The snow is still falling in the northern hemisphere and the first snows of 2015 have been reported in the southern hemisphere but the number of ski areas open drops to its lowest tally all year – less than 20 operating worldwide – in mid-May.
You may read reports on where to ski in ‘summer’ (In this case summer skiing covering a period from around May to October) but the reality is that except for at two resorts which do try to open every day of the year, conditions permitting – Hintertux in Austria and Zermatt in Switzerland – the areas that are open in summer operate for very different periods during those six months – sometimes for as little as three weeks.
So at InTheSnow we’re going to take it month by month, starting with this month, May.
Austria
All of Austria’s ‘regular’ ski areas are now closed after winter 20140-15 but the country has eight glacier areas with ski lifts which can open any time really, but until the autumn when all are open (far more than any other country and at times as many as the rest of the northern hemisphere combined), they tend to open for different periods. All report good 2-3m snow depths and many have had fresh snow at the start of May so conditions are excellent.
Solden’s and the Dachstein glaciers are already closed and the Molltal and Pitztal glaciers are due to close after this weekend. A fifth glacier, the Kitzsteinhorn above Kaprun plans to stay open until the 24th May.
As mentioned above the Hintertux glacier is open year round and the other two glaciers – Kaunertal and Stubai – have announced they plan to keep operating to June at least.
Canada
Two Canadian ski areas are still operating after the first weekend of May, Sunshine at Banff (pictured top, open until the 17th) and Whistler, BC (pictured above). The latter has announced it is extending its ski season – which had been due to end this weekend – by 3 weeks to June 7th after 60cm/two feet of snow fell during April, and there’s been a few more cm in May already. That’s only 12 days before summer glacier skiing starts there on 20th June. This pic was taken on Tuesday.
Finland
Ruka’s probably held on to it’s reputation as the longest open non-glacier resort in Europe by making it through from its opening last October to May 10th this year, although that’s a shorter season than years gone by.
France
Perhaps surprisingly, there’s no lift-accessed skiing available in France after the weekend of May 9/10th when the last two areas still operating their 2014-15 ski seasons – Tignes and Val Thorens, call it a day for another year. Tignes, along with les 2 Alpes and Val d’Isere will, re-open their glacier ski areas for summer skiing and boarding next month. The past week has seen heavy rain and snowmelt causing some problems at closed resorts – including Avoriaz (pictured) where a chairlift base station is under water.
Italy
With Cervinia and the former summer ski option of Val Senales both closing the first weekend of May, there’s usually only the Presena glacier, above Passo Tonale, open through may. But at the time of compilation not even that was open, despite reporting a 4m snow depth in April, meaning nowhere appears to be open in May in Italy. That should change on the 30th when the summer ski Stelvio glacier is scheduled to open, followed by Cervinia re-opening for summer skiing towards the end of June. The picture is from Sestriere, which has closed its lifts for skiing but has had fresh snow peopole have hiked up to ski.
Norway
Most of Norway’s ‘winter’ ski areas have closed their slopes now, but the good news is that it has three summer glacier ski areas, including Northern Europe’s highest slopes, which all open through May for summer skiing. All are in good shape with the winter snows lying many metres deep and the first of the three, Stryn, already opened on May 1st. The other two, Galdhoppigen and Folgefonn open later in the month on the 22nd and 23rd of May.
Scotland
Glencoe ended its ski season on Bank Holiday Monday although iot has been so cold there’s been more fresh snow on Scottish hills since then. Cairngorm is the only area left that, at time of writing, says it may re-open for more weekends in May subject to conditions and demand.
Southern Hemisphere
The ski season doesn’t usually start to begin south of the equator until the start of June when areas on South Africa, Lesotho, Australia and New Zealand all begin to open, snow permitting. There have been some exciting pre-season snowfalls reported in Australia and new Zealand with some people even hiking up to make a few turns, but nowhere is officially open yet – though it is only a month away.
Sweden
Most Swedish centres closed after the May Day weekend but the stand out choice is Riksgransen in the country’s far north, known as Europe’s spring skiing capital for the best part of 100 years and only opening in February for its 2015 season, which continues to Midsummer’s Day next month. There’s been fresh snow in May and 24 hour daylight begins shortly, when the centre re-opens for an hour or so skiing under the midnight sun on selected days each week.
Switzerland
Engelberg and the Diavolezza glacier near St Moritz are two of the three Swiss options to ski in May, at least until the 24th when the former two are due to close. Zermatt has had fresh snow this week and reports a 2.1m base, it’s open year round sand has now opened the continent’s highest lift, a drag up to 3,899m which is only open in summer.
USA
It’s been an unusual winter in the US with ski areas in the west that are normally open to late spring seeing their earliest closing in nearly 40 years (since 1977 in the case of Mt Bachelor in Oregon), because of too little snow, whilst on the East there’s been heavy snow all winter which has allowed some resorts to stay open in to May, and Killington in Vermont plans to stay open to June. Elsewhere, the still open options include Arapahoe Basin in Colorado, Mammoth in California, Timberline in Oregon and Mammoth in California.