “Alpe Cimbra, a real gem in the Trentino Dolomites yet to discover.”

Packing list for your family ski holiday

Skiers Over New Year Prepare for a £450 Wipeout at the Car Hire Rental Desk. Photo by Adrian - Unsplash - taken in Mont Saint Helens, USA.

Going skiing with the family is great, but you need to plan your bag ahead, and be sure that your little ones will not be suffering from the cold, or if not, your holiday might be jeopardised if they are too cold for skiing.

A stop in the way when driving - Photo by Easton Oliver - Unsplash - Estes Park, Colorado
A stop in the way when driving – Photo by Easton Oliver – Unsplash – Estes Park, Colorado

When you are packing, I suggest thinking on your ski clothes first, and doing the normal clothes later. You will not need too many normal clothes if you are self catering, a couple of trousers, shirts or t-shirts and warm jumpers if you are planning to dine outside, unless you are staying in a hotel or chalet and you have to go out for dinner or you have included half or full board, that you might want to look smart every evening.

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Lift passes rates in European ski resorts

Freezing Temperatures - Photo by Rob Bye - Unsplash

Swissinfo.ch published a very good table with all the ski resorts’ lift ticket rates – which is good to see when planning a ski holiday – even though the price of the lift ticket is not all, and it accounts to only a 6% of the ski holiday, but, every little helps!

Ski Run - photo by Toa Heftiba - Unsplash
Ski Run – photo by Toa Heftiba – Unsplash
Country and ski resort Child weekday Adult weekday Child 6-day Adult 6-day
SWITZERLAND
Adelboden 30 55 138 258
Aletsch Arena 26 51 144 287
Arosa/Lenzerheide 21 64 81 291
Champèry (Portes du Soleil Pass) 39 52 196 261
Crans-Montana 33 59 169 299
Davos/Klosters 24 60 117 293
Grindelwald/Wengen 27 55 128 258
Laax 22 67 106 319
Saas Fee (Saas Fee Pass) 31 62 157 312
St. Moritz/Corviglia 22 67 107 322
Verbier/Nendaz (4 Valleys/High season) 32 64 160 319
Zermatt 34 67 162 325
FRANCE
Alpe d’Huez 43 52 211 267
Avoriaz (Portes du Soleil) 39 52 195 260
Chamonix (Le Pass) 43 50 215 252
Courchevel (3 Valleys) 49 61 240 300
Flaine/Grand Massif 35 47 185 246
La Plagne 42 52 212 265
Les 2 Alpes 40 50 200 250
Les Arcs 42 52 212 265
Megeve (Evasion Mont Blanc Pass) 37 46 185 231
Morzine 29 40 149 199
Tignes/Val d’Isère 46 57 228 285
AUSTRIA
Ischgl 30 49 148 247
Kitzbühel 27 55 133 266
Lech/Zürs am Arlberg 32 53 164 275
Mayrhofen 23 52 112 249
Skiwelt Wilder/Kaiser/Brixental/Söll 24 49 120 239
Obergurgl/Hochgurgl 34 52 157 285
Schladming/Planai/Hochwurzen 26 51 128 257
Serfaus/Fiss/Ladis 31 51 158 273
Skicircus Saalbach/Hinterglemm/Leogang/Fieberbrunn 26 53 127 255
St. Anton am Arlberg 32 53 164 275
Sölden 29 53 157 285
Zell am See/Schmittenhöhe 25 51 126 252
ITALY
3 Peaks Dolomites 37 53 182 260
Alpe di Siusi/Seiser Alm 38 54 191 273
Alta Badia 38 54 191 273
Bormio 34 41 138 214
Cervinia/Breuil 32 46 169 242
Cortina d’Ampezzo 38 54 191 273
Courmayeur 12 47 60 239
La Thuile 31 44 161 229
Livigno 34 47 139 240
Madonna di Campiglio 25 50 124 247
Val Gardena/Gröden 38 54 191 273
Val Senales/Schnalstal 27 45 155 238
gondola-with-skis-kipras-streimikis-Unsplash
gondola-with-skis-kipras-streimikis-Unsplash

This is not an exhaustive list, but you have something to compare. I am assuming that the prices within the Dolomiti Superski area, are showing all the same rates, as they must be selling the Dolomiti Superski lift.

 

To keep on reading more ski news at your fingertips, keep on coming to The-Ski-Guru

See us on social media following our hashtags #theskiguru #skinewsatyourfingertips

You can read our resort guide to Val di Fiemme and the one to Courmayeur

Tram in the clouds - Luciano Ribas - Unsplash
Tram in the clouds – Luciano Ribas – Unsplash

Featured Image: Freezing Temperatures – Photo by Rob Bye – Unsplash

Les Diablerets launched its own currency – the Isenau – for the ski resort’s survival

The Isenau lift is due to be replaced. Photo: Les Diablerets.

The mountain village of Les Diablerets has launched it’s own local currency, called the “Iserau” to help save an endangered ski area and secure the village’s future.

There is a trend in Switzerland where some complementary currencies are popping up as ways of raising funds and encouraging people to buy and think local.

The message to save the Isenau lift - this was a major campaign that united all the people in the mountain village.
The message to save the Isenau lift – this was a major campaign that united all the people in the mountain village.

Continue reading “Les Diablerets launched its own currency – the Isenau – for the ski resort’s survival”