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J2Ski Snow Report 24th December 2020
Skiing powder until 8pm at Niseko, Japan! Merry Christmas from J2Ski! The mountains are waiting for us... please stay safe and follow local advice on travel. We can't all go skiing just yet but we can dream! The Snow Headlines - 24th December - Fresh snowfall across the US improves conditions in many areas. - Bulgaria's ski season underway. - Snow depths pass 4-metre mark in western Canada - world's deepest to date. - Swiss ski areas stay open (mostly), Austrian resorts open to locals from today (Christmas Eve). - Scottish ski season starts with little natural snow and a three-week lockdown. - Big snowfall in Japan. - Covid clusters found in two Canadian resorts. After months of debate between resorts and countries as to which ski areas would open for the usually busy Christmas and new year periods, with governments changing their minds repeatedly in the days and weeks before, we're finally here and know what is happening (mostly!). Many of the northern hemisphere's ski areas are open this week; several thousand of them. Most are open in Scandinavia, Austria, Switzerland, Scotland, Eastern Europe, North America and across Asia - all with strict pandemic limitations in place. Germany and Italy are in full lockdown with no ski areas open, and in France ski resorts are open but the lifts aren't running; people who want to hike up can ski down. In Spain most resorts are open, whilst in Andorra the ski lifts are currently closed. As to the snow cover; that's similarly varied and complicated. However, most areas have a fairly good cover now but many are battling temperatures warmer than they'd like, as well as the pandemic. Upper slope conditions are good across most of Europe - only Scotland and South-Eastern Europe seem to be suffering. In North America, the hardest-hit areas from a warm wet autumn (the Northeast of the continent) have seen colder, snowier weather improving things. The biggest snowfalls of the last seven days, however, have been recorded in Japan where some areas have had over three metres (10 feet) of snowfall in the last seven days, back to the good old days after last winter's record warm temperatures and lack of snowfall, so positive news there at least. In the Alpine Forecast Some heavy snowfall for much of the Alps now in the forecast for the last week of the year. 
Snow heading for Europe and Japan...
Europe Austria Austrian ski resorts are opening as we publish this week's report. Judging by the social media posts over the past few weeks the anticipation is huge and it looks like hundreds of ski areas will all be opening at once across the country on Christmas Eve, Thursday 24th December, though a few (Heiligenblut for example) say their season will start on December 25th and others Boxing Day. A few centres up on the German border say they don't plan to open until it is easier/allowed for Germans to come into Austria to ski – which it's hoped will be after 7th January when Austrian resorts are due to open to international tourists. Snow conditions look good if the pictures are anything to go by, especially on higher slopes. It has been snowing again in recent days and it is due to snow more over Christmas weekend. Some of the bigger resorts say snow depths are up at three metres (ten feet) on some glaciers – much deeper than when they closed in early November. France French ski resorts are now "open" following the ending of full lockdown restrictions but the ski lifts remain closed and initial reports indicated Christmas visitor numbers are down 80-90% at most areas. The snow cover is reported to be good, especially at altitude, and Val Thorens was hosting World Cup ski cross races earlier this week. People are heading out ski touring in the mountains with some resorts actually grooming runs for descents for those who want groomed pistes, others are running Magic carpet lifts for nursery slope areas for children. There is snow forecast over Christmas and resorts hope the season will start (or resume, in Tignes' case), on January 7th – although the way things are going few people are taking that date as a certainty. Italy The ski racing world's eyes have been on Italy's ski slopes over the past week with World Cup races taking place in Alta Badia, Madonna di Campiglio and Val Gardena. For Italians though, as for the rest of the world, the only place to see people skiing Italian slopes right now is on TV, with the country in full lockdown until, hopefully, January 7th. There's been little fresh snowfall this week, but conditions continue to look good for when slopes are allowed to reopen – hopefully now just a fortnight away - and there is snow in the forecast. Switzerland Swiss centres have been on a bit of a knife-edge as to whether they can open or not over Christmas following the latest federal government announcements on Friday which largely leaves the decision up to individual cantons but says it should be down to infection rates and virus 'R' reproduction rates. Ski areas in Valais seem fairly confident that allows them to stay open but in Graubunden, another canton housing several leading Swiss areas, the decision - taken on Monday - was more marginal and is being reviewed daily. Among the measures that have allowed areas to stay open is a ban on alcohol sales and a closure of slopes where accidents are deemed more likely – the thinking being that would limit hospital admissions. Andermatt, in the canton of Uri, has been closed by its regional government, although much of the ski area lies over the canton border (accessed from Sedrun) so a big chunk of the ski area is still open, just not accessible from Andermatt. All that said, most Swiss areas are now open, reporting depths of up to 3m (10 feet) on upper slopes. There has been some fresh snow too