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Ski Resorts

RoundupsSki ResortsWeather

Base Depths Jump In The Alps Ahead of Spring

Ski resorts in the Alps have reported they received up to 1.6m (66”) of snowfall during the period from Friday to Wednesday. Many have seen their upper slope base depths jump by between a third and two-fifths after months of staying fairly static pr seeing a gradual decline. (Val d'Isere this week) Tignes is topping the charts, now up to 3.9 metres (13 feet) on the grand motte glacier, up 1.2m (4 feet) on a week ago.  Glacier 3000 near Gstaad (pictured below on Wednesday and top) has posted the biggest snowfall – 1.6 metres (over 5 feet) and re-opened on Thursday after several days digging out lifts and buildings. Cervinia say they’ve had 1.5 metres (five feet) of snowfall.…

Snowhunter 16th March 2023
AllSki ResortsWeather

Aspen Latest To Extend Season

A growing number of western North American ski areas are announcing extended ski seasons due to the bumper snowfalls they’ve received this winter. With above average snowfall every month since October and consistent cooler temperatures, Aspen Snowmass in Colorado is the latest to announce an extension of their 22-23 season for two of its four mountains, Aspen Highlands and Aspen Mountain, each extending by a week. Aspen Highlands will stay open an extra week and will now close on 16 April along with Snowmass. Aspen Mountain will extend their season to 23 April. Buttermilk will close as scheduled on 9 April. Snowmass and Aspen Highlands have both already tracked around 300 inches (7.5 metres) of snowfall this season so far,…

Snowhunter 11th March 2023
AllSki Resorts

Canada’s First 8 Seat Chairlift Heading to Ontario

Ontario’s Mount St. Louis Moonstone says it will install Canada’s first 8 seat chairlift this coming summer, built by Doppelmayr Canada, and will feature the company’s Direct Drive technology for maximum comfort, safety and efficiency. The lift will also have the highest uplift capacity of any North American ski lift. Mount St. Louis Moonstone’s Operations Director Andre Huter says, “The lift will be like no other chairlift in North America with a special L shape drive terminal”. The lift will start from the Moonstone base lodge and travel to the highest elevation. Although 8-seat chairlifts have been around for some three decades now, the first of this type of lift are still appearing in countries where the kind of uplift…

Snowhunter 5th March 2023 9
AllSki Resorts

Banff Resort Plans New Gondola as Centenary Nears

Mount Norquay ski area near Banff is planning to replace its North American Chairlift, originally built in 1946, with a two-station gondola running from the main lodge area to the Cliff House restaurant. The plan is part of Norquay’s ‘100 Vision’ which has been set out ahead of the centenary of the famous Canadian ski town’s centenary in 2026. “For nearly 100 years, Norquay has served as Banff’s backyard, an iconic destination for skiers and sightseers, often providing visitors their first introduction to Banff National Park. As we start to look towards our second century of operation, we are putting plans in place to improve the visitor experience and make ourselves more accessible as well as environmentally and economically sustainable,”…

Snowhunter 14th February 2023 2
EnvironmentLifestyleRoundupsSki ResortsTechnique / SafetyTravel

Snow-Forecast’s Rolling News on Ski Resorts Re-Opening (2023)

Last Updated 7 Februry 2023 at 6.20 GMT (Updates so far since commenced on 12 May 2020: 1,529) The web's most comprehensive guide of ski resorts opening around the world during the pandemic. An estimated 5000 Ski Areas Are Currently Open Worldwide in 65 Countries on 3 Continents including: Asia: China, India, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyghizstan, Lebanon, Mongolia, Pakistan, Uzbekistan Europe: Andorra, Austria, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Portugal, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Scotland, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine North America: Canada, USA Browse by country: North America: Canada USA Europe: Andorra Austria Bulgaria Finland France Germany Italy Norway Scotland Spain Sweden Switzerland Asia: China Japan Nearly three years after the…

