Skiing

If you are resident in another European country it is allowed, I have British friends travelling back for Christmas and they will be able to come back to Switzerland via France on their return. I don't think tourists are allowed, but the transit rules are always a bit complex.

I don’t want to break any laws, so could ferry to Holland and then drive down through Germany- but it’s a much longer route.

If I was allowed to transit through, stopping for a piss in a bush well away from anyone else then that would be handy.

The “we don’t believe you” aspect might be managed by showing bookings in (say) Austria for hotel and so forth?

Get as many lessons in before you go as you can. The better you are when you get there the more you will enjoy it.

Can also recommend getting into a routine of doing some squats and lunges, and other skiing specific exercises. You can make quite a big difference to your skiing fitness in only a few weeks in my experience. And the fitter you are, the more you'll enjoy it.

squats and lunges

https://sawback.com/blog/leg-blasters/ are my go to pre-skiing exercises, build up to the full 5 sets with only 30 seconds between them takes ~7 weeks (although it's no fun along the way).

I’m scheduled to go away last week of February and I’ve been saying to myself for the last few weeks that I’d get back into doing these before work. Yet to start and time is slipping away. Maybe tomorrow.

Mañana, Mañana, Siempre Mañana.

Ah so much for a few days away cos I iz 'ere might not go to plan. Looks like going skiing maybe classed as tourism for an EU'er.

All I thought was a few days with mates might be fun over christmas.

Aujour d'hui il fait neige à Serre Chevalier

My booking is still live, more out of hope than anything more rational.

Anyone have an opinion on how likely France is to allow tourists back into the country in January?

Given they just tightened restrictions, unlikely
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-59805829

Yeah, saw that after I posted.

What’s the consensus- try to go to say Austria for the middle two weeks of Jan, or delay until Feb/March and hope things have improved by then?

Anyone done the haute route from Chamonix to Zermatt ?

Just cancelled (and received a very much appreciated full refund for) my two weeks in Chatel.

First world problem, I would be the first to admit.

Still a little sad, however.

Anyone done the haute route from Chamonix to Zermatt ?

Not on skis, have done most of the mountaineering route though. What do you want to know?

Spain/Andorra?

I was wondering about that. I'd like to drive there, although I suppose being in a plane is no worse than the tube.

Ferry journey is a bit too long though.

.

Budget?

£££ look at Scott Dunn or Powder Byrne

If there are children involved then ones like Esprit Ski work well (although Half Term weeks are usually excruciatingly expensive).

Others that spring to mind are Crystal Ski, Inghams or Sunweb.

thanks - I didn't delete my message quick enough seemingly ; )

no children involved, budget preferred. I'll take a look at those you listed. have to be open to UK travellers - not sure where that leaves...

Ah that's interesting.

I recently read about the route in an Outside article and doing a week point to point sounds like an interesting alternative to staying in the same place all week.

I suspect I would have to improve my off piste experience a fair bit before signing up to do it though.

Have used Inghams, they were pretty good (Finland)

I’ve found there’s definitely two levels of off piste -
France - steep, gnarly, narrow and terrifying entrances into ok easyish stuff where you never seem far from the piste.
Austria (St Anton specifically)- beautiful fields of unending powder with no one else in sight with a great restaurant at the end in the middle of no where.
I found the guides in St Anton much better at giving a fantastic off piste experience rather than scaring the hell out of me at every turn.

I suspect I would have to improve my off piste experience a fair bit before signing up to do it though

I assume doing it as part of a guided group?

The two main factors for a successful haute route are mountain fitness and glacier safety skills. I'm not a skier but I'm told the actually skiing is pretty easy. It's a he amount of up that gets you. It really helps to have a guide if you're not comfortable with crevasse rescue techniques etc. You'll definitely want to know what to do if you go in a slot. Or a member of your group does.

Worth pointing out that the winter/spring haute route has something like a 50% DNF rate. Partly due to weather but also because it's physically demanding. Route finding is not easy and it definitely helps to have some winter mountain skills for that.

That said, it's a very doable challenge for even an intermediate off piste skier who prepares properly.

Looking at Austria - what do people think are the chances of restrictions similar to those in France being introduced?