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J2Ski Snow Report - March 21st 2024
Started by Admin in Snow Forecasts and Snow Reports, discussing Ischgl and Saalbach Hinterglem... |
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Spring skiing is pretty snowy in Breckenridge, Colorado... Spring in the valleys, but plenty of snow at altitude - with more fresh arriving on both sides of the Atlantic. The Snow Headlines - March 21st - Heavy snowfall in the Rockies brings a powdery start to the week. - Warm weather, wet snow and rain for World Cup Finals on low slopes in Austria. - Fresh snowfall and colder weather in Eastern North America. - More low-lying Austrian terrain closes early due to warm weather. More snow forecast, mainly at altitude, across the northern hemisphere...
World Overview We've reached the start of springtime by the Astronomical measure of the season now, joining meteorological springtime which kicked off three weeks ago. That's brought with it the usual mix of conditions we get as the seasons change across the northern hemisphere. So we've had some fresh snow showers on higher slopes providing some nice freeriding, but also very warm temperatures in Alpine Valleys, melting the remaining snow cover at lower levels and turning things sticky at mid-mountain by midday. Europe Austria Austria's larger, lower ski regions like the Skiwelt, Kitzbuhel and the Saalbach Hinterglemm domain that's currently hosting the FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup Finals, are locked in a losing battle with nature. Despite still having 65-95% of slopes open (although the Skiwelt just dropped to 51%), it is heavy wet snow, white ribbons on green hillsides and definitely at its best first thing. Most of these ski areas close at, or soon after, the Easter weekend. Austria has more glacier resorts than any other country, however, and plenty of high-altitude terrain at resorts like Obertauern and Ischgl will open into May. Most report deep snow up high and freeze-thaw conditions. The past week has seen plenty of sunny weather with some mostly light showers, snow up high, and rain below - and that looks set to continue. France After a few final snow/sleet/rain showers earlier this week, we've seen some very warm temperatures in valleys, getting up as high as +15C with the freezing point climbing above 3,000m, so it definitely feels like Spring is here. Fortunately, most of the main ski areas have snow lying up to 4.8 metres (that's 16 feet) deep up high and as long as you're heading for slopes above 2,000m you should find most runs still open and in good shape for the start of the Easter fortnight. The 3 Valleys still reports about 580km of its slopes open and it's a similar 90% plus for most other big French regions. Chamonix announced on Thursday that higher runs in its Brevent sector would stay open an extra week, through to 21st April; it currently has snow lying almost 3m deep up top. Italy Warm, sunny weather has been dominating Italy's ski slopes since early in the week and those conditions will continue in most areas into the final week of March. Temperatures of up to +15C have reached 1500m altitudes in the afternoons so the end of the season definitely feels imminent. Some Italian areas plan to continue into late April; in the case of resorts like Cortina and Cervinia, into May. Conditions are certainly much better above 2,000m altitude although with the freezing point now getting above 3,000m it's freeze/thaw conditions even to high elevations. Most of the country's big-name resorts still have 80-100% of their slopes open for the Easter fortnight. Switzerland Swiss centres have a similar mix of Spring weather, with very warm temperatures (up to +16C) reported below 1000m in ski area valleys, with the freezing point up above 2,000m. There has been powder and freeriding above about 2,500m over the past few days, however, and lower temperature and heavier snow is currently forecast for the first few days of next week. Saas Fee, Laax and Lötschental are posting some of the deepest snow depths in the world right now - on their highest slopes - all over 4 metres deep. Scandinavia Scandinavia is coming into its own for Spring skiing as usual. Most of the region's larger areas are fully open (until well into April and in some cases, early May) and several have extended spring opening hours; in the case of Finland's Ruka, until 7 pm six days a week then 11 pm, on Fridays. Ruka just reported another 10cm accumulation. Temperatures have been colder than on 'mainland Europe' to the south as you'd expect and there have been some good snowfalls, Norway's Geilo among centres posting 25cm of fresh snow to start the week. Pyrenees Although temperatures have risen a little and the heavy snowfall has eased to showers with longer sunny spells, conditions remain the best of the season in The Pyrenees as we reach the final 3-4 