J2Ski Monthly Snow Report - May 2013

Where to Ski in May - 2013
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http://www.j2ski.com/snow_forecast/

Hello, and welcome to the first of our monthly updates!

Although we were planning an immediate rest, a few requests and the obsessive dedication of our news editor means we're relenting and putting out this guide to Where to Ski in May?

Introduction
Although there are still over 100 ski areas open in the northern hemisphere at the start of May, that number will diminish to perhaps less than 20 by the end of the month – one of the quietest few weeks in the ski year.

That's because even the late-opening ski resorts continuing the 2012-13 ski seasons as long as possible tend to give-up the ghost by mid-May , whereas most summer ski glacier areas won't open until June or July and nor will southern hemisphere ski areas.

By the end of May there will be more indoor 'snowdome' snow centres operating around the world than outdoor ski areas.

This report details ski areas open for at least half the month.

The Alps
Austria
It's glacier ski time in Austria, which has more glacier ski centres open at some point or another through spring to autumn than any other country. Hintertux, which had a 3m base at the start of the month, is one of two resorts worldwide open year round but you can also opt for The Pitztal glacier which still had the deepest snow in Austria (as well as the country's highest lifts) on May 1st at 4.2m or the Molltal glacier with as slightly more modest 4.1m, both open to May 12th.

For later in the month Stubai (2.6m base) is open until at least May 20th and the Kitzsteinhorn glacier (250cm base); and Kaunertal glacier (210cm base) are both open to June (closing on 2nd and 9th respectively), as should be the Dachstein Glacier.

France
France is unusual in having no ski resorts open at all from mid-May to mid-June but you can ski at Tignes (3.3m at start of month) and Val Thorens (2.5m at start of month) until May 12th.

There is usually no skiing in the Pyrenees after April but the cult freeride centre at Pic du Midi has announced its re-opening for freeride skiing from 6th to 12th May for those suitably experienced and equipped having received more than 15m of snow this winter.

Italy
May skiing options in Italy appear to be limited, after the first weekend, to a couple of red runs on the Presena Glacier above Passo Tonale, which had a 4m snow base at the start of May. Val Senales won't be opening for summer skiing this year and Cervinia is closed until the summer. Passo Stelvio expects to open on June 1st.

Switzerland
In Switzerland there's year round skiing at Zermatt, which had more than 2m of snow lying on its glacier slopes, which normally maintain at least an 800m vertical, at the start of May. Europe's highest lifts, a couple of T Bars reaching 3899m, operate there in summer only. Other choices include the Diavolezza Glacier near St Moritz (1.5m base) open to 20th May; Engelberg (over 4.5m base) and Gstaad's Glacier 3000 (over 5m upper slope base) which is open weekends to 26th May.

Scandinavia (and Scotland!)
Scotland's excellent 2012-13 season, with snow still falling at the start of May, has left Cairngorm operational and looking good to stay open so long as demand continues. Glencoe and to a less extent Nevis range are also opening, although only at weekends.

Norway's three glacier ski areas are opening beginning with Folgefonn on May 1st, Galdhøpiggen on 18th May and Stryn on a yet to be determined date in late May while in the Swedish Arctic Circle Riksgransen is open until May 26th with skiing under the midnight sun in the latter half of the month.

Over in Lapland, Ruka heroically maintains the longest ski season of the world for a non-glacier resort. It should be open until mid-June, thanks in part to a pile of machine made snow through the winter enabling it to keep its main slope open as 24 hour daylight approaches here too.

North America
Canada
Sunshine at Banff (2m base, 4cm fresh snow on April 30th, open to May 20th) and the Blackcomb Glacier at Whistler, open daily from 10am to 4pm until May 27th, are the two Canadian ski options in May.

USA
Six US resorts look set to stay open throughout May, although some only at weekends. With more than a metre of snow falling in the last few weeks of April (after 95% of the states ski areas had closed), Arapahoe Basin in Colorado is one of the best bets, starting May 100% open with a 1.4m base and plans to be open to June. In California Mammoth, which is often open to July 4th, is the sole survivor and has so far announced it plans to stay open at least to the US Memorial Day holiday weekend, May 27th. It starts May with more than a 4m base having had the deepest snow in the country for much of the 12-13 ski season.

In Utah Snowbird, which starts May with a 2.5m base, is open daily until May 13th, after which it's weekends. No closing date has been set but the events calendar has après ski parties planned to May 31st so far. In Oregon Mount Bachelor will be open to May 26th and Timberline right through to early September (when it closes for a few weeks of maintenance). The sixth option is Crystal Mountain In Washington State which is open weekends from now to June 16th.

Southern Hemisphere
It's not inconceivable that the ski season will kick off south of the equator before the end of May, although in most cases resorts do not plan to open until June.

In the past it is often the small ski areas of southern Africa that have opened first, during May, but currently Afriski in Lesotho is projecting a June 7th opening date. Tiffindell in South Africa re-opens this winter after several seasons closed and has also opened in May in previous years.

Elsewhere first snow has already been reported in Australia and New Zealand.

Rest Of The World
It's difficult to get accurate information on snow conditions, but it was reported to be snowing this week at Gassan in Japan and likely to continue snowing through the early days of May. Gassan is Japan's main spring/summer ski destination and does not begin its annual season until mid-April each year, leaving accumulated snow in pristine condition. It then normally remains open daily to July.

If you need a snow fix remember there are more than 50 indoor snow centres operating year round around the world, six of them here in the UK, so fresh snow in one form or another is never far away.