Messages posted by : admin
At Least ONE More Glacier Ski Area Opening for Season on Saturday
Started by User in Ski News, 3 Replies |
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Update as at 25th September - Tignes will NOT be opening this weekend! :(
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PR just received...
For ski areas within driving distance of Chambery, check out 250 Ski Resorts within 3 hours drive of Chambery Airport (with transfer times and snow reports) right here on J2Ski. |
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Compagnie du Mont-Blanc's statement from the 12th September, in full :-
https://www.chamonix.com/lifts,88,en.html In addition to which, the top half of the Aiguille du Midi cable-car is out of action until December 2018. |
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Some PR just in from Winter Park, via Spike Communications, with news of some interesting developments for the Colorado Ski Area...
Can't argue with a mountain porcupine... 8) PR follows... WINTER PARK RESORT 2018/19 SEASON PREVIEW The 2018/19 winter season at Winter Park Resort promises to be a watershed moment in the history of the resort as well as the surrounding community with a host of exciting changes taking place. These additions will keep Winter Park among the top resorts in the world, preserving its storied past while also staying poised for future growth and success. $30 million in capital improvements have been invested in the resort over the summer, the most at one time in the 78-year history of Winter Park. The centre piece of this investment is a new $21 million, 10-person gondola, which replaces the aged Zephyr Express and will increase uphill capacity to 3,600 guests per hour, whisking skiers/riders to The Lodge at Sunspot in a mere five minutes. The new gondola also features a revolutionary Direct Drive system, the first of its kind utilized in North America, which makes the new lift not only whisper-quiet, but much more energy efficient. Winter Park's 42-year old snowmaking system is also getting a much-needed $4 million overhaul, which includes the replacement of 45,000 linear feet of pipe, installation of high-efficiency compressors, the addition of 30 new electric pedestals, and an array of new state-of-the-art fan guns. Combined, these many upgrades will triple the amount of snow Winter Park can make under proper conditions, enabling Winter Park to ideally open more terrain more quickly. The action isn't confined solely to the mountain, as Winter Park has partnered with the Winter Park Village Company Master Association for a complete renovation of the Village Plaza located adjacent to the gondola. The new $2 million plaza will be a hub of base-area congregation, with an open, comfortable feel that is perfect for events, small concerts, or just socializing. The entire area is outfitted with over 30,000 square feet of snow-melt, making it easily accessible even with Winter Park's 324" of annual snowfall. Winter Park's world-famous ski train, Amtrak's Winter Park Express, is also back for a third season with more Friday operation dates and a new lounge car with floor-to-ceiling windows for enjoying the scenic 90 minute trip from Denver Union Station directly to the slopes of Winter Park Resort. |
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:shock: :cry:
Not good news at all; can't see that being back in action any time soon. We'll update this with Argentiere's plans for the season as soon as they're decided. |
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Hi,
You've set yourself quite a challenge; three of the most popular ski resorts in Europe, in the busiest weeks of the season. It's very unlikely that any hotels will take bookings for less than a week just yet; they're very likely to be fully-booked for that period and you're effectively offering them 9-nights rent when they could get 14-nights rent for the same room and time. You may get lucky if you can wait until last-minute, in the hope of cancellations; hotels will be more flexible nearer the time, but that's a big gamble.
Can you pick a different time to ski? Otherwise, look at smaller ski stations and satellite villages that are not so popular with families and Tour Operators. Either way, you'll find the mountains and villages a lot less crowded, save some money and probably enjoy your skiing more; most hotels are flexible any time they're unlikely to be full. HTH, |
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J2Ski’s Where To Ski or Snowboard In September 2018
Started by User in Snow Forecasts and Snow Reports, 4 Replies |
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Where To Ski or Snowboard In September 2018
Perisher, Australia, has extended their season to October, following "the best snow in 14 years". J2Ski's Where To Ski or Snowboard In September 2018 Brief, but heavy, snow in Austria intrudes into the hot European summer while southern hemisphere resorts enjoy good conditions. September 1st Snow Headlines - Heavy snowfall on the final weekend of August in Austrian Alps. - Snow depths pass the 3 metre mark in southern hemisphere. - Australian ski areas report deepest snow for 14 years - extend ski season. - 2018 ski season over in Southern Africa. - Year-round slopes at Zermatt get a second lift. - Snow in the Andes after a fairly dry winter. - Molltal glacier reports 50cm of fresh snow on last weekend of August. - New Zealand ski areas posting deepest snow depths in southern hemisphere. - First snows in North America "for 18-19" at Jackson Hole. September is a month of change in the skiing world with summer almost over, autumn beginning and even snow starting to fall in the northern hemisphere; whilst ski areas begin closing south of the equator. Ski areas in the Alps got quite a good snowfall at the end of August providing some summer powder skiing on the glaciers for the last few days of the month, so hopefully that's the first of much more to come. There has also been snow on high slopes in North America although only one centre is open there at present. The number of ski areas open in Europe and north America should also double (back in to double figures!) over the next few weeks. South of the equator it's the last full month of the season for most resorts with a few aiming to close the last Sunday of the month (30th) and the majority by the following Sunday. Base depths have just passed the three metres (10 feet) mark at some areas in New Zealand whilst resorts in Australia have begun extending their seasons after reporting the snowiest conditions for 14 years. It's been a less memorable season in South America but there have been a few good snowfalls in late August. The 2018 ski season is over in southern Africa however with Afriski in Lesotho and Tiffindell in South Africa ending their seasons at the end of August. In the Alpine Forecast It means exactly nothing for the coming season, but there will be some significant snowfalls at high altitude (and, briefly, lower) in The Alps over the next few days; bringing fresh snow to the handful of glaciers currently open, and picturesque views to a wide area. Only a few resorts are open, so check local conditions and opening times directly before travelling! 