weeks. Base depths are more than double (in some cases triple) what they were at this point last month and most of the region's bigger resorts have 90% or more of their slopes open. For Pas de la Casa – Soldeu El Tarter (aka Grandvalira) that's over 200km, the most of the season. Continuing mostly dry, but with snow/sleet/rain showers into the weekend. Scotland Scottish slopes have been battling to keep terrain open for the Easter holidays, not that there was much, alas, and have been helped by more snowfalls earlier in the week on high slopes, but against that temperatures were very warm earlier in the week leading to a net loss. Glencoe closed its main area this week and Cairngorm hasn't operated anything since Monday due to a weekly two day closure followed by two days of gales. It's not clear if anything beyond nursery slopes will be open there at the weekend, but temperatures are dropping. The gales have currently closed most areas. So it currently looks like there won't be much more than nursery slope areas maintained by all-weather snowmaking guns for the Easter fortnight. That's available at Cairngorm, Glenshee and The Lecht, all being well with a dry slope and an all-weather snow toboggan slope at Glencoe and Nevis Range unable to offer snow sports. Eastern Europe Spring weather continues to impact snow cover in Bulgaria with the thaw reducing lower slope cover. There have been a few snow showers up high though and temperatures have been dropping well below freezing, down to -10C up high on Bulgarian slopes so it's freeze-thaw. Smaller, lower centres have closed but the big names still have 50-70% of runs open on the upper mountain. Bansko, with about two-thirds of its runs still open, has both the deepest snow and most terrain open in the region, though its long run back to the base is getting very thin. North America Canada It's been a mostly good week in Canada, with cooler temperatures in the East and the best snow depth of the season and all trails open in the west. Against that temperatures have been rising again, particularly in western BC, with Whistler reporting +15C down at resort level in the afternoons and two feet lost from it's upper base depth, although that's still at 2.4 metres (8 feet). That said, the forecast is looking more promising, with snow showers and sub-zero temperatures around the clock on higher slopes and temperatures dipping back into single figures early next week on the Pacific coast, and North America's largest ski area continues to post almost every run open and lift operational for the Easter fortnight. USA The Rockies saw more snowfall through the weekend (it was already falling as we published last week's report) so storm totals ended up over several feet in many areas, with southern centres doing particularly well. The East Coast has also seen snow showers and colder temperatures this week, good news with the Easter period coming up and hopefully providing a final boost after a lacklustre Thanksgiving and Christmas/New Year at the start of the season. Most areas across the country are almost fully operational, although smaller, lower centres have already started closing and most US resorts will close just after Easter or on the first or second weekends of April. Several dozen ski areas will continue to late April or into May. Washington state's Crystal Mountain has now extended its season to the end of next month and Oregon's Timberline started running its spring/summer Palmer chairlift last weekend. |
Feeder airports for France, Switzerland and Italy - queueing times
Started by SkiYetiMagic in Ski Chatter, 4 Replies, discussing Innsbruck |
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We hear you w.r.t. Geneva! Although avoiding Saturdays really helps...
We used Innsbruck a couple of times last year, and were pretty much straight through on arrival and departure with nothing you'd describe as a queue. First time was February half-term (NOT Saturday though) and it was barely 15 minutes from getting off the plane to starting the hire car (no checked luggage, which also helps massively if you can make that work). |
J2Ski Snow Report - March 14th 2024
Started by Admin in Snow Forecasts and Snow Reports, discussing Alpe d'Huez and Les Deux Alpes |
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Someone having the perfect run, at Keystone, Colorado... Late season snow is looking great on both sides of the Atlantic, with a lot of fresh snow this last week. It's Spring, so go high! The Snow Headlines - March 14th - Record open terrain in Pyrenees for 23-24, several centres extend season. - In Canada Whistler gets 1m+ in 48 hours, Big White extends season. - Laax overtakes Alpe d'Huez to post world's deepest snow at nearly 4.9 metres. - Heavy snowfall across the Iberian peninsula buries Portugal's only ski centre. Nothing huge, but there's snow forecast across the northern hemisphere...
