crystally piste corduroy is pictured on a bluebird day, an empty chair overhead and a lone skier descending the groomer
Snow Report

It Ain’t Over Yet | Snow Report

Snow Forecast for the Next 3-4- Days

After snowfall fell across much of Austria, France, Italy and Switzerland to start the month, the Alps are warming up. There’ll be sunshine and blue skies through Monday with temperatures rising to 20C at village level in Nassfeld, Austria and Morzine, France.

Pistes will be firm early on before softening through the day, so head high and stay high for most of the day to enjoy the best conditions. Maybe skip lunch and ski through, enjoying a late lunch in the sunshine at the base of the mountain.

It will be a similar story in the French and Spanish Pyrenees and Andorra before a small storm system arrives on Sunday bringing rain and light snowfall on the highest slopes. Conditions are the best they’ve been all season.

picnic tables loaded with fresh fallen snow at the base of a ski area
Felix Martinez shoots20cm or so of fresh fallen snow in Cerler

The cold weather continues in Finland, Norway and Sweden with temperatures between 0C and -10C and 5-10cm forecast through Monday. The Norwegian resorts of Myrkdalen and Roldal are forecast to receive 20-25cm and 50-55cm respectively.

The freezing level will climb to 3,750m across much of Central and Eastern Europe bringing sunshine, freeze thaw conditions and double digit temperatures.

Further east, the Georgian and Turkish resorts will see rainfall down low and 10-15cm of new snow above 2,200m.

The Scottish resorts will see a rise in temperature through Monday bringing rainfall down low and 10-15cm of new snow up high.

a photo taken from the driving seat of a piste basher, with the plough in frame, at the crossroads of two freshly groomed, mellow pistes. Two drag lifts to either side are only landmarks, with no trees visible
A freshly groomed Cairngorm

After 20-40cm overnight the East Coast of the USA will see a major storm bring 30-35cm of new snow. Sunday River, Maine is forecast to receive 55-60cm, while Wildcat, New Hampshire could see almost 1m.

The freezing level will drop from 3,800m to around 2,000m on Friday across the Mountain states of the US bringing rain down low and 20-25cm snow up high. Steamboat, Colorado could see 40-45cm of new snow.

The Western US states of California, Oregon, Washington and Alaska will see below freezing temperatures through Monday bringing 10-20cm of new snow.

Eastern Canada will see a mix of temperatures through Monday bringing light rainfall at village level and 10-15cm of new snow up high. Le Massif, Quebec could see 20-25cm.

The mountain provinces of Alberta and British Columbia will see freeze thaw conditions, sunshine and light snowfall through Monday.

After 20cm of new snow overnight, Whistler Blackcomb will see light rain below 1,500m and a sprinkling of new snow in the alpine through Monday.

The northern Japanese island of Hokkaido will continue to enjoy warm and sunny Spring conditions through Monday.

It will be a similar story on Honshu bringing double digit temperatures up to mid-mountain.

a skier in pink, with a red pack, skis down a smooth-ish, slightly wind affected un-pisted run, above a blue-water fjord, leaving no doubt it's in Norway
Norwegian Narvik’s mountain-to-sea scenes

News From Around the Ski World 

New snowfall across the Alps has reset the winter canvas offering up pristine slopes and the opportunity for fantastic off-piste turns.

But cycles of heavy snowfall, rain and warming temperatures the past couple of weeks has created a series of interesting and dangerous layers in the snowpack. Be careful of what lies beneath…

man stands chest deep in snowpack, grass underfoot, pointing to a mid layer of brown-orange sand sandwiched between white layers of snow
Andrea Vuoloo shoots the Sahara sand layer in snowpack in Italy’s Valtournenche

