Where to Ski And Snowboard -

Glacier watch: 14 November

14th November 2009, by Chris Gill

Passo Tonale / Presena - 14 November

UPDATE:

While we are preparing our latest snow news, we just had to give western Canada’s latest: Whistler has broken its November snowfall – delivering over 4m of the white stuff in the space of a few weeks. And it’s still snowing… and not just there, snow pounded Fernie last weekend with more expected. Banff, Lake Louise and Marmot Basin also received a good top-up. If the Alps is looking rather sad for an early season trip – how about Canada?

As the resort openings gather pace, we’ll be moving into our general snow overviews shortly – but for now the best place to grab a quick snow fix is the glaciers; still in good shape after the recent snowfall. Disappointingly, it has warmed up again right across the Alps; snow cover below 2000-2500m isn’t great and rain threatens to wash more away next week. Away from the glaciers, Norway is looking quite good; oh, and western Canada is having a splendid time right now.

Austria

While some non-glacier resorts open for the season, they will struggle against the mild air this week – and little snow is forecast in the next few days. Conditions on the glaciers though are fine where snow cover sits above 2000-2500m.

Hintertux (170cm): The Tux is in excellent shape. There are 17 lifts and 61km terrain available, with slopes open to 2100m.

Stubai (20-110cm): Conditions are fine, with 70km slopes open and skiing down to the mid-station at Fernau. The lifts run until 4pm. It’s festival time again on 21/22 November: this time for telemark skills.

Molltal (170cm): Snowfall has added another 10cm to the already healthy cover on the glacier. There are five lifts and 35km slopes open.

Sölden (79cm): There has been a little snow loss this week, but not much. And all the glacier lifts are still open; in total 17 lifts are now running to give 60km piste skiing. The Giggijoch restaurant is now open too.

Pitztal (92cm): A little light snow (about 2cm) is forecast over this weekend, but otherwise conditions are set fair for a while. Snow is forecast next Wednesday evening, but this will fall only above 2000m. Six lifts are in operation.

Kitzsteinhorn / Kaprun (7-54cm): It was a white start last week, but the mild air was back this week with some snow loss inevitable; again conditions are good for the time of year.

Kaunertal (100cm – 135cm): The ski area has received up to 20cm of new snow this week, with a base depth of almost 2m above 3000m – great for the time of year. Eight lifts/26km slopes are open and it’s a cool, settled few days on the glacier.

Dachstein (96cm) The Horsefeathers’ Pleasure Jam is taking over the terrain park this weekend (an important international event on the Swatch TTR World Snowboard Tour). All but one of the lifts and pistes are open. But it is very mild and sunny: 2-4 degrees on the glacier.

France

Snow cover has kept well up high and this meant Val Thorens could open too.
Tignes (50cm) has skiing down to Val Claret, although the best snow is on the glacier. There is 5-10cm of new powder lying, though at lower levels (at 2000m) rain is forecast on Sunday night.

Snow to resort level (1850m) in Passo Tonale, Italy

Germany

Zugspitze glacier (10-110cm): Little fresh snow is forecast in the few days ahead, but visibility is good and there are seven lifts open.

Switzerland

Laax/Flims (30-90cm) opened for glacier skiing this weekend; the Vorab glacier and access lifts are available on weekends initially. The glacier is at 3015m and has good cover at present.

Saas Fee (50cm): reported snow cover is almost half that of last week, so we’re not convinced of the figures given. Snow fell on Friday 13 November (3cm) though, and there are still four lifts/eight slopes available. Zermatt (70cm) seems to be doing slightly better.

Glacier 3000 (52cm): It’s bright and mild on the Diablerets glacier, with five lifts running. St Moritz (40cm): still just the one slope on the Diavolezza glacier. Corviglia is due to open at the end of the month. Engelberg (50cm) expects to reopen from 21 November.

Italy

Italy has two areas open for glacier skiing and Livigno opened this weekend. Snow is forecast above 2500m in most parts during the weekend, with rain at lower levels. Val Senales (50cm): 10cm snow fell last Monday and glacier skiing continues daily. It’s ski test time there between 14 and 21 November. Presena: Passo Tonale’s glacier is now open. Two of the three lifts are running, and the resort also has two slopes open.
Cervina (70cm): The lifts are now open daily on the Plateau Rosa.

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