although conditions remain better on higher runs and more snowfall would be welcome. Verbier noted it had poor snow on lower slopes at the start of the week, closing some runs. Scandinavia Scandinavian ski areas report that it has often been too warm through the autumn, and early season conditions in many areas aren't that great. Most are now open for the season though, although the vast majority have only a foot or so of snow lying and perhaps a third of their terrain open for Christmas. Norway's Hemsedal has more impressive stats with nearly a metre of snow depth and about 75% of its runs skiable. Pyrenees and Spain There are very few ski areas open in the Pyrenees at present with the ski lifts in France and Andorra closed until January and only a few centres open in Spain. Spanish resorts open include two of the country's largest, Baqueira Beret and Sierra Nevada, which are both operating about a fifth of their terrain under strict virus restrictions. There was some fresh snowfall at the weekend too. Scotland Scottish ski slopes opened last Saturday just as the country's leader Nicola Sturgeon was announcing a three-week lockdown from this Saturday, 26th December. The centres are interpreting this differently with Cairngorm deciding to close from Christmas Eve through the new lockdown but Glencoe and the Lecht saying they'll be staying open, for locals only, which is allowed under 'Tier 4' which all of the Scotland mainland will be under, they believe. Glenshee is yet to announce its plans as we issue this. As it is there has been inadequate natural snowfall for full runs to open but four of the Highland centres (Glencoe, Glenshee, The Lecht and Cairngorm) do have small areas open for teaching/snow fun made with their all-weather snow-making machines. More snowfall should arrive this coming weekend. Eastern Europe The 20-21 season is gathering pace in Eastern Europe with ski areas now open in more than a dozen countries in the region. The biggest resort, Bulgaria's Bansko, opened last weekend with fairly good conditions and several feet (60cm) of snow cover on the top of the mountain but warm temperatures and no snow cover in resort. Another of Bulgaria's best-known areas, Borovets, said it won't be open for skiing over Christmas due to lack of snow cover. North America Canada Canada is where it is all happening. They've had the heaviest snowfall (outside of Japan) in the past week, and claim the deepest snow depth in the world, with Kicking Horse in British Columbia reporting 4m (13.3 feet) base depth after more than two feet (60cm) of snowfall there. Unfortunately, Alberta and BC, which has strict limits on non-essential travel, is also where the ski world's virus flare-ups have been reported among staff at Big White in BC (70+ staff) and Nakiska in Alberta (15+ staff). Both resorts remain open. Quebec in the East has had a poor start to the season with warm, wet weather in November and the start of this month but the past week has been colder and snowier and more resorts have opened there now. USA Things have been looking much snowier across the USA over the past week. Ski areas in the West, in the Rockies and in the Northeast have all reported fresh snowfall this past week, as much as two feet (60cm). Most of the country's ski areas are now open and the fresh snow has allowed those that are to add more terrain. With limited numbers allowed on the mountains due to COVID restrictions though, many leading resorts have reported tickets sold out over the Christmas and New Year weeks. Avalanche danger is also reported to be high in the Rockies due to the odd mix of warm weather suddenly giving way to heavy snowfall and sadly there have been two separate avalanche incidents leading to three deaths of backcountry skiers in Colorado. We'll be back next week with our final round-up of the year... |
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Want to get away from worrying about quarantine and lift closures? Wondering what to do with the spare change you found down the back of the sofa? We have the answer...
Elemental Adventure offers a 2021 week of pioneering first descents in Russia's Kamchatka and the Kuril Islands aboard luxury new icebreaker superyacht La Datcha. Dates: March-May 2021 and 2022 
NEW LAUNCH ski Expedition Yacht 77 La Datcha (77m, 252ft) is pioneering first descent heliskiing in remote locations. Both luxury superyacht and long-range endurance ice-breaker, it is the most hotly anticipated ski launch of 2021. London-based Russian billionaire owner Oleg Tinkov, a passionate skier and adventurer, has co-designed the six-deck superyacht, with Dutch shipbuilder Damen Yachting, as part of the SeaXplorer series, to take the concept of yacht based heliskiing to a new level. 
Kamchatka - photo (c) Ludmila Figura The Itinerary has a strong focus on accessing 'off the charts' world-first ski terrain on The Kamchatka Peninsula, The Kuril Islands, Chukotka, Alaska, Arctic and Antarctica. The world's first purpose-built icebreaker superyacht, La Datcha is compliant with the International Maritime Organisation's Polar Code, and houses two on-board helicopters in a below-deck hangar. She is available for private charter with heliski specialists Elemental Adventure. James Morland, founder-owner of Elemental Adventure, says: "La Datcha is extremely exciting because she gives us the floating platform to explore even further afield and pioneer new ski areas. Having the backup helicopter is crucial to operating with total autonomy and safety in remote areas. "It is also 007-Bond-like in that it has all the toys on-board, alongside the luxury of a 'floating chalet', and offers a CV-19 safety bubble." Chamonix based Elemental Adventure are THE heliski experts in this area, having specialised in yacht based heliskiing since 2003, with trips to Kamchatka since 2005. 
