December’s Ski News in Brief

Search for Missing UK Teenager Resumes

5th December 2025

The avalanche threat in the Romanian mountains has decreased and search teams are back out looking for 18-year-old George Smith.

He had been hiking in the Bucegi Mountains  and has been missing for more than a week said the Brașov Mountain Rescue.

The search was temporarily called off after seven days because of the concern about avalanches but has now resumed.

He made an emergency more than a week ago and the rescue services said “he was disoriented, physically exhausted, and already showing signs of hypothermia”.

His location was in a “very isolated and hard-to-access mountain area” and the weather conditions “were extremely severe with strong winds, heavy snowfall, and dense fog”.

His family has traveled to Romania to support the search teams.

See more on the BBC.

Swiss Lift Company Provides Affordable Accommodation for Staff

3rd December 2025

Employees of the Schilthorn Cableway have moved into 13 studios in the new team house in Mürren.

The building was constructed in response to the lack of affordable housing for staff.

“All studios were occupied by existing employees,” said the Head of Facility Management and Construction Projects, Simon Sauter.

“The new team house is not least a response to the shortage of affordable staff accommodation and the associated challenges in recruiting personnel – a problem that our company also has to contend with.

“The rapid occupancy, mainly by seasonal workers, clearly demonstrates the demand.”

The studios, ranging in size from 27 to 35 square metres, feature a functional kitchenette and a spacious bathroom.

All studios are fully furnished and equipped with all the usual everyday appliances and utensils.

Most units also have a balcony or a garden seating area.

Teamhaus, Murren. Image c/o Schilthorn Cableway Ltd.

Scientific Research into Glacier Melt

2nd December 2025

Glaciers are melting – but what remains uncertain is how quickly they are.

This poses a problem in not knowing how much and how soon sea levels around the world could rise.

One of the Arête Glacier Initiative’s aims is to predict just this, with a helping hand from technology and scientists in Lake Michigan, which was formerly a glacial site.

At the University of Wisconsin, a machine takes the samples from Lake Michigan to conduct experiments that could one day predict how fast glaciers in Antarctica and elsewhere in the world could disappear.

See more on the BBC:

Soelden Alcohol Ban Comes into Force

1st December 2025

The Austrian resort is known for its rowdy apres ski and it has now banned alcohol on the street between the Giggijoch and Gaislachkogel lifts.

The new rule is in force from December 1^st.

It seems locals have had enough of the rowdy and drunken behaviour of some.

The bars will continue to be open but the new ordinance says the consumption of alcohol and the carrying of open bottles or cups outdoors is prohibited in the designated zone.

See here for the full story on PlanetSKI:

• Soelden introduces alcohol free zone in town centre

IGLU Ski Runs Charity Ski Sale

1st December 2025

On Saturday, December 13th, 2025, skiers in south London are invited to buy used kit donated by others.

Setting up a pop-up stand in the Wimbledon Quarter, local holiday company Iglu Ski will host a sale in aid of Disability Snowsport UK.

The pop-up will be open from 10 am until 4 pm, or whilst stocks last.

All proceeds from sales will go directly to DSUK to support adaptive snowsports opportunities across the UK.

By purchasing an item through its  Gear for Good campaign, skiers are helping make the slopes more inclusive for everyone, regardless of ability.

In this way, together, we can all turn unused gear into real impact.

Anyone with ski gear to donate can drop it off at the ice rink in Wimbledon Quarter from December 9th.

All items must be suitable for resale; poor quality items cannot be accepted.

Second hand ski sale. Image c/o Iglu Ski

Items Not Accepted

• Used helmets

• Old-style “skinny” downhill skis (cross-country skis are accepted)

• Items that are dirty

• Items with holes or rips

• Boots or clothing with unpleasant odours

• Boots with heavily worn toes, heels, or base plates

• Skis with loose bindings

• Skis with cracked edges

See here for more: https://www.igluski.com/guides/ski-tips/dsuk

About DSUK

Disability Snowsport UK (DSUK) provides inclusive snowsport for everyone; regardless of disability, injury or experience.

DSUK is the UK’s leading adaptive snowsport charity and helps disabled children and adults to be more active, make friends and have fun by taking part in snowsport.

DSUK operate ski schools at various locations throughout the UK as well as providing opportunities to ski and snowboard in a mountain environment worldwide.

The charity is supported by a fantastic team of highly-qualified adaptive instructors as well as a brilliant network of passionate and skilled volunteers – working together to ensure that everybody has the opportunity to access snowsport.

Jackson Hole Ski Patrollers Aim to Set Up Union

1st December 2025

The Jackson Hole Ski Patrol has officially filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board to hold a union representation election.

The filing comes after a campaign that saw 93% of the patrol’s eligible members sign cards in support of unionization.

The patrollers are seeking to join the United Mountain Workers (UMW), a growing coalition under the Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 7781, which already represents patrols at resorts like Park City, Breckenridge, and Steamboat.

In a move that signals a significant shift for one of North America’s premier ski destinations.

Patrollers cited the inherent dangers of their work, the specialized institutional knowledge required to keep the mountain safe, and concerns about affordability and long-term career sustainability in the Jackson Hole community as central reasons for organizing.

Longtime patrollers described the effort as driven by a desire to professionalize the role and secure protections that reflect the risks they manage.

Jackson Hole, USA. Image © PlanetSKI

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is privately owned.

It responded to the filing with a statement emphasizing its commitment to its employees.

“We are aware of the statement from Jackson Hole Ski Patrol,” said Ned Wonson, spokesperson for JHMR.

“We care deeply about every member of our team, and we value the important role ski patrol plays at our resort.

“We are committed to listening, engaging respectfully, and continuing open dialogue.”

Jackson Hole, USA. Image © PlanetSKI

Avalanches Feed Glaciers More Than Expected

1st December 2025

That’s according to a survey from the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape.

It has been published in the open-access scientific journal Nature Communication.

See more here on Swiss Info

For the first time, researchers have estimated – for all of the more than 200,000 glaciers scattered across the planet – how much avalanches contribute to snow accumulation and thus to their mass balance, which is the difference between ice accumulation and melting.

• In the Alps about 11% of glacier snow comes from avalanches
• In the eastern Himalayas the share is 19%,
• In New Zealand it reaches 22%.
• In some cases, the contribution can exceed 50%

Swiss glaciers. Image c/o PlanetSKI

Swiss Snowsports Industry Forecast to Grow

1st December 2025

According to tourism forecasts by BAK Economics, commissioned by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), 18.7 million overnight stays are expected for this winter season.

That’s a rise of 161,000, (0.9%) compared to 2024/25

Growth from the USA is slowing, and demand from Asia remains weak.

However, other source markets such as Australia, Brazil, Canada, and Mexico are gaining importance in the long term and are among the most significant growth drivers among long-haul markets.

BAK Economics anticipates a slowdown in growth for summer 2026.

Wengen, Switzerland. Image © PlanetSKI