There has been limited fresh snowfall in the Alps over the past five days, but that is expected to change in the next few days and the first few powder alarms for 20cm (8 inches) of new snow in the past 24 hours have been issued this morning by several Swiss resorts.

On Thursday last week heavy snowfalls of up to 60cm (two feet) were reported from Austria. Since then the high avalanche risk has been lowering again (though still considerable in some regions like Tirol or Steiermark) and today lucky skiers and boarders across the country are enjoying good skiing conditions with sunny slopes in many places.

Last Thursday brought 30 powder alarms to Austria. The biggest snowfalls took place in Carinthia where 60cm (two feet) was reported from smaller resorts like Flattnitz or Petzen. Bad Kleinkirchheim and Dachstein West also had 20-30cm in 24 hours.

The Mölltaler glacier has the most snow in the country at 3.5m (nearly 12 feet), with St. Anton am Arlberg second with 240cm (eight feet).

In Switzerland the most snow was reported from Eigenthal with 90cm (three feet) in seven days. Beatenberg also had 60cm (two feet). Bigger resorts like Laax, Saas Fee, Zermatt and Davos usually had 8-15cm (3-6 inches) during the week.

Today there’s a dozen Swiss resorts reporting snow depths of two metres or more, including Saas Fee, St Moritz and Laax. Engelberg is on top of the list with 255cm (8.5 feet).

Elsewhere in the Alps it has been ‘quiet’ for new snowfall in France and Italy, although Serre Chevalier has reported 12cm (five inches) of new snow so far today, and Chamonix continues to have some of the deepest snow depths in Europe, with more than 3.8m (Nearly 13 feet) lying on upper slopes.

In Italy more snow is expected in the coming days. Arabba has had the most snow in the country for the past seven days with 45cm accumulated and it has some of the deepest snow in the country too, although the glacier at Passo Tonale continues to boast the deepest snow depth in Europe with 4.2m (14 feet).

In the Pyrenees Baqueira just inaugurated a new snowpark for boarder and skier fun, it has up to 195cm (6.5 feet) of snow and 110 km of piste open. Formigal has the most piste open in the country, with 136km and snow depth up to 220cm (7.6 feet).  Most other ski areas have between 1.5 and 2.2m (5-7.3 feet) of snow lying .

Conditions are reported to be generally good in Andorra too with some fresh snow and upper slope base depths of 1-1.8m (3.3-6 feet).

At the other end of Europe, Scandinavia has seen more snow, if not so much as previous weeks. There’s been some new snow in Sweden with Amal and Ramundberget ski areas both receiving 15cm (six inches) and the leading resort Are 11cm (four inches).

The country’s greatest snow depth is in Tanndalen with 120cm (four feet). But this will soon change since Riksgransen, the worlds northern most ski resort known for its midnight sun due to open in two days. They also have 120cm (four feet) at the moment. So great skiing conditions all over the country and more snow is expected in the middle of Sweden on Friday.

Down in Eastern Europe conditions are the best so far this season in many resorts, following good snowfalls over the past week. Bulgarian resorts are now reporting up to 1.8m (six feet) of snow.

Pyrenees have seen the heaviest snow, with one resort reporting a metre (3.3 feet) of snow in 48 hours over the weekend.

Vincent Doutres Business Manager of Espaces Cauterts in Pyrenees was quoted:

” This week it snowed a metre in 48 hours. The ski area was entirely safe this weekend but we closed 15% of the terrain for security reasons. Those runs are in a slightly sensitive area. Our guests must beware of off-piste skiing as the avalanche risk was 4 / 5 in all stations of the Pyrenees because of heavy snowfalls in recent days. The snowpack needs a little time to stabilize. The snow conditions are ideal for the 20,000 skiers expected next week for the February vacation.”

There have also been large snowfalls in the Northern Alps with Avoriaz reporting 60cm (two feet) of new snow.  Chamonix Mont-Blanc reports its base remains the world’s deepest at4.2m. Alpe d’Huez now has 3.2m (Nearly 11 feet), Flaine 282cm (9.5 feet) and La Clusaz 2.7m (9 feet).

To the east, Swiss ski resorts have reported huge snowfalls over the past few days, led by Filzbach – Kerenzerberg which has received two metres (Nearly 7 feet) of new snow in the past week.

