J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by J2SkiNews

A group of international skiers returned to Afghanistan in March, tour operator Untamed Borders has reported. Now under Taliban rule, the two main differences to the company's previous visits, were that no women were allowed to ski and none of the airlines still operating into the country would carry skis.

To get around the ski carriage issue, James Willcox of Untamed Borders drove a car loaded with skis through the Khyber Pass while the skiers flew in. Mr Willcox described a colourful but successful trip, including a mandatory polio vaccination on entering Afghanistan.

"We have a long history of operating ski tours to Afghanistan and the event means such a lot to the local people. During the harsh winter, people of all ages use skiing as their outlet in the region, with many local youngsters using wooden skis to practise on. Seeing those youngsters have the chance to ski alongside local adults and international ski tourists is very rewarding for us. However, this year we felt mixed emotions, because unfortunately women couldn't take part, now that the country is run by the Taliban." James Willcox said.

Untamed Borders have been organising ski trips to Afghanistan since 2011, with back country skiing in the Bamian valley to ski in the Koh e Baba mountain range. The trips focus on an annual Afghan Ski Challenge Ski Touring race which had evolved to involve more and more skilled local racers, including a growing number of women skiers. Some had begun to compete for Afghanistan in international competitions and a group were evacuated from the country as the Taliban took control in 2021.

Another trip is planned for next winter 2024 - details yet to be confirmed: https://untamedborders.com/itinerary/ski-afghanistan/

You can find out more about Untamed Borders' operation in Afghanistan in this episode of The Ski Podcast:

Argentina's Las Leñas ski area has reported a huge pre-season snowfall, giving a big boost three weeks before the 2023 season is due to begin there.

"What a way to kick off the week. Our local friends are reporting deep new snow in the valley. How much? 30 inches (80cm) at the base and 55 inches (140cm) at the top. More is expected tonight and tomorrow," David of South American ski specialists PowderQuest said.

Las Leñas lies about 1,000km west of Argentinian capital Buenos Aires and about 200km south of Chilean capital Santiago. Although other ski areas in the Andes have reported some snowfall and temperatures down as low as -10C, none have reported anything like the amount that has arrived at Las Leñas.

The resort is world famous for its vast amount of off piste freeriding terrain, but some seasons this is largely untapped due to lack of snow cover some years.

It is due to be one of the first in the Andes to start its 2023 season in just over three weeks' time on June 17th. With a lot more snowfall forecast over the coming week it now remains to be seen if it will start the season early.

Sweden's Riksgränsen ski area, one of the world's most northerly, has announced it will re-open its ski slopes for skiing over the Midsummer period in late June.

The late June re-opening has been missed several times in recent years due to the pandemic or a lack of adequate snow cover remaining. Currently it reports the snow lying 88cm (three feet) deep up top.

The resort's main ski season ends next weekend, but after three weeks of closure it will reopen from June 22nd to June 25th.

One of the big attractions at the ski area in May and June is the option to ski or board in the small hours of the morning under the midnight sun. This has been possible twice a week for the last three weeks since 24 hour daylight arrived at this northerly latitude, 200km within the Arctic Circle.

"We are delighted to announce that this year Riksgränsen will be open for the legendary Midsummer skiing. Of course, followed by a more traditional Swedish Midsummer celebration with herring and potatoes. The lifts will be running until midnight, join us and celebrate an unforgettable Midsummer!" a resort spokesperson confirmed.

Utah's Snowbird ski area says it will offer skiing and snowboarding in June and has not yet announced an end to its 22-23 season.

The ski area, which has reported over 800" of snowfall through the season and still has snow lying 10 feet/3m deep, says it will open this weekend and next, then close for a fortnight before re-opening 17-18th June.
From that point it will run the new cabins on its iconic tram lift complete with the option to ride up the mountain in open air 'balconies' on the roof.

This type of lift is offered at a number of other ski resorts in Europe including Tignes and the former ski area on Austria's Dachstein glacier, but nowhere ese in North America.

Snowbird say they intend to keep operating to US Independence day on 4th of July if possible.

Elsewhere in Utah, Brighton ski area remains open to the end of the month while Solitude Mountain reached their 190th ski day of the 22/23 season on Friday.

"We have now been open for skiing and riding 30 more days than any previous season in Solitude history. We look forward to celebrating our snowiest and longest season this closing weekend!" they announced in a statement.

The US summer ski area above Timberline in Oregon, not quite a glacier but designated a permanent snowfield, has opened for 2023, served by the resort's Palmer chairlift. Other parts of the ski area remain open with an 11 foot snow depth, there are also four terrain parks currently available.

