The month of September was characterized by almost summer-like temperatures with many days of fine weather, extending the summer season and favoring the hiking season. However, as we know, autumn in the mountains always arrives right on time, and in fact over the past few days temperatures have dropped significantly, returning to the seasonal average, and along with the drop in temperatures came the first snow.
For a few weeks now, the melting of the glaciers has come to a halt; shorter days and lower temperatures have favored the start of “hibernation” for our beloved reserves of perennial ice; snow has made its appearance at high altitude, blanketing with a soft veil the gray historic ice that had resurfaced during the high summer temperatures.
However, it is in the last few hours that autumn has truly begun to make itself felt, bringing snow down to altitudes close to 1300 meters. Yesterday, a fast-moving weather front brought snow back to the Venetian Prealps, replacing the spectacle of the multicolored forest with that of typical winter landscapes. It is the first snow below 2000 meters, which in some way marks the start of the 2016/17 season: it is time to think about winter and prepare both body and equipment for the upcoming ski season.
The peaks of the Prealps affected by this passing snowfall were Monte Grappa, Monte Pasubio, and Monte Verena. On Monte Verena in particular, this first snow already brings thoughts of December, when the ski lifts will reopen and skiing will resume on the slopes of the main ski area of the Asiago Plateau.
Artificial snowmaking active in Alto Adige
When it comes to snow and skiing in Alto Adige, no time is wasted, and thanks to the first cold spells some ski resorts have already started making snow on the ski slopes. Standing out in particular is the ski resort of Solda all’Ortles, where snow cannons have gone into action to produce the first artificial snow both at high altitude and in the valley.
It is hard to say whether this is just a test or if the artificial snowmaking program has officially begun, but slope preparation in South Tyrol is certainly not far off; usually in October nighttime temperatures begin to drop below freezing and the Dolomiti Superski circuit also starts making snow in the areas where snow is best preserved.
Lift openings
The Val Senales glacier is already open for training by several ski clubs, and with the first major snowstorms it could soon open to the public, kicking off the winter season right away. In Solda, meanwhile, confident of an early arrival of winter at high altitude, they have scheduled the lift opening for October 22; unlike its neighboring resort, skiing here does not take place on a glacier, so substantial snowfalls and favorable temperatures will be needed to hit the slopes.
In any case, here we go again this year—the ski season is about to restart!
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