World Overview The snow has kept falling in the Alps, Dolomites and Pyrenees this week with up to a metre more reported in total. It means the snow is the deepest it has been all winter and that some of the continent's biggest areas now have the most terrain open they've had all season. 2023 had a similar pattern, but with less snowfall earlier on. The Pyrenees are the region that's really benefitted from the recent accumulation, with Andorra's slopes 95% open after struggling at 50-70% all winter until now. Across the Atlantic, conditions are also among the best they've been all season. No huge snowfalls this week, unlike last, but several feet of snow is currently falling in the Rockies and there's been very welcome heavy snowfall along the east coast, which has had a very mixed and often lacklustre snowfall season to date. Resorts on Canada's Pacific Coast are also fully open after more big snowfalls there, Whistler Blackcomb getting nearly 5 feet in the last 7 days. But against these falls on upper mountains, spring warmth in the valleys is eating away at lower base depths so some centres like Austria's Skiwelt have closed big chunks of their low-lying terrain for the final weeks of their season. Europe Austria There's an upper slopes / lower slopes divide in Austria with more snow dumping on higher slopes and glaciers, but low-lying terrain down below about 1500m increasingly closing as the end of the season nears. That said there has been snowfall down to lower levels with fresh snow for the streets of Kitzbuhel, Lech and St Anton earlier this week. Skies have cleared in the past 24 hours though and it is likely to stay largely dry with some snow/sleet/rain showers (depending on altitude) over the week ahead. Most of the big areas remain 80-90% open and glacier base depths are the best they've been all season, but low valley runs are probably now shut until 24-25. France There's been a third week of snowfall in the French Alps too with those at the more southerly end of the mountains including Les 2 Alpes, Puy St Vincent and Val d'Isere posting some of the larger accumulations. Southerly Isola 2000 down near Nice topped them all with a full metre in just three days. All the snowfall has meant more southerly areas are tending to post the highest avalanche danger – 3 on the scale to 5, more like 2 elsewhere. It also means the world's largest ski area, the 3 Valleys, has enough snow to open some of its more deep-snow-dependent terrain and that it has the most runs its had open all season, up from about 550 to 580km of its 600km – so almost everything. Italy Italy has also had another good week for snowfall with reports of up to 60cm (2 feet) on higher slopes over the past week in the Western Alps, and up to 80cm in the Dolomites. Conditions are generally good across the country and there's more terrain open now than there was in February, with Cortina d'Ampezzo among the areas moving back up to 100% of its slopes open after fresh snowfall there. As elsewhere though, afternoon valley highs are hitting +10C this week again so any precipitation is rain in valleys and we've got real spring conditions, continuing through the coming week with more sun, and less snow forecast now. Switzerland It's been a pretty good week for Swiss ski areas, particularly on high slopes which will stay open later into April and in some cases longer into spring or even summer. Laax saw its base jump to nearly 4.9 metres up on the glacier, the deepest snow reported anywhere in the world. But it only has six-inches of snow at its base, reflecting the reality of warming spring weather impacting low slopes just as bases continue to build up high. Zermatt posted the biggest base depth increase in the Alps adding 50cm to the total lying (now 2 metres deep) on its year-round glacier runs, now at two metres. The coming week will bring light snow showers up high, and rain below with sunny spells at all levels in between. Scandinavia Scandinavian centres saw temperatures drop and fresh snowfall arrive this week after the warm spell last week. Hemsedal in Norway was one of those posting a 20cm jump in its base this week after seeing rainfall last week. It, like most areas in the region, reports all of its slopes open and good conditions for spring skiing through to the start of May. Pyrenees The full season reset in the Pyrenees appears about complete with the region's big centres almost fully open for the first time this season – with just a month of it left to run! The biggest of them all, Andorra's Grandvalira (encompassing Soldeu el Tarter, pas de la Casa and others), posted 201km of slopes open this week, more than 50km more than it or any other area had managed this season to date, and representing more than 90% of its 215km of slopes. Its Arcalis freeride sector has also announced a one-week season extension thanks to all the snow that's landed there. It will now be open until April 14th. Scotland Sadly there's been no real change for Scottish slopes. The weather has been largely dry although with occasional snow/sleet/rain showers and the inevitable periods of very strong winds. Open terrain remains limited with the most at Cairngorm and Glencoe. Glenshee has a few short runs and The Lecht has its nursery slope, much of this thanks to the all-weather snowmaking machines creating white areas on a green/brown background. Nevis Range remains closed and has only operated a few runs for a few days this season. Eastern Europe Spring is making itself felt in Bulgaria and other eastern European nations but there's also been some fresh snowfalls to report on higher terrain where temperatures have kept it fresh this week. But there is a slight dip in what's open as warm temperatures impact lower runs. Most of the smaller, lower centres have closed for the season but the big-name destination resorts remain typically 60-80% open. More spring-like weather is forecast for the coming week. North America Canada It's been another good week in Canada as the country's ski areas seem to be ending the season on a high after the poor start and lacklustre mid-season. Although the big snow news comes from the West, with Whistler Blackcomb almost fully open again after posting a 102cm base depth increase in 48 hours and other areas reporting great powder conditions, it's worth mentioning that east cost centres have seen fresh snowfall too after a poor warm, wet few weeks there, with a welcome return to more wintery weather in Quebec. USA Snow is falling again in the Rockies as we complete this week's report, with up to two-foot forecast for Colorado peaks by the weekend. That comes after a mostly dry week in much of the west, although there have been some snow showers and heavier falls up north in Oregon and Washington State. Timberline, the centre with North America's longest season, is posting the continent's deepest base at 4.4 metres. There have also been some good snowfalls in the Eastern US this week, which has struggled with warm and wet weather spells all winter. This time though up to 30" (75cm) has been reported since the weekend, with Mad River taking the top spot while other areas have had 1-2 feet of fresh. |