Kamchatka - photo (c) Ludmila Figura "We have been running trips to Russia since 2001 – to The Caucasus, Kamchatka, Siberia – and in 2016 I was lucky to be part of a pioneering ski trip to the Kuril islands where we made many first descents including the first heli-drop on Onekotan island," says James : https://www.eaheliskiing.com/journal/the-kuril-islands-kamchatka Booking now for exclusive charter to THE KURIL ISLANDS & KAMCHATKA 2021 and ANTARCTICA 2022 Price: from €1m Includes: »» Full visa support service. »» Meet & greet in Petropavlovsk Kamchatka and transfer to the yacht. »» 7 nights' accommodation for up to 12 guests. »» Breakfast, lunches, snacks and evening meals prepared by gourmet chef. »» All non-alcoholic beverages, beer and a selection of house wines. »» Housekeeping and daily turndown service. »» Two commercially certified on-board helicopters and a set amount of flying time. »» Service of internationally certified mountain guides. »» Skis and avalanche safety equipment. »» Use of on-board three-person expedition submersive and pilot. »» Full use of extensive on-board fishing equipment. »» Use of all on-board amenities, including Jacuzzi, spa, gym, wi-fi, video on demand system and cinema. Booking: www.eaheliskiing.com, +44 (0)20 3059 8787, james@eaheli.com [Please mention J2Ski when enquiring - and do send us a postcard...] The Land of Fire and Ice: Russia's Kamchatka and the Kuril Islands include a chain of volcanic islands, with 150+ volcanoes, 39 active, stretching over 1,000km, with a native Kuru population, between the Sea of Okhotsk and the Pacific Ocean.  
Kuril Islands - photos (c) Ludmila Figura About Elemental Adventure (EA) - Interview with owner-founder James Morland: Elemental Adventure was founded by "obsessed" British skier James Morland in 1999. The product of a passion for skiing and adventure in remote wilderness areas, its offering focuses on unique and immersive ski experiences which are about as far-removed from the tourist track as you can get. "Skiing a run in perfect powder is an amazing feeling but if you take that run and put it on a smoking volcanic island in the middle of the ocean where you can make hundreds of turns all the way down to the beach, it takes skiing to an entirely different level…And that's really what everything we do is about – taking it to the next level," says James, 46, an experienced heliski guide and yacht skipper, speaking from his Chamonix base. He adds, "This offering is timely as we have seen enquiries for yacht-based adventures rise in recent years, particularly since the epidemic. La Datcha is set up with two master suites, a spa, cinema, chef, and all the toys, so offers a luxury floating 'ski bubble' for two families - for skiers and non-skiers." About La Datcha Staff of 25, includes private chef, heliski guides, pilots and submersible pilot Fully certified heli-deck & below-deck heli-hangar, two Airbus helicopters Toy Store – includes Triton 1650 three-person submersible (dives to depths of 1,000m), jet-skis, snowmobiles, polar kayaks, snow bikes, diving equipment etc Hull made of strengthened steel, can change direction Observation deck to view narwhals, beluga wales and walruses Can stay at sea for up to 40 days at a time Full spa: steam bath, hammam, sauna, massage, gym, indoor/ on-deck jacuzzi Glass-encased elevator Double master-suite, for two families Builder: Damen Yachting SeaXplorers are specially strengthened with extra steel frames in the hull, forming an 'ice-belt' capable of withstanding the pressure of pack ice. If surrounded, it can be turned to be stern-led. Effective against ice up to a metre thick, La Datcha will reach regions previously accessible only after summer ice-melt. Built for discovery, this luxury explorer also has a state-of-the-art scuba centre and certified emergency room with a direct link to 24/7 medical aid. The significance of the two-heli setup comes into its own, once the yacht reaches the extremely remote waters of Kamchatka in March. Rarely visited by superyachts, it is a diverse cruising ground rich in wolverines, geysers, bears, volcanoes and …heliskiing. Interview with La Datcha owner-explorer Oleg Tinkov: After many years of chartering yachts and exploring the world's most beautiful destinations, owner-explorer Oleg Tinkov is launching La Datcha, his first heliski superyacht, to add to his chalet collection, and pioneer a new approach to the explorer-expedition ski market. "The Earth is so big and our life is so short, we have to explore as much as we can," says Tinkov, who is fighting a personal battle with leukaemia. "Some people think that fans of outdoor activities should stay in fleabag motels and dry their wet socks on radiators. I believe you can combine heliskiing in the world's most challenging environments and still return to exceptional service and ultimate comfort." Source: LaDatcha.com, Tinkoff Collection 
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Ski resorts and hospitality businesses in the Valais to remain open despite Swiss crackdown announcement
Today, the Swiss federal government announced strict new measures to help reduce the rate of Covid-19 in the country that includes the closure of hospitality businesses such as restaurants, bars, museums, sport centres, spas, casinos, cinemas and theatres. These measures will come into force on Tuesday December 22 and last for one month, ending on January 20. But the Valais canton has been allowed to make their own decision based on the Reproduction Rate (R Rate), which is currently lower than other areas of the country. This means ski resorts in the Valais, including Crans-Montana, will remain open for skiing, and restaurants and bars can also remain open, with a mandatory 10pm closing time. The R rate in the Valais is currently recorded at 0.97, below the threshold of 1 and if the rate increases past 1, then the federal rules imposed will need to be implemented.
