Skigebiete

As every year, we present a list that is probably incomplete and for which we cannot provide any guarantee! Many ski resorts seem to be starting a little later this year. On the other hand, some glaciers have been open since October 1st despite the unfavorable starting conditions and thanks to fresh snow.

Long awaited and now finally here after a long, hot summer: the first snowflakes at below 2000m, sugared mountains, push messages from the avalanche warning services. Even with a lot of motivation, it's not quite enough for ski tours yet, but we're still happy about the first hint of winter mood.

On the ubiquitous monopolistic video platform, we are often lured into clicking with sensational titles: this strategy is called clickbaiting. It works best with dangerous actions, stupid sayings or happy accidents. This episode therefore promises above all entertaining entertainment, although high-quality films have also worked their way up the algorithm and are shared here.

The snow of tomorrow has many faces. And as we can't and don't want to imagine the future of winter sports alone, PowderGuide author Lisa spoke to Moritz Nachtschatt, Managing Director of Protect our Winters Austria, about what POW is doing for the future of the sport, why day tours are anything but climate-friendly and what ski resorts will look like in 2050.

It felt more wintry in August, but nonetheless: the season is in the starting blocks (and PowderGuide is also slowly waking up from its deep slumber). Have you been to one of the glaciers for an opening party or to see if the edges are still holding?

The second corona winter brought many uncertainties, especially in the early season: Will there even be a season? What about the lifts and the borders? Over time, the "new normality" has become part of everyday life and we have come to terms with the circumstances.

PG reader Hannes, like probably many of us, wants radical demands and radical solutions - what else could do justice to the huge problem of climate change? More and more drops on increasingly hot stones are not enough. He thinks that the sustainability trend in the outdoor industry in particular also involves a lot of self-deception.

Ski resort expansions, new developments or gourmet restaurants at 3,000 meters: ski resorts have long since ceased to be wild, pristine nature. But what is it that really draws us out to ski? And why should we raise our voices not only for the latest equipment, but above all for the nature that remains?

When the summer of 2020 was really in full swing, the days were still scorching hot, the lakes were at a pleasant temperature and people were hanging on rock faces outside or busily writing poems for summit books, the request came for an essay on the subject of "Ski touring and what effects Corona will have on ski touring".

An almost normal summer was followed by a relatively snowy, early fall season with the first days of skiing on the glacier. Even in October, with a little imagination, you could still convince yourself that everything was somehow almost normal, although the worsening of the coronavirus crisis had been looming for some time. November is now characterized by new lockdowns throughout the Alps.

This year, some things are a little different and in addition to the familiar questions such as "Which ski resorts are already open?", there are new ones, for example: "What about the travel warnings and what does that mean for my ski season?"

The coronavirus epidemic and the associated restrictions on public life naturally also affect the PowderGuide team and - at least in part - the operation of PowderGuide.com.