Andermatt has the second deepest snow depth in Switzerland at present with 2.4m (8 feet) on the mountain and 150cm (5 feet) in the valley. On Friday the resort issued a powder alarm and has also reported 45cm (18 inches) of new snow in seven days.

“At the moment there is more than enough snow to enjoy all kinds of winter sports here in Andermatt. Freeriders will also get what they want. On the slope with its beautiful new snow it’s a real pleasure to enjoy the great skiing and boarding.” Peter Heinzer, managing director of Andermatt-Gotthard Sportbahnen, told Skiinfo’s Pascal Bovee.

Most of the leading resorts have reported between 30 and 60cm (1-2 feet) of new snow over the weekend, including Nendaz, the Four Valleys and Saas Fee.

Italy has seen plenty of snow in the past week too, if perhaps a little less than the northern Alps.  Falls of 30-50cm (12-20 inches) over the past week have been reported by resorts like Andalo and Piancavallo. The Marmolada glacier has a 3.8m (nearly 13 foot base), Livigno 3m (10 feet) and Courmayeur up to 245cm (8 feet).

In the Central and Eastern Alps, Austria has been seeing some big snowfalls too, right across the country. St Anton has reported another 15cm (six inches) of snow today which follows on reports of 20cm (8 inches) yesterday in the SkiWelt, Kitzbuhel, St Johann and many other Austrian resorts.

Over the past week Austrian resorts have accumulated up to 80cm (2.7 feet) of powder, with the Kleinwalsertal region reporting 75cm (2.5feet) of new snow and St Johann 60cm (two feet).

It’s still a mixed picture in Eastern Europe however.  While resorts in the Czech and Slovak Republics have issued plenty of powder alarms in recent days, Poland hasn’t had a great start to the winter, but has had some good snowfalls in recent days.

Bulgaria to the south has had fresh snow this week – bases at the main resorts there currently range from 30 – 120cm (1-4 feet).

Not for the faint hearted, Paradiski offers the more adventurous the chance to experience bobsleighing on France’s only Olympic bobsleigh run, ski-joering, ice climbing, snow rugby, speed-flying, watersliding and much more.

With the Bobsleigh run at la Plagne, you shoot down the 1.5km Olympic bobsleigh run either in a four man ‘bob-raft’ at 80kph, a ‘mono-bob’ with speeds exceeding 90kph, or go for the awesome 120kph ‘taxi-bob’ steered by a professional driver.

Paradiski is the only ski area in Europe with a special ski-joering course where skiers sign up for a unique horse-drawn skiing experience that is an age-old Scandinavian tradition .

Ice Climbers can scale the heights of Europe’s only 22 metre artificial ice tower in Champagny le Haut. There are 26 different routes that are suitable for intermediate climbers and professionals.

If you’re in resort on  St Patrick’s Day you can take to the pistes at an altitude of 2,300 metres for a game of snow rugby on a pitch approved by the French Rugby Federation.  Then battle it out in the final at the end of the day in the centre of the Vallandry resort.

Finally speed-flying is a thrilling combination of skiing and paragliding you can try is Les Arcs ( www.alerion.fr)

To end the day put on your skis and take a run up and attempt to cross a 12-metre long swimming pool situated next to the Altipost high-altitude restaurant.  What’s more, watersliding is free of charge and to add to the fun you can place bets on who will sink first.

If you do still want to squeeze in some regular skiing and boarding you’ll find Paradiski has 425km of runs divided in to 236 runs, a 2050m vertical, two peaks at over 3,000 m, 153 km of cross country trails, two snowparks, five boardercross courses and two half-pipes.

40cm (16 inches) of snow fell in Serre Chevalier in the Southern Alps and 35cm (14 inches) at La Clusaz in the northern Alps. Further snowfalls are expected for the end of the week. 34cm (17 inches) of snow is expected in Tignes and Val d’Isere in the coming days.

The avalanche risk is high across the Alps with sadly several fatal incidents in the past week.  In France Montgenevre (which currently has the deepest snow depth in France at 180cm/six feet) has the highest alert level of five, Ste Foy Tarentaise and Serre Chevalier are at level four.