Further information about the new Covid regulations can be found here: www.crans-montana.ch/en/coronavirus |
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Thanks for that SB. I was just about to post that I thought the lockdown measures ran out on the 7th January... but the info on the UK gov site (quarantine required for arrivals until the 10th) is presumably what's triggered Crystal. Best option, of course, is to call Crystal to be sure. |
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J2Ski Snow Report 17th December 2020
Sierra Nevada, Spain, opens December 18 (tomorrow!)... Many ski areas now open, 100 in Switzerland, some European countries still closed, snow in the forecast... The mountains are waiting for us... please stay safe and follow local advice on travel. We can't all go skiing just yet but we can dream! The Snow Headlines - 17th December - Around 1,000 ski areas now open in more than 30 countries, including Switzerland. - January 7th 2021, likely season-opening day in Austria, France and Italy - Andorra maybe Jan 3rd. - French ski resorts open for Xmas and New Year, with everything but ski lifts. - Deepest snow depth in the world passes 3 metres (10 feet). - Austrian resorts open to locals from Thursday next week (Christmas Eve). - Most leading resorts now open unless in Andorra, Austria, France, Germany or Italy! - Ski season starting in Bulgaria and Czech Republic this weekend. The start of the main 20-21 ski season is upon us and whilst the picture, due to the virus, remains gloomy (doubly so for British skiers with the added complication of Brexit), things aren't bad in terms of snow cover for those who can get to the slopes. There are probably now more than 1,000 mark ski areas open in Europe, North America, Asia and Africa. Snow conditions are fairly good for mid-December across most of Europe, after the big snowfalls earlier this month. Scotland, where most centres open on Saturday, doesn't have much but most other European countries are looking pretty good. In North America, the north and west of the continent have had the most snow with below-average cover in much of Colorado and Utah as well as up in Quebec, but most areas have now opened anyway and are making the best of it. Although the virus is the bigger threat to the season by far, almost all European ski nations other than the four that announced Christmas and New Year closures (Andorra, France, Germany and Italy) have seen their ski centres open, with Bulgaria and Scotland joining the list this coming weekend. Austria is closed to tourists over Xmas and New Year but opens to locals from Christmas Eve. As to the snow, there's not been so much this past week after the big falls the weekend before last, but most areas have seen more, smaller, accumulations. There is snow in the immediate forecast for Japan and USA, and in the longer-range for Europe. In the Alpine Forecast A clear and settled week, before a distinct turn to cold, and the possibility of some heavy snowfall for much of the Alps now in the forecast for the last week of the year. 
Snow heading for the USA and Japan this week...
Europe Austria Austrian ski slopes are due to officially open (or in the case of the glacier areas and Kitzbuhel, re-open) in a week, from Christmas Eve onward. Initially, the lifts will run and slopes open only to local people, but tourists are due to be allowed to return after a fortnight on January 7th – a date now being mooted as 'opening day' for French and Italian ski areas also. Conditions are reported to be ideal after the big snowfalls in the first half of last week and it has stayed fairly cold so there's not been much thawing and there have been a few small snowfalls to freshen things up too. France France has ended its lockdown and winter tourism can resume, except that the ski lifts must stay closed until January – with January 7th being currently suggested for the season-opening day. Mostly domestic tourism is being encouraged although British chalet holiday companies are happy to rent property to Brits who feel able to have a Christmas or new year break on or by the slopes, one offering 'sledge-out, sledge-in" accommodation. Ski touring is also being encouraged by some areas, with Les 2 Alpes announcing it is grooming two blue runs back down to the resort for ski tourers wanting to return on a groomed piste after hiking up. Here too there's been some more fresh snow but much less than last week. Italy Italian ski areas are also focused on January 7th as the day, they hope, they can open for the ski season (or re-open in Cervinia's case). Most appear to be in great shape after the recent snowfalls but we'll all be able to see for ourselves on TV screens over the next few weeks as the various world cup tours focus on the country in the latter half of the month with spectator-free races given the go-ahead at Alta Badia, Bormio and Val Gardena among others. Switzerland Switzerland remains the only major Alpine ski nation where the ski season is in full swing – well, kind of. There were fears resort closures would be announced at a government briefing last Friday, but again that didn't happen, and instead, lots more Swiss areas opened on Saturday. In fact, more than 100 Swiss resorts have now opened and most of the rest should open this weekend. Those already open are opening more terrain – over 100km of slopes are open in the 4 Valleys now for example, and snow depths are generally good for this early in the season thanks mostly to the big snowfalls the weekend before last, although they have been smaller falls in the past seven days too. Andermatt has one of the deepest bases in the world at over 3 metres (10 feet) now. Some resort businesses remain closed and resorts are stressing the importance for skiers to adhere to pandemic operating requirements. These now include limits on the number of the people on the lifts and in some cases on the mountain – similar to North American restrictions. Andermatt, for example, has set a limit of 8,000 people on the slopes and lift tickets must be purchased in advance online. Verbier has a limit of two-thirds capacity on cable-cars and has police and specially employed 'COVID-angels'; in place to require social distancing. Scandinavia The bigger ski areas in Norway and Sweden delayed opening for the season, partly due to less-than-great conditions, partly the pandemic, but from this weekend most if not all of the big names will be open. Norway's larger centres including Geilo, Hemsedal and Trysil have all opened over the past couple of weekends and Finland's four biggest centres (Pyha, Levi, Ruka and Yllas) have been open for some time. Next up is Scandinavia's biggest ski area, Are in Sweden, due to open this weekend. Conditions have been improving across the region with cold weather and snow showers over the last week. Pyrenees The Pyrenees have opened for the season this week with a number of ski areas on the Spanish side of the