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Environment

More Wet Snow Avalanches in the Future

That’s the conclusion of a report from the Swiss Institute for Avalanche Research, SLF.

PlanetSKI at Much Anticipated Film Premier – ‘Of A Lifetime’

It has been one of the eagerly expected films of the season. The North Face film: Of A Lifetime. It follows the De Le Rue family as they embark on the trip of a lifetime in Antarctica.

2024 Set to be Hottest Year on Record

There has been exceptionally high monthly global mean temperatures according to the World Meteorological Organization, WMO. Rising temperatures are having a significant impact on snowsports.

Scottish Ski Resort Delays Opening Until February

The Nevis Range says climate change means it has only been able to offer one or two days in January in recent years and the move will preserve conditions for later in the season.

Opening Date Announced for Alpe du Grand Serre

The resort had been set for closure but the decision has been reversed and now an opening date has been been announced. UPDATED

New Initiative to Fight Impact of Climate Change on Snowsports

The International Ski and Snowboard Federation, FIS, and the World Meteorological Organisation, WMO, have announced a new partnership to raise awareness of the fact that winter sports and tourism face a bleak future because of climate change. NEW

Climate Change Could Lead to More Snow at Altitude

After significant September snow in the eastern Alps and heavy rainfall lower down in central Europe scientists say such incidents are likely to be more frequent.

First Ski Resorts in the Alps Open

Stubai and Soelden in Austria opened on Friday following the recent heavy snow. A handful of glacier resorts have been partially open across the summer, but they are the first winter-only resorts to open some slopes. UPDATED

Severe Flooding Hits Austria & Beyond

The unprecedented falls of snow in the Alps and rain lower down have led to emergencies in Austria, Poland and the Czech Republic. UPDATED

Wildfires Threaten California Ski Resorts

Mountain High turned on its snow guns to battle the blaze and other ski areas have been watching the fire closely. UPDATED

Summer 2024 was Warmest on Record in Europe

It was at 1.54C above the 1991-2020 long term average and exceeded the previous record from 2022. It has had a severe impact on the glaciers. UPDATED

More Australia Ski Resorts Close as Snow Melts

Thredbo is the latest area to close early. It has been a generally poor winter with worries about the future. UPDATED

New Winter Train Route to the Alps

The overnight service runs from Brussels to Venice calling at the ski gateway stops of Munich, Innsbruck and Bolzano. UPDATED

Clear Up Underway After St Anton Hit by Flash Floods

Buildings have been destroyed, homes flooded & cars swept away in the Austrian resort. The ski slopes and lift infrastructure have been damaged and remain closed. UPDATED

Jasper Residents Allowed Back After Wildfire Destroyed Ski Town

The historic town in Alberta, Canada, was hit by a huge wildfire last month. Residents have now been allowed to return home to try to salvage what they can.

Canadian Glaciers Hit by Soot & Ash from Wildfires

As the ash and soot lands on the glaciers it darkens them causing them to absorb more solar heat and speeding up glacier melt. UPDATED

Current Heatwave in the Alps Increases Glacier Melt

Only four glacier ski areas are open in the Alps with rapidly deteriorating conditions. Mont Blanc has seen some unprecedented high temperatures as the Alps heats up. UPDATED

Photos of Shrinking Glacier Go Viral

The images were taken 15 years apart at the Rhone glacier in Switzerland and show the extent of glacier melt in the Alps.

Head to the Mountains to Keep Cooler in the Summer

Four in five British holiday makers think some European holiday hotspots will be too hot to handle within the next five years.

Glaciers in the Andes at Lowest Level for 130,000 Years

That’s the finding from a research project conducted by scientists from the University of California.

Ben’s Bus Transfer Company Goes Carbon Neutral

It’s claiming to be the first shared transfer company to go carbon neutral as it offsets its carbon footprint.

Eurostar Ski Train Tickets Go on Sale

The service has been expanded but still only goes from  December 21st to the end of February with no short-break options.  The number of skiers taking the train remains below pre-Covid levels.

