Skigebiete

Winter is getting closer, the first glacier ski areas are opening and we’re all wondering: How much snow will the Alps get this time? El Niño is getting plenty of attention across North and South America, but what does it mean for us in the Alps? There’s no simple answer. It might be raining in the valley while plenty of snow falls higher up. And an early winter doesn’t tell us much about what the rest of the season has in store. We’re excited for it, though! Here are the planned opening dates for ski resorts across the Alps. Dates may change depending on conditions.

At a time when climate change is disrupting snow cover and social equilibrium in the mountains, ski resorts are having to rethink their business model. Between transition, diversification and citizen mobilization, what kind of future can we imagine for these emblematic areas?

Although the big snow masses are still a long way off, the first ski resorts are already opening their turnstiles - and other resorts are gradually following suit.

The sight of snow-covered peaks says it all: it’s time to get moving again. The lifts are starting to turn, the first tracks carve across the slopes, and with each passing day, the anticipation for the new season grows stronger.

The magic words "winter opening" and "start of the season" are enough to make winter sports fans' hearts beat faster. The marketing departments of the ski resorts are broadcasting dreamy winter landscapes and snowy backdrops on all channels. Everything is open again! Optimism is spreading: Winter is here! Skis and snowboards are taken out of the cellar and freshly waxed in anticipation. And then it's time to head up the mountain!

Georgia is known for its hospitality, culinary delights and plenty of powder snow. Nevertheless, there are only a handful of ski resorts in the hundreds of kilometres of the neighbouring Caucasus. One of them is Tetnuldi. A real insider tip for freeriders who are not afraid of the long journey.

From cycling in the valley to mountain biking on the mountain - from relaxed walks across green meadows to challenging trail runs. Whether cross-country skiing on the trails in the valley or powder skiing on the mountain - the Zillertal, located south of the Inn Valley, offers an impressive variety of activities. Known for its numerous ski resorts, it invites you to explore with varied powder runs and ski tours in unspoilt nature. Every outdoor enthusiast will find the right adventure here, whatever the season.

The weather is going crazy and leeward cyclone Anett has caused chaos in many regions with large amounts of precipitation (a more detailed analysis in weather blog #1 2024/25). It brought an early onset of winter to the Alps at higher altitudes and even below 1500 metres. Even if the beloved snow is just melting again, the start of winter cannot be stopped. Here is an overview of the ski resorts that are the first to open.

Even if there isn't much sign of winter at the moment, it is slowly approaching and the first motivated skiers are already out on the glaciers. It's time for us to wake up from our summer slumber. Every year, we kick things off with a list of the ski resorts opening in the Alps.

It is difficult to write about winter when it "does not" exist. It becomes a reminiscence that is objectively supported by a multitude of measurements and scientific studies and comparisons, but is subjectively nourished by a feeling that increasingly fades the longer and more often it is absent. At the end of the Snow of Tomorrow season, PGler Jan reflects on the past winter that wasn't one and those that are yet to come.

Winters with little snow, maximum temperatures and increasingly expensive lift prices: Does it still make sense to teach your children about your passion for two skis? And if so, what is important?

Hubert Aiwanger is using state funds to promote snow cannons in Bavarian ski resorts. In a winter between the energy and climate crises, this is leading to heated discussions. But do we even need these snow cannons or are we just hanging on to times long gone?