Austria Glacier Ski Areas Enjoy Some Fresh Snow

4th November 2022

Last modified on November 10th, 2022

The latest storm has given the open glacier areas some welcome fresh snow. PlanetSKI readers are out enjoying some turns. We look at current conditions & ahead to some resort openings. UPDATED

The latest glacier area in Austria to open is the Moltaller glacier.

It started the season on Thursday 10th November.

It has not been a great autumn ski season so far with high temperatures across October.

It followed a promising start in late September.

Now the temperatures have come down and snow has been falling, as we have reported elsewhere on PlanetSKI:

Snow is coming to the Alps

However much of the snow will melt and it will make little difference to most ski areas for the winter ahead.

It is though making a difference at the glacier areas at altitude that are already open.

One of our readers, Kostantinos Valtadoros, has been making some turns in Soelden in the Tirol.

Soelden, Austria. Image c/o Kostantinos Valtadoros

“For me Soelden has some big advantages for autumn glacier skiing,” said Konstantinos.

“It’s slopes are relatively gentle. Blue, wide slopes, perfect for skiing with children or for the first turns of the season.

“It is also one of the best ski resorts in Austria regarding slope preparation.

“The feeling of the first turns on the snow, the views from the 3,200m and above all the feeling that the season is just staring and the winter is coming.”

Kostantions will be posting a full report shortly, so do check back for that.

Another of our regular readers is the ski instructor, Toby Fishel, who is enjoying some turns in Stubai.

He has posted on Facebook:

Austria has the most number of glacier areas currently open at six: – Hintertux, Kaunertall, Soelden, Pitztal and Stubai in the Tirol. Kitzsteinhorn is open in Salzburgerland.

Pitztal, Tirol, Austria. Image © PlanetSKI

Hintertux

The resort started its autumn season on October 15th.

It is open year-round and manged to stay open across the summer months even though many others closed.

The lifts at Hintertux are currently running from 8.15am to 4.30pm with a day ski pass costing €65.

Kitzsteinhorn

The autumn season started on October 7th.

The main gondola is currently in operation from 8.15am to 4.30pm.

The cost of an adult day pass is €64.

Soelden

Skiing goes from 1,350m to 3,340m. There are two areas on the Rettenbach & Tiefenbach glaciers, with an area of 34.5 km available for skiing and snowboarding.

The glacier ski area opened ahead of the World Cup races last month.

Lifts run from 8am to 4.45pm and the cost of an adult day ski pass is around €60.

Stubai

Stubai was one of the first to open on 26th September. The Stubai Zoo snow park opens on Friday 4th November.

There are 11 lifts in operation from 8am to 4pm. A day ski pass for the Stubai Glacier costs €56.

Pitztal

It opened on 1st October and is Austria’s highest glacier at 3,440m with one of the largest areas currently open.

The ski area is open from 7am to 1.30pm.

The cost of a daily lift ticket varies from €41 to €58.

Kaunertal

The slopes opened on 15th October and the snow park is also now open. It is at an altitude of 2,750m.

There are three lifts operating from 8.15am to 4pm. The cost of a one day adult ski pass starts at €41.

Here at PlanetSKI we are planning a trip to the Tirol in a few weeks to visit the glacier areas and the current snow has come at an ideal time.

“It’s great to see snow at this time of year but it will have little impact on the approaching season as much will either melt or get washed away by rain,” said PlanetSKI’s editor, James Cove.

“However if you are one of the fortunate ones able to make some turns at altitude on the glacier ski areas then it makes a real difference.

“At PlanetSKI we have been holding back on our first trip to the mountains, but now we are planning to visit later in November.”

See here for a look at what’s new in the Tirol for next winter.

PlanetSKI looks forward to winter in the Tirol

We reported earlier on the glacier resorts opening in the Alps:

The Moltaler glacier is normally open at this time of year, but it is not firing up its lifts until November 18th due to unfavourable conditions.

The first non-glacier resort to open in Austria is set to be Obergurgl in the Tirol, that fires up its lifts on November 17th.

PlanetSKI will have a reporter in resort for the opening and to look ahead to the coming season.

Glacier areas open elsewhere in the Alps:

Switzerland – Engelberg, Zermatt and Saas-Fee.

Italy – Val Senales, Passo Stelvio and Cervinia.

France – There are no areas open as Tignes and Les2Alpes suspended autumn operations. Val Thorens is planning to be the first top open on 19th November.

PlanetSKI’s Chris Moran will be in the resort and reporting back on the start of its season.

Some resorts in France have released their planned opening dates.

Val Thorens is set to be first out of the blocks on November 19th with Tignes hoping to follow on November 26th.

Chamonix has pencilled in December 3rd.

Over the Pyrenees Cauterets hope to partially open from the weekend of November 26th.

Other resorts in the Frech Pyrenees including Luz-Ardiden, Peyragudes, Piau-Engaly, Grand Tourmalet, Pic du Midi, and Ax 3 Domaines all hope to open around December 2nd or 3rd.