@andreavuolo_meteo took this photograph of the Saharan dust layer which settled on the slopes of Chamois in Aosta, Italy on Saturday 30th March,2024 at about 2,000m in altitude, which was subsequently overlaid by 20cm of fresh snowfall on Easter Sunday. “The presence of desert dust in rainfall is a relatively normal phenomenon, after all we live right next to one of the largest deserts on the planet,” writes @chpdb. Which makes us remember scenes such as this one in Piau Engaly in the Pyrenees…

 

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by IN POW WE TRUST (@inpowwetrust)


In the Zermatt area of Switzerland, three people lost their lives in an avalanche and one person remains in serious condition in hospital. The avalanche occurred at about 2pm on Monday 1 April in an off-piste area of the Riffelberg, above the resort and below the Matterhorn. Authorities are investigating the incident. At the time the avalanche occurred, a Level 4 (out of five) avalanche warning was called, citing high risk with spontaneous avalanches expected. As a benchmark, instructors and guides will generally not take clients off-piste beyond a category 3 warning.

 

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by meteo_vda (@meteovalledaosta)

With an upcoming period of sunny weather and clear skies combined with new snow the off-piste terrain looks very inviting. If you’re considering venturing off-piste please consider the conditions and avalanche rating. Ski with one or more people; carry all the necessary avalanche safety equipment and know how to use it; and best of all employ the services of a certified mountain guide who knows the area and who can lead you safely in this uncontrolled environment.

If you’re out in resort drop us a line via our social media channels to share your ‘on the snow’ experiences and photos.

We’ll be posting twice-weekly snow reports on Mondays and Thursdays throughout the 2023/24 winter season. Bookmark us, or, better yet, subscribe to get the latest snow news and our tips for where the snow will be.

Between snow reports please visit the ‘stories’ section of Welove2ski’s Instagram to see the latest images and videos from ski resorts around the world.

two skiers chase each other down a white piste, surrounded by white coated mountains
Serfaus well-covered in snow

Snow Stats From Ski Areas Around the World

Austria Interconnected Ski Areas

Ski Arlberg [St. Anton, ​St. Christoph, ​Stuben, ​Lech, Zurs, ​Warth, ​Schrocken] (80/85 lifts; 253/301km piste; 35-400cm base)
Silvretta Arena [Ischgl, Samnaun] (41/46 lifts; 204/239km piste; 40-150cm base)
Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis (38/38 lifts; 186/186km piste; 5-150cm base)
Zillertal Arena [Zell am Ziller/, Gerlos, Konigsleiten, ​Hochkrimml] (41/52 lifts; 113/150km piste; 5-80cm base)
Gurgl [Obergurgl, Hochgurgl] (22/25 lifts; 103/112km piste; 85-185cm base)
KitzSki [Kitzbuhel, ​Kirchberg] (20/58 lifts; 100/188km piste; 0-85cm base)
Ski Optimal [Kaltenbach, Hochzillertal, ​Hochfugen] (26/40 lifts; 75/86km piste; 0-100cm base)
Snow Space Salzburg [Flachau, Wagrain, ​St. Johann-Alpendorf] (29/45 lifts; 71/120km piste; 20-80cm base)
Ski Circus [Saalbach Hinterglemm, Leogang, Fieberbrunn] (19/70 lifts; 65/270km piste; 20-75cm base)
Hochkonig [Maria Alm, ​Dienten, ​Muhlbach] (9/34 lifts; 60/120km piste; 15-120cm base)
Ski Juwel Alpbachtal Wildschonau (16/45 lifts; 41/97km piste; 0-80cm base)

