Another Glacier Resort in Europe Set to Close
10th August 2022
The Fonna glacier resort in Norway is closing its summer season early on August 21st as conditions deteriorate. It had been the only place where summer skiing bore some semblance to normal conditions. NEW
Fonna is located at 1,200m on the west coast of Norway with summer skiing for all abilities.
There are a freestyle park and cross-country trails on the glacier.
The summer season at Fonna normally lasts from May through to September.
Sadly not this year.
From the top of the ski lift at 1,470m there are spectacular views of the glacier, the Hardangerfjord and towards the North Sea.
Image c/o Fonna Glacier Resort
The resort has made the announcement of an early closure in a Facebook post, though its restaurant will remain open.
The slopes will also be open to ski racers for training purposes.
It said the decision has been made for safety reasons and the ski area confirmed that it would not be re-opening this summer even if conditions improve.
Usually there are around a dozen ski areas open in Europe with some limited summer skiing, but this year is the worst in recent years.
Currently only Hintertux in the Tirol in Austria is open to the general public, but conditions are poor and it remains to be seen how long it can keep going.
Saas-Fee in Switzerland is also open, but for race teams and professionals only.
This summer has brought a number of closures and non-openings:
Passo Stelvio in Italy announced last month that it was suspending summer ski operations:
Les2Alpes in France was forced to shut early as we reported:
Another French resort, Val d’Isere, didn’t open its Pisaillas glacier area for summer skiing:
While neighbouring Tignes is now unable to offer summer skiing:
Tignes, France. Image © David Morgan
Fonna had been the only place in Europe where summer skiing was taking place on reasonable conditions.
The high temperatures in much of the rest of Europe had not been seen so far north.
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Image c/o PlanetSKI