Lötschental currently has the biggest snow base in Switzerland with 221cm (7.4 feet). Yesterday the resort reported another 16cm (six inches) of new snow. They’ve had 54cm (nearly two feet) in the past seven days. Nax has had the most new snow in the past week however with 80cm (2.7 feet). Other Swiss resorts with deep snow include Andermatt-Gotthard and St. Moritz which have snow depths of two meters (6.7 feet) each.

Yesterday there was 10cm (four inches) of new snow in Sölden, Austria, which has received 35cm (14 inches) on new snow in the past seven days. It now has 167cm (5.6 feet) on upper slopes. Lech Zürs has had 25cm (10 inches) in seven days, while the Grossglockner / Heiligenblut and Montafon Gargellen have had 30cm (a foot) each. The Mölltaler Glacier continues to have the deepest snow depths in the country with 240cm (eight feet).

Italy still has the deepest snow in Europe with 312cm (10.5 feet) at the Marmolada glacier near Arabba and 2.6m (8.7 feet) at Bormio, which was hosting World Cup downhill ski races this week.

Italian resorts are also reporting some of the biggest snowfalls of the past seven days.  Sestriere had 60cm (two feet), Courmayeur 65cm (2.3 feet), Livigno 80cm (2.7 feet) and Bormio 90cm (three feet).

The fresh snow has arrived in the Pyrenees and Andorra a little later than the Alps but the conditions are now near normal with a snow depth of nearly 60cm (two feet), but most stations are still only partially open.  There’s been 30cm (a foot) of fresh snow in Gavarnie, Cauterets has 100cm (3.3 feet) and Piau Engaly and Peyragudes 70cm (2.3 feet).

The picture in Eastern Europe is mixed with resorts in countries further west like Slovakia and Slovenia reporting fresh snow, but in Bulgaria the snowpack has diminished and is quite thin at all areas.  In Slovakia Donovaly reported 10cm (four inches) of new snow today, Vel’ka Race 5cm (two inches).

Across the Atlantic the main snow news has been heavy snow across the Eastern side of the North American continent, with many ski areas in New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine and New York State reporting at least a foot (30cm) of new snow.  More southerly states like West Virginia and New Jersey have also had snow.  Most of the rest of the continent has seen limited fresh snow and major resorts are still only partially open.

In Quebec 97% of the Mont-Sainte-Anne trail network is now open to skiers and riders. In addition to this happy and welcomed news, night skiing is now in operation and Mont-Sainte-Anne has the highest nocturnal vertical drop of all Canada, with 100% of its terrain available. Both Mont-Sainte-Anne and it’s sister resort, Stoneham, have received 70cm (2.3 feet) of snow in the last week.

www.skiinfo.co.uk



Conditions in France are continuing to improve in the Alps with most resorts reporting snow over the past few days, and this is continuing right now.

La Clusaz appears to be doing the best, posting yet another powder alarm for another 35cm (14 inches) of snow overnight this morning.  It has received the most snow in France over the past week, with 117cm (nearly 4 feet) in the past week and now has the deepest reported base in France as a result, with 1.4m (nearly five feet).

Many other major French resorts are not far behind however and conditions are currently great at most, with fresh powder on a solid base.  Les Contamines Montjoie and Peisey Vallandry each have 130cm (4.3 feet) bases with La Plagne and La Rosière1850 only 5cm (2 inches) less.

In common with the rest of Europe temperatures have been very low however, dropping to about -16°C in Le Grand Bornand on Sunday morning.  All major French resorts are now fully or partially open.

Switzerland continues to top the list for powder alarms in Europe.  Today Vercorin reports a remarkable 90cm (three feet) of new snow, and eight out of the top ten snowfall reports in Europe are in Switzerland.

Andermatt-Gotthard claims the most snow in the country with 2.5m (over eight feet), St Moritz has 1.8m (over 6 feet), Laax 168cm (5.6 feet) and Engelberg 165cm (5.5 feet).  After Vercorin with 1.6m (5.3 feet), Champoussin on the French border in the Portes du Soleil has had the most snow in the past week with a metre of fresh.

Italy continues to have the greatest snow depth in the world at the Presena (3.8m/12.7 feet) and Marmolada (3.2m/10.6 feet) glaciers above Passo Tonale and Arabba respectively.

The country has also seen some of the heaviest snowfall in Europe through the past week.  With the north-western regions of Piemonte and the Aosta Valley doing especially well and snow falling in Turin.  Bardonecchia and Macugnaga both reported 50cm (20 inches) of new snow each yesterday, Cervinia and  La Thuile   40cm (16 inches) each.