Exploring Empowerment: International Women's Day and the Transformative Power of Travel
From our brilliant friends at Heaven Publicity As the world commemorates International Women's Day on March 8th, we take this opportunity to celebrate the remarkable achievements and contributions of women in the travel industry. From fearless adventurers to innovative entrepreneurs, these women have shattered glass ceilings and inspired countless others to pursue their passions and dreams. These are just three of the many, many talented and professional "women in travel". Melody Sky: Capturing the World Through a Lens Melody Sky's lens doesn't just capture images; it captures stories. As a travel photographer based in Verbier, her work transcends mere visuals, delving deep into the heart and soul of every destination. Melody's journey as a photographer began in the picturesque landscapes of Scotland, where her mother's passion for photography ignited her creative spark at the tender age of four. A twist of fate found Melody in Tignes, France, inspired by the cinematic beauty of Luc Besson's 'The Big Blue'. Here, she immersed herself in the world of ice diving before her journey took a new turn as she delved into the world of skiing, eventually becoming the first female in Europe (and the world) to have her ski films broadcast globally and showcased on cinema screens. Fuelled by her passion for adventure and storytelling, Melody pursued a university degree in film and sport in London and Melbourne, further honing her craft and expanding her horizons. Today, Melody's lens continues to inspire awe and wonder, capturing the essence of each destination she encounters. From the snow-capped peaks of the Swiss Alps to the sun-kissed shores of distant shores, her photographs evoke a sense of wanderlust and a deep appreciation for the beauty of our world. Picture copyright, and courtesy of, Melody Sky At J2Ski, we've long been fans of Melody's photography, and in awe of the efforts she goes to "get the shot". Do check out her work at https://melodysky.com/ Anjalee: A Culinary Journey Through Kandy Meet Anjalee, a woman of remarkable talent, whose journey as a tour guide in Kandy embodies the essence of Sri Lankan cuisine, culture, and community. As a mother of two, Anjalee's passion for food and storytelling knows no bounds. Anjalee's culinary expertise isn't just a skill—it's an art form. With a deep-rooted love for experimenting with new dishes, she has mastered the art of blending flavours and spices to create mouthwatering Sri Lankan delicacies. Her journey began with a desire to introduce her children to the rich tapestry of Sri Lankan cuisine. Waking up before dawn each day, Anjalee meticulously prepares curries and dahls from scratch, ensuring that her family's meals are not just nourishing but also bursting with flavour. But Anjalee's culinary talent extends far beyond her kitchen walls. As a tour guide with Tropical Sky, she invites travellers to join her on a culinary adventure through the vibrant streets of Kandy. With every step, she unveils the secrets of Sri Lankan cuisine, weaving together stories of tradition, history, and heritage. What sets Anjalee apart is not just her culinary expertise but also her dedication to her craft. In a male-dominated industry, she stands as a beacon of inspiration, challenging stereotypes and breaking barriers with every tour she leads. In a world where female tour guides are a rarity, Anjalee's presence shines brightly, paving the way for other women to follow in her footsteps. A six-night Sri Lanka Food Tour is priced from £1,799 pp on a half-board basis. This includes international flights, accommodation, transfers, foodie tours in Kandy and Colombo, attractions including Dambulla Cave Temple and the Temple of Tooth Relic, a safari in Kaudulla National Park, a trip to a tea factory and a tour guide throughout. Tropical Sky (01342 331795) www.tropicalsky.co.uk Patrizia Iantorno: Sailing Towards Success In the male-dominated world of cruising, Patrizia Iantorno stands tall as a beacon of leadership and empowerment. As the Chief Commercial Officer of Swan Hellenic, she navigates the seas of change with grace and determination. From overcoming challenges to embracing opportunities, her journey exemplifies the spirit of resilience and innovation. Patrizia confronts various challenges inherent in the cruise industry's historical male focus. Breaking through this mindset requires steadfast determination and a commitment to fostering gender diversity. Additionally, the demands of global leadership often necessitate extensive travel and balancing time zones, presenting personal challenges for Patrizia and other women in similar positions. Nevertheless, she finds immense reward in witnessing the industry's evolution towards greater gender diversity and inclusivity, with more opportunities for female leaders to rise within Swan Hellenic. Patrizia reflects on the emergence of a new wave of female cruising leaders with enthusiasm. She believes that women bring invaluable soft skills to the industry, injecting empathy and fostering balance within cruise companies. As the industry shifts towards a more consumer-centric focus, understanding guest insights becomes paramount. Patrizia observes that many top female leaders in the industry possess marketing backgrounds, driving a shift towards a more customer-oriented approach rather than purely technical aspects. A 10-night cruise, departing 30 April 2024, beginning in Dakar and ending in Casablanca, costs £1,980 pp (two sharing) and includes group return transfers from the airport to the cruise port, one-night pre-cruise accommodation with breakfast at a four / five-star hotel or onboard and all meals onboard. Swan Hellenic (0207 846 0271, www.swanhellenic.com) As we celebrate International Women's Day, let us honour the trailblazing women who are reshaping the future of travel. Their stories of resilience, innovation, and empowerment serve as a powerful reminder of the limitless potential that lies within each of us. Together, let's continue championing gender equality and diversity in the travel industry and beyond. Here's to the women who inspire us to dream, explore, and soar to new heights. Happy International Women's Day! |
J2Ski Snow Report - March 7th 2024
Started by Admin in Snow Forecasts and Snow Reports, discussing Alpe d'Huez and Saalbach Hinte... |
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Stubai Glacier were late opening the lifts today, after a metre of snow overnight... Major snow storms for the West Coast, USA and continued heavy snow in parts of the Alps and the Dolomites; with more to come. The Snow Headlines - March 7th - Huge snowfalls for US West Coast ski areas, especially California; over 3m/10 feet for some. - Pyrenees have most terrain open of 23-24 season after 1m plus snowfalls. - Western Canada enjoys best conditions of 2024 after resorts see 1m+ 7-day snowfall totals - Much more snowfall in the Alps. Some resorts get over a metre more snowfall this week. - Avalanche risk hits Level 4 in a number of areas, some completely closed due to danger. There's more snow forecast for Europe and elsewhere...
