J2Ski Snow Report - September 27th 2012
J2Ski Snow Report - September 27th 2012
Published : 27-Sep-2012 07:56
This Week's Headlines- Austria's Stubai and Solden Glaciers open for the 2012-13 ski season.
- Tignes will re-open this weekend.
- More fresh snow in Saas Fee and at Pitztal.
- Heavy snow has been reported in the Tatra mountains of Poland
- First snow reported in resorts around the world including Aspen, Snowbird, Vail and Revelstoke.
- World's deepest snow currently in New Zealand - 2.2m on Mt Ruapehu.
Already Open : 10 Glacier Ski Areas
Austria
There are 22km of piste open at year-round Tux, snow depth is 65cm.
The Stubai Glacier re-opened on Saturday, 22nd September with three slopes open on the Eisjoch-and Windachferner glacier sectors. Five lifts are operational, snow depth is 20cm and it's possible to ski down to Eisgrat 2,600m. Solden also opened for winter 2012-13 on the same day, 3.1km of runs are open with two lifts running on the glacier.
The Pitztal Glacier has also re-opened but only has about 20cm of snow and two runs open and the Mölltal Glacier has up to 25cm of snow depth with three lifts serving 8.5km of piste.
Italy
Passo Stelvio and Val Senales are both open for autumn glacier skiing. At Val Senales 8km of slopes are open with snow depths of 30cm and at Passo Stelvio, one of several claimants to being "Europe's biggest glacier" 20km of runs are open.
Norway
The Galdhøpiggen summer ski area is open in Norway until 3pm daily through the rest of September and then through October. Located on Norway's highest mountain the T bar lifts reach 2,250m on the Juvbreen Glacier, from a base of 1900 metres, opening up 1.5km of trails over a 350m vertical.
Switzerland
Nine lifts are running at Saas Fee with five runs open along with the terrain park, including half pipe, kickers and rails. Snow depth is 114cm and there's been 5cm of fresh snow in the past few days – part of nearly a metre of September snowfall on the glacier.
Zermatt, along with Hintertux, is one of two areas open year round, has half a dozen easy and intermediate grade trails open on the glacier.
Southern Hemisphere Quick Round Up
The 2012 season is winding down in the southern hemisphere. Although some resorts have reported their best winter for 12 years in Australia, some have now closed and even resorts like Perisher which have extended their seasons expect to close in the first few days of October. There was however a dusting of fresh snow reported on Monday at most areas. Most ski areas in South America are now closed or closing in the next week.
Resorts in New Zealand currently have the deepest snow and look set to stay open to the end of October and possibly in to 'Snowvember' on Mt Ruapehu where snow depth is currently above 2.2m.
Mt Hutt has just announced it will extend its season until Sunday October 14. The ski area still has a two-metre-plus snow base and received another 4cm top up last night. Ski area manager James McKenzie said skiers and boarders had been "begging" them to stay open longer.
"It would have been a real crime to close for the season when the snow cover's still so good and weather conditions are currently fantastic, warm and sunny," he said.
Opening Soon (subject to conditions)
Both the Kaunertal and Kitzsteinhorn glaciers in Austria expect to open any day. Kauntertal is waiting more snow, currently 20cm, Kitzsteinhorn has 50cm. The Dachstein vglacier also says they need more snow to open downhill runs.
Tignes, France, is due to open this Saturday, 29th September and to remain open to May 2013.
Glacier 3000 above les Diablerets and Gstaad in Switzerland expects to open on 3rd October.
Timberline at Mt Hood in Oregon expects to open on October 5th.
Loveland, Colorado, USA expects to begin snowmaking around now and hopes to open early October.
Cervinia will open the weekends of 13th-14th and 20th-21st October then every day from 27th October to 5th May 2013.
Ruka, Finland is expected to open on Thursday, 18th October and remain open until 9th of June 2013 – the first non-glacier ski area in Europe to open.
The Diavolezza Glacier near St Moritz expects to open on 20th October.
Les Deux Alpes glacier will also be open for 9 days from the 27th October to 4th November 2012.
Copper Mountain, Colorado, plans to open Friday, November 2nd, 2012.
Now, where did I leave my skis? :shock:
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