24th October 2022
It has been a tale of two islands in New Zealand this winter. The South Island has claimed a record winter, but it has been somewhat different on the North Island. NEW
2nd October 2022
Switzerland has the most glaciers of any country in Europe. This summer they lost 6% of their size. Several have virtually disappeared with the situation described as ‘disastrous’.
15th September 2022
Climate change is making adventure tourism more challenging and sometimes riskier. That’s the claim from travel industry bodies, tour operators and mountain experts.
10th September 2022
We’ve ended our trip to hike some paths in the mountain ranges and ridges on the Isle of Skye on the west coast of Scotland. We’ve taken to the water too. Check out our updated final report and lookback to the visit. UPDATED
30th August 2022
The Winter Games NZ is the largest snowsports competition in the southern hemisphere. It runs for 16 days. The medals have been handed out in alpine skiing as competition moves on to the Freeski and Snowboard Halfpipe and Slopestyle.
29th August 2022
There’s a classic car rally in Kitzbuhel and the Ischgl E-Bike World Cup. Summer in the mountains ain’t over yet. Not by a long way.
29th August 2022
Switzerland has nearly half the total number of glaciers in the Alps. The melt rate is accelerating and they may all have disappeared by the end of the 21st century according to a new report. The latest concerns centre on the impact on the water reserves of Europe with glaciers referred to as the ‘water towers of Europe’.
27th August 2022
Mount Ruapehu, on the North Island, has laid off around a third of its workers as many slopes are bare and some areas have had to close. Ski resorts on the South Island report good snow conditions.
15th August 2022
The Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team was called up the UK’s highest mountain to bring back a dog that refused to move. NEW
13th August 2022
Some areas of glaciers in the Karakoram Range are defying the global trend of glaciers losing mass. The glaciers of the Himalayas are melting, but not in one area. It appears to be due to an increase in precipitation from the west. NEW
12th August 2022
The summer heatwaves in Europe are having a significant impact with glaciers shrinking sharply. This year is when many have woken up to the fact that on current projections it is likely many glaciers will disappear in the coming decades. UPDATED
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
10th August 2022
Two bodies have been found in separate sites in Switzerland as the glaciers recede under high summer temperatures. It follows the discovery of wreckage from a plane crash in 1968.
9th August 2022
In 2021, mountain rescuers were called out 3,680 times, according to the latest figures. This is 20% more than in 2019.
8th August 2022
A mountain guide has found wreckage of a plane that crashed in 1968 on the Aletsch glacier in Switzerland. As the glaciers melt across the mountains more of their secrets are being given up.
6th August 2022
The Major of Saint-Gervais, Jean-Marc Peillex, says it is needed to cover possible rescue and funeral expenses. Saint-Gervais sits at the base Western Europe’s highest mountain. UPDATED
3rd August 2022
More and more people in France are choosing the mountains for their holidays this summer as temperatures soar. That’s according to The National Association of Mountain Mayors. UPDATED
2nd August 2022
Apex Mountain Resort is evacuated and its snow guns are turned on as the Keremeos Creek Fire spreads. We have an updated video from the resort as the fire grows. UPDATED
2nd August 2022
20cm has fallen in some resorts with resorts in New South Wales seeing the best of it. However the latest storm is expected to bring heavy rain and some resorts have closed their lifts. UPDATED
29th July 2022
It is the latest resort to call off summer skiing as the warm summer temperatures take their toll. Hintertux in Austria is now the only on summer ski resort in the Alps open to the general public.
25th July 2022
Passo Stelvio is the latest summer ski resort to close as warm temperatures take their toll. Some question how many more years glacier skiing in Europe will be able to continue. The freezing level in Switzerland is currently over 5,000m – higher than any alpine peak. UPDATED
18th July 2022
The current heatwave has accelerated the melting of the glaciers with summer skiing and snowboarding currently badly affected. Some glaciers resorts have closed their slopes, but the mountains are offering some respite from the heat and a wealth of great activities. UPDATED
16th July 2022
The ski seasons in Australia and New Zealand are well underway with a great start to winter and more snow is now falling. UPDATED
9th July 2022
The main ski areas in Argentina and Chile are now open for their 2022 season. There have been some decent conditions so far and for some it’s the first time they have been open since 2019 as Covid-19 spread.