Palmer is often the only ski area open for most of North America's summer but this year at least two other area, California's Mammoth Mountain and Palisades, will be open through July and possibly longer, thanks to the huge snowpacks there. Along with recreational skiers, the snowfield is used for race team training in the early morning.

About a dozen other US and Canadian ski areas are currently still open but most will close after this weekend or the one after. The only other are that's confirmed it will stay open into June is Colorado's Arapahoe Basin.

The summer-only Beartooth Basin ski area in the Montana/Wyoming border will also open from June 26th and is open to all.

Lifts are or also running into June and serving snow areas at Copper Mountain in Colorado and the Horstman Glacier on Blackcomb Mountain at Whistler in Canada but both only for people who have signed up to camps.

California's Palisades ski area has announced a four day ski and snowboard Freedom Fest from July 1-4th, culminating on US Independence Day. It's believed to be the first time in 12 years the ski area has planned to open in July.

Long known as "America's spring skiing capital", The Palisades is one of three US ski areas expected to be open into July thanks to the huge snowpack that built up through numerous winter storms. It's still lying more than 12 feet deep.

Skiing and boarding will be from 8am to 2pm daily with the main headline act so far announced being electronic dance music legend Paul Oakenfold performing on the Alpine deck from 1:30-3pm on the 3rd.

"This 4th of July, you won't want to miss Freedom Fest at Palisades Tahoe! For the first time in more than a decade, Alpine will be open into the summertime, giving you the opportunity to carve unforgettable memories. Indulge in the thrill of summer skiing and riding, and let the electrifying beats of EDM legend Paul Oakenfold and the rest of our exciting artist lineup set the rhythm of this historic celebration. Be sure to grab our limited-edition event T-shirt, a keepsake of this monumental occasion. This is more than a festival, it's an experience you can't afford to miss. See you on the slopes!" The Palisades enthuses.

Fellow Californian ski area Mammoth Mountain as well as Timberline in Oregon are expected to stay open into July. The last time there was this much snow lying on Western US ski slopes in late Spring 2011 around a dozen ski areas in the region reopened for the 4th of July weekend, including The Palisades. Six did so in 2019 but The Palisades wasn't one of them.

With the official start of Australia's 2023 season just over three weeks away, ski areas are celebrating a return to cold temperatures.

Many fired up snowmaking guns again, including Selwyn ski area which is due to re-open this season for the first time since 2019 as the resort's buildings and lifts were destroyed by bushfires in early 2020, but were rebuilt through the pandemic.

"The firing of snow guns coupled with a dusting of snow is certainly a reminder that the winter ski and board season is close," commented Michael Fearnside, Mountains Operations Director at Perisher, the country's largest resort, pictured this morning.

Most Australian ski area's expect to open from June 9th or 10th for a long holiday weekend which includes a public holiday on Monday 13th June to celebrate Australia's King Charles III's birthday.

"Preparations are going well and everything is on track for the start of the season – we're excited to welcome everyone back to Perisher Ski Resort very soon. "Hopefully we continue to get good cold weather for snowmaking and natural snowfalls like this, which indicates a good start to the snow season in Australia – we're underway!" Fearnside added.

Canada'a ski season ends after the coming weekend with the three ski areas still open in Alberta, BC and Quebec all due to close.

Whistler Blackcomb (below) has been battling to make it to their planned season end date reporting very warm weather reaching +30C down at the base and warning that the heat is causing instability to the remaining snow and that slopes might need to close at short notice due to avalanche danger as a result. There's also only intermediate – advanced level terrain left open.

"It's another scorcher here in Whistler, with temperatures nearing 30° in the valley today! While snow and heat might be fun for T-shirt laps, they don't really mix well for terrain coverage — our ski area is changing rapidly because of this," a resort spokesperson said on Monday, adding, "Large patches of slopes are now extremely thin or melted completely, with rocks and other obstacles far more apparent after a sunny, warm weekend. The north side of Blackcomb has seen the worst of this accelerated melting."

The resort has decided to close Glacier Express, Crystal Ridge and the north side of 7th Heaven for the final week of the season as a result, further limiting what's open.

In Alberta, Sunshine near Banff is also gearing up for it's final weekend, which will include staging of the world's original pond skimming contest, the Slush Cup.

On Canada's eastern side, in Quebec, Sommet St Sauveur is re-opening one run which still has some snow remaining down its right side at weekends, while summer lake activities begin below (pictured top). The resort is planning a final weekend celebration called 'La Dernière chaise" on the 22nd.