Ski Europe Now

Update to Open Ski Resorts in Europe: Sierra Nevada in Spain.

I received a comment from be_cool that I had missed the opening of Sierra Nevada ski area in Spain this past weekend with 11 lifts and 37 pistes for 41km of pistes.  Sorry bout that.  I always forget about the ski areas in Spain.  I would love to visit someday but need to do a bit of research about the length of the ski season there before I commit.  Thanks for the update be_cool.  If you know any more about the areas in Spain, don't hesitate to comment.  I would also love to hear about what you think about Sierra Nevada after your visit in December.  Keep me posted.

Skiing in Europe in November: Resorts Open for Skiing as of November 28, 2011.

Since my post Friday about resort openings there have been a few changes with Ischgl in Austria and Isola 2000, Serre Chevalier Vallee, and Val d'Isere in France  partially opening.  So, (drumroll please) here is a list of European ski resorts which are open or partially open as of November 25, 2011.    Obviously, some may close or may not be really open notwithstanding being on my list.  Please visit the individual website or tourist office website of the resort you are interested in to mare sure the resort is actually open.  Most are also not showing much, if any, snowfall.  So, for today we have twenty-five (25) European resorts open.  Most of them are in Austria.

Open Ski Resorts in Europe as of today's date:

Austria

Hintertuxer Gletscher-Zillertal is open with 17 lifts and their website shows they have 54 km of pistes.

The Kaunertal Gletscher is open with 8 lifts and 36 km of pistes.

The Flattach Molltaler Gletscher is open with 47.5 km of trails and 6 lifts.

Solden has nine trails with 42.2 km and thirteen lifts open.

Stubaier Gletscher has 15 trails and 19 lifts open. 

Dachstein has 3 trails and 4 lifts operating.

Kaprun-Kitzsteinhorn glacier has 12 lifts and 6 trails open.

Schladming-Planai has 1 lift and 1 piste open.

Ischgl is open with 24 lifts, 24 pistes for 84 km.  Amazing.

France

Tignes is open with glacier skiing on La Grande Motte glacier with four lifts and an unknown amount of skiing: their website has a lot of information but fucking zip about what pistes are open.

Isola 2000 is partially open with 5 lifts (approximately half of their lifts) and is expected to open December 3rd.

Serre Chevalier Vallee is open with 4 lifts and more expected to open December 3rd (according to one website but according to their official website they will partially open December 3rd and fully open December 10th, conditions permitting.)

Val d'Isere is partially open but I couldn't tell from their website exactly what was open chair and piste-wise.

Val Thorens is open with five lifts and 11 pistes (webcam show some strips open but lots of brown and rocks.  Yikes.)

Germany

Zugspitze is open with 3 of 9 lifts and unknown number of pistes.

Italy

Val Sarentino/Sarntal is possibly open.  I checked their website but their english page was unavailable so I cannot say for sure if this is true or not.  If you can read German or Italian and find out the details, please send a comment regarding their status.  Thanks.

Val Senales is open with 4 lifts and 8 trails with 18 km of skiing. 

Passo Stelvio is open with six lifts and six pistes.

Passo Tonale/Ghiacciacio Presena is open with 4 of 4 of lifts and 3 pistes.

Solden has 1 lift and 1 piste.

Cervinia has 10 lifts and 17 pistes (I find that hard to believe but that's what their website said.)

Switzerland

Gstaad is open with 4 lifts and 3 pistes.

Zermatt is open with 16 lifts running and 10 pistes.  This place truly never closes so it is always an option.  You may not have a lot of skiing but it's better than rocks.  Huge improvement over the last couple of weeks.

Saas-Fee has seven open lifts and 11 trails open for 36 km of pistes.

Zinal is open with its Sorebois area with 3 lifts and 4 km of pistes.

So, you can certainly ski now.  Conditions may not be fantastic but its skiing.  Make sure you contact the resort you are interested in to double-check on conditions and open lifts.