mountains opening from Monday on, each restricted to local skiers only. Baqueira Beret, the country's biggest, reports 33 runs open, about 35km of slopes in total, and the snow lying 60cm deep after recent December snowstorms. There's been some consternation on the French side of the border after Spain rejected the call to keep its ski areas closed and the French government say that as with Switzerland they'll be patrolling the border and prosecuting any French skiers who try to pop over to ski in Spain whilst French areas are closed. Andorra is also closed although some reports to J2Ski indicate the resorts there may open as early as January 3rd. Scotland The Scottish ski season officially begins this Saturday, December 19th, but it remains unclear how much terrain will actually be open. All five Highland ski-centres now have all-weather snow-making systems which mean, unlike the 'olden days' they can open on a set date even if temperatures are well above freezing, and guarantee snow cover. The problem is the machines can't cover that big an area, so it's a case of creating a short run or some nursery slopes or perhaps a small terrain park with the snow. December conditions have actually been pretty good, with a big snowfall a fortnight ago and some smaller accumulations since. But it has also been a little warmer and centres have said "not enough snow" to open main runs so far, with the snowline moving back up the hills, although Glencoe has already been open for sledging. More snow is forecast so it remains to be seen what can open on Saturday. Eastern Europe Some Eastern European countries have thought long and hard whether to join the call for Christmas/New year closures from their larger ski nation EU neighbours to the west, in the end deciding, "No". Ski areas in Poland, Romania, Serbia and Slovenia all opened last weekend and Bansko in Bulgaria and Spindleruv Mlyn in the Czech Republic are among those opening in the next few days. Snow conditions look to be improving as we move through December with Bansko reporting snowfalls earlier this week which, along with its snow-making arsenal, appear to have provided top-to-bottom cover ahead of the season. North America Canada Canada is divided between a generally snowy picture in the west of the country (Alberta and BC) and a poor start to the season in the east (Quebec and Ontario). As a result, most ski areas are already open on the Western side and few in the east. Most will open in Quebec this weekend though, where it has gone from warm and wet for over a month to minus 20C and sunny in recent days – still not much snowfall but good for snow-making. In the west, several ski areas (one of them Sunshine at Banff) have posted 3m+ base depths, among the deepest in the world at present. Both halves of the country are seeing growing virus cases and increased travel and operating restrictions. USA Hundreds of ski areas are now open across the US although here too, rising virus cases have led to ever-increasing calls for common sense sticking to the pandemic-spread-prevention rules all have in place. There's been a lot of fresh snow and some powder days to start the week in California and the northwest. The Rockies saw snow at the weekend too, but not so much and the snowpack is currently reported to be around two-thirds the average for this early in the season. The East Coast has had a challenging start to the season, as up in Quebec to the north, but recent fronts have brought some snow and snow-making weather, with unseasonable warm spells in between. |
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Snow Reports by e-mail - New Ski Resorts
Started by User in Snow Forecasts and Snow Reports, 85 Replies |
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Hi Jean, you'll find that listed as Arizona Snowbowl (we also have Montana Snowbowl available). And added today, for everyone's snow mail happiness; - Myrkdalen, Norway - Wolf Creek, USA - Ragged Mountain, USA - Beech Mountain, USA - Craftsbury, USA - Woods Valley, USA - Camp Fortune, Canada - Mont Edouard, Canada Enjoy! |
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J2Ski Snow Report 10th December 2020
The lifts may be shut, but you can still ski in Chamonix... Huge snowfalls in Europe. Many ski areas in USA, Switzerland, Asia now open. The mountains are waiting for us... please stay safe and follow local advice on travel. We can't all go skiing just yet but we can dream! The Snow Headlines - 10th December - Heavy snowfall in the Alps, Dolomites and Pyrenees - up to 2 metres reported. - 20-21 ski season gets underway in Slovakia, Poland, Romania and Scotland. - Most major ski areas and many smaller centres now open for 20-21 in North America. - Leading Norwegian ski areas begin to open for season. - Andorra joins France, Germany and Italy in deciding not to open ski slopes until Jan 2021. - Most northern hemisphere nations announce ski areas will be opening for 20-21 as normal. It's been another turbulent week in world skiing with skiers asking (1) will there be any snow? and (2) will resorts open due to COVID? On the first question, huge snowstorms over the past week mean it is a definite "yes" at last, for most at least, after a worryingly dry month before. The snow is now lying deep on most European slopes, supporting the 'Murphy's law' prophecy of many skiers throughout 2020 that if ski resorts are closed, it will be a great winter for snow conditions! In fact, all sorts of weather was thrown at Europe including strong winds and some warm spells when rain rather than snow fell and that all sent the avalanche danger warnings up to Level 5 - the maximum - in Austria and Switzerland. Monday saw an avalanche fatality off piste near Engelberg too, underlining the danger. It is early days for snow, of course. Ski area opening remains complicated, particularly in Europe. So far not many ski nations appear to have succumbed to the French/German/Italian call for Christmas/New year closures. Andorra has but Spain (and non-EU Switzerland) so far continue to resist, as do all countries in Eastern Europe and Scandinavia as far as we can tell. Ski areas are opening across Asia and North America, including in virus hotspots, where the government perspective appears to be that ski areas with pandemic-spread-prevention measures in place are good to open to promote physical and mental well-being when everything else must close. With the main season upon us, it looks like around 1,000 ski areas will be open in North America, China and Japan this coming weekend. Away from the Alps and mainland Europe, it has turned increasingly wintery at last further north and more ski areas have been opening in Scotland and Scandinavia. More surprisingly, there's been snowfall too in Australia and New Zealand in the southern hemisphere to start December, where it's currently summertime. In the Alpine Forecast 
French Pyrenees now in the firing line for some heavy snowfall...
