Outdoor skiing in the northern hemisphere has resumed after an unprecedented three-week closure, as Italy's Passo Stelvio glacier reopened limited terrain to skiers this weekend after a drop in temperatures finally allowed the remaining snow surface to return to a skiable state.
Operations are restarting cautiously however with ski lifts now running between 6:30 AM to 12:00 PM to protect the glacier during still‑warm afternoons. With no meaningful recent snowfall, terrain remains limited, and the glacier is reporting a 40 cm base on the skiable section.
Passo Stelvio halted all summer skiing in mid‑August when prolonged heatwaves pushed freezing levels far above the glacier, leaving the surface too soft and unstable for grooming or ski team training. The resort says it still aims to maintain its scheduled season end date of 1 November 2026, though managers note that day‑to‑day operations will depend on weather patterns through early autumn.
With Saas‑Fee and Zermatt also closed due to summer heat, Stelvio's return is currently the northern hemisphere's only operating outdoor ski option. A second Italian glacier at Val Senales is planning to start its season in a fortnight, while Austria's Hintertux, Sölden, Kaunertal and Pitztal glaciers are all targeting late‑September starts, all beuing well.