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Snow Report, September 23

By Sean Newsom | on September 23, 2013 | 11 Comments
Snow Report
Snow Report, September 23 | Welove2ski

First day of skiing on the Stubai glacier: September 20. Photo: Stubaier Gletscher/Facebook

This weekend, we moved a step closer to winter: thanks to the opening of the first pistes to skiers on the Stubai, Rettenbach and Kaunertal glaciers in the Tirol, Austria – and on the glacier above the Val Senales/Schalstal in the South Tyrol in Italy.

That brings to nine the total number of Alpine glaciers open to skiers. In Austria, the Hintertux, Pitztal and Molltal glaciers were already open – and the lifts are also spining on the glaciers above Zermatt and Saas-Fee in Switzerland. On the Hintertux glacier the snow report records cover up to 75cm deep.

Snow Report, September 23 | Welove2ski

The Molltal glacier on Saturday, September 21. Photo: Mölltaler Gletscher/Facebook

This weekend also saw the opening of the Betterpark on the Hintertux glacier. Work is still continuing on the biggest jumps on the pro line; but the easy line, medium and jib line are already up and running.

Generally, the glaciers are opening earlier than last year, and it’s not hard to see why.

There was snow at the end of August…

Snow on September 11…

Snow Report, September 12 | Welove2ski

Snow almost down to the valley floor at the far end of the Zillertal, September 11. Photo: © tux.at

And, most memorably, snow on September 17.

More September Snow Hits the Alps | Welove2ski

The Idalpe, at 2,320m above Ischgl on September 17. Photo: © ischgl.com

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In fact, all snow has made things pretty tricky for the shapers at the Betterpark terrain park on the Hintertux – so they edited together a short film to commemorate their snowy September.

However, it is worth pointing out that the weather has now warmed up significantly in the Alps, and is likely to stay that way until the weekend. The cover on the glaciers is good: but at lower altitudes all the lovely white stuff we saw last week has vanished. One view will suffice to make the point. Compare the scene at Plan Maison above Cervinia on September 17 with the same view today.

More September Snow Hits the Alps | Welove2ski

Mid-mountain snow in the Italian resort of Cervinia on September 17. Photo: © cervinia.it

Snow Report, September 23 | Welove2ski

Not so much snow now…Here’s the same view this morning. Photo: © cervinia.it

So although some forecasters are predicting a cold autumn and a chilly start to winter – notably La Chaine Meteo in France – we can’t bank on it yet…

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Meanwhile, in Colorado…

The end of September is the time when the high-altitude ski areas of Loveland and Arapahoe Basin in Colorado begin their race to be the first non-glacier ski areas to open – in both North America and the Alps.

The first signs are promising.This was Loveland on Friday…

Snow Report, September 23 | Welove2ski

Photo: Loveland Ski Aread/Facebook

Here’s how Arapahoe was looking yesterday.

Snow Report, September 23 | Welove2ski

Photo: Arapahoe Basin/Facebook

There was snow up top yesterday in Breckenridge too.

Snow Report, September 23 | Welove2ski

Photo: Breckenridge/Facebook

Breckenridge is scheduled to open on November 8. But both Loveland and A-Basin should be going long before then. Loveland says it will start running its snow cannons in four days’ time – to start laying down a base on its first groomed trails.

And in Alaska…

Snow Report, September 23 | Welove2ski

“The snowmen have started to arrive at the upper tram terminal..” Alyeska on Sunday. Photo: Alyeska Resort/Facebook

In the southern hemisphere, the season’s not over yet

This was Portillo in Chile on Saturday.

Snow Report, September 23 | Welove2ski

Photo: Portillo/Facebook

However, it won’t be long before the resorts start to close. The Remarkables on the South Island will be one of first ski fields in NZ to shut, on September 29. In Chile, Valle Nevado and Portillo are likely to close then as well, as is Perisher in Australia. And that’s just fine and dandy with us, because here at Welove2ski all we really care about now is the season ahead on this side of the planet. So hurry up winter. GIVE US YOUR SNOW.