Austrian ski areas typically received another 20-30m (8-12 inches) of snow at the start of the week, Wilma Himmelfreundpointner of St Anton Tourism commented, “I had the pleasure to enjoy the perfectly prepared slopes and the great mountain view on Sunday and I can only say it’s a winter’s dream.”

St. Anton currently has 28 lifts opened and 68km of slopes prepared. After the powder alarm on Monday (20 cm) and 5cm of new snow so far today (Wednesday) the resort has 130cm (4.3 feet) of snow on upper slopes now and 30cm (a foot) in the valley.

Across Austria the Mölltal glacier continues to have the most snow with 230cm (7.6 feet), the Kaunertal glacier 191cm (6.3 feet) and the Hintertux glacier 170cm (6.6 feet).

Grossglockner/Heiligenblut has had the most snow in the country in the past week with 40cm (16 inches). A quarter of it falling today. Bad Kleinkirchheim had 30cm (a foot) yesterday.

Heavy snow and low temperatures across most of Eastern Europe has allowed about 75% of the ski areas to either fully open or at least open some slopes in Bulgaria, Romania, Slovenia and Slovakia to open at the weekend.

In Bulgaria, Pamporovo and Borovets have joined Bansko in opening their slopes this weekend, a week after Bansko. Snowfalls of up to 430cm have been reported and Bansko has the greatest base depth of up to 70cm (2.3 feet).

Romania’s leading resort of Poiana Brasov has partially opened following fresh snow there, it is currently reporting temperatures in double digits below zero.

Most of Slovenia’s ski areas also opened at the weekend too, after the warm snap that affected much of mainland Europe finally ended. Krvavec, which has been voted the best resort in the country by a Croatian Ski Magazine for three years in a row, has a 55cm (22 inch) base.

Most of Slovakia’s leading ski areas have also opened at the weekend, the new Kosutka ski centre which opened last winter has 40cm (16 inches) of snow.

To the north some serious snow arrived last week in Scandinavia, particularly from Thursday through to Tuesday.

In Sweden Bydalen got the most with 45cm (18 inches) of new snow, followed by Vemdalen with 39cm (16 inches).  Hassela got 30cm (a foot) and Tandådalen 22cm (9 inches)

Vemdalen and Ramundberget have the greatest snow depths in the country at the moment with 80cm (Nearly three feet) to enjoy off-piste. The forecast shows really low temperatures all over the country for the upcoming Christmas Holiday.

It’s a similar picture in Norway with cold crisp weather (25 below zero this morning in Hemsedal) and fresh snow. Voss was one of the main beneficiaries, issuing a powder alarm at the weekend.

Andorra has had a little new snow too but snow depths could still do with a perk up – they’re currently in the 30-60cm (1-2 foot) range.

Western Canada is still receiving plenty of snow after the record falls of November. Red Mountain in British Columbia says it has received 73 cm (29 inches) of new snow since last week and Fernie 35cm (14 inches) in the past 48 hours.

Whistler continues to build its incredible base ahead of the Olympics, with healthy falls through the past seven days meaning another 1.2m (4 feet) has fallen.  Whitler’s seasaon-to-date snowfall is noew already nearing 7 metres (21 feet) and its mid-mountain base 2.5m (8.3 feet).  Currently it recommends The saddle Gs course as one of the best on the mountain.

Eastern Canada is also looking good. Mont-Sainte-Anne has the largest open terrain in the Province of Quebec with 30 slopes open and nearby Stoneham Mountain Resort is following close by with 9 slopes. In total, almost 50km of slopes are available to skiers and riders, in addition to the 109km of XC trails open at the Mont-Sainte-Anne Cross-country Skiing Center!

The low temperatures of last week allowed Mont-Sainte-Anne to pursue its snowmaking efforts with 100% of its system in operation.  Snow guns have now been moved to the mountain’s expert terrain to open a maximum number of runs for the holidays.  So far the resorts have received 143 cm of snow.

It’s a similar picture in the US where, like in much of Europe, cold temperatures and heavy sow have brought chaos to metroplitan areas as well as plenty of snow to the si slopes of New england in great time for christmas and the New Year.  Whoiteface mountain reports it has “a ton” of snow, most other resorts in the region are claiming several feet of new cover (30-60cm).