World Overview The biggest snowfall news worldwide this week comes from the huge storm that moved in from the Pacific, leading to "do not travel" warnings, power blackouts, 180mph winds and over 3m/10 feet of snowfall for some over four days - and leaving the El Nino hit region with North America's deepest lying snow. Other parts of the Western US saw 1metre / 3 feet+ snow over 7 days too, particularly welcome in the Northwest. In Europe, the snow kept falling in the Alps, in some cases more than expected, with several areas in the main four ski nations seeing over a metre of snowfall more this week. It's tipped the avalanche danger to 4 on the scale of 5 in some areas with Obergurgl one of those completely closed at the time of writing because of it. Elsewhere, The Pyrenees have had snowfall too and are in the best shape they've been all winter with (nearly) everything open at last. Scottish ski areas are still struggling with not enough snow though and more southerly Scandinavian areas saw the first rainfall of their season. Europe Austria Austrian ski areas continue to reap the rewards - in terms of fresh snow and deeper bases to lower levels, as well as renewed freeriding opportunities - from the heavy snowfalls in the final week of February. But most of the country's ski areas have also seen more snowfalls over the first week of March, with more big falls; the Stubai glacier among those reporting another metre plus accumulation. It, and others like Obergurgl, were among those completely closed by high avalanche danger at the time of writing this report. The country's big areas like the Skiwelt, Saalbach Skicircus and the Arlberg remain 80-95% open and half-a-dozen Austrian areas (including the Arlberg) as well as glaciers like the Kaunertal and Stubai, have base depths up near 4 metres - with their seasons expected to continue into May and in some cases June. More springlike conditions, with snow showers on higher slopes, are forecast. France French resorts saw perhaps a little more snowfall than forecast over the last week, particularly in the first half of this week when some 60cm 24-hour totals were reported for areas including Val Cenis and Val d'Isere. With other smaller falls through the week, it pushed the 7-day totals through the metre mark. Most areas remain fully open and snow conditions are being claimed as the best of the season so far with so much fresh cover on the groomed runs as well as lots of freeriding potential from the off-piste powder. The avalanche danger is widely at Level 3, Considerable, so there are warnings to only go off-piste with a guide and/or on areas known to be avalanche-safe. Alpe d'Huez continues to post the world's deepest snow at 4.8m (16 feet) up top. It's looking drier through the weekend with more snowfall forecast next week. Italy Italy has had a good week for snowfall too, with 30-60cm accumulations posted in many areas right across the country's ski slopes. Everywhere is pretty much fully open with fresh cover on slopes and again, the best freeriding possible of 2024 so far. The huge Via Lattea (Milky Way) ski areas on the French border have seen some of the biggest accumulations of the past week and reached a 3 metre (10 feet) base on its upper slopes having struggled earlier in the season. Snowfall is expected to continue across Italy into next week with more heavy falls expected. Switzerland Swiss ski centres have seen more snowfalls over the last seven days and Switzerland is the only European nation to have ski areas posting 4m+ bases on upper slope depths, outside of France. Among the more noteworthy snowfall totals this week were 90cm in 72 hours (i.e. three feet in three days), then another metre in the latter half of the week for Saas Fee. The past week we've seen a mixture of sunny spells and moderate to heavy snow showers, boosting freeride terrain. It's also cooler than it was for much of February. But springlike freeze-thaw weather is gradually gaining its grip as we move further into March. Western Switzerland will see more snowfall after a dry weekend, the east of the country staying drier longer. Scandinavia Scandinavia's superb season for low temps and fresh snow has been derailed a little, at least at more southerly destinations in the region, with warm weather, rain and fog rather than the powder reported all winter. Things remain good, with lower temperatures now, but it's not been the best of weeks in parts of Norway. Lapland, on the other hand, has reported everything still below freezing, the snow light and powdery! Pyrenees The snow has kept falling in the Pyrenees, finally, with many areas now having posted more than a metre over the past two weeks, much more than they'd seen in the previous three weeks. So most areas have finally been able to open nearly all of their slopes for the first time this season. The snow should keep falling through the weekend so the final month of the 23-24 season should be far, far better than the first three-quarters of it was. Scotland Sadly there's not been much improvement in Scottish snow cover. Conditions have been fairly settled with just a few windy days and some snow showers, but not enough. Cairngorm has about a fifth of its runs open if you want to hike up to the open section with the funicular out of action. The Lecht and Glenshee are little more than nursery slopes open still. Glencoe has about the most runs available, about a