Val d’Isere Glacier Will Not Open for Summer Skiing This Year
2nd June 2022
Last modified on June 6th, 2022
The Pisaillas glacier was due to open on June 11th. Poor snow cover means skiing & snowboarding will not take place this year and the glacier will remain shut. Some see it as a sign of the times as climate change impacts.
The area is situated at 3,140m and opens every summer for glacier skiing and snowboarding.
It is mainly used by locals, ski clubs, racers, instructors and people training.
However there has been very little natural snow in May and warm temperatures.
The authorities have now deemed it unsafe for skiing this month.
“No summer skiing this year on the Pisaillas glacier,” said Radio Val d’Isere in a tweet.
“The low snowfall in winter and the very mild temperatures in May (positive temperatures from 12 to 24) do not allow opening in good safety conditions.”
Pas de ski d’été cette année sur le glacier du Pisaillas. Le faible enneigement de l’hiver et les températures très douces de mai (températures positives du 12 au 24) ne permettent pas d’ouvrir dans de bonnes conditions de sécurité. pic.twitter.com/5Lef7cYM4K
— Radio Val d’Isère (@radiovaldisere) June 1, 2022
There is some glacier skiing available in France in the resort of Les2Alpes that opened last weekend.
We reported on it at the time here on PlanetSKI:
Our advice at PlanetSKI if you are thinking of going glacier skiing is simple:
Summer glacier skiing in Les2Alpes. Image © PlanetSKI
Summer skiing in Les2Alpes. Image © PlanetSKI
Elsewhere in Europe Hintertux in the Tirol in Austria and Zermatt in Switzerland are open all year, conditions allowing.
Currently there is still some skiing on offer at the glacier area in Kitzsteinhorn in Austria.
Image c/o PlanetSKI
