Prato Nevoso preps for opening – Photo Credit La Stampa Cuneo
BIG STORM BRINGS EARLY SKi RESORT OPENINGS
Thanks to Karl, ( the named snow storm that brought major dumpage to the Alps last week) a number of Italian resorts opened their lifts, or will be opening them, before the end of November. Much to our delight we can now ski or ride in a number of spots in Italy.
Karl not only kicked-off the snow season but brought some much needed moisture to the Alps. After a couple of drought years the snow storm helped mitigate the fire producing crispy, dry conditions in Northern Italy and blessed us with a blanket of bianco.
The November storm was a result of a unique meteorological combo of conditions, sometimes called a retour d’est. To learn more about this delightful phenomenon, check out WePowder’s detailed description. We hope Karl is the first of many such visitors to the Italian Alps this year.
SKI AREAS NOW OPEN IN ITALY
The backcountry is up and running, but for those who are looking for lift-served options, here’s where you can currently ski and ride in the Italian Alps. From West to East see your options below for getting those first turns in.
- Artesina “Family friendly” in Piemonte (site in Italian only)
- Breuil-Cervinia Who doesn’t need a bit of the Matterhorn in their life? Or as the Italians call it Il Cervino.
- Cortina – Lovely town and part of Dolomiti Superski
- Passo Tonale – Bridging Lombardia and Trentino Alto Adige, cute town to boot
- Solda all’Ortles – Glacier skiing in Stelvio National Park and the Messner Ortles Museum, built inside the mountain, on ice ( because there’s more to the element than just being frozen water)
- Val Senales On the Italian/Austrian border
Limone Piemonte photo credit Reserva Bianca
UPCOMING RESORTS OPENING
The next resorts slated to open are listed below with their opening dates. So for Americans who want to trade in your Turkey for pasta, come over to ski and ride Italian style for Thanksgiving. More snow due this month, so hopefully the slopes will have a good base by Christmas, not to mention some powder!
- Limone Piemonte – November 17 – One of the resorts that bumped up their opening thanks to the early and abundant snow. Site in Italian only
- Drei Zinnen Dolomiten – November 18 – Ski the Dolomites Drei Zinnen ( The Three Peaks)
- Prato Nevoso – November 18 Hard to go wrong with a place named Prato Nevoso or in English, Snowy Field. Site in Italian only
- Arabba – November 25 – Part of Dolomiti Superksi
- Courmayeur – November 25 – Beauty on Monte Bianco
- Kronplatz – November 25 – AKA Plan de Corones in the South Tyrol
- La Thuile November 25 – in Valle d’Aosta
Happy mountains!