Skiing in Europe in November: Resorts Open for Skiing as of November 25, 2011.

Since my last post about resort opening there have been a few changes with Val Thorens and Zinal partially opening and Diavolezza closing.  So, (drumroll please) here is a list of European ski resorts which are open or partially open as of November 25, 2011.  All of them have access to glaciers or other high-altitude skiing so they have the capability to open early.    Obviously, some may close or may not be really open notwithstanding being on my list.  Please visit the individual website or tourist office website of the resort you are interested in to mare sure the resort is actually open.  Most are also not showing much, if any, snowfall.  As the season progresses and this information becomes available I will post it.  So, for today we have twenty-two (22) European resorts open.  Most of them are in Austria.

Open Ski Resorts in Europe as of today's date:

Austria

Hintertuxer Gletscher-Zillertal is open with 15 lifts and their website shows they have 48 km of pistes.

The Kaunertal Gletscher is open with 7 lifts and 30 km of pistes.

The Flattach Molltaler Gletscher is open with 40.5 km of trails and 6 lifts.

Solden has nine trails with 37 km and ten lifts open.

Stubaier Gletscher has 14 trails with 49 km and 19 lifts open. 

Dachstein has 3 trails and 4 lifts operating.

Kaprun-Kitzsteinhorn glacier has 12 lifts and 6 trails open.

Schladming-Planai has 1 lift and 1 piste open.

France

Tignes is open with glacier skiing on La Grande Motte glacier with four lifts and an unknown amount of skiing: their website has a lot of information but fucking zip about what pistes are open.

Val Thorens is open with five lifts and 11 pistes (webcam show some strips open but lots of brown and rocks.  Yikes.)

Germany

Zugspitze is open with 3 of 9 lifts and unknown number of pistes.

Italy

Val Sarentino/Sarntal is possibly open.  I checked their website but their english page was unavailable so I cannot say for sure if this is true or not.  If you can read German or Italian and find out the details, please send a comment regarding their status.  Thanks.

Val Senales is open with 4 lifts and 8 trails with 18 km of skiing. 

Passo Stelvio is open with six lifts and six pistes.

Passo Tonale/Ghiacciacio Presena is open with 4 of 4 of lifts and 3 pistes.

Solden has 1 lift and 1 piste.

Cervinia has 10 lifts and 17 pistes (I find that hard to believe but that's what their website said.)

Champoluc at Monterosa Ski Region is open with one lift and an unknown number of pistes.

Switzerland

Gstaad is open with 5 lifts and 3 pistes.

Zermatt is open with 6 lifts running and 5 pistes.  This place truly never closes so it is always an option.  You may not have a lot of skiing but it's better than rocks.

Saas-Fee has five open lifts and 11 trails open for 35 km of pistes.

Zinal will open its Sorebois area this weekend with 3 lifts and 4 km of pistes.

So, you can certainly ski now.  Conditions may not be fantastic but its skiing.  Make sure you contact the resort you are interested in to double-check on conditions and open lifts.

I will probably keep up with these reports until mid-December then pull the plug.  Most, if not all, ski resorts in Europe should be open by then.

Skiing in Europe in November: Resorts Open for Skiing as of November 15, 2011.

Since my last post about resort opening there have been a few changes with two new resorts partially open: Zugspitze in Germany, and Champoluc at Monterosa Ski and Ghiacciaio Presena near Passo Tonale in Italy.  So, (drumroll please) here is a list of European ski resorts which are open or partially open as of November 15, 2011.  All of them have access to glaciers or other high-altitude skiing so they have the capability to open early.    Obviously, some may close or may not be really open notwithstanding being on my list.  Please visit the individual website or tourist office website of the resort you are interested in to mare sure the resort is actually open.  Most are also not showing much, if any, snowfall.  As the season progresses and this information becomes available I will post it.  So, for today we have twenty-one (21) European resorts open.  Most of them are in Austria.