Europe Austria Austrian ski resorts seem to be accepting their government's decision to keep ski resorts closed to locals until Christmas Eve, and tourists until January 7th, better than their neighbours in France and Italy. Perhaps they are being better compensated than ski resorts in France and Italy or perhaps they recognise the decision really comes from neighbouring Germany which also supplies the majority on their international guests. So Austrian resorts have switched fairly seamlessly to saying opening day (for locals) is only a fortnight away. The opening day snow conditions are looking much more promising too after the snowfall of the past week put several feet of snow on previously bare slopes, although it was heavy and wet at times and parts of Tirol were among areas where the avalanche danger level suddenly ratcheted up to the max level five. But once things settle down, it's looking good. France In France, ski resorts and the regions in which they are located are increasingly angry about their enforced Christmas closure and the lack of support from the country's government. Oddly, given the stated aim of suppressing virus spread, the resorts themselves can stay open and are allowed to offer all activities except downhill skiing. Restaurants and hotels will be able to open BUT won't qualify for support, the resorts say - and won't make enough money either as skiers won't be there. Concerns have also been expressed about the safety of ski tourers on closed and un-patrolled ski area slopes. In the meantime, French resorts have been posting pictures of snow-covered slopes and Val d'Isere is prepping to stage the first World cup downhills of the season this coming weekend. Italy There was a huge amount of snowfall for Italian ski slopes in both the Dolomites and the Alps over the past seven days. Ski areas like Arabba were all but cut off and the Dolomiti Superski region has been warning of high avalanche danger, noting that slopes are closed to ski tourers and hikers and not being made avalanche-safe or patrolled as they would normally be. The country will host its usual World cup races in Alta Badia and Val Gardena later this month, behind closed doors, however, and GS races were staged at Santa Caterina (having been moved from Val d'Isere) over the weekend, with Sunday's race postponed to Monday due to the storm. Switzerland Although Switzerland is reported to be under continuing pressure from its neighbours on all sides to close its ski areas, so far it is resisting. More centres opened last weekend and those that had already open expanded the terrain they had skiable. The main 'problem' faced was heavy snowfall and strong winds which sent the avalanche danger up to max at a number of areas. Andermatt and Laax were among those closing for a few days as a result until things were made safer whilst World Cup racing at St Moritz was postponed. It remains to be seen if Swiss ski areas are allowed to continue to operate through Christmas; many other businesses in ski resorts in some cantons have been forced to close. Around 25 ski areas are open so far, including most of the big-name resorts (Grindelwald, Leukerbad, Murren and Wengen among those newly opened at the weekend), and that number is set to jump again this coming weekend. Scandinavia Ski resorts have been open in one part of Scandinavia without a break right through 2020, the only part of the world where that's the case. Riksgransen stayed open through the spring pandemic and then summer ski areas in Norway were open through summer and autumn. As the main 20-21 season begins it has been mostly smaller centres to open so far, along with Finland's Ruka and Levi which have already clocked up two months of the season. Although the virus numbers are better than most of Europe in Finland and Norway there's been some concerns in Sweden but the regions largest resort, Are, just announced it would open from December 18th. The first of Norway's big hitters, Geilo, opened last weekend with a 40cm base and neighbouring Hemsedal is due to join them this weekend. Pyrenees The Pyrenees got plenty of snowfall over the weekend and at the start of this week too, and unlike in the alps where the snowfall seems to be easing off briefly, it is forecast to keep dumping through the latter half of this week too. Alas, here too COVID decisions are for closures through Christmas and New year. At least that's the case for Andorra, which is joining the French/Western EU call for shut down through the festive period. Spain though, remains undecided it seems. All resorts were closed as we went to press but several in the Pyrenees appear to still hope to open in the next fortnight if they can, it appears to be local health advice preventing that happening so far, rather than a national directive. Scotland Scottish ski areas received their first 'big dump' of the autumn with heavy snowfall at the end of last week. The borderline between rain and snow was marginal with many Highland valleys getting torrential rain instead, but there were 20-40cm snow