At Squaw Valley USA in California it just won’t stop snowing. Three weeks into December and the resort has already received 100 inches (2.5m) of snow. Days-on-end of snow accumulation have allowed resort operators to get the mountain 100% open.

www.skiinfo.co.uk

It has been very cold since Sunday in France, just in time for the big increase in skier numbers expected at the weekend. Nearly all of the major resorts are now open, more than 40 in total and all are expected to open this weekend. Overall there has been little fresh snow in France in the past week with about 10cm (four inches) falling on the Pyrenees and both the north and the Southern Alps. A little more snowfall is expected this Friday.

La Clusaz currently reports the deepest snow in the country with 140cm (4.6 feet). Cauterets, La Plagne and Alpe d’Huez all have at least a metre. World Snowboard Day returns for its 4th edition this Sunday, December 20th. The idea is to discover for free the joys of snowboarding and the snowboard culture.

Austria has had some new snow with lower temperatures helping to bring the freezing point further down the slopes. The glaciers still have the greatest snow depths was Molltal leading the way with a 230cm (7.6 foot) base. Kaunrtal is not far behind with 1.9m (6.3 feet). The latest fresh snow in the country of 10-20cm (4-8 inches) has been reported at Eben, Zauchensee and Flachau.

Most Austrian resorts that are not yet open will open this weekend: “We’ve had fresh snow but a little less than expected, at the moment there’s 35cm (14 inches) on upper slopes.” said Anna-Christina Moser of Alpbacher Bergbahnen, “Snow conditions are good now not only because of the latest snowfalls but particularly because of the cold temperatures, allowing our 85 snow guns to produce snow 24 hours a day.”

Alpbach opens this Friday December 18th and will have their longest slope in operation and all the lifts at the Wiedersbergerhorn. Stuhleck Semmering and Kleinwalsertal celebrated their winter openings last weekend. Sandra Janser of Kleinwalsertal Tourismus said, “Last weekend we officially started the winter season and the long awaited snowfall arrived right on time. The slopes are in good condition now and we’ll open more lifts as soon as the snow will allow it”. Currently Fellhorn/ Kanzelwand has eight lifts in operation, Ifen and Waldmendinger Horn are likely to join next weekend.

Parts of Switzerland have received up to 55cm (nearly two feet) of snow in the past week. Laax, which is reporting the second deepest snow base in the country at present with 168 cm (5.6 feet) was one of the major beneficiaries with 51cm (20 inches), Disentis got the 55cm. Arosa and Kanderstag added 30cm (a foot) each.

Italy continues to report some of the healthiest snowfalls in Europe, with another 70cm (2.3 feet) in Val Gardena in the Dolomites, and 60cm (two feet) for Limone Piemonte in the west of the country. This week the snow started to cover central Italy (Lazio e Abruzzo) and for next two days the forecast are for snowfall down to altitudes around 400-500m in these areas. Arabba Marmolada has the greatest snow depth in the country, and in Europe at present with 312 cm (10.5 feet), the Presena Glacier above Passo Tonale has 300cm (10 feet) and Bormio 190cm (6.3 feet).

The Sky Mountaineering World Cup will be staged this weekend (18 -20 December) in Pila and the Aosta Valley. The race makes ski mountaineering manageable in small stages and participation is limited to athletes with ski mountaineering licences from official bodies in Italy or any other country.

In Andorra snow depths are shallow and the snow hard packed, but again the current weather conditions should mean an improvement by the weekend.

In Eastern Europe, Bansko in Bulgaria had its annual celebrity opening last weekend with its biggest swathe of former ski stars yet in attendance including Permin Zurbriggen, Mark Girardelli, Paul Accola and Patrick Ortlieb. It reported 50cm of much needed snow arriving just in time for opening day and Bulgaria’s other leading resort, Borovets, has received fresh snow too and aims to open shortly.

The biggest snowfalls of the past seven days have been in the Western US states, but further north the snow is still falling with Whistler reporting another 10cm (four inches) overnight. The picture has further improved on the East Coast too, especially in Quebec with resorts like Mont ste Anne and Stoneham reporting up to 50cm (20 inches) of fresh snow and new snow and lower temperatures in New England to the south too, where resorts like Attitash in New Hampshire, Stratton in Vermont and Sunday river in Maine have reports 12-18 cm (5-7 inches).