Open Ski Resorts in Europe as of today's date:

Austria

Hintertuxer Gletscher-Zillertal is open with 15 lifts and their website shows they have 48 km of pistes.

The Kaunertal Gletscher is open with 7 lifts and 30 km of pistes.

The Flattach Molltaler Gletscher is open with 40.5 km of trails and 6 lifts.

Solden has nine trails with 37 km and ten lifts open.

Stubaier Gletscher has 14 trails with 49 km and 19 lifts open. 

Dachstein has 3 trails and 4 lifts operating.

Kaprun-Kitzsteinhorn glacier has 12 lifts and 6 trails open.

Schladming-Planai has 1 lift and 1 piste open.

France

Tignes is open with glacier skiing on La Grande Motte glacier with four lifts and an unknown amount of skiing: their website has a lot of information but fucking zip about what pistes are open.

Germany

Zugspitze is open with 3 of 9 lifts and unknown number of pistes.

Italy

Val Sarentino/Sarntal is possibly open.  I checked their website but their english page was unavailable so I cannot say for sure if this is true or not.  If you can read German or Italian and find out the details, please send a comment regarding their status.  Thanks.

Val Senales is open with 4 lifts and 8 trails with 18 km of skiing. 

Passo Stelvio is open with six lifts and six pistes.

Passo Tonale/Ghiacciacio Presena is open with 4 of 4 of lifts and 3 pistes.

Solden has 1 lift and 1 piste.

Cervinia has 10 lifts and 17 pistes (I find that hard to believe but that's what their website said.)

Champoluc at Monterosa Ski Region is open with one lift and an unknown number of pistes.

Switzerland

Gstaad is open with 5 lifts and 3 pistes.

Zermatt is open with 6 lifts running and 5 pistes.  This place truly never closes so it is always an option.  You may not have a lot of skiing but it's better than rocks.

Saas-Fee has five open lifts and 11 trails open for 35 km of pistes.

Diavolezza in the St. Moritz area is open with two lifts and 2 pistes but will be shut down for over two months for extensive refurbishing of the Diavolezza tram (November 26 2011- February 10, 2012 closed according to their website.)  Ten days to go to ski Diavolezza so hurry up.

So, you can certainly ski now.  Conditions may not be fantastic but its skiing.  Make sure you contact the resort you are interested in to double-check on conditions and open lifts.

I will probably keep up with these reports until mid-December then pull the plug.  Most, if not all, ski resorts in Europe should be open by then.

Skiing in Europe in November: Resorts Open for Skiing as of November 11, 2011.

Holy Cow, we're getting closer.  A few changes from my last post regarding resort openings with a few more places coming on line.  So, (drumroll please) here is a list of European ski resorts which are open or partially open as of November 11, 2011.  All of them have access to glaciers or other high-altitude skiing so they have the capability to open early.    Obviously, some may close or may not be really open notwithstanding being on my list.  Please visit the individual website or tourist office website of the resort you are interested in to mare sure the resort is actually open.  Most are also not showing much, if any, snowfall.  As the season progresses and this information becomes available I will post it.  So, for today we have eighteen (18) European resorts open with a nineteenth possibly open in northern Italy.  Most of them are in Austria.

Open Ski Resorts in Europe as of today's date:

Austria

Hintertuxer Gletscher-Zillertal is open with 15 lifts and their website shows they have 48 km of pistes.

The Kaunertal Gletscher is open with 7 lifts and 30 km of pistes.

The Flattach Molltaler Gletscher is open with 40.5 km of trails and 6 lifts.

Solden has nine trails with 37 km and ten lifts open.

Stubaier Gletscher has 14 trails with 49 km and 19 lifts open. 

Dachstein has 3 trails and 4 lifts operating.

Kaprun-Kitzsteinhorn glacier has 12 lifts and 6 trails open.

Schladming-Planai has 1 lift and 1 piste open.

France

Tignes is open with glacier skiing on La Grande Motte glacier with four lifts and an unknown amount of skiing: their website has a lot of information but fucking zip about what pistes are open.

