The sun has returned to shine on our mountains and the snowfalls of the last few days have changed the look of the landscape, bringing us into a fully wintry climate.
The ski lift operators were not caught unprepared, so much so that this year the skiing on offer for the All Saints’ long weekend (or the November 1 long weekend) is wider than in previous years.
Snow in September and snowmaking systems have made it possible to prepare the slopes in record time, and several ski areas will open their lifts for the long weekend:
Ghiacciaio Presena
The latest snowfalls have brought abundant snow to the peaks of the Adamello group, making it possible to open the highest lifts. The Presena Glacier is ready to welcome the first skiers of the winter season. This is not an extraordinary opening, but the start of the season, which begins on Saturday October 29, will make the Presena slopes an ideal destination for the November 1 long weekend.
Val Senales
Another Italian destination already up and running is Val Senales: with its glacier reaching 3,000 m, there is never a shortage of snow, especially this autumn, which has already brought abundant snowfalls, enough to allow the snowpark to open with a big opening on October 29. Val Senales is certainly the ideal destination for those who want to spend the long weekend having fun on a snowboard.
Passo Stelvio
The Stelvio is bucking the trend of the other ski resorts: here the season is not about to begin but rather to end. The glacier, which reaches an altitude of 3,400 m, is the benchmark for summer skiing, and during the winter season the lifts are closed because of the heavy snowfalls and the intense cold, which make staying at altitude difficult. Passo Stelvio is getting ready for 4 days of skiing and snowboarding that will bring the 2011 “summer” season to a close in style. Here the snow conditions are truly exceptional, with a good 40 cm of fresh snow on top of the abundant snow already on the glacier.
Solda
Another ski destination that has chosen October 29 as the date to “get the party started” is Solda all’Ortles. Here too, the latest snowfalls have made it possible to prepare the ski slopes for the All Saints’ long weekend.
Cervinia Italy/Switzerland
On the Plateau Rosà everything is ready for the start of the 2011/2012 winter season: on the glacier at the foot of the Matterhorn you will be able to ski from Saturday October 29 on excellent powder snow (120 cm), with fine weather forecast for this “long” weekend that kicks off the winter sports season in the Aosta Valley.
From this Saturday the new cable car also comes into operation, rising from Cime Bianche Laghi at 2,816 m to Plateau Rosà at 3,480 m: a comfortable, fast (12 m/s) and futuristic cable car with large panoramic windows. On the glacier the Furgsattel chairlift, the Plateau Rosà I and II drag lifts , the Snowpark and the Klein Matterhorn cable car are running. As regards ski passes, the “Pre-ski” rates apply, with the international day pass at €48.00, “senior” at €39.00 and “junior” at €34.00; for children up to 8 years old the ski pass is free.
Diavolezza – Switzerland
In Switzerland the ski season has already begun thanks to the Diavolezza ski resort: here the ski lifts opened on October 22 and the snow conditions are excellent thanks to the abundant snowfalls and the snowmaking. At this time of year the Engadine offers fantastic views: the interplay between the autumn colours in the valley and the snow on the glacier makes Diavolezza a spectacular setting for spending the November 1 long weekend.
Stubai – Austria
The Stubai Glacier was one of the first European ski destinations to open its doors: the glacier, which lies at 3,000 m, can count on over 1 metre of snow and a good 49 km of ski slopes already fully available to skiers and snowboarders.
Hintertux – Austria
Hintertux is the other Austrian destination which, like Stubai, enjoys excellent snow cover guaranteed by a maximum altitude of 3,250 m. In Hintertux the glacier has been welcoming skiers and snowboarders for some time, and the latter in particular have long been able to enjoy a snowpark in perfect condition that has already been open for several weeks.
There’s something for every taste! Which ski resort have you chosen?
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