Ski Areas in Six Countries Pass 4m (13 feet+) Base Depth Mark
The recent heavy snowfall in many parts of the skiing wold has boosted bases at resorts which had previously been fairly static for much of 2020 to date.
Around 20 ski areas worldwide ae now posting bases of 4 metres (13.3 feet) or deeper on their upper runs, half of them in France.
In the Alps, La Plagne in France (pictured bottom) has moved to post the deepest base in the continent at 4.9 metres, which is also third deepest in the world at present. France now has more ski areas, including Avoriaz, Flaine and Les Arcs too, with more than 4 metres (13 feet) lying on their higher slopes than any other country.
In Austria St Anton has moved past the 4 metre mark to post the deepst base there, currently 435cm (14.5 feet).
And in Italy the Presena Glacier reports a 4 metre (13 foot) base.
In Scandinavia the Western Norwegian ski area of Roldal became the first in Scandinavia to post a 4m+ based in late February. It’s now reporting 4.8 metres (16 feet), second deepest in Europe.
In northern Sweden, Riksgransen (pictured below a few days before opening), which opened for its 2020 season which runs in to June just a week ago, opened reporting it had snow lying 4 metres (13 feet) deep to start the season there.
Across the Atlantic, after a warm wet start to the season ski areas in Washington state in the Pacific Northwest region of the continent have been posting the world’s deepest bases, as is often the case.
This year though a resort called Alpental (pictured top) has topped the table, currently on 538cm (18 feet), a little ahead of the resort that holds the world record for most snow in a season, Mt Baker, currently on 533cm (nearly 18 feet).
The deep snow in early March should be good news for the final weeks and months of the season, but the numbers are not as high as recent years. California saw bases pass 8 metres (27 feet) for a time a few years ago and 6 and 7 metre (20-23 feet) bases have been reached in the Alps several times over the past few winters too.