Italy

Val Sarentino/Sarntal is possibly open.  I checked their website but their english page was unavailable so I cannot say for sure if this is true or not.  If you can read German or Italian and find out the details, please send a comment regarding their status.  Thanks.

Val Senales is open with 4 lifts and 8 trails with 18 km of skiing. 

Passo Stelvio is open with six lifts and six pistes.

Passo Tonale is open with an unknown number of lifts and pistes.

Solden has 1 lift and 1 piste.

Cervinia has 10 lifts and 17 pistes (I find that hard to believe but that's what their website said.)

Switzerland

Gstaad is open with 5 lifts and 3 pistes.

Zermatt is open with 6 lifts running and 5 pistes.  This place truly never closes so it is always an option.  You may not have a lot of skiing but it's better than rocks.

Saas-Fee has five open lifts and 11 trails open for 35 km of pistes.

Diavolezza in the St. Moritz area is open with two lifts and 2 pistes but will be shut down for over two months for extensive refurbishing of the Diavolezza tram (November 26 2011- February 10, 2012 closed according to their website.)

So, you can certainly ski now.  Conditions may not be fantastic but its skiing.  Make sure you contact the resort you are interested in to double-check on conditions and open lifts.

Skiing in Europe in November: Resorts Open for Skiing as of November 7, 2011.

For all skiers and boarders getting antsy for some ski time, I'm sorry to say no real changes since my post of Monday October 28, 2011.  No new openings and no new closing.  So, (drumroll please) here is a list of European ski resorts which are open or partially open as of November 7, 2011.  All of them have access to glaciers or other high-altitude skiing so they have the capability to open early.    Obviously, some may close or may not be really open notwithstanding being on my list.  Please visit the individual website or tourist office website of the resort you are interested in to mare sure the resort is actually open.  Most are also not showing much, if any, snowfall.  As the season progresses and this information becomes available I will post it.  So, for today we have thirteen (13) European resorts open with a fourteenth possibly open in northern Italy.  Most of them are in Austria.

Open Ski Resorts in Europe as of today's date:

Austria

Hintertuxer Gletscher-Zillertal is open with 7 lifts and their website shows they have 48 km of pistes.

The Kaunertal Gletscher is open with 7 lifts and 30 km of pistes.

The Flattach Molltaler Gletscher is open with 37.5 km of trails and 6 lifts.

Solden has nine trails with 37 km and ten lifts open.

Stubaier Gletscher has 11 trails with 49 km and 15 lifts open. 

Dachstein has 3 trails and 4 lifts operating.

Kaprun-Kitzsteinhorn glacier has 12 lifts and 6 trails open.

France

Tignes is open with glacier skiing on La Grande Motte glacier with four lifts and an unknown amount of skiing: their website has a lot of information but fucking zip about what pistes are open.

Italy

Val Sarentino is possibly open.  I checked their website but their english page was unavailable so I cannot say for sure if this is true or not.  If you can read German or Italian and find out the details, please send a comment regarding their status.  Thanks.

Val Senales is open with 4 lifts and 8 trails with 18 km of skiing. 

Passo Stelvio is open with six lifts and six pistes.

Switzerland

Zermatt is open with 4 lifts running and 2 pistes.  This place truly never closes so it is always an option.  You may not have a lot of skiing but it's better than rocks.

Saas-Fee has six open lifts and five trails open for 20 km of pistes.

Diavolezza in the St. Moritz area is open with two lifts and 2 pistes but will be shut down for over two months for extensive refurbishing of the Diavolezza tram (November 26 2011- February 10, 2012 closed according to their website.)

Engelberg-Titlis is now closed until the 25th of November for lift and tram maintenance.  Odd, you would think with the penchant of the Swiss for being efficient this would have been done in October so as to not miss any of the ski season.

So, you can certainly ski now.  Conditions may not be fantastic but its skiing.  Make sure you contact the resort you are interested in to double-check on conditions and open lifts.  Not much fun showing up in all your skiing finery and nothing is open.