7th July 2022
It is the latest resort to end its summer skiing operations. There are continued high temperatures and a lack of fresh snow after a modest winter for snowfall. It raises questions about how long summer glacier skiing can carry on in alpine resorts. UPDATED
6th July 2022
It is the worst drought in 70 years and follows poor levels of winter snow and precious little rain since. The alpine areas are badly affected and it will impact on summer glacier skiing. UPDATED
5th July 2022
It was feared a 12th person could have been killed, but rescuers now say there is no reason to believe the toll will be higher. A day of mourning has been held. Rising temperatures have been widely blamed for the tragedy. UPDATED
5th July 2022
In Switzerland scientists are monitoring the mountain above Kandersteg which is moving several meters a year. A new crack has been spotted on the Marmolada glacier in Italy that partially collapsed killing 11 people earlier this month. UPDATED
4th July 2022
After two years of disruption due to the pandemic the southern hemisphere’s biggest snowsports event takes place August 27th to September 18th.
3rd July 2022
The accident happened in the Dolomites in northern Italy. The collapse triggered an avalanche of rocks, snow and ice that hit a number of hikers. Eight other people were injured, two are reported to be in a serious condition. It’s feared the death toll could rise as the search operation resumes. UPDATED
27th June 2022
It’s the question we are asked most at this time of year. We’re currently hiking the South Downs Way in preparation for walking at altitude in the Alps later this summer. We’ve now done more than half the route, Eastbourne to Amberley. UPDATED
26th June 2022
Some slopes are now open and they will hopefully stay open to Sunday July 3rd. Friday July 1st is Canada Day. The resort hasn’t opened at this time of year for over three decades. UPDATED
23rd June 2022
There has been no rain for almost 4-months in places. It follows a winter that saw snowfall levels down 70%, so there has also been precious little meltwater filling the rivers and reservoirs.
16th June 2022
It’s the first time the glacier has opened in the Canadian resort since 2019. There were fears that skiing and snowboarding in the summer might be over forever. However there are restrictions and worries for the future of glacier riding.
15th June 2022
There have been huge falls of snow in Australia so far this season, but less so in New Zealand. Not any more as up to 1m has fallen in places. It comes as things get back to normal after Covid-19 with hopes high for a bumper ski season ahead. UPDATED
8th June 2022
Resorts in Australia re open with record breaking falls of snow. In New Zealand some snow is now falling as its resorts prepare for the start of the ski season. The last two seasons have been severely disrupted by Covid-19 restrictions and hopes are high for this winter. UPDATED
3rd June 2022
A new report says the melting ice, diminishing snowpack & rising temperatures means non-native plant species are growing in the Alps. It is a further sign of increasing climate change.
2nd June 2022
Arapahoe Basin in Colorado and Killington in Vermont closed on Sunday June 5th. For Killington it marks the latest time skiing has been on offer for 25-years at the east coast resort. UPDATED
2nd June 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.
25th May 2022
The 72-mile shoreline of the Californian lake has been cleaned in a project that started in May 2021. Lamposts, phones and engagements rings were found.
22nd May 2022
The French resort fired up some lifts on its glacier last weekend. It’s the first time the resort has opened so early for summer skiing and snowboarding. So, what is summer glacier skiing & snowboarding like?
17th May 2022
Skiing and snowboarding is going to carry on in the US resort until at least June 5th as good late season conditions continue. A few other resorts in North America are hoping to remain open for the next few weeks. UPDATED
16th May 2022
Winter is fast becoming a distant memory as our attentions at PlanetSKI turn to summer in the mountains. First up we look at what is on offer in one of our favourite winter destinations and where we were based for part of last winter: The Tirol in Austria.
15th May 2022
It is possible to walk down the Hahnenkamm downhill course on a summer holiday. PlanetSKI did it a few years back and it’s since become a popular attraction, with savings now on offer for this year.