third of its terrain, but has warned demand doesn't really justify running the lifts they are operating at present. Nevis Range remains unable to offer snowsports. Eastern Europe Some snowfall up high in Bulgaria but the spring thaw definitely seems to be well set in across Eastern Europe with base depths thinning fairly rapidly and the amount of open terrain at the main areas starting to drop too. Most of the big-name areas like Jasna, Borovets and Zakopane still have 60-70% of their slopes open though, smaller lower centres have ended their seasons. North America Canada It has been one of the best weeks of the season in Western Canada with a number of ski areas posting another metre of snowfall on top of some decent accumulations last week. Temperatures have also stayed low so essentially it's a return to normal service after months of unusually warm and dry (or wet) weather. Whistler Blackcomb picked up an 83cm accumulation in three days through the weekend to reach a 2.5-metre base and its most open terrain of the season – around 90%. USA A massive four-day snowstorm that hit California from the Pacific lived up to expectations with storm totals of up to 3.2 metres (at Sugar Bowl) of snow, meaning the continent's deepest snow is now in California, with Mammoth Mountain moving to top spot at 4.4 metres. The snow didn't float down gently but was driven in by winds gusting at up to 180 mph which left some areas scoured and huge drifts in others. Things have now settled down though, with terrain reopening and skiers warned of the dangers of tree wells. There was plenty of snowfall elsewhere in the West too with resorts in the Rockies getting several feet of snow and those up in the Pacific Northwest some of the best of the season so far. It's not such a great picture on the East Coast though with dry weather and some warm temperatures again, so bases remain very thin here, although most centres are still managing to keep 60-90% of their slopes open. The coming week will see more snow showers in the west, though not as heavy as the last seven days. |
Late Season 2024 packages from Ski Solutions
Started by Admin in Ski Deals and Competitions, discussing Tignes and Val d'Isère |
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Late-season skiing: Where to head for a snow-sure trip with Ski Solutions
Although the ski season is well underway, there is still plenty of time to hit the slopes for a snow-sure getaway before it comes to an end. As the weather warms up and the slopes get quieter, late-season skiing is the perfect opportunity to make the most of a trip to the mountains. Ian McIlrath, Managing Director of Ski Solutions comments:
Below, we have rounded up a range of high-altitude resorts for those final ski trips of the 2023/24 season on behalf of Ski Solutions. Val d'Isère, France - Ski Holidays One of the world's favourite ski resorts, Val d'Isère, has the longest winter in the Alps with the ski season continuing into late May making the resort snow-sure and great for all ages and abilities. Val d'Isère has access to the best all-round ski area in the world, Espace Killy, with more than 300km of piste-skiing and plenty of off-piste powder fields. For those looking for activities off the slopes, guests can get their adrenaline pumping with BMW ice driving, dog sledding, and winter walking. For social butterflies, the après-ski scene in Val d'Isère is world class and varied after being introduced to the slopes in the 80s. No 1 Bellevarde The perfect choice for a family or group of friends, No 1 Bellevarde is situated on the edge of Santons piste, meaning guests can ski-in and ski-out of the property, maximising time spent on the slopes. This slopeside chalet oozes character and rustic charm, with an open fireplace and floor to ceiling windows. The chalet also benefits from a hot tub with aerial views. HOW: Ski Solutions offers a seven-night stay at No 1 Bellevarde on a chalet board basis priced from £1,000 per person departing 15 April 2024, including transfers. www.skisolutions.com / 020 3504 2091 Tignes, France - Ski Holidays Purpose built to ensure skiers could wake up as close to the pistes as possible, there is a wealth of ski-in ski-out accommodation available in Tignes. Sitting at a high resort altitude, Tignes is a great option for late-season skiing and offers a variety of slopes as well as access to high-altitude glacial runs on the Grande Motte Glacier. The ski area also links up with Val d'Isère, which gives skiers even more access to unparalleled skiing. Hotel Le Levanna Built in a wooden and stone-chalet style, this hotel offers an authentic Alpine experience right on the slopes. Transport times to the slopes are minimal thanks to the ski-in ski-out nature of Hotel Le Levanna. Set amidst snow-peaked mountains and at just a short walk from the resort centre, the hotel's location is second-to-none. Boasting its own restaurant and bar, Hotel Le Levanna has everything needed for a great late-season trip. HOW: Ski Solutions offers a seven-night stay at Hotel Le Levanna on a half board basis priced from £1,845 per person departing 13 April 2024, including flights and private transfers. www.skisolutions.com / 020 3504 2091 Myrkdalen, Norway - Ski Holidays Myrkdalen is the largest ski resort in western Norway and one of the most snow-sure in Europe, extending the ski season to the start of May with an average snowfall of five