Austria Ski Resorts

Axamer Lizum (6/9 lifts; 18/38km piste; 80-130cm base)
Bad Gastein (15/18 lifts; 55/82km piste; 0-135cm base)
Bad Kleinkirchheim (16/22 lifts; 55/103km piste; 15-100cm base)
Damuls Mellau (17/21 lifts; 67/81km piste; 100-150cm base)
Hintertux (18/20 lifts; 56/62km piste; 10-410cm base)
Kaunertal (6/7 lifts; 52/55km piste; 400-410cm base)
Kitzsteinhorn (19/21 lifts; 41/61km piste; 0-275cm base)
Kuhtai (12/12 lifts; 47/47km piste; 105-170cm base)
Mayrhofen (50/58 lifts; 130/142km piste; 0-70cm base)
Nassfeld (23/30 lifts; 100/110km piste; 5-100cm base)
Nauders (9/11 lifts; 75/75km piste; 30-110cm base)
Obertauern (26/26 lifts; 100/100km piste; 100-170cm base)
Schladming (34/47 lifts; 75/123km piste; 10-120cm base)
Silvretta Montafon (30/36 lifts; 89/140km piste; 0-210cm base)
Solden (26/31 lifts; 128/147km piste; 10-425cm base)
Stubai (22/26 lifts; 64/68km piste; 15-485cm base)
Tauplitz (12/17 lifts; 16/44km piste; 0-150cm base)
Zell am See (11/28 lifts; 25/77km piste; 0-105cm base)

France Interconnected Ski Areas

Three Valleys [Val Thorens, Les Menuires, ​Méribel, Courchevel] (153/156 lifts; 582/600km piste; 175-250cm base)
Tignes / Val D’Isere (68/79 lifts; 276/300km piste; 100-400cm base)
Portes du Soleil [Morzine, ​Avoriaz, ​Les Gets, ​Chatel, ​Morgins, ​Champery] (83/165 lifts; 260/580km piste; 5-165cm base)
Les Sybelles [Le Corbier, ​La Toussuire, Les Bottiere, ​St Colomban des Villards, ​St Sorlin, ​St Jean d’Arves](48/68 lifts; 149/310km piste; 0-230cm base)
Le Grand Massif [Flaine, ​Les Carroz, ​Morillon, ​Samoens, ​Sixt] (36/62 lifts; 146/265km piste; 0-460cm base)
Espace Diamant [Les Saisies, ​Notre-Dame-de-Bellecombe, ​Praz sur Arly, Flumet, ​Crest-Voland] (49/82 lifts; 130/192km piste; 55-170cm base)
Espace San Bernardo [La Rosiere, ​La Thuile] (35/38 lifts; 115/144km piste; 135-385cm base)
Espace Lumière [Pra Loup, ​Val d’Allos] (26/36 lifts; 110/180km piste; 70-170cm base)
Le Grand Domaine [Valmorel, ​Doucy, ​Celliers, ​St Francois Longchamp] (22/47 lifts; 58/165km piste; 20-195cm base)

France Ski Resorts

Alpe d’Huez (68/69 lifts; 240/250km piste; 95-450cm base)
Chamonix (29/77 lifts; 46/121 piste; 10-420cm base)
La Clusaz (12/49 lifts; 22/125km piste; 5-235cm base)
La Plagne (71/74 lifts; 184/225km piste; 15-365cm base)
Les 2 Alpes (40/44 lifts; 180/200km piste; 20-420cm base)
Les Arcs (45/53 lifts; 165/200km piste; 50-410cm base)
Les Contamines (13/24 lifts; 80/120km piste; 0-220cm base)
Megeve (21/80 lifts; 42/263km piste; 0-100cm base)
Serre Chevalier (37/59 lifts; 172/250km piste; 20-280cm base)
Val Cenis (28/29 lifts; 117/125km piste; 60-225cm base)
Vars/Risoul (30/35 lifts; 155/185km piste; 120-260cm base)

Italy Interconnected Ski Areas

Milky Way / Via Lattea [Sestriere, Sauze d’Oulx, ​San Sicario, ​Claviere, ​Montgenevre] (51/70 lifts; 292/400km piste; 40-320cm base)
Monterosa Ski [Alagna Valsesia, Gressoney-La-Trinite, ​Champoluc, ​Frachey] (19/20 lifts; 115/132km piste; 35-100cm base)
3 Zinnen Dolomites [Helm, ​Stiergarten, ​Rotwand/​Kreuzbergpass] (18/20 lifts; 72/86km piste; 5-115cm base)
Latemar [Obereggen, ​Pampeago, ​Predazzo] (18/18 lifts; 49/49km piste; 90-110cm base)