Italy has had the most snow anywhere in the past week and currently has some of the world’s biggest accumulations.

The biggest falls were in the north-west of the country (Piemonte, Lombardia, Valle d’Aosta) and in the last few days in Alto Adige. However the snow cover isn’t universal and in Friuli a lack of snow las lead to the start of the season being postponed.

The biggest accumulation of the past seven days has been in Val d’Ultimo which reports 190cm (6.3 feet) of new snow. Val Senales / Schnals is not far behind with 160cm (5.3 feet) and Santa Caterina is on 130cm (4.3 feet), Cortina d’Ampezzo 110 cm (3.65 feet).

The Arabba Marmolada glacier currently reports the deepest snow anywhere in the world with 312cm (10.5 feet) on upper slopes, 55cm (22 inches) at the base. It’s a similar picture, just a few centimetres less, on the Presena Glacier above Passo Tonale. Bormio, one of the winter’s early openers six-weeks ago, has 190cm (6.3 feet) on upper slopes, 30cm (a foot) below. Madesimo and Cervinia – Breuil each has about 1.5 metres (five feet) on upper slopes.

Thirty resorts have already partially opened their ski areas in France, of which six are currently only open at weekends. That number will grow to at least 40 this weekend.

After a warming period following last week’s snow, with some rain damage to lower slopes, more snow has started falling again and Orelle, lift-linked to Val Thorens in The Three Valleys (each of which is now at least partially open) in the northern Alps, issued a powder alarm yesterday with a 20cm (eight inch) snowfall.

Resorts scheduled to open this weekend include La Plagne, Serre Chevalier, Flaine, Vars and Avoriaz.

La Clusaz currently reports the best snow depth in the country with 120cm (four feet) of snow. In the Pyrenees, Bareges and La Mongie have the most snow with 90cm (three feet) lying,

Val d’Isere will host the 54th edition of the “Critérium de la Première Neige” this weekend on the 11^th – 13th December for Women and the following weekend (18^th -20th December) for men.

There has been limited new snowfall in Austria, however the country’s glacier ski are reporting some of the deepest snow available anywhere. The snow line in Austria is between 500 and 800 metres today and the Austrian Broadcast Corporation ORF predicts more snowfall for Saturday and low temperatures between -6 and 0 degrees (Celsius) for Sunday.

The Molltal glacier has among the three biggest snow depths in the world at present with 2,2m (7.3 feet), while Pitztal, Solden,Stubai and Hintertux glaciers all have at least 1.5m (five feet)of snow. Kaprun has released powder alarms reporting 40cm of new snow in the past 24 hours.

Austrian resorts which will open this weekend include more of the SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser with 15cm (six inches) of snow in Brixental and Kleinwalsertal (opening on the 12th) with up to 40cm (15 inches) of snow at the Nebelhorn ski area. Seefeld – Rosshütte, Gerlos/ Zillertal and Lermoos/ Tiroler Zugspitz Arena will also open with 30cm (a foot) of snow.

After heavy snow last week in Switzerland almost cut off the resort of Engelberg and other resorts reported bug falls, Swiss resorts have again been announcing substantial snowfalls of at least 20cm in Davos, Gstaad and Les Diablerets are among the latest to note substantial new snowfalls, with Engelberg also reporting another 20cm (eight inches). Verbier had the biggest single snowfall, with 30cm (a foot) of new snow.

Swiss resorts are now reporting some of the deepest snow depths in the world, with Andermatt recording some of the deepest snow, a1.3m (4.3 feet) base at the bottom of the slopes and 1.9m (6.3 feet) on upper runs.

In Andorra and Spain the news is less good as pouring rain and warm weather ruined some of the great conditions reported only a week ago. Only Spain’s largest resorts of Baqueira (30-60 cm and 77 km) and Formigal (10-80 cm and 64 km) continue to offer good conditions. However Panticosa (30-60 cm and 22 km), Cerler (20-65 cm and 18 km), Astun (20-80 cm and 20 km), Candanchu (15-65 cm and 29 km), Boi Taull (15-30 cm and 20 km), La Molina (10-20cm and 3 km), Masella (10-25 km and 9 km) and Grand Pallars ski resorts (Espot, Port Ainé and Tavascan, 15-40 cm with 60 km) all in the Pyrenees, are still open. Outside the Pyrenees only Sierra Nevada with 10-30 cm and 5km of runs is open for skiers.