metres. Ideal for families, Myrkdalen is a child friendly resort with quiet, wide peaks and designated family friendly ski areas. While the resort has ample ski schools and activities for children, the varied pistes are also great for avid skiers. A stay in Myrkdalen is also a great opportunity to visit the fjords to see the majestic mountains. Myrkdalen Hotel Perfect for skiers looking to spend as much time as possible on the slopes, Hotel Myrkdalen is in a great location for a ski-in ski-out trip. The hotel's modern architecture is perfectly combined with Alpine charm and includes many amazing facilities to enjoy after a day on the slopes, including three varied restaurants and two bars. HOW: Ski Solutions offers a seven-night stay at Myrkdalen Hotel on a half board basis priced from £1,395 per person departing 17 March 2024, including flights and private transfers. www.skisolutions.com / 020 3504 2091 Cervinia, Italy - Ski Holidays Cervinia is a popular pick for skiing due to its high altitude and great snow record. Not only does the resort offer its own superb skiing, but it is also connected to Zermatt, in neighbouring Switzerland. Between both Cervinia and Zermatt, these two resorts cover all types of skiers' needs, with plenty of blue and red runs in Cervinia, and a wealth of off-piste runs and more challenging terrain in Zermatt. Evenings in Cervinia provide a lively atmosphere amongst the town's many bars and restaurants, with plenty of picturesque streets to stroll around. Valtur Cervinia Cristallo Located at the foot of the Matterhorn in Cervinia, this hotel provides skiers with access to an extensive ski domain stretching over Italy and Switzerland. While traditional in style, this modern hotel has a great spa and gym, as well as two restaurants and a ski rental service. HOW: Ski Solutions offers a seven-night stay at Valtur Cervinia Cristallo on a bed and breakfast basis priced from £1,445 per person departing 13 April 2024, including flights and private transfers. www.skisolutions.com / 020 3504 2091 Ski Solutions Ski Solutions is Britain's original specialist ski travel agency and tailor-made tour operator and have been arranging ski holidays for more than 35 years to Europe and North America. Ski Solutions work with the finest chalets, hotels and apartments in the mountains and with access to the full ski market, they can tailor-make the perfect holiday. Offering total flexibility, their ski experts can find the best solution for their clients, whether that's a luxury seven-night escape, a ski weekend or a long-haul, multi-destination trip. |
J2Ski's Where to Ski in March 2024
Started by Admin in Snow Forecasts and Snow Reports, discussing SkiWelt and Verbier |
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Winter has piled snow into Europe and North America this week, with more expected, to setup March very nicely for some great skiing this Spring.
Palisades Tahoe, California will have Alpine closed today (1st March) due to abundant snow! Where to Ski in March 2024 March marks the start of springtime, first by the meteorological measure of the seasons on the 1st, then the astronomical measure on the 20th. It usually marks the final full month of the ski season for most ski areas, some lower lying ones not making it to the end of the month, other higher or more northerly ones continuing right through April too. This year (as last) springtime is arriving with more of a wintery feel in the Alps than we had for much of actual winter. The final week of February brought colder temperatures and the biggest snowfalls of 2024 to date. But we can still expect more freeze-thaw conditions through the month to increasingly high altitudes. Elsewhere in the skiing world, Scandinavia is looking good for March skiing in 2024 having been one of the few places to report a consistently cold and snowy season all winter. The Pyrenees, by contrast, are continuing to battle a warm and dry one. Eastern Europe has decent snow up high and Scotland's centres are, as usual, on a knife edge, with little open as we start the month but with the potential to quickly open much more if things go the right way. Most North American areas begin the month in the best shape they've been all season after great February snowfalls for all but the Northwest corner of the continent which continues to struggle with warm and dry weather. Europe Austria Austria's ski areas got a big boost in the final week of February with heavy snowfall down to low levels. This had the twin benefits of greatly improving the 'tired' state of the snow piled up on valley runs, and providing a great powder boost to high altitude terrain up on the country's glaciers, four of which are now reporting the snow lying more than 3 metres/10 feet deep as we start March. In fact some of Austria's big, but relatively low altitude ski areas like the Skiwelt, have March as the last month of their season, due to shut down the slopes on 1st April, so its extra good news that they've had a boost. France French resorts have been posting the world's deepest snowpacks all winter and although the numbers stalled for much of January and February as the snowfalls paused and temperatures rose, the final week of February saw the biggest falls of 2024 so far, bolstering cover by up to a metre ahead of the spring ski period. So French resorts start March in great shape, at least with the proviso you book an area with