Italy Ski Resorts

Alpe di Siusi (21/21 lifts; 63/63km piste; 0-100cm base)
Alta Badia (39/53 lifts; 116/130km piste; 10-60cm base)
Arabba/Marmolada (22/26 lifts; 55/63km piste; 80-170cm base)
Bardonecchia (8/22 lifts; 95/100km piste; 20-110cm base)
Bormio (12/14 lifts; 49/50km piste; 25-210cm base)
Cortina (21/27 lifts; 100/120km piste; 35-150cm base)
Courmayeur (18/18 lifts; 35/42km piste; 40-80cm base)
Kronplatz (22/31 lifts; 90/121km piste; 30-130cm base)
Livigno (31/32 lifts; 115/115km piste; 80-210cm base)
Madesimo (8/10 lifts; 26/37km piste; 100-170cm base)
Madonna di Campiglio (31/58 lifts; 101/155km piste; 105-230cm base)
Passo Tonale (30/30 lifts; 95/100km piste; 60-350cm base)
Pila (11/12 lifts; 58/70km piste; 60-200cm base)
San Martino di Castrozza (9/21 lifts; 25/60km piste; 30-100cm base)
Solda (11/11 lifts; 44/44km piste; 170-280cm base)
Val Gardena (68/79 lifts; 181/181km piste; 80-100cm base)

water skimming shenanigans at the top of a ski area, surrounded by white piste and spectators as a man in shorts and a panama hat skims across water on skis
Swiss spring skimming shenanigans

Switzerland Interconnected Ski Areas

4 Vallees [Verbier, ​La Tzoumaz, ​Nendaz, Veysonnaz, ​Thyon] (59/68 lifts; 352/412km piste; 20-305cm base)
Matterhorn [Zermatt, ​Breuil-Cervinia, Valtournenche] (23/51 lifts; 131/322km piste; 5-200cm base)

Switzerland Ski Resorts

Aletsch Arena (30/35 lifts; 41/104km piste; 135-275cm base)
Andermatt (12/13 lifts; 63/70km piste; 25-130cm base)
Arolla (5/5 lifts; 33/47km piste; 85-275cm base)
Arosa Lenzerheide (22/43 lifts; 102/225km piste; 100-110cm base)
Crans Montana (13/19 lifts; 82/140km piste; 100-120cm base)
Davos Klosters (18/18 lifts; 76/95km piste; 40-270cm base)
Engelberg-Titlis (13/17 lifts; 52/70km piste; 0-330cm base)
Flims Laax (15/28 lifts; 56/214km piste; 0-500cm base)
Grimentz Zinal (19/21 lifts; 85/115km piste; 40-135cm base)
Grindlewald Wengen (17/23 lifts; 72/102km piste; 0-110cm base)
Leukerbad (9/13 lifts; 43/47km piste; 5-260cm base)
Murren (14/16 lifts; 50/54km piste; 15-365cm base)
Saas Fee (20/23 lifts; 85/100km; 85-420cm base)
St Moritz (21/23 lifts; 152/155km piste; 10-90cm base)
Villars (20/25 lifts; 45/84km piste; 0-135cm base)

Andorra

Arcalis (12/15 lifts; 19/30km piste; 170-210cm base)
Grandvalira (53/74 lifts; 140/215km piste; 70-180cm base)
Valnord (31/31 lifts; 63/63km piste; 90-145cm base)

four fresh tracks under a chairlift line on a sunny day, no people around to own them
Fresh tracks in Cerler, Spain