Skiing in Europe in October: Films-Laax Partially Open.

While poking around the net I found out that the Vorab Gletscher of Films-Laax is open with 6 lifts and an unknown number of pistes.  Weekends only at this time.  Enjoy.

Skiing in Europe in October: Resorts Open for Skiing as of October 28, 2011.

For all you kiddies in skiland all whigged out about getting out on the planks for the first time this season, I'm sorry to say no real changes since my post of Monday October 24, 2011.  No new openings and no new closing.  So, (drumroll please) here is a list of European ski resorts which are open or partially open as of October 28, 2011.  All of them have access to glaciers or other high-altitude skiing so they have the capability to open early.    Obviously, some may close or may not be really open notwithstanding being on my list.  Please visit the individual website or tourist office website of the resort you are interested in to mare sure the resort is actually open.  Most are also not showing much, if any, snowfall.  As the season progresses and this information becomes available I will post it.  So, for today we have fourteen (14) European resorts open with a fifteenth possibly open in northern Italy.  Most of them are in Austria.

Open Ski Resorts in Europe as of today's date:

Austria

Hintertuxer Gletscher-Zillertal is open with 17 lifts and their website shows they have 48 km of pistes.

The Kaunertal Gletscher is open with 7 lifts and 26 km of pistes.

The Flattach Molltaler Gletscher is open with 30.5 km of trails and 6 lifts.

Solden has nine trails with 37 km and eight lifts open.

Stubaier Gletscher has 13 trails and 18 lifts open. 

Dachstein has two trails and three lifts operating.

Kaprun-Kitzsteinhorn glacier has 9 lifts and 7 trails open.

France

Tignes is open with glacier skiing on La Grande Motte glacier with four lifts and an unknown amount of skiing.

Italy

Val Sarentino is possibly open.  I checked their website but their english page was unavailable so I cannot say for sure if this is true or not.  If you can read German or Italian and find out the details, please send a comment regarding their status.  Thanks.

Val Senales is open with 4 lifts and 8 trails with 18 km of skiing. 

Passo Stelvio is open with six lifts and six pistes.

Switzerland

Zermatt is open with 7 lifts running and 6 pistes.  This place truly never closes so it is always an option.  You may not have a lot of skiing but it's better than rocks.

Saas-Fee has six open lifts and five trails open for 20 km of pistes.

Diavolezza in the St. Moritz area is open with two lifts and 2 pistes but will be shut down for over two months for extensive refurbishing of the Diavolezza tram (November 26 2011- February 10, 2012 closed according to their website.)

Engelberg-Titlis is open with three lifts and two pistes.   They also plan to shut down for three weeks in November for lift and tram maintenance.

So, you can certainly ski now.  Conditions may not be fantastic but its skiing.  Make sure you contact the resort you are interested in to double-check on conditions and open lifts.  Not much fun showing up in all your skiing finery and nothing is open.

Skiing in Europe in October: Resorts Open for Skiing as of October 24, 2011.

Here is a list of European ski resorts which are open or partially open as of October 24, 2011.  All of them have access to glaciers or other high-altitude skiing so they have the capability to open early.    Obviously, some may close or may not be really open notwithstanding being on my list.  Please visit the individual website or tourist office website of the resort you are interested in to mare sure the resort is actually open.  Most are also not showing much, if any, snowfall.  As the season progresses and this information becomes available I will post it.  So, for today we have fourteen (14) European resorts open with a fifteenth possibly open in northern Italy.  Most of them are in Austria.

Open Ski Resorts in Europe as of today's date:

Austria

Hintertuxer Gletscher-Zillertal is open with 14 and their website shows they are currently open with 41 km of pistes.

The Kaunertal Gletscher is open with 5 lifts and 16 km of pistes.

The Flattach Molltaler Gletscher is open with 12.5 km of trails and 3 lifts.

Solden has seven trails and nine lifts open.

