Europe Weekly Roundup #260

Hintertux Reopens with Expanded Terrain and Premier Freestyle Park

• Multiple glacier ski areas in the Alps, including Stubai, Sölden, and Hintertux, have opened early, with seven centres now operational.
• Hintertux reopened with 22km of slopes, offering double the terrain of other resorts and launching its "Betterpark," a premier freestyle snow park.
• Mixed weather with rain and snow is forecast, with up to 50cm of snow expected at altitudes above 3,000m over the next week.

The Alps Report

The low-level snowfall from nearly a fortnight ago is beginning to fade into memory, as more typical late summer/early autumn weather has returned. However, the snow's benefits continue, with the Stubai (0/25cm / 0/10”) and Sölden (0/80cm / 0/32”) glacier ski areas both opening earlier than planned last weekend. The Hintertux glacier also reopened following a month-long unscheduled closure. Val Senales (0/15cm / 0/6”) has also opened for its 24-25 season in Italy, initially offering only a mile (1.6km) of slopes, mostly for race teams' training. This brings the total number of open centres in the Alps to seven, more than double the number from last week. A fourth Austrian resort, the 

Pitztal Glacier, will open this weekend, bringing the total to eight for the Alps. Skiing is also available at Italy’s Passo Stelvio and Switzerland’s Saas-Fee (0/95cm / 0/38”) and Zermatt (0/150cm / 0/60”), although access to Zermatt from Cervinia over the Italian border will remain closed for another month. Things are starting to pick up, with snow conditions remaining good on the glaciers, and additional features like terrain parks beginning to open for the 24-25 season. Hintertux (0/95cm / 0/38”) unveiled its new "Betterpark" over the weekend, promoting it as the highest and snowiest freestyle spot in Austria, and one of the best snow parks in the Alps. Hintertux's reopening could be considered a triumph, with 22km (14 miles) of slopes open, double that of Zermatt, its closest competitor in terms of available terrain. Most other centres still have only single figures in terms of kilometers of slopes open.

The Alps Forecast

The week ahead presents a mixed picture for the Alps, with plenty of precipitation forecast. The freezing point will fluctuate between 2,000 and 4,000m, meaning this will likely fall as rain on glaciers at times, though hopefully, it will mostly be snow. Cumulative snowfall totals of 25-50cm (10-20") are likely at altitudes above 3,000m over the next seven days. The next few days will be warmer, but cooling is expected toward the end of the week, with temperatures ranging from -8°C to +8°C at 3,000m on glaciers.

Scandinavia Report

Norway’s Galdhøpiggen glacier, home to the region's highest slopes, reopened this week after a six-week midsummer closure and aims to keep its 5km (3 miles) of slopes open into November. Temperatures have been in the -5°C to +5°C range, with frequent snow showers alternating with dry and sometimes sunny spells. In Finland, preparations are underway at Levi and Ruka, where the 24-25 season is set to begin at the end of next week. Both resorts are uncovering their vast stockpiles of snow preserved from last winter and are starting to spread it across the slopes now that temperatures have cooled slightly. They are creating trails about 2km long and will open with special festivities and gear testing.

Scandinavia Forecast

Cold weather is expected to persist, with nighttime lows down to -7°C or -8°C. Daytime highs on ski peaks will stay around freezing, with light snow showers expected into the weekend, followed by drier, sunnier weather.