accumulations at altitude. Glencoe opened for the season on Saturday using mostly snow made by its all-weather snow factory and for sledging initially, not skiing, but it is also allowing ski tourers to use its chairlift to access high altitude natural snow. Other Scottish centres are also offering some snow play, only Nevis range remains closed and plans to probably stay so into the new year. Eastern Europe It appears Eastern European countries are rejecting the call for all EU countries to closer their slopes over Christmas and New Year, so far at least. Slovakia's largest resort Jasna opened at the weekend, centres in Poland and Romania have too and resorts in Bulgaria and Slovenia look to have got the green light from their governments as well, Borovets has targeted the 19th. After a warm, dry November conditions have been improving with colder weather, some natural snowfall and snow cannons fired up. North America Canada Almost all ski areas in western Canada are now open and the season is really off to a great start for most with good snow depths and most slopes open – better than almost anywhere else in the world in fact. Alberta has again been seeing some healthy dumps in recent days after a dry spell and there have been powder days at Jasper and Banff once more. Set against the snow joy there's the virus and restrictions have been increasing including a ban on non-essential travel in BC meaning driving to the slopes can be illegal with fines issued. Over in the East, the picture remains 'challenging' – more with the weather here though the virus is also a factor of course. But repeated warm spells means cover remains thin and few areas have opened so far. USA Hundreds of ski areas are now open across the US although with the virus infection levels already high and getting higher restrictions are getting ever tighter. Many areas have closed restaurants, some (Mammoth) hotels too and in Aspen a negative virus test result is required before you can hit the slopes. It has been a quiet week for snowfall, with more mostly dry weather, the main exception being the northern corner (especially Maine) of the Northeast where a storm brought several feet (60cm) of weekend snowfall to resorts including Sugarloaf. |
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J2Ski Snow Report 3rd December 2020
Andermatt, Switzerland, open and with snow... and more in the forecast... It's snowing in Europe, as local and national authorities argue over Xmas opening... The mountains are waiting for us... please stay safe and follow local advice on travel. We can't all go skiing just yet but we can dream! The Snow Headlines - 3rd December - Some fresh snow in the Alps, with more coming. - More than 100 North American ski areas open. - France, Italy and Germany lobby EU to keep ski areas closed until January. - Austria will open ski lifts to locals from Christmas Eve, but not hotels. - St Moritz opens all three of its ski areas. - Snow in New Zealand for first day of southern hemisphere's summer. - World Cup Races moved from snowy Alberta to Val d'Isere move again to Italy. - Glencoe aims to open this weekend. It was a snowy start to meteorologoical winter this week in much of Europe with resorts excited to get 5-10cm of snowfall after the mostly dry November. Snow cover remains good up on the glaciers and high slopes, less good below about 2000m altitude for most. Significant snowfall is expected later this week. Snow cover may be academic in an increasing number of countries in the Alps and possibly a wider swathe of Europe though with a plan by some EU leaders to keep ski slopes closed into January. What's happening changes by the hour, but so far it looks like Swiss resorts will be open (more announcements are pending); French resorts will be open, but not allowed to run ski lifts until mid-January; Austrian resorts will open from 24th December but only to locals, with no hotels open and in Italy they say "Christmas holidays in the mountains can't happen". Other EU countries are still making their minds up... An estimated 100+ ski areas have now opened in North America as the 2020-21 ski season continues to gather pace in Canada and the USA. Most of the continent's big-name ski resorts from coast to coast are now open with Jackson Hole and Whistler Blackcomb among the latest to join them. Most of those that haven't yet opened plan to do so this coming weekend. With only a few dozen ski areas open in Switzerland and Scandinavia at present the number of areas open in North America dramatically outnumbers those in Europe as we start December and winter. For those interested in snowfall around the world, ski areas in Morocco and Iran/Kurdistan both reported their first snowfalls of the winter at the end of last week and ski areas in New Zealand reported a bigger snowfall than the one in the Alps in what was the first day of summer there. In the Alpine Forecast Snow has arrived in the Alps, and more is forecast. Heavy snow is expected for parts of Switzerland, Italy, and Austria over the next few days. 