Stubaier Gletscher has nine trails and 14 lifts open. 

Dachstein has two trails and three lifts operating.

Kaprun-Kitzsteinhorn glacier has 9 lifts and 7 trails open.

France

Tignes is open with glacier skiing on La Grande Motte glacier with four lifts and an unknown amount of skiing.

Italy

Val Sarentino is maybe open with 4 lifts and 9 km of trails.  I checked their website but their english page was unavailable so I cannot say for sure if this is true or not.  If you can read German or Italian and find out the details, please send a comment regarding their status.  Thanks.

Val Senales is open with 13 lifts and 16 trails. 

Passo Stelvio is open with six lifts and six pistes.

Switzerland

Zermatt is open with 10 lifts running and spring skiing conditions.  This place truly never closes so it is always an option.  You may not have a lot of skiing but it's better than rocks.  8 lifts and 8 pistes open.

Saas-Fee has eight open lifts and five trails open for 25 km of pistes.

Diavolezza in the St. Moritz area is open with two lifts and 2 pistes but will be shut down for over two months for extensive refurbishing of the Diavolezza tram (November 26 2011- February 10, 2012 closed according to their website.)

Engelberg-Titlis is open with three lifts and two pistes.   They also plan to shut down for three weeks in November for lift and tram maintenance.

So, you can certainly ski now.  Conditions may not be fantastic but its skiing.  Make sure you contact the resort you are interested in to double-check on conditions and open lifts.  Not much fun showing up in all your skiing finery and nothing is open.

Skiing in Europe in October: Resorts Open for Skiing as of October 21, 2011.

Here is a list of European ski resorts which are open or partially open as of October 21, 2011.  All of them have access to glaciers or other high-altitude skiing so they have the capability to open early.    Obviously, some may close or may not be really open notwithstanding being on my list.  Please visit the individual website or tourist office website of the resort you are interested in to mare sure the resort is actually open.  Most are also not showing much, if any, snowfall.  As the season progresses and this information becomes available I will post it.  So, for today we have twelve (12) European resorts open with a thirteenth possibly open in northern Italy.  Most of them are in Austria.

Open Ski Resorts in Europe as of today's date:

Austria

Hintertuxer Gletscher-Zillertal is open with 14 and their website shows they are currently open with 41 km of pistes.

The Kaunertal Gletscher is open with 5 lifts and 16 km of pistes.

The Flattach Molltaler Gletscher is open with 12.5 km of trails and 3 lifts.

Solden has seven trails and nine lifts open.

Stubaier Gletscher has nine trails and 14 lifts open. 

Dachstein has two trails and three lifts operating.

Kaprun-Kitzsteinhorn glacier has 9 lifts and 7 trails open.

France

Tignes is open with glacier skiing on La Grande Motte glacier with four lifts and an unknown amount of skiing.

Italy

Val Sarentino is open with 4 lifts and 9 km of trails.  I checked their website but their english page was unavailable so I cannot say for sure if this is true or not.  If you can read German or Italian and find out the details, please send a comment regarding their status.  Thanks.

Val Senales is open with 13 lifts and 16 trails. 

Passo Stelvio is open with six lifts and six pistes.

Switzerland

Zermatt is open with 10 lifts running and spring skiing conditions.  This place truly never closes so it is always an option.  You may not have a lot of skiing but it's better than rocks.  8 lifts and 8 pistes open.

Saas-Fee has eight open lifts and five trails open for 25 km of pistes.

Engelberg-Titlis is near to opening. According to their website there is insufficient snowcover to open as of today's date but they plan to open Saturday October 21.  Stay tuned.  They also plan to shut down for three weeks in November for lift and tram maintenance but perhaps with the late opening of the glacier the company will use the down time to do this maintenance and they won't have to shut down in November.

So, you can certainly ski now.  Conditions may not be fantastic but its skiing.  Make sure you contact the resort you are interested in to double-check on conditions and open lifts.  Not much fun showing up in all your skiing finery and nothing is open.