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AdventuresLifestyleSki Resorts

New Biggest Ski Area in Central Switzerland Officially Opens

A ‘new’ ski area in Central Switzerland has become a reality after ten years of planning and an investment of nearly 130 million Swiss Francs. The ‘new’ SkiArena Andermatt Sedrun has been made by connecting the ski areas of Andermatt and Sedrun to create an area of 120km. A further connection the separately-owned area of Disentis is due for completion next summer when a total of 160km The historic Andermatt and Sedrun ski areas have been completely renewed with around 10 new high-speed, high-capacity chair and gondola lifts installed and new created to complete the connection between the two resorts. It is now being marketed as the “most modern” as well as the largest in Central Switzerland. The connection links…

snowhunter 14th Dec 2018

Weather

Over 6ft (2m) of Snow Forecast for Pacific Northwest

A giant snowstorm current hitting the Pacific Northwest ofNorth America may deposit up to two metres of snow (over six feet) at some ski areas in Alaska, BC, Idaho, Oregon and Washington State by the start of next week. Mt Baker in Washington State (pictured below), which, on average, posts the most snowfall of any ski area in the world each season (16.3m) and holds the all-time single-season snowfall record (29m in '98-99) has received just over a metre of snowfall this week already, and there’s much more forecast. It’s good news for the region which had a warmer than average Autumn, with little natural snowfall and temperatures too warm forsnowmaking, forcing some ski centres to delay opening. https://www.facebook.com/mtbakerskiarea/videos/755671471462664/ Lookout…

snowhunter 13th Dec 2018

Ski ResortsWeather

24 Hour Snowfall Totals Up to 80cm in the Alps

Following a tough start to the season, a big snowstorm that hit the Alps over the weekend and continues this week has led to some huge snow accumulations over the past 24 hours with some resorts claiming that as much as 80cm (32 inches) fell on Sunday. Many resorts report at least 50cm (20 inches) - and the snow is still falling. It appears to be great timing for this significant weather event that looks set to bring more than a metre of snow to some centres by the time it eases tomorrow. With the main ski season getting underway next weekend and two of the busiest weeks of winter over Christmas and New Year only a fortnight away, winter holidaymakers…

snowhunter 10th Dec 2018

Weather

Up To A Metre (3ft) of Snow Forecast for the Alps: Sat – Mon

The short-range weather forecast is increasingly pointing towards very heavy snowfalls hitting the Alps from tomorrow until Monday. It looks like it will keep snowing further into next week too. Recent image from Courchevel Sunday appears to be the day when the snowfall will be most intense, with a number of ski areas, particularly in the Western Alps, expected to get as much as 55cm in 24 hours on that day alone, but accumulations of 15-30cm are also forecast on Saturday and Monday. Our snow picks page ranks the resorts that will see the most snow. Most resorts in the Western Alps have 65-85cm of new snow over the next three days with some of the biggest forecasts given for…

snowhunter 7th Dec 2018

AdventuresTravel

Sun, Sand, Snow and Spain

Snow Enthusiast’s Rob Stewart takes a family February half-term break in Southern Spain – combining sightseeing, Spanish culture, skiing and even a little beach time. I’d known about Spain’s southern ski resort, Sierra Nevada, for many years and had always had it on the list of ‘must do places’, so when I spotted an opportunity during the February half term week for a multi-activity holiday that didn’t look too price sensitive for a school holiday week, I had to go for it. The itinerary, more enticing (and varied) than a spread of evening tapas served up with a fine sherry, took in the city of Grenada – along with its famous Alhambra palace – four days skiing in the Sierra…

james.rix@targetpublishing.com 7th Dec 2018

AdventuresTravel

The ultimate ski and snowboard trips for the 2018-19 winter season

At Snow Enthusiast, we’ve been scouring the airways, social media channels and hanging around in dodgy bars for months looking for information to bring you the very best and most interesting ski and snowboard trips for the 2018-19 winter season. Here are some of our favourites: Heliskiing with Chemmy Alcott in Italy Britain’s most successful female skier and BBC sports presenter, Chemmy Alcott, is hosting a four day epic heliskiing trip in Alagna, Italy, this winter. The chance to explore the vast Monterosa ski region, access terrain via a helicopter, eat glorious Italian food and enjoy the company of like-minded skiers and of course the charismatic Chemmy, is surely a trip that should be scrawled on any bucket list. Experienced…

james.rix@targetpublishing.com 4th Dec 2018

AdventuresEnvironmentLifestyle

Highest Resolution Photograph Yet Created Shows Mont Blanc in Incredible Detail

A remarkable new photograph is reputed to be the most detailed ever created. The incredible 46 terabytes image (that’s 46,000 gigabytes) depicts Western Europe’s highest peak, Mont Blanc, which has the ski towns of Chamonix below it on the French side, and Courmayeur over the border on the Italian side (where it is Monte Bianco). The image was created over several months with a team of photographers working to create the picture at the highest resolution yet achieved – a resolution of 365 gigapixels (365,000 megapixels!). Working in often difficult conditions, 3,500 metres up, more than 70,000 individual shots were required to create the massive image. “How to celebrate Her Majesty the Mont Blanc? We just wished to represent it…

snowhunter 30th Nov 2018

EventsLifestyleSki ResortsTravelWeather

Arlberg Region Opens for 2018-19 Season

Lech, Zurs and St. Anton in Austria’s famed Arlberg ski region have kicked off their 2018-19 winter. So far snow cover is a little limited with the base given as 20cm and 14 runs, representing a combined 14km of slopes, open for early arrivals. However heavy snow is forecast for Sunday/Monday December 2nd/3rd with up to 40cm of new snow expected in the region within a 48 hour period. (Lech during snowfall on Wednesday 28 November) St Anton has a number of events and attractions laid on to start the winter season over the weekend under the heading of a new event called "Catch Me if you Can". This includes the chance to test new season ski and snowboard gear…

snowhunter 30th Nov 2018

EventsSki ResortsTravelWeather

Arapahoe Basin Ski Area Opening 34 New Runs Served by New Quad Chairlift

Arapahoe Basin Ski Area (A-Basin) in Coliorado, USA will today open its newest terrain expansion, The Beavers. The 468-acre terrain expansion is served by a new quad chairlift running from 9am to 3:15pm daily and marks an expansion of the existing ski area - one of the world’s highest, by almost a third. The 34 new runs of the expansion include two new intermediate groomed runs, open bowls and what the centre claims is some of the best glade (tree) skiing in Colorado. “We’ve been fortunate to have received good snow in October and November. This past week’s storm of an additional 22” has given us the opportunity to put the finishing touches on the new terrain. The conditions are…

snowhunter 26th Nov 2018

EventsLifestyleSki ResortsTravel

Europe’s most Southerly Ski Area Opens Early with its Biggest Ever Area Open For Last Weekend of November

Europe’s most southerly mainland ski resort and also Spain’s highest ski area, Sierra Nevada, is opening for the 2018-19 ski season tomorrow, Saturday November 24, 2018, a week earlier than planned. What’s more the terrain available will be the largest amount the resort has ever offered this early in the season, staff believe. https://www.facebook.com/sierranevada2.0/videos/2608979242445447/ A total of 9 lifts and 43 kilometres of slopes will be available, providing a vertical drop of 1,100 metres with accumulated snow between 20cm and 150cm depending on the altitude. The news of Sierra Nevada’s early opening came after another Spanish resort, Masella, was one of the first in Europe to open for the season on November 1st following big snowfalls in the Pyrenees…

snowhunter 23rd Nov 2018