Spain

Baqueira Beret (31/36 lifts; 105/165km piste; 55-115cm base)
Candanchu (12/24 lifts; 45/50km piste; 50-230cm base)
Cerler (14/20 lifts; 36/80km piste; 25-120cm base)
Formigal (18/21 lifts; 97/143km piste; 20-180cm base)
La Molina (11/33 lifts; 42/145km piste; 20-70cm base)
Sierra Nevada (15/24 lifts; 46/113km piste; 80-200cm base)

Nordic Resorts

Finland

Levi (25/26 lifts; 38/38km piste; 75-75cm base)
Pyha (6/9 lifts; 11/13km piste; 40-50cm base)
Ruka (19/22 lifts; 18/19km piste; 40-60cm base)
Yllas (26/26 lifts; 53/53km piste; 110-110cm base)

Norway

Beitostolen (5/6 lifts; 11/12km piste; 120-120cm base)
Gaustablikk (14/14 lifts; 32/35km piste; 80-135cm base)
Geilo (18/20 lifts; 34/34km piste; 80-150cm base)
Hafjell (16/18 lifts; 43/50km piste; 50-105cm base)
Hemsedal (21/21 lifts; 42/44km piste; 45-120cm base)
Kvitfjell (13/14 lifts; 38/39km piste; 20-80cm base)
Myrkdalen (7/9 lifts; 30/32km piste; 120-230cm base)
Narvik (5/6 lifts; 8/10km piste; 30-65cm base)
Oppdal (16/16 lifts; 52/56km piste; 30-40cm base)
Strandafjellet (5/6 lifts; 25/25km piste; 145-145cm base)
Trysil (31/31 lifts; 72/78km piste; 105-170cm base)
Voss (9/11 lifts; 44/45km piste; 180-190cm base)

Sweden

Are (35/35 lifts; 91/91km piste; 60-105cm base)
Idre Fjall (22/24 lifts; 39/41km piste; 50-75cm base)
Salen (40/40 lifts; 45/45km piste; 55-105cm base)
Vemdalen (16/16 lifts; 19/19km piste; 40-115cm base)

a sunset hidden by the the top of a hill, topped with a lift station
Myrkdalen, Norway

Bulgaria

Bansko (11/14 lifts; 36/75km piste; 0-125cm base)
Borovets (7/13 lifts; 15/58km piste; 15-80cm base)
Pamporovo (6/13 lifts; 9/29km piste; 30-55cm base)

Germany

Oberstdorf (8/14 lifts; 30/34km piste; 20-125cm base)

Liechenstein

Malbun (6/7 lifts; 13/23km piste; 45-110cm base)

Slovakia

Jasna (4/19 lifts; 18/51km piste; 30-60cm base)
Tatranska Lomnica (4/9 lifts; 1/11km piste; 40-80cm base)

Slovenia

Kanin-Bovec (3/10 lifts; 8/30km piste; 20-300cm base)
Krvavec (5/13 lifts; 5/30km piste; 25-60cm base)
Vogel (5/9 lifts; 3/22km piste; 0-100cm base)

United Kingdom

Cairngorm Mountain (4/11 lifts; 4/32km piste; 5-15cm base)
Glencoe (3/9 lifts; 3/24km piste; 15-85cm base)

Georgia

Gudauri (10/17 lifts; 26/35km piste; 60-130cm base)
Tetnuldi (5/5 lifts; 13/13km piste; 60-130cm base)

Turkey

Ejder 3200 (10/13 lifts; 15/42 piste; 20-100cm base)
Erciyes (9/19 lifts; 20/34 piste; 20-100cm base)

red telemark skier skis down towards a huge body of shimmering water that is a lake below
Le Massif’s unique ski scenery

USA

Alaska
Alyeska (7/7 lifts; 59/62km piste; 105-380cm base)

California
Heavenly (23/27 lifts; 94/94km piste; 80-215cm base)
Kirkwood (12/13 lifts; 62/65km piste; 95-295cm base)
Mammoth (22/25 lifts; 89/89km piste; 295-445cm base)
Northstar (13/19 lifts; 96/97km piste; 60-320cm base)
Palisades Tahoe (23/43 lifts; 163/200km piste; 110-415cm base)