Unusually (for September!) there's snow in the forecast for the Alps...
SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE Australia Australia is having an excellent winter 2018 with a number of resorts including Mt Buller and Perisher posting that they have hit the deepest base depths since 2004. Perisher, which says it has had snow every week of the season so far, has announced it is extending its season by a week to October 7th as a result of all the snow ... although it does tend to extend its season by a week every season anyway and most of the country's other leading resorts are also open to October 7th! August has been especially snowy and base depths have passed the two metre mark at most of the country's bigger areas – meaning there are more Aussie areas in the current Southern Hemisphere deepest snow depths table than any other country. New Zealand Perhaps not one of the great seasons for New Zealand, but base depths are gradually climbing with August snowfall and almost all areas now have at least a metre lying to see them out the remainder of the 2018 ski season – which for most is another 5 – 6 weeks. The two ski areas on Mt Ruapehu seem to be building their bases faster than the reported snowfall and now have more than three metres (10 feet) lying at Turoa and Whakapapa on the North Island. That's the deepest by some distance in the southern hemisphere. It's not all good news though; the Manganui Ski Area run by Stratford Mountain Club has struggled to remain open after being the first to open back in late May. Poor snow levels mixed with extreme weather (storms, avalanche danger when it did snow) have caused problems all winter. Argentina Not really the most memorable season so far in the Andes but there was some August snowfall towards the end of last month after a fairly dry winter. Bases are in the 60 – 160cm range with the continent's largest area, Catedral, again at the lower end of the figures with just over half its terrain skiable. There's a month of the season left so they'll be hoping it's a snowier one than the first three, it's certainly starting well with snow on 31st August across much of the country. Chile Not a memorable winter in Chile either with bases, like Argentina, rather thin at most areas following little natural snowfall. There was one reasonable dump in the latter half of August that brought about a foot of snow to Nevados de Chillan in the south of the country (which had widespread media coverage earlier in the month as a volcano erupted nearby whilst skiers kept skiing and lifts kept running) but only a few flakes landed further north. Portillo, for example, has only a 20-45cm base, and at Valle Nevado it's a little better, 60 – 110cm. After that snowfall Nevados de Chillan has the deepest base at 125cm however. NORTHERN HEMISPHERE Austria Things were fairly normal in Austria until the last weekend of August which saw a big snowfall. The two glaciers already open for 18-19, Hintertux (75cm base) and Molltal (90cm base) reported 30cm and 50cm snowfalls respectively, giving powder days in the last week of summer. September will see five more Austrian glaciers open for their 18-19 seasons, probably, meaning that more than half of the ski areas open in the northern hemisphere will be in Austria by the end of the month. The Pitztal and Kaunertal glaciers have planned opening dates of 15th and 29th September but the Dachstein, Stubai, Solden and Kitzsteinhorn glaciers are also expected to open during the month when conditions are right. France With the end of the summer ski season at Les 2 Alpes on the last Sunday of August there are currently no ski resorts in France open. Tignes expects to re-open on the last weekend of the month however. Italy Italian ski areas above about 1500 metres also saw a lot of snow over the last weekend of August, with film and pictures of heavy snow in the Dolomites appearing on social media. There are currently just two ski areas open in Italy and there'll be two still at the end of the month, but one will be different to one of the areas now open! Things are looking good at Passo Stelvio (which had to close for lack of snow in August last year); it got 9cm of snow on that late August weekend and another 12cm on Sept 1st. Passo Stevio will be open through to October but access to Zermatt's glacier skiing from Cervinia will close after the second weekend of the month. However a third Italian glacier area, Val Senales, is due to open for its 18-19 season the following weekend (15th). Switzerland Europe's highest ski slopes at Zermatt will soon be accessible by the spectacular new 3S gondola which is scheduled to open there at the end of this month after three years under construction. It and neighbouring Saas fee are currently the only two areas open in Switzerland and look set to remain the only two through September too. Scandinavia Only the Fonna (Folgefonn) summer ski glacier in Norway is currently open (through to the end of the month), and reports a two metre base. Other areas like Ruka in Finland are due to start opening from early October for their long 2018-19 ski seasons (it uses snow farming to preserve snow from the previous season to re-use in the early autumn). North America It's a quiet time of year in north America with only the Timberline snowfield on Mt Hood in Oregon currently open, but usually closing for a few weeks of annual lift maintenance in September. It all kicks off next month when there'll be the annual contest to be first to open – Arapahoe Basin in Colorado, one of the world's highest ski areas, is usually a good bet. However the first resort to post images of fresh snow – last Monday August 27th – was Jackson Hole. |
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Dust-mite? Tick? 8)
...as you do... :shock: ...you could swing by Sierra Nevada and Oslo on your way home... we look forward to the trip report! |
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