 Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Probably to preserve snow that's been totally temperature fecked. That plus no doubt sod all punters.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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I'm fairly sure lifts for summer glacier skiing at Saas-Fee or Zermatt shut by midday, so I doubt it's a record
I'd recently checked the lift status at Kaunertal Glacier, and looking back at it today (maybe they've just changed it), it says the open lifts will shut at 15:00. Looks like some lifts open at 07:00, which compensates a bit for the early closures, and is in line with what I remember in summer
Probably a bit late for the advice, but for late season I'd always take the approach of getting up the hill as early as possible to get as much skiing in as possible before it turns to mush (and I like soft slush more than most). If that means it's still boilerplate (which I like less than most) at the start, you can always have a coffee and wait a while. That said, I'm more of a lark than an owl, and getting up early when skiing is involved is not a problem
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| Quote: |
The ski area is a lot smaller and flatter than we remembered
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Oddly, I find that with most ski areas
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| mountainaddict wrote: |
| ...The ski area is a lot smaller and flatter than we remembered ... |
I think most, perhaps all, glacier ski areas in Europe are smaller than they used to be, and some have closed entirely. Just be grateful that there is still some summer skiing - there might not be in another 20 years. 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Unbelievable post from OP with all glaciers in Europe in serious decline ,they won´t be here at all in the not too distant future. Glacial resorts such as Zermatt and Engleberg cover large areas under huge plastic sheets to slow down the melt during the summer.
Why in May would you want to ski at 4pm in the afternoon,be thankful the glacier is open at all for skiing
Many Glaciers are suffering after a dry Winter all over the Alps which does not bode well for the summer melt hopefully its a cool summer without too many heatwave s
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| Jill t wrote: |
Unbelievable post from OP with all glaciers in Europe in serious decline ,they won´t be here at all in the not too distant future. Glacial resorts such as Zermatt and Engleberg cover large areas under huge plastic sheets to slow down the melt during the summer.
Why in May would you want to ski at 4pm in the afternoon,be thankful the glacier is open at all for skiing
Many Glaciers are suffering after a dry Winter all over the Alps which does not bode well for the summer melt hopefully its a cool summer without too many heatwave s |
A bit harsh JT. Not unbelievable IMHO. Why wouldn't you want to ski at 4pm in May, especially on a glacier where conditions will remain decent at that time? Val Thorens is open until 8th May (with skiing down to 2000m - well below glacier levels) and the last lift closes at 5.15pm. A week ago we were skiing there until (you guessed it) the lifts closed. 
We all know glaciers are receding - but, as the OP says, other places on his current glacier tour are open after 3pm.
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Probably a bit harsh ,I was ranting about climate change and the fact that glaciers are retreating , the annual race from the Allalin Glacier in Saas Fee this winter had to be moved lower down of the glacier due to the lack of snow this winter
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Fair dos Jill t.
I was about to ask if you had actually skied after February, or whether you were in the 'Oo er, will there be snow in April Comedy Club'? 
The fact that is 'unbelievable' is not my original post, but that there are those who don't know that skiing at 3000m at this time of year is not summer skiing but is more akin to normal winter skiing. The poor souls really are missing a treat.
It's actually the end of the winter season at the moment - nothing to do with summer. So much so that, after fresh snow overnight, conditions today at Sölden were perfect, groomed, silky-smooth, winter corduroy. A world away from summer skiing and an absolute joy to ski. We even had some fresh tracks where bits of runs hadn't been groomed. A shame that there were only a maximum of a few dozen people there to enjoy it - but we weren't complaining, blasting about on deserted runs.
I'm sadly only too aware of issues around receding glaciers. I've seen the glacier at Hintertux covered in protective sheeting in summer and autumn and have seen how far it's receded up past Tuxer Fernerhaus since my first visit there over 30 years ago. Not sure what that's got to to do with skiing at this time of year though, when the glaciers still have full winter cover. There's not a crevasse in sight - illustrated by the numerous ski tourers we saw ascending on the glaciers between Sölden and Pitztal glaciers.
And I do know what time to get to a glacier to go skiing in summer. Over the years, Mrs MA and I have skied every month of the year in The Alps. We've skied at Tignes glacier loads in July (and August too, when it was open then) and know all about 7am starts and finishing by late morning. But, as highlighted above, it's not currently summer skiing season. The lifts actually don't open until 09.00 at Sölden - we were on the first one today. And while the snow on sunny slopes may soften by close of play at the moment, there's been no sign in our three days so far of the mush that is sometimes skied by 9.30am in high summer. In fact we were still finding pockets of powder at 3pm today.
Kaunertal Glacier did indeed have notices up showing lift opening time from 7am - but, as mentioned, we are staying 2 hours away so got there as soon as we could after the unexpected clear weather yesterday. I'll give them that one and concede that we could have enjoyed an epic eight hour ski day, had we been a bit nearer. However, I do still stand by my OP that - given current conditions - Kaunertal (like other Tirol glaciers) could be open beyond 3pm.
Anyway, here are a few snaps below from today to illustrate why the lucky few enjoy skiing to 4pm and (beyond ) in May so much. Deserted slopes and great snow...What's not to like? 
Last edited by You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net. on Thu 5-05-22 18:07; edited 1 time in total
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I`m in the Alps all year round and can also remember skiing in Hintertux back in the early 80s ,big changes have taken place since then not for the better.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Its been snowing above 2500 metres the last few days that will help the glaciers
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If the perfect cord in the photos existed at 4pm then it was harder than a diamond until 3:30!
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You know it makes sense.
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Its been snowing above 2500 metres the last few days that will help the glaciers
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It has indeed. It's rained non-stop at valley level in Neustift in Stubaital since our early evening arrival yesterday.
A miserable ski day up on the glacier today - mainly awful visibility and wet snow falling at 2600m. We were rather damp by we skied down to get the gondola back down from that altitude... 
Hoping for better tomorrow.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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@mountainaddict, Not intended to come across as a smart**** but I’d suggest when glacier skiing you need to get out earlier, if 2 hours travel be off for 6am, aim to be on first lift fully breakfasted and warmed up. Many years ago, early 90’s went summer glacier skiing at Tignes and it was great for about 2 hours then everyone gave up mid morning for sunbathing at Grande Motte station, -2C soon became 20C and skiing in slush overheating in the sun wasn’t a great deal of fun. Cheap it isn’t either, but good for a laugh for 2 hours I’d say, i prefer mountain biking in summer and a forest lake or river when its time for a dip later on, skiing can wait until winter.
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Poster: A snowHead
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FAQ
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