Colorado
Arapahoe Basin (9/9 lifts; 104/105km piste; 80-160cm base)
Aspen Highlands (5/5 lifts; 130/135km piste; 90-235cm base)
Aspen Mountain (6/9 lifts; 103/103km piste; 65-140cm base)
Beaver Creek (25/25 lifts; 150/150km piste: 60-180cm base)
Breckenridge (33/35 lifts; 153/153km piste; 60-175cm base)
Copper (21/24 lifts; 123/126km piste; 80-165cm base)
Keystone (20/21 lifts; 130/135km piste; 65-140cm base)
Loveland (10/10 lifts; 92/93km piste; 75-150cm base)
Snowmass (19/20 lifts; 230/237km piste; 80-225cm base)
Steamboat (20/20 lifts; 165/165km piste; 80-180cm base)
Telluride (19/19 lifts; 77/88km piste; 50-160cm base)
Vail (34/34 lifts; 232/234km piste; 70-190cm base)
Winter Park (19/25 lifts; 143/143km piste; 200-210cm base)
Wolf Creek (10/11 lifts; 100/100km piste; 210-230cm base)

Idaho
Schweitzer (8/10 lifts; 95/95km piste; 90-220cm base)
Tamarack (4/7 lifts; 41/42km piste; 90-220cm base)

Maine
Sugarloaf (8/15 lifts; 87/87km piste; 35-70cm base)
Sunday River (9/20 lifts; 70/84km piste; 70-80cm base)

Montana
Big Sky (29/38 lifts; 215/250km piste; 100-140cm base)
Bridger Bowl (11/11 lifts; 65/71km piste; 40-120cm base)
Whitefish (9/16 lifts; 59/91km piste; 70-210cm base)

Nevada
Mt Rose (7/8 lifts; 58/60km piste; 200-250cm base)

New Hampshire
Attitash (6/8 lifts; 27/37km piste; 40-45cm base)
Loon (3/13 lifts; 25/49km piste; 20-40cm base)
Wildcat (3/5 lifts; 19/25km piste; 15-45cm base)

New Mexico
Taos (13/14 lifts; 108/113km piste; 75-190cm base)

Oregon
Mt Bachelor (13/15 lifts; 87/100km piste; 80-250cm base)
Mt Hood (7/12 lifts; 66/90km piste; 185-310cm base)
Timberline (7/7 lifts; 31/31km piste; 285-425cm base)

Utah
Alta (8/8 lifts; 65/71km piste; 145-450cm base)
Deer Valley (21/25 lifts; 103/103km piste; 80-255cm base)
Park City (37/42 lifts; 250/250km piste; 0-290cm base)
Powder Mountain (8/9 lifts; 68/68km piste; 100-285cm base)
Snowbird (14/14 lifts; 91/103km piste; 135-385cm base)
Solitude (9/9 lifts; 64/64km piste; 90-295cm base)

Vermont
Killington (12/22 lifts; 93/118km piste; 20-45cm base)
Okemo (8/20 lifts; 49/70km piste; 40-60cm base)
Smuggler’s Notch (4/8 lifts; 30/78km piste; 35-100cm base)
Stowe (8/12 lifts; 45/70km piste; 65-90cm base)

Washington
Crystal Mountain (9/11 lifts; 41/50km piste; 65-140cm base)
Mt Baker (7/10 lifts; 85/100km piste; 235-285cm base)

Wyoming
Grand Targhee (6/6 lifts; 34/35km piste; 130-300cm base)
Jackson Hole (13/13 lifts; 116/116km piste; 80-280cm base)

a blue cable car travels over tracked out terrain and trees on a blue-sky day
Snowbird resort pictured on a bluebird day

