J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by J2SkiNews

The Grandvalira ski area which now runs virtually all of Andorra's ski centres has announced an upgrade and expansion of its snowmaking.

"For the coming season, Grandvalitra wanted to strengthen its pumping capacities, optimize the management of water resources and also equip a new slope on the Seig sector located between the Canillo Forn and Forn Riba Escorjada sectors. The objective of the project is to further improve the snow guarantee, while offering even more optimal conditions to the resort's snow sports enthusiasts," a statement explained.

Grandvalira's operators have been working with snowmakers TechnoAlpin for 25 years on their snowmaking network.

The work involves the construction of a third water reservoir at the resort and two new pumping stations with a capacity of 150m3/h. These will give the system operators more flexibility of configurations to enable them to maximize snow production according to weather conditions and needs in the different sectors of Grandvalira.

The new slope will have 23 of the latest generation snow guns, TL8 lances with Smart Distributor, installed.

Lake Louise say they plan to open for the 23-24 season on November 10th, in just under 100 days time.

The famous Canadian resort is usually one of the first in Canada, as well as all of North America, to open for the season each autumn/fall.

Other Canadian resorts opening in early November, and in particularly cold/snowy years sometimes the end of October, include fellow Alberta areas Sunshine, Nakiska, Marmot Basin and Mt Norquay.

Snowmaking ahead of the new season usually gets underway in late September, now less than two months away, at high resorts like Arapahoe Basin and Loveland in Colorado, hoping to open as soon as possible in October. For the Alberta ski areas the onus is more on natural snowfall.

Two ski areas are still open from the 22-23 season in North America, Mammoth Mountain in California, which is due to close on Sunday after a 275 day season, and Timberline in Oregon, which is yet to set a closing date and sometimes stays open into September.

Mammoth Mountain is opening into August for only the third time in its 69 year history.

The famous Californian ski area received nearly 60 feet / 20 metres of snowfall last winter and despite weeks of hot weather, still has snow lying 1-3 feet deep.

The remaining terrain is now limited to a few miles of slopes however, "Skiing and riding is accessed via uploading and downloading the lower Panorama Gondola. Face Lift (3), Chair 23 and the Panorama Gondola are open this week with a small Mammoth Unbound terrain park offering on Saddle Bowl," a resort statement explains.

Mammoth will end its nine month 22-23 season this coming Sunday, August 6th.

"It's been an incredible 275-day journey filled with record-breaking snowfall, and we're celebrating with free stickers, coffee, juice, and donuts at the base of Face Lift (3) for all early birds (while supplies last). Now is this final opportunity to hit the slopes and soak up the last traces of winter," the statement concludes.

The only other outdoor ski area still open to the public in North America is the Palmer snowfield on Mt Hood above Timberline ski resort in Oregon which has not yet set a season end date.

Work on the expansion of Aspen Mountain in Colorado is on course for completion in time for the start of the 2023-24 season, according to an Aspen Times report from the famous ski town. It's the first big terrain expansion for Aspen's home mountain, one of four that make up the resort's full ski area, for nearly 40 years.

The new terrain, "new" at least in terms of it being cleared and lift-accessed having previously been accessed by back country ski tourers, is called Pandora's. Creating it involves installing a new lift and logging about 106 acres of both national forest and private lands.

Removing over 4,000 tonnes of living trees for skiers by a resort which makes much of its green ambitions is proving controversial with opponents to the expansion on environmental grounds essentially accusing the Aspen Skiing Company of hypocrisy. The Ski Company says the terrain is needed as climate change makes snow cover at lower elevations less certain.

The project will add 153 acres to the ski area, making it about 20% bigger. It's located on the upper east side of Aspen Mountain, leaving both gladed areas and traditional ski runs. It will open this coming winter "as soon as the snow allows" according to the resort.

Quebec's Mont Tremblant, the most visited ski area in Eastern North America, has added a dry slope for summer skiing.

Opening on August 18th, Tremblant will be offering the chance to learn to ski or snowboard and carve on a synthetic surface supplied by Italian firm, Neveplast.