plenty of terrain above 1800m altitude. Although there was snow down to the valley floor over the last weekend of February, the issue of warm temperatures on lower slopes hasn't gone away and those falls didn't change things for more than a few days. In any case this is March so snowlines are rising even in a normal season, whatever one of those is. Italy Like the rest of the Alps, Italy saw its biggest snowfalls of 2024 in the last week of February, with resorts here too reporting up to a metre of snowfall through the last six days of the month. The snowfall was heaviest in the northwest of the country, but there's been significant snowfall in the Dolomites too. As all of Italy's bigger, northern areas were fully open already, more or less, the new snow has simply secured the slopes for March skiing and beyond. Of course, the usual rule of the best spring snow being on higher terrain applies as every March, along with the likelihood that freeze-thaw conditions will increasingly be the norm to ever higher elevations as the month progresses. Switzerland Swiss slopes also saw some big snowfalls at the end of February, setting the country's ski areas up well for March skiing. Davos, St Moritz and the Aletsch Arena were among the centres posting cumulative totals of up to a metre in the final 7 days of February, with some Swiss centres getting around a metre. Laax has the country's deepest snow at 3.8 metres while Verbier and the 4 Valleys start the month with almost every kilometre of their 410km of slopes open. So all in all things are looking good and almost all Swiss resorts plan to stay open well into April and in a few cases (Murren, Zermatt etc) into May. Pyrenees It has been one of the worst ever seasons in the Pyrenees, unfortunately, with warm temperatures the norm all winter, plenty of sunshine and not much snowfall. December and January were the warmest on record in the region. But the final week of February has seen a huge snowfall with some centres posting over a metre - more snowfall than they'd seen through the previous three months combined, meaning they start March with plenty of powder and almost all their terrain open for the first time this season. Scandinavia Scandinavia has always come into its own in the springtime and 2024 is looking like it could be more true than ever after Finland, Norway and Sweden saw some great snowfalls and continuing cold weather through February to start the month in excellent shape. Europe's most northerly ski area, Riksgransen, in the Swedish Arctic circle, opened for its 2024 season at the end of last month, and even with daylight hours now increasing, it's still hard to believe lucky skiers and boarders will be sliding under the midnight sun there in just over two months' time. Eastern Europe Ski areas across eastern Europe have been battling warm temperatures all winter, managing to build bases of about a metre on their higher runs – the bigger centres at least, but not able to maintain much cover at lower levels. So it looks like it will be sunny spring skiing in Bulgaria and Romania, perhaps cooler in the Czech and Slovak Republic. As we start the month, Slovakia's Jasana and Bulgaria's Bansko, the two biggest in the region, are both about 80% open. Scotland Scottish centres have not really fully launched their 23-24 seasons as yet and whether there will be a big snowfall that allows them to open more terrain in March remains to be seen. Unfortunately though, much of the season it has been just beginner areas, maintained by all-weather snowmaking systems, that have been able to open, although there have been periods when Glencoe, Glenshee and Cairngorm have been able to open 25-50% of their terrain during rare cold, calm, snowy periods. North America Canada Canada has not had a season to remember so far, not for the right reasons anyway. To be fair it has not been that bad on the inland eastern half of British Columbia, nor in Alberta, where most centres are 80-100% open, its western BC on the Pacific coast that continues to struggle with warm weather and not much snowfall leaving smaller, lower areas either completely closed or with just a fraction of their slopes open. March isn't looking like it'll be much better at this point. On the east conditions are about the best they've been after a cold February, with most areas almost fully open. USA US ski areas are posting their best conditions of the 23-24 season so far as we start March, with resorts in the Rockies and in California in the west having posted up to 10 feet of snowfall in February building bases to 3 metres or more and leaving every slope open. The only real exception is the Pacific Northwest corner where there's not much snow and not a lot open after temperatures have stayed warm and what precipitation there's been has often been warm all season long. There is a huge snow storm currently moving in right along the Pacific coast that may bring over 3 metre (ten feet) snow totals by 3rd March in places. On the East Coast it's been a second winter of limited snowfalls and spells of warm highs causing fast thaws or bringing rain to the snow every few weeks. So bases aren't great as we start the month. That said, February was the coldest and snowiest month of the season so far here too so most ski areas are close to fully open, but we may see some struggle to make the end of the month unless there is an unexpected temperature drop. |