Canada

Alberta
Castle Mountain (5/6 lifts; 89/94km piste; 70-165cm base)
Lake Louise (11/11 lifts; 115/139km piste; 70-155cm base)
Marmot Basin (7/7 lifts; 91/91km piste; 105-105cm base)
Mt Norquay (5/5 lifts; 28/16km piste; 115-125cm base)
Sunshine (12/12 lifts; 104/109km piste; 50-150cm base)

British Columbia
Big White (12/12 lifts; 104/105km piste; 70-190cm base)
Fernie (9/10 lifts; 134/142km piste; 115-240cm base)
Kicking Horse (4/5 lifts; 73/100km piste; 70-160cm base)
Kimberley (5/5 lifts; 80/80km piste; 0-95cm base)
Panorama (10/10 lifts; 102/112km piste; 25-105cm base)
Red Mountain (8/8 lifts; 118/120km piste; 120-185cm base)
Revelstoke (6/7 lifts; 55/55km piste; 105-190cm base)
Silver Star (9/10 lifts; 97/115km piste; 60-165cm base)
Sun Peaks (12/12 lifts; 134/135km piste; 0-140cm base)
Whistler Blackcomb (25/27 lifts; 200/200km piste; 0-230cm base)
Whitewater (5/5 lifts; 50/50km piste; 200-215cm base)

Quebec
Le Massif (6/9 lifts; 33/39km piste; 70-105cm base)
Mont Saint Anne (5/9 lifts; 45/73 piste; 70-95cm base)
Sommet-Saint-Sauveur (4/8 lift; 18/38km piste; 55-95cm base)
Stoneham (4/6 lifts; 19/34km piste; 55-75cm base)
Tremblant (9/14 lifts; 50/82km piste; 0-140cm base)

Japan

Hokkaido
Furano (3/9 lifts; 7/32km piste; 50-155cm base)
Kiroro (7/10 lifts; 12/24 piste; 70-180cm base)
Niseko United (24/32 lifts; 40/51km piste; 60-295cm base)
Sahoro (6/8 lifts; 17/25km piste; 40-130cm base)

Honshu
Happo One Hakuba (8/22 lifts; 22/52km piste; 25-265cm base)
Naeba (3/15 lifts; 5/18km piste; 40-100cm base)
Nozawa Onsen (7/17 lifts; 17/44km piste; 0-210cm base)
Shigakogen (27/48 lifts; 49/83km piste; 100-225cm base)
Zao Onsen (9/35 lifts; 15/50km piste; 30-150cm base)

About the author

Mike Richards

Welsh valleys boy born & bred, Mike now lives between Cardiff and Niseko in Hokkaido, Japan where he's a pro ski instructor. Mike came to skiing later in life at 27, with his first ski season spent as a Chalet Host in Ellmau, Austria in 1993. He's skied every year since, notching up 100+ ski areas across 21 countries and five continents, including his home hill in Brecon Beacons National Park. His personal motto - "If it's snowing, I'm going..."

1 Comment

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  • With the avalanche in Zermatt, on Riffleberg, the weather conditions for the previous days as with anywhere in the Mountains, when there has not been snowfall, layers of frost build up and metamorphosize into goblet crystals, which have zero strength and as so brittle they sheer instantly when fresh snow above is loaded. Ignoring the weather conditions prior to the new snowfall can lead to such situations, as well as triggering your own avalanche. This particular area can be skied safely with a local UIAGM Guide ONLY WHEN They deem it safe to ski this area. They know which areas are prone to avalanche according to the weather conditions. Snow, like the mountains and the sea, have to be treated with utmost respect as they are no respecters of anyone ! I have skied in Zermatt since 1988 and love skiing there especially off piste with local UIAGM Guides, who know the area very well indeed and where it is and is not safe to ski according to conditions and weather. It never fails to amaze me how people have to video themselves skiing areas that are beyond dangerous just to get a video and post it online, unaware they may be triggering their own avalanche !

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