15th May 2022
It’s the question we are asked most at this time of year. We’re currently hiking the South Downs Way in preparation for walking at altitude in the Alps later this summer. We’ve now done a third of the route, Eastbourne to Brighton. UPDATED
2nd October 2021
At PlanetSKI we are looking at the rules and regulations in place in the main ski nations as winter approaches. All the main ski nations have confirmed that resorts are set to open. First we look at the situation in Austria.
9th September 2021
The Victorian Government has announced that the lockdown will lift in regional Victoria, and the ski areas are able to open from Friday 10 September. Resorts in New South Wales remain closed.
2nd September 2021
Kirkwood and Heavenly say they are ‘cautiously optimistic’ as the battle against the Caldor fire appears to have been won – so far. The resorts, volunteers and fire crews have put in an heroic effort and there is now hope as the wind eases. UPDATED
31st August 2021
The cannons were turned on at Sierra-at-Tahoe ski resort and with the help of fire fighting teams the resort has been saved. Kirkwood is under threat, Heavenly has been evacuated and Squaw Valley has been partially closed due to smoke. UPDATED
28th August 2021
A handful of glacier areas in the Alps have once again been protected by coverings this summer in an attempt to slow the melt. It may though just delay what is looking increasingly inevitable and it comes at a cost.
26th August 2021
PlanetSKI’s intrepid Switzerland reporter, Catie Friend, has been on a women-only expedition to the summit of the Breithorn. It was part of a wider challenge for all-women teams to climb the 48 4,000+ meter mountains in Switzerland this summer: Part Two.
23rd August 2021
PlanetSKI’s intrepid Switzerland reporter, Catie Friend, has been on a women-only expedition to the summit of the Breithorn. It was part of a wider challenge for all-women teams to climb the 48 4,000+ meter mountains in Switzerland this summer. Part One.
23rd August 2021
Some areas in Chile and Argentina have seen over 1m with ski areas that had been forced to close for lack of snow re-opening for the final month of the season. UPDATED
23rd August 2021
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the country needed to be “cautious”. The nationwide lockdown has been extended by three days until midnight on 27 August.
18th August 2021
Large numbers of French people are opting against travelling abroad and taking a holiday in their own country. The Alps and the Pyrenees are proving to be particularly popular.
15th August 2021
The rules change means some late summer travel is now easier if people have been double vaccinated or meet other health requirements. It bodes well for the start of the ski season with some glacier resorts opening in October.
12th August 2021
People who discover archaeological relics revealed by retreating glaciers in the Swiss Alps can now use a new app to log the location and help preserve their findings.
10th August 2021
Parts of the Andes are seeing little fresh snow according to a report from the Reuters news agency.
10th August 2021
Local DJ Arthur Monné (AKA FastArthur) is performing an hour long set this Friday (August 13th), performed from a spectacular viewing platform at the summit of Pointe de Nyon. NEW
5th August 2021
Travelling from the ski nations of Europe is now a little easier for those of us in the UK. However there are still some tough restrictions on entry as the UK has one of the highest current number of cases of Covid-19 in Europe. UPDATED
PlanetSKI has been #skiing in the @grandvalira ski area of #Andorra - read part 2 of An Andorran Adventure
https://planetski.eu/2023/03/25/an-andorran-adventure-part-two/
#ski #springskiing #pyrenees
March’s Ski News in Brief - Live & Updated:
- More than a third of UK flights were delayed last year
https://planetski.eu/2023/03/01/march-ski-news-in-brief-live-and-updated/
FWT Verbier Xtreme Postponed
Bad weather has led to the YETI Xtreme Verbier being called off for Saturday.
The organisers are now trying to re-schedule the event with Tuesday the earliest it could happen.
Updated: https://planetski.eu/2023/03/20/finale-of-fwt-set-for-verbier/
We love a wide, almost empty #ski slope. This is the FIS black in Pas de la Casa #Andorra. Read PlanetSKI's Andorran Adventure, part 2:
https://planetski.eu/2023/03/25/an-andorran-adventure-part-two/
@grandvalira #pyrenees
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