Four Dead in Another Weekend of Severe Flooding in Parts of the Alps

It was the second weekend in a row that heavy rain hit parts of Switzerland and northern Italy. UPDATED

Glacier Exhibition Goes on Tour in Switzerland

More than 35 Swiss institutions and 60 artists will be taking part in the nationwide exhibition ‘Watching the Glacier Disappear’.

Huge Clear Up Operation Underway After Flooding in Zermatt

Torrential rain caused rivers to burst their banks as water swept through the ski resort with rail access suspended. The resort is putting on a brave face as the clean up continues. UPDATED

Swiss Glaciers See High Levels of Snow

The Swiss Glacier Monitoring Network, Glamos, said that this year’s weather has been a blessing for its glaciers. At the end of April 2024 there was 31% more snow on all of Switzerland’s 1,400 glaciers than the average for the years 2010 to 2020.

Heavy Snow at Altitude in the Alps

More snow has been falling on an already deep base. It comes as the summer ski season approaches. We also look at where skiing is on offer across the world. UPDATED

Venezuela Set to be First Country to Lose All its Glaciers

Climate scientists have downgraded its last one to an ice field. It’s feared a similar fate awaits the Alps with Austria forecast to lose all its glaciers in the next 50 years.

Bumper Year for Spring Skiing

April has seen significant quantities of snow with cold temperatures and some of the best late-season skiing in recent years. UPDATED

International Snow & Mountain Tourism Report 2024 Published

It lists and analyses data from nearly 2,000 ski resorts in 68 countries around the world. Facts, figures, investments, visits, trends, snowfall and more.

Austrian Glaciers Set to Melt Within 50 Years

That’s the finding from the Austrian Alpine Club in a recent report. Glaciers across the Alps are melting as the temperature rises at twice the global average.

Easter Skiing Hit by High Winds & Lift Closures

Storm force winds in parts of the Alps have caused some problems. PlanetSKI opted to go touring to make some Easter turns.

Zell am See/Kaprun – The Best All-Round Austrian Ski Destination?

It offers typical Austrian slopes, with access to a high-altitude and snow sure glacier area. Plus more than 400kms of slopes with its links to the Ski Circus resorts. PlanetSKI is sampling its attractions.

How Do Ski Resorts Cope When Mother Nature Fails to Provide?

Last month was the warmest February on record in the Alps. It has had a significant impact on the lower resorts with many adapting to survive. PlanetSKI reports from Morzine.

Crystal Ski Holidays Partners with Protect Our Winters UK

Crystal Ski Holidays has teamed up with outdoor sports focused climate advocates, Protect Our Winters UK, to enable the expansion of POW UK’s education programme.

Skiers Leaving Toxic Chemicals from Ski Wax on Slopes

New research claims skiers are leaving toxic PFAS “forever chemicals” behind on ski slopes. It found 14 different types of the chemical, commonly used in ski wax, in soils in areas in the Austrian Alps.

French-Italian Ski Area Offers Discounts for People Arriving by Train

Vialattea (The Milky Way) has teamed up with the Italian train operator Trenitalia and will offer people 25% off their lift pass if they arrive by train. It aims to encourage sustainable ski travel.

Alpine Glaciers Predicted to Shrink 50% by 2050

It is the latest stark warning on the melting of the glaciers and comes in a new Franco-Swiss study.

FIS Unveils Its Sustainability Plan

The International Ski and Snowboard Federation has announced a sustainability action plan. It says it will guide the organisation and its key stakeholders through global sustainability challenges.

What is Verbier Doing on Sustainability?

PlanetSKI reports from Verbier as it strives to tackle sustainability. Both via efforts by the resort and small businesses within the commune itself. UPDATED

Morzine-Avoriaz Encourages Train Travel with Practical Incentives

It is offering the AlpinExpress Pass to those that take a train which offers a series of discounts on lift, passes, ski hire & lessons + much else besides.