A cooling trend is expected for the weekend however, allowing ski resorts to put snow making facilities back in to operation.

There are no reports of any ski areas open yet in Eastern Europe although Bansko in Bulgaria has said it plans to open this weekend and the webcams are showing a snowy picture in the Czech Republic.

The new Pancheron six-seat lift, which has all the latest safety features, departs from the top of Cretaz (close to the arrival station of the chairlift of the same name), and has an hourly uplift capacity of 3,000 people/hour.

The lift rises 512 vertical metres from 2,438m above-sea-level to 2,950m above-sea-level providing access to an expanded Cretaz sector and creates a new, even faster and more convenient, way to access the higher pistes of the ski area from the resort centre. In addition the ski area accessed by the new “Pancheron” chairlift allows off-piste skiers to access multiple lines throgh the powder snow in areas like Val Furggen.

The new lift gives great access to the Pancheron piste, regarded as one of the resort’s most spectacular with multiple changes in terrain as it descends in Cervinia, and makes a 1000m vertical descent possible.

As well as improving uplift on the mountain the new lift, which has been largely funded by the area’s local government which is the major shareholder in the ski resort, is expected to lead to a decrease in vehicle traffic in resort by making uplift more efficient.

In the French Alps, Courchevel and Meribel joined Val Thorens opening in the Three Valleys and in Austria the Arlberg opened a week later than planned after a spell of warm weather ended with falls of several feet of snow.

In the Pyrenees most of the leading resorts in Andorra, France and Spain all opened on Friday or Saturday after several feet on new snow fell.

In New England resorts opening thanks to improved conditions include Sugarloaf in Maine, and further north in Quebec, Mont Ste Anne has opened after several postponed dates.

Over on the West, Fernie and Revelstoke in British Columbia have also opened.

St Moritz and the Engadin Valley have received 1.3m (4.4 feet) since the weekend. Most other Swiss resorts have done well too, Sedrun, for example, got a whole metre of new snow in 24 hours on Monday (Nov 30th) – the road to nearby Disentis was covered with snow.

Engelberg was virtually closed down by snow at the start of the week too due to a massive storm that hit central Switzerland with over 90cms (three feet) of fresh snow according to Eric Spongberg an ex-freeriders based at Ski Lodge Engelberg.

The roads in and out of the village where closed down on Monday, and all the lifts were closed on Tuesday due to high avalanche danger.

”There was rumours of snow coming in, but we have virtually been covered in snow in the past 24 hours” says Eric. ”It is total chaos here, with ploughs running back and forth trying to clear the streets and the avalanche bombs thundering in the background. The snowpack has been looking thin lately, but this definitely means a white Christmas in Engelberg”.

The ski area is open today and Eric is hoping to be on the slopes, ”It might be one of those days, I just might need to skip a couple of hours off work.”

Austria, which had great snow in late October and early November, but in common with the rest of the Alps, suffered a warm spell through the mifddle of last month, has also been receiving plenty of fresh snow,

The Mölltaler glacier got 60cm (two feet) of powder and now have one of the deepest snow depths in the world at present with a 220cm (7.3 foot) base. Many other areas received between 20 and 50cm (8-20 inches) including Axamer – Lizum at Innsbruck, Sölden (52cm) and Obergurgl-Hochgurgl.

Lech Zürs has confirmed it will open lifts on Friday. Currently they have up to 55cm (22 inches) of snow on their slopes. Hochzillertal will open on the same day.

Silvretta Montafon (Nova and Hochjoch) now has 70cm of snow for their planned opening on Saturday. “There’s been heavy snowfall down to 800 metres and we hope to begin operating the Zamang Bahn (the ski lift for Hochjoch) and Versettla Bahn (for Nova) on December 5th.” said Frank Peters of Silvretta Montafon Mountain Railways.

It’s good news once again in France where more resorts are opening after good snowfalls across the country’s ski areas.

