(Alpe d'Huez in Winter, pic credit NUTS Agency)
Despite projects such as the proposed year-round Jumbo Glacier ski area in Canada, the number of ski areas in the northern hemisphere offering summer skiing has been in decline since the turn of the century with the numbers that at one point were close to 40 now down to less than 20.
This summer Val Senales in Italy became the latest not to open in the summer months although planning a long season from Early Autumn to Late Spring.
However the huge snowfalls of last winter 2012-13, which continued in to late Spring, led to a possible reversal of the trend.
As well as top resorts including Cortina, Verbier and several areas in the French Pyrenees re-opening for a few special late spring or summer ski days – the first former summer ski resort to re-open its slopes in winter has been recorded.
Alpe d'Huez joined les 2 Alpes, Tignes and Val d'Isere in offering skiing and boarding on its Sarenne Glacier from the Pic Blanc at 3300m as it did back in the 1990s.
The lifts have been open through July and are expected to remain open to 25th August with lift tickets priced at 20 Euros.
The resort is yet to say whether this is a one-off due to the exceptionally snowy winter/spring of 2013 or if it will be open for summer snow sport again from now on.