More Fresh Snow In The Alps
Thursday, July 16th, 2009
Up to two inches of fresh snow has been reported in the past week on glaciers across the Alps, delighting summer skiers and boarders.
There are currently three summer snow areas open in each of France, Norway, Switzerland and Italy with Austria offering four choices.
The fresh snow was reported at Tignes in France, Saas Fee in Switzerland and Kaprun in Austria where the resort’s Kitzsteinhorm glacier has a three metre (ten feet) thick snow base below the fresh powder.
Also in Austria, the Tux glacier, which along with Zermatt is one of two in the world that is still open virtually 365 days a year (subject to weather conditions and maintenance closures) , currently has one of the biggest ski areas open anywhere with 23km (nearly 15 miles) of slopes swerved by nine lifts, accessing a near 600m vertical between 2660m and 3250m – not bad for July!
Italy’s Val Senales was blessed with another 10cm (four inches) of snow a few days ago. It has a sizable summer ski area in operation with most of the 20km (13 miles) of piste open and the majority of the resort’s 10 lifts operational. Cervinia, lift-linked to Zermatt’s ‘largest ski area in Europe’ and Passo Stelvio are also open in the country. In France Les 2 Alpes and Val d’Isere’s glaciers are also open, both reporting a 180cm (six foot) base.
Over the border in Switzerland, Zermatt is also in full swing on Europe’s highest ski slopes with the biggest lift-served vertical available anywhere in the world in July fully ski or boardable.
The Stoked Ski and Snowboard school is currently offering summer freestyle camps in the resort’s Gravity Park with coaches and professional riders offering advice on improving skills and technique riding the pipe, various kickers, rails and obstacles.
The Park has its own park lift and Summer Camps Packages are available with inclusive accommodation, breakfast and dinner, ski pass, coaching and the latest boards and skis for testing.
Engelberg isn’t open for skiing or boarding but it will again stage its annual Ice Festival on Mount Titlis. On 12 July the start of a summer snow and ice sports season on the glacier kicks off. This incorporates multiple fun activities, although no longer summer skiing or boarding.
There is however an ice grotto where visitors can explore the ice world complete with sound and light effects. Visitors can also go trekking over the glacier or try abseiling in a glacial crevice. The Snow Fun Park offers toboganning and snow tubing all summer.
In Norway, Folgefonn currently has the biggest lift-served snow base anywhere on the planet with five metres (17 feet) accumulated. However the terrain park at Galdhøpiggen, situated 2200m above sea level is hosting the 5th Annual Quiksilver snowcamp where more and more girls have headed, opting to replace the bikini with skiwear this summer and head for the camp instead of the beach.
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