Skiers Celebrate July 4th on Leftover Snow Across the U.S.

• Fresh Snow Returns to Alps Glaciers as Freezing Point Drops 1,000m
• 40cm Snowfall at Norway’s Galdhøpiggen — Chains Recommended for Access
• Saas Fee Gears Up for 9-Month Season, Opening This Saturday
• Timberline Stands Tall — America’s Only Lift-Served Summer Skiing Continues

NORTHERN HEMISPHERE INTRO

It has been another warm week in the Alps and North America, if not quite as hot as the final week of June. In fact, there have been cold spells and even a return of fresh snowfall on glaciers at the start of this week. In North America, there are just the two areas still open, if we consider the hike to terrain park at Copp[er open. The only area with ski runs and lifts turning is Oregon’s Timberline, although Friday saw plenty of people hiking up to remaining snow patches across the country to ski on the 4th of July, Breckenridge in Colorado hosted one of the largest organised gatherings. The ski season at Japan’s Gassan Glacier summer ski area is reported to have ended at the weekend. It was the last lift-accessed area still operating in Asia. It means with Les 2 Alpes and Val d’Isere ending their summer opening last weekend we are currently down to seven areas operating, although an eighth, Saas fee, is expected to open for summer skiing and its 25-26 season on Saturday.

ALPS REPORT

The freezing point has dropped from its 5,200m altitude high at the end of June and has been mostly in the 3000 to 4000m altitude range over the past week. There’s been lots of sunshine again, but the start of this week saw freezing points drop another 1000 metres, overnight lows finally back below freezing some days and even snow flurries on glaciers adding a few centimetres against the overall thaw. One of the biggest accumulations, around 10cm (4”) was reported at Italy’s Passo Stelvio (5/130cm / 5/52”) which led to its base cover rising above zero for the first time in over a month. Les 2 Alpes ended its 7-months-plus season at the weekend and Val d’Isere ended its four weeks of summer skiing so there's Just Tignes (0/160cm / 0/64") still open in France, for just over a week more, all being well. Italy has glacier skiing at Passo Stelvio and shared access, with Zermatt, to Europe's highest glacier slopes climbing to 3,899m at the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise (0/120cm / 0/48"). The fourth resort currently open is Hintertux (0/85cm / 0/34”), but a fifth is due to open this weekend, with Zermatt’s neighbour Saas fee expected to open for summer glacier skiing then stay open through autumn, gradually expanding its terrain open, so it’s the start of nine months of non-stop operations really. One of the longest seasons in the world and arguably the first to open for their 25-26 season. Hintertux continues to post the most terrain open, 27km, about twice as much as nearest competitor Zermatt with 14km, and less than 10km each for the others.

ALPS FORECAST

We’re back to mostly sunny weather but it is much colder and there were frosts down as low as 15400m on Wednesday morning. The freezing point will largely be in the 3,000-4,000m level from Thursday though and a news front moving through to end the week and continuing through the weekend could bring 5-15cm (2-6”) accumulations from Friday through to Sunday inclusive.

SCANDINAVIA REPORT

Norway’s Galdhøpiggen (30/90cm / 13/36”) summer ski centre, with Scandinavia’s highest slopes, is believed to be the only centre currently operating in the region, with the Fonna Glacier, which is normally open at the time of year, not running its lift this summer. Galdhøpiggen reports that its terrain is still fully open. It has been colder than in recent weeks with subzero temperatures at night again and fresh snowfall reported over the past few days to noticeably freshen up cover. The centre reported 40cm (16") of fresh snow in the last week and arrivals by car are advised to carry chains. Runs are open to all until 3 pm daily.

SCANDINAVIA FORECAST

It is looking more settled for the remainder of the week with drier conditions, sunshine and temperatures a little warmer, mostly in the 0 to +10C range.

USA REPORT

It's just Timberline's Palmer snowfield on Mt Hood in Oregon and Copper Mountain's hike-to terrain park (available for public use Fridays to Sundays only), that still offers inbounds snowsport in July. Both were open last Friday to offer skiing and riding on US Independence Day. Beyond that there were plenty of reports of skiers hiking up to the last snow patches for a celebratory ski or board, with resorts around Tahoe in California skiing skiers and a larger, organised group arranged at Breckenridge in Colorado. That’s very different to a few years back when epic winter snow allowed 10 areas in the west to do so on the 4th of July. Timberline has reported they're aiming to remain open until August 20th this year, all being well. Currently, they have two lifts running with terrain open from 7 am to 2 pm daily. It's been another war, mostly sunny week with temperatures at the top of the runs ranging from the high 30s overnight to the 60s and 70s by that 2pom closing time which means the reported base depth has dropped another third on a week ago.

USA FORECAST

Sunny skies continuing g with overnight lows remaining above freezing but getting down to the high 30s. Daytime highs are in the high 50s to low 70s.