A dusting of fresh snow on glaciers in the Alps has raised excitement levels ahead of winter 2015-16 and following a long hot summer.
Most summer glacier areas have now ended their 2015 opening – only Les 2C Alpes in France (Closing this weekend) and Cervinia in Italy (Closing the first weekend in September) are still open, although five other Alpine glaciers which are open year round or nearly year round are operating through the Autumn – Saas Fee and Zermat in Switzerland, Molltal and Hintertux in Austria and Passo Stelvio in Italy. Two glacier areas in Norway are also open. The Molltal glacier is currently hosting the Austrian Alpine squad.
The dusting of snow – reported at the Zugspitze above Garmisch and Hintertux in Austria (pictured) comes in contrast to the ongoing thaw of recent months with daytime temperatures well above freezing for prolonged periods on most Alpine glaciers.
Around a dozen glacier in Austria, France, Italy and Switzerland are scheduled to open to start the 2015-16 season from mid-September to mid-October, the first of these most likely Austria's highest area, Pitztal, which aims to open in just over three weeks on Friday September 18th, However all centres are making careful warning that their planned autumn opening is, "subject to snow conditions."