Some heavy snowfall forecast for Europe
Europe Austria The Austrian government's decision to re-open ski areas from Christmas Eve, but not allow holiday visitors until January 7th, came after pressure from neighbours Germany to agree to the proposed EU-wide plan to keep slopes closed until January. Austrian ministers had previously said that full closure would cost the country at least €2 billion. As to the weather – if ski areas can open – it has been colder the past week and there has been some snowfall, but the best snow remains up on the glaciers. France French ski areas received a dusting of snowfall on Tuesday morning but cover at low levels remains limited and probably inadequate for opening much terrain, even with snow-making. Of course French areas are not allowed to open anyway so that's not the issue it might otherwise have been. Ski resorts and ski regions are however increasingly angry about the enforced closure by the government and are organising local and regional protests and petitions. The next government announcement on the issue is due on or by 11th December with most thinking this will set out the terms of the closure into January although some still hoping the Christmas closure plan could be reversed. With resorts 'open' other than not being allowed to run lifts lots of people are reported to be in the mountains ski touring raising concerns this could lead to issues if avalanche safety measures and ski patrol services are not being maintained. Race teams are allowed to carry out ski training on glaciers with Les 2 Alpes reported to be allowing racers to train there, joining Tignes. Italy A very similar picture politically and in terms of snowfall and snow conditions in Italy as in France. Resorts here are protesting ski area closures too, also arguing that they can operate safely in terms of the pandemic. There has been some light snowfall to start the week in Italy also and there's more forecast. Conditions on high slopes, particularly glaciers, remain very good and race teams have been training up on the glaciers. Switzerland Switzerland remains the big exception to ski area openings in the Alps with more than a dozen ski areas open here, and the start of the 20-21 season appears to be continuing as normal. St Moritz was the latest resort to open last weekend, opening its main ski areas to join the already open Diavolezza glacier. Other resorts already open include Andermatt, Arosa, Crans Montana, Davos, Gstaad (Glacier 3000), Saas Fee, Verbier and Zermatt. Most of the rest of the country's ski areas are set to open over the next three weekends with Zermatt announcing it will open its wider area beyond the year-round Klein Matterhorn slopes from this weekend with 62km of runs expected to be open, believed to be the largest area in the world at present. Here too there was some fresh snowfall, but not a lot, to start the week, and snow conditions are divided between pretty great up high to rather lacking on lower runs. Scandinavia Scandinavia has also been struggling with both the pandemic and the weather. The main factor that has delayed many ski areas opening has been warm weather, but most are now saying it has been cold enough in the past week for snow-making and there's also been natural snowfall for many – from social media and webcam images they're generally looking snowier at resort level than centres in the Alps. More resorts are expected to open this weekend joining the 10 or so small centres open so far in Norway, Finland and Sweden. In terms of the pandemic Finland and Norway are doing reasonably well at present and have been cleared to open ski areas in most cases. In Sweden it's more of a problem and there seem to be more doubts about opening. It is unclear whether Scandinavian countries in the EU will be impacted by the French/German/Italian call to close ski centres. Pyrenees and Sierra Nevada Ski areas in the Pyrenees remain on hold for opening. On the French side they now look certain not to open their ski lifts until January, for Andorra and Spain the jury is still out. With so much of Andorra's economy based on wintersports it seems less likely they'll be keen to sign up to the EU Christmas slopes closure plan. The area has been one of the snowiest in Europe this past week, with Sierra Nevada, further south, reporting a big 40-80cm accumulation (lower and upper slope totals) at the end of last week and some lucky racers got to 'test' the snow at the weekend, though the centre has been forced to remain closed to the public. Scotland Scotland has had some cold days and nights and some fresh snowfall over the past week, up high at least. All of the centres except Nevis Range say they'll open on or before December 19th, using their all-weather snow-making machines to do so if there's not enough of the natural stuff. They can create areas big enough for a beginner area on a terrain park and most are already in action building bases. Glencoe say they'll open a small snow area this weekend (December 5th) and more slopes sooner than the 19th if adequate snow arrives - the forecast for the weekend is quite promising. Eastern Europe It's a similar picture to the Alps and Pyrenees in Eastern Europe in terms of resort openings being on hold depending on the attitude to opening of national governments, most of them in the EU so part of the current discussions. It had been rather too warm and dry in November for many areas in the region to have been able to open much at this point anyway, even without the pandemic issue, but recent weeks have been colder and snow-making systems firing out snow so it starts to look more possible if they get the green light. North America Canada Canada's ski areas continue to open as the snow keeps falling but pandemic restrictions mount. Alberta continues to see almost daily 5-15cm top ups of snow cover at resorts around Banff. Ironically this is where World cup races were due to have been staged at Lake Louise, but were moved to Europe to save racers having to travel back and forth across the Atlantic during the pandemic; races have now had to be moved from Val d'Isere due to too little snow cover there. Over the provincial border in British Columbia "all but essential travel" is banned so travelling to ski areas such as from Vancouver to Whistler is not permitted. Conditions remain more marginal in the east but there was more light snowfall and the largest resort in the region, Mont Tremblant, is now open. USA US ski areas are treading a fine path as the continent's pandemic cases rise and individual states announce a variety of steps to try to suppress this. The USA has by far the world's highest infections and death numbers. However, so far, most ski areas have been allowed to open. There appears to have been a much more coordinated approach between ski areas and health and local government bodies in North America than in the Alps with operating procedures worked on and agreed for many months in advance. A key difference between North America and much of Europe being a strict limit on numbers on the mountain, and on numbers using shared lifts to allow social distancing, as well as online ticket purchasing only and other measures to avoid any danger of crowds developing. Many ski areas are selling out their limited number of available tickets daily in advance. All areas are emphasising the need for skiers to stick strictly to operating rules to "save the season." Snow conditions are variable, although most areas have adequate cover. Resorts in the East had to delay opening due to it being too warm and precipitation falling as rain until a week or so back. There have also been operating issues caused by gale force winds at ski areas on both east and west coasts. Not every US ski area has been allowed to open however, Taos in New Mexico has had its season start delayed by state restrictions there although it is now permitted to open. Base depths on the western side of the country are now past the metre mark on upper slopes at many resorts. Still with us? We're missing the days when all we had to worry about was snow... |
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