Avalanche Risk in the Alps

Parts of the NW Alps are seeing heavy snow, torrential rain and high winds as the latest storm hits.  There is a high risk of avalanche in places. NEW

A Day Ski Touring in the Tirol

It is one of the big growth areas in snowsports – ski touring. It doesn’t have to be for the experts. Check out our photogallery from the weekend.

The Snowstorm Passes

It remains cold in the Alps after the latest storm bought plenty of snow in places. The sun is now out with some excellent conditions. UPDATED

PlanetSKI Reports from Pitztal in the Tirol

Our editor, James Cove, is in the glacier resort in the Tirol as heavy snow falls. It’s having the best start to winter in 15-years. Suffice to say James is more than a little excited. UPDATED

Ex-Royal Marine Begins Longest Solo, Unsupported Ski Crossing of Antarctica

Sam Cox’s route has never been attempted before and is over 500km further than any solo unsupported Antarctic expedition in history.

Ski Club GB Releases its State of the UK Snowsports Market Survey

The survey was conducted by the Ski Club of Great Britain and sent to Ski Club members and subscribers. It was done in partnership with Snow + Rock and the Mountain Trade Network and their customer data bases.

Happy Birthday Iglu Ski

The pioneering ski agent is 25-years old. All those years ago it recognised that the future of booking a ski holiday was using digital technology with real-time information to put the customer at the heart of the process.  400, 000 people have reaped the rewards.

FIS Responds to POW

The International Ski & Snowboard Federation has issued a strongly worded response to Protect Our Winters after being called on to do more to protect the environment. It follows claims of excavators being used on a glacier to prepare a race course.

A London Ski Show is Back

It took place at the ExCeL Centre in East London at the weekend. PlanetSKI reviews the show, plus reports on what light it sheds on the state of the UK snowsport industry & the approaching winter. UPDATED

POW Launches Petition on Environmental Record of FIS

It follows images of excavators on a glacier in Zermatt preparing an area for a World Cup ski race next month. More than 27,000 people have signed it.

Ten Reasons to Ski in Austria This Winter

Well-groomed ski pistes, state-of-the-art lifts, as well as a modern infrastructure await.  We asked the Austrian National Tourist Office to give us their top reasons to visit.

The Austrian Alpine Club Calls for Urgent Action to Protect Glaciers

It is calling for “the urgent and unconditional protection of the glaciers” and an end to any new developments of glacier ski areas.

Mont Blanc Shrinks by More Than Two Metres in Two Years

The tallest mountain in western Europe has been measured at 4,805.59m – that’s 2.22m shorter than in 2021. NEW

Scottish Indoor Ski Slope to Close Permanently

Following a review of the economic and environmental conditions of the ski slope Braehead Leisure Partnership, the owner of XSite, has announced the permanent closure of Snow Factor. UPDATED

Swiss Glaciers Loose 10% of Volume in Past Two Years

Latest figures show the alarming rate of melt in the worst two years on record.

Autumn in the Alps

The seasons are changing as autumn gets underway & winter edges closer. The days are shorter, there’s been snow at altitude & the leaves are changing their colour. PlanetSKI reports from the Alps. UPDATED

Inghams Ski Launch Rail Packages to 22 resorts across 4 Alpine Countries

The new routes for the 23/24 season are designed to offer a low hassle, sustainable option to the Alps. Interest in taking the train to the Alps is on the up, but it will take a huge change to see significant numbers travelling by train.

Extent of Summer Glacier Melt Revealed

In 2022 Swiss glaciers recorded their worst melt rate since records began more than a 100 years ago. This summer the decline has slowed slightly, but the melt continues. The picture looks grim across the Alps and the Pyrenees.

New Rail Map to Access French Ski Resorts

A new map of rail routes to ski resorts in France claims to give skiers a clearer picture of how they can travel to the mountains by train. Some already think it is far too complex.

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