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France flag France: currently, all the French glaciers are closed for skiing. The Grande Motte glacier above Tignes reopens on October 12.
Switzerland flag Switzerland: You can ski on the glacier above Zermatt. At last, Saas Fee’s glacier is open for late-summer skiing, too.
Austria flag Austria: see our main report. The Austrian glacier-skiing pre-season is now in full swing, despite the Indian-summer weather this week. You can currently ski on the Hintertux, Stubai, Rettenbach, Kaunertal, Pitztal, and Molltal glaciers. The Kitzsteinhorn will open next week.
Italy flag Italy: the glacier above the Val Senales/Schalstal in the South Tyrol is now open for skiing.
Andorra flag Andorra: Andorra’s ski resorts are currently closed.
Western USA flag Western USA: all the mainstream ski resorts are closed, but you can make turns at Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood in Oregon.
Western Canada flag Western Canada:  Canada’s resorts are currently closed.
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Author Description

Sean Newsom

As well as founding Welove2ski in June 2007, Sean has written about skiing and snowboarding in the British press for 28 years. For the last 20 of them, he’s also been the ski travel editor at The Sunday Times.

11 Responses to “Snow Report, September 23”

  1. Avatar

    September 23, 2013

    welove2ski Reply

    It was a great weekend for glacier skiers: https://t.co/b2SQ2woTEE First 2 retweets get 1 of these natty Tirol beanies https://t.co/4poOohEkwA

  2. Avatar

    September 23, 2013

    spicebuddy Reply

    RT @welove2ski: It was a great weekend for glacier skiers: https://t.co/b2SQ2woTEE First 2 retweets get 1 of these natty Tirol beanies http:…

  3. Avatar

    September 23, 2013

    brookcottage Reply

    RT @welove2ski: It was a great weekend for glacier skiers: https://t.co/b2SQ2woTEE First 2 retweets get 1 of these natty Tirol beanies http:…

  4. Avatar

    September 23, 2013

    Daithi74 Reply

    RT @welove2ski: It was a great weekend for glacier skiers: https://t.co/b2SQ2woTEE First 2 retweets get 1 of these natty Tirol beanies http:…

  5. Avatar

    September 23, 2013

    john_battles Reply

    RT @welove2ski: It was a great weekend for glacier skiers: https://t.co/b2SQ2woTEE First 2 retweets get 1 of these natty Tirol beanies http:…

  6. Avatar

    September 23, 2013

    chrisomara20111 Reply

    RT @welove2ski: It was a great weekend for glacier skiers: https://t.co/b2SQ2woTEE First 2 retweets get 1 of these natty Tirol beanies http:…

  7. Avatar

    September 23, 2013

    AwesomeSkiCondo Reply

    RT @welove2ski: It was a great weekend for glacier skiers: https://t.co/b2SQ2woTEE First 2 retweets get 1 of these natty Tirol beanies http:…

  8. Avatar

    September 23, 2013

    becky_horton Reply

    RT @welove2ski: It was a great weekend for glacier skiers: https://t.co/b2SQ2woTEE First 2 retweets get 1 of these natty Tirol beanies http:…

  9. Avatar

    September 23, 2013

    WAPPOD Reply

    RT @welove2ski: 4 more glaciers are now open to skiers in the Alps. There’s been a dusting of white in Colorado, too: https://t.co/b2SQ2woTEE

  10. Avatar

    September 26, 2013

    Chris Reply

    Hi Sean, really good report. we’re hoping to go snowboarding in the last week of October, any tips on where to keep an eye on.

    • Sean Newsom

      September 27, 2013

      Sean Newsom Reply

      I’d say the Hintertux because of the Betterpark (although it is served by a long drag lift). But I’d keep a close eye on the weather to make sure it’s good and snowy up there first. Check out our resort report at https://welove2ski.com/hintertux plus we’ve got more early-season suggestions here: https://welove2ski.com/early-season-skiing

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