Two types of surfaces are available in the learning area: a long-fibre mat for a softer feel in the resort's Upper Equilibre section, which allows for wider turns, and a short-fibre mat for a firmer surface in the Lower Equilibre area, which gives more room for braking techniques and controlling your skis or board.

Rental equipment will be included with access (skis, boots, poles and helmet or snowboard, boots and helmet) and the rental centre is located at the top of this activity area. Staff is on site to accompany skiers and snowboarders of all ages. Skiers and boarders can also bring their own equipment if they wish but it's the same price.

Slope access will be for one-hour at a time, split in blocks of skiers, and will be open 7 days a week, in all weather, from August 18 to September 4, and then on weekends only, from September 5 to October 15.

High ski slopes in the northern Alps are reporting fresh snowfall above about 2500m altitude today.

Zugspitze near Garmisch Partenkirchen in southern Germany is pictured above but snowfall has been reported on glaciers and mountain peaks over a wide area.

The snowfall has arrived as fires rage and temperature records are broken in southern Europe.

Snowfall is possible any month of the year at high altitudes in the mountains and the Alps have seen increasingly dynamic weather conditions in recent days and weeks, including gale force winds and torrential rain in some areas. This wild weather has closed lifts at times and in a few cases, such as the Slovenian resort of Kranjska Gora, led to land slips and flooding blocking valley roads.

The direct Travelski train charter between London and French ski areas may have been cancelled but the original icon of the rails, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, will be running four new winter journeys between Paris and the French Alps this coming winter.

Launching in December 2023 and run by upmarket group Belmond, the blue-and-gold carriages will operate to the train stations at Albertville, Moûtiers and Bourg-Saint-Maurice. With the option to disembark in either of the three stations, guests will be able to access the ski resorts of Megève and the Mont Blanc; Courchevel and Three Valleys; and Tignes-Val d'Isère.

Departing from Paris in the evening, guests can unwind into the warmth of their art-deco surroundings with a glass of champagne, as the train gently heads out to the Alps. Shortly after departure, guests are invited to pay a visit to the beating heart of the train, Bar Car '3674', for a round of cocktails while the pianist plays in the background.

Bon vivants are then drawn to the three dining cars, where they will be treated to a menu of seasonal dishes designed by French Chef Jean Imbert using the finest local produce. Suspended between past and present, guests can return to the Bar Car for a nightcap with fellow travellers, or retreat to their cabins which have been carefully transformed by their steward for night time. The following morning, they wake to the enchanted scenery of the Savoie region and indulge in a breakfast of French viennoiserie, in the privacy of their cabins. To refuel before an afternoon of skiing and alpine activities, a delicious brunch will be served in the dining cars before the train arrives in Albertville, the first of the three Alpine stops.

An overnight stay in Historic Cabin starts at £3,785pp while in the new Suites it starts at £7,300pp. Rates include dinner, breakfast and brunch as well as all soft drinks and shared transfer to Gare De Lyon in Paris. Guests staying in the Grand Suites can also benefit from a private car transfer from Albertville, Moûtiers or Bourg-Saint-Maurice to their final destination (overnight stays start at £9,975pp).

A three year transformation project at Steamboat Springs ski area in Colorado is moving ahead with the completion of a new gondola, beginners' area and other facilities set to be unveiled at the start of the coming winter.

Steamboat's so-called 'Full Steam Ahead' project will see a huge terrain expansion meaning the resort's ski area become the second largest resort in Colorado.

The final stage of the Wild Blue Gondola is set to open as part of the transformation, becoming the new longest and fastest gondola in North America.

The completion of the project will also see the opening of the new Greenhorn Ranch - a dedicated beginner's area at the top of the gondola which features advanced terrain-based learning.

Looking a further year ahead, Steamboat will also get a new avalanche dog programme for the 24/25 season and see the redesign of Steamboat Square which will gain an escalator, a new free outdoor ice-skating rink, and new Range Food and Drink Hall.