Abundant fresh snow across the entire Alps: this is the backdrop opening the week of the 2012 All Saints’ Day long weekend. From November 1 to 4, skiers will finally be able to strap their skis back on and start skiing again!
Following the big snowfall of October 28, the Alps have stocked up on fresh snow; all high-altitude resorts received excellent snow accumulations that will certainly help open new slopes ahead of the November 1 long weekend.
The snow arrived like manna from heaven, breaking a deadlock that until now had held back the openings of major autumn ski destinations such as the Presena Glacier and Solda. Let’s take stock of the snow and slope conditions to see which resorts have opened their lifts and where you can go skiing over the All Saints’ Day long weekend:
Skiing in Italy
Passo Stelvio
For Passo Stelvio, the All Saints’ Day long weekend will be the final event of the season—the last runs before closing. While other ski areas are getting ready to open their lifts, at Passo Stelvio the season is coming to an end. Weather conditions here become prohibitive in winter, so skiing takes place only during the summer season.
Precisely for this reason, Passo Stelvio, with 100 cm of fresh snow on the slopes, is one of the best destinations for skiing over the All Saints’ Day long weekend.
Val Senales
On the Alto Adige glacier, lifts went back into operation on October 18 thanks to a light snowfall that made it possible to reopen the slopes. Now any issues have definitely been overcome thanks to the heavy snow that fell on Sunday (40 cm). An excellent destination, especially for snowboarders.
Presena Glacier
(Opening Confirmed)
Official confirmation of the opening for the long weekend arrived just a few hours ago; abundant snow also fell on the Adamello glacier—just enough time to groom the slopes, and skiing will resume on the Presena slopes starting November 1!
Solda
(Opening Confirmed)
Despite good conditions last week, the Solda cableways did not bring forward the opening of their lifts, preferring to wait for the storm of the 28th before confirming the start of the season. With hindsight, we can say that the Alto Adige operators made the right decision in announcing the opening for November 1 with slopes in perfect condition! Skiing is on in Solda too for the November 1 long weekend! (70 cm of fresh snow at high altitude)
Skiing in Switzerland
Cervinia – Plateau Rosà
On the Plateau Rosà glacier, the season started nearly a month ago and the slopes are in excellent condition. Skiing on the Matterhorn glacier is great, even though for now slopes are open only on the Swiss side.
Diavolezza Engadin
The Diavolezza glacier is one of the best in terms of snow cover: geotextile sheets during the summer, early-autumn snowfalls, intensive snowmaking, and the latest weekend snowfall make the Engadin glacier an excellent training ground for strapping your skis back on over the All Saints’ Day long weekend.
Skiing in Austria
Stubai
With 30 cm of fresh snow on the slopes and 85 cm of snow on the glacier at high altitude, Stubai confirms its status as one of the best ski destinations for the All Saints’ Day long weekend. Lifts here have been open since October 13!
Hintertux
365 days a year! That is the motto of the Austrian glacier, and it really is true. Snow conditions were already optimal a few weeks ago when Alpine Ski World Cup athletes were training ahead of the Sölden round. There are 75 cm of snow, 14 open lifts, and a full 41 km of available slopes!
Sölden
It has just hosted the Alpine Ski World Cup, where athletes competed under heavy snowfall on both Saturday and Sunday. In Sölden, the season started back on October 13, and now thanks to the heavy new snowfalls the slopes are in excellent condition!
It is also worth mentioning a few smaller ski areas that nevertheless have plenty to offer in terms of slopes and snow. In Austria, in addition to the famous Hintertux, Stubai, and Sölden glaciers, you can also ski (in excellent conditions) on the Kaunertal glacier, the Pitztal glacier, and the Mölltal glacier in Carinthia.
Skiing in France
Les Deux Alpes
After a decent summer season, the great French glacier is getting ready to welcome winter. Snow fell all the way down to the village, and at high altitude snowstorms raged throughout the weekend, bringing good snow accumulations to the slopes. Definitely one of the most interesting destinations for this autumn long weekend, especially for snowboarders.
Tignes
Tignes bounces back after a difficult summer; the same applies as for Les 2 Alpes, with 5 cm of snow in the village and plenty of snow on the slopes. Open lifts and lots of events for skiers and snowboarders over this All Saints’ Day long weekend.
Have you already chosen your ski destination for the All Saints’ Day long weekend? Which destination do you think is the best?
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