Plenty of snow in the Alps even at medium-low altitudes: this is the heavenly scenario ahead of the Immaculate Conception long weekend. The weather fronts of recent days brought snow across the entire Alpine arc, and the polar front of the past few days has plunged our beloved mountains into a Siberian climate—perfect conditions for keeping the snow in great shape.
The centimeters of snow that fell in recent hours (see the snow report) have enabled ski resorts to open several slopes and kick off the new season; last weekend, dozens of ski areas opened their doors across Aosta Valley, Piedmont, and Trentino Alto Adige, highlighted by the grand opening of the mega Dolomiti Superski area.
For this 2012 Immaculate Conception long weekend, new ski lifts will open: thanks to the low temperatures (dropping below -10 degrees in many areas), ski areas have reactivated their artificial snowmaking systems, working day and night to produce snow. Around the clock, 24/7, snow cannons have never stopped doing their job, and the amount of snow produced has made it possible to open new ski slopes. As if that weren’t enough, natural snow has returned to some ski resorts, such as Plan de Corones, where snowflakes even blanketed Brunico at 800 meters.
Which lifts are opening for the Immaculate Conception long weekend?
Aosta Valley:
In Aosta Valley, all ski areas will open their lifts, from Cervinia (where the season already started in October) to La Thuile (which opened its lifts last weekend), as well as Monterosa Ski, Courmayeur, and Pila.
Piedmont:
For this Immaculate Conception long weekend, lifts are open at Alagna Freeride, Alpe Devero (lifts open Saturday and Sunday), Prato Nevoso (lifts open from Saturday, December 8), Limone (the season starts December 7), Macugnaga (open for the December 7-8-9 weekend), San Domenico Ski, Bielmonte (opening December 8), Domobianca (open from December 7), Bardonecchia (lifts open), and Via Lattea (lifts open).
Lombardy:
In Lombardy, many ski resorts started their season some time ago, including Bormio, Livigno, Santa Caterina Valfurva, Madesimo, and Valmalenco, while others will open specifically for this weekend: Aprica (open from Friday), Brembo Ski-Foppolo (daily opening from December 7), Presolana Monte Pora (opening December 7), and Piani di Bobbio (open from December 6).
Trentino Alto Adige
Last weekend, Trentino Alto Adige starred in a mass opening of ski areas, with almost the entire Dolomiti Superski domain open, including Plan de Corones, Alta Badia, Val di Fassa, San Martino di Castrozza, Trevalli, Val di Fiemme, and Alta Pusteria.
For the Immaculate Conception long weekend, lifts are also opening and the season is getting underway in Val Gardena, Valle Isarco, Folgaria, Passo Brocon (Ski Lagorai), Andalo, Folgarida, Pinzolo, Madonna di Campiglio (lifts already open since the last days of November), and Lavarone.
Veneto
In Veneto, following the opening of Cortina d’Ampezzo, the Civetta Ski area, Arabba Marmolada, and Falcade, from December 6 the ski lifts of the Asiago Plateau also open with the ski slopes of Monte Verena.
Friuli Venezia Giulia
The only region that had not opened any ski lifts until now is Friuli Venezia Giulia. The ski lifts in this border region are managed by Promotur, which for 2012 decided to standardize the opening of all its ski resorts on Saturday, December 8.
For the Immaculate Conception long weekend, skiers will be able to return to the slopes in Friuli at Tarvisio, Sella Nevea, Zoncolan, Sauris, Forni di Sopra, and Piancavallo.
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