Snowhunter 1st February 2023
Ski ResortsTechnique / Safety

Cairngorm Mountain Funicular Reopens After 4 Years

Cairngorm Mountain above Aviemore in the Scottish Highlands has re-opened its funicular railway, 4 years and 4 months after it was closed down over safety concerns. The 2km funicular railway will now run a regular service taking snowsports enthusiasts to the top of the slopes in around 5 minutes. The reinstatement of the railway comes alongside other major improvement works including new ‘magic carpet’ conveyor belts for the beginner slopes, car park improvements and the refurbishment of the Ptarmigan building. Housing the UK’s highest restaurant, a 270° immersive exhibition space and viewing platform, the Ptarmigan is located at the top station of the mountain railway. The newly designed restaurant has been transformed into a light, contemporary space with an open-plan…

Snowhunter 26th January 2023
RoundupsSki Resorts

North America’s Largest Ski Areas Fully Open

Whistler Blackcomb, North America’s largest ski area with 8,171 acres (3,307 hectares) of slopes has announced that it is fully open for the first time this season following consistently low temperatures and a break in the storms moving in from the Pacific. “Today, we opened Lower Peak to Creek. This last section of terrain brings us to 100% open for the 2022/23 season,” a resort announcement on Monday, 23rd January explained. Whistler Blackcomb has the second biggest lift-served-vertical in North America (1,609m / 5,280 feet ) after fellow BC resort Revelstoke and say that at 11km long their Peak to Creek trail is the longest consistent run at any ski resort in North America. Elsewhere in North America, the ‘new’…

Snowhunter 24th January 2023 4
Ski Resorts

US Ski Area Closed For 16 Years Re-opening Next Month

A small ski area that last operated in 2007 is to re-open to skiers and boarders on February 4th. Steeplechase, in Mazeppa near Rochester in southern Minnesota reopen last winter but for tubing only. From February 4th though, skiers and snowboarders will be welcomed back. The plan is to open weekends-only with around 10 runs served by two lifts, but there’s the potential to expand to 15 runs served by three lifts if demand is adequate. Tickets are priced at $45 per day. The small ski hill has limited facilities with no café or gear rentals and tickets must be purchased in advance online, there is though a warming chalet with rest rooms. The ski area has around 30 acres…

Snowhunter 23rd January 2023
Ski Resorts

Alpine Crossing Opening Spring 2023

The delayed completion of the incredible engineering feat that will see a fast and comfortable lift connection between Switzerland’s Zermatt and Italy’s Cervinia, via the Klein Matterhorn and one of the highest lift-accessed points in Europe, is due to open in spring 2023. It is: “the realization of a dream born over 80 years ago,” a statement from the region’s lift company claims. It’s unclear if this will still be within the ski season, although as both villages offer access to the glacier skiing on the Klein Matterhorn for much of the year anyway this may be a moot point. Completion of the 105m Swiss Francs project has been delayed by the pandemic and related issues. The Matterhorn Alpine Crossing…

Snowhunter 5th January 2023 5
Ski ResortsWeather

Some Scottish Ski Slopes Open

Scottish ski areas have re-opened today after brief Christmas Day closures. Most have little open so far but report an improving situation with low temperatures and snow falling. The road up to Cairngorm (above) was blocked until 10am on boxing day by drifting snow but t is now open., The centre above Aviemore has a short run open using mostly SnowFactory machine made snow. Glenshee say they too are currently operating on machine made snow over the Plastic, Dink Dink and Rope Tow served slopes and that advanced booking is required due to limited snow space. The Lecht also reports limited terrain open with about 50 metres of vertical and four lifts running to access short slopes with mostly machine…

Snowhunter 26th December 2022
Ski ResortsWeather

Scottish Ski Season Starting After Snowfall

Glenshee ski area says it will open some runs from Monday, 11th December, following snowfall. “We will need to move the snow around a bit to get some of the runs into condition but at the moment we aim to open our Plastic, Dink Dink and Rope tows tomorrow morning from 9.30am,” the resort posted on its social media on Sunday afternoon, reporting temperatures of -7C, and adding, “With the forecast of continued minus temperatures and the chance of a bit more snow during the week we hope we can get a bit more open in the coming days and we will update this as things develop.” It’s currently unclear if any of the four other Scottish centres will open…

Snowhunter 11th December 2022