Lans en Vercors and Collet d’Allevard are opening their ski lifts today as a result and La Clusaz it’s Nordic ski area “Les Confins”

Many more plan to open this weekend, at least partially, including Meribel, Alpe d’Huez, the Grands Montets at Chamonix, Montgenèvre, Les Arcs and probably Courchevel 1850, Le Grand Bornand and La Clusaz (only this weekend and just the “Massif de Balme”).

Val Thorens, which is already open, has reported 40cm of fresh snow and has one of the deepest bases in the country with a metre of snow lying.

It’s a similar picture in Italy where the powder alarms continue to be issued. Bormio has the deepest base in the country at 1.9m (6.6 feet), much of it fallen in the past week. Other resorts reporting big falls include Madesimo with 90cm (three feet) and Alagna, Cervinia, Livigno and Monterosa resorts reporting at least 50cm (20 inches of new snow each)

Italy’s ski resorts enjoy a long ski weekend to December 8^th so it’s great timing. This weekend many ski resorts will officially starts the season including Monterosa Ski, Dolomitri Superski, Limone, Courmayeur, resorts on the Milky Way pass like Sestriere and Sauze d’Oulx, Adamello (some lifts open at Passo Tonale and Pontedilegno).

Snow has also been snowing in Andorra, where resorts first opened early in mid-November after heavy snowfalls at the start of the month, but then had to postpone opening on the scheduled season start date last weekend due to a thaw. It’s now looking goods for this weekend.

There’s no information on ski areas opening yet in Eastern Europe, however temperatures have dropped at last in that part of the continent with Bansko in Bulgaria reporting several days of sub-zero temperatures and snow falling.

Across the Atlantic the prolonged warm spell that stopped virtually all of New England’s ski areas opening for Thanksgiving weekend has finally ended and many resorts are reporting some snowfall and temperatures cool enough for the region’s mammoth snowmaking arsenal to dire up. Sugarloaf in Maine and Whiteface in New York State are among those planning to open at the weekend.

Further north in Eastern Canada, where Toronto recently declared last month the driest November in 70 years without a snowflake, conditions have improved greatly too. Mont Ste Anne in Quebec expects to open after several postponements this weekend with at least four runs available. It reported 12cm (5 inches) of snow at the weekend. Mont Sutton received 43cm (17 inches) of snow at the summit over the weekend.

In the west of course it is a different story and Whistler’s November snowfall total officially passed 5.6m (18 feet) by the month end, with a 1.92m (6.5 feet) base, by far the biggest ever for this early in the season and indeed the biggest ever monthly snowfall for the resort.

The good snow news isn’t just restricted to the 2010 Winter Olympic host however, most of Western Canada’s resorts have great snow cover, and several more resorts opened early at the weekend, or announced they’d be opening earlier than planned in coming weeks including Fernie and Kicking Horse.

Revelstoke, which now has North America’s largest vertical, as well as the only heli and cat ski operations running along-side regular ski lifts from one base, opened upper slopes for a ‘taster weekend’ and will open permanently from next weekend.

Silver Star has also opened, “To the delight of us all, the winter skies have opened up and delivered over 40 cm of the white stuff needed to make the jump from Nordic skiing to alpine. With the alpine base now over 100 cm the Comet Express, Silver Woods Express, and the Silver Queen Chair. “ said a resort spokesperson.

The world’s attention has however been on Alberta over the weekend with Lake Louise Ski Area hosting its annual Winterstart World Cup Races. The men’s races took place November 28 and 29 and the women race this coming December 4 through 6.

The WinterStart Festival takes place over the two weekends and includes the World Cup Alpine Ski Racing followed by a festival within a festival; Christmas in the Rockies, which runs December 5 and 6.

All the lifts are open at The Lake Louise Ski Area and Sunshine Village, with more available at Mt. Norquay today! The North American chair is open morning offering access to the infamous Lone Pine run.

“This is the best snow we’ve seen in 30 years, allowing the backside of Lake Louise and Goat’s Eye at Sunshine Village to be open already, offering tons of terrain, fresh tracks and a lot of powder.” Said a spokesperson

On Thursday, December 3rd, the newly renovated Sunshine Mountain Lodge at Sunshine Village will open 30 new eco-luxurious rooms.

Back south of the border in the Western US states temperatures are low for snowmaking but precipitation has been rather limited meaning that bases remain modest and open terrain is little changed from last week.

www.skiinfo.co.uk