Want late snow? Then aim high! Warm winters are melting slopes

Release time：2024-05-21 07:43:08 Source：Earth Explorer news portal

Pictures of bare slopes at lower-altitude ski resorts recently have many concerned about the rest of the ski season in the Alps.

In the village at the popular resort of Megeve in France - at 1,110 metres (3,640 feet) - no snow whatsoever could be seen on webcams.

It’s a dire situation for lower-level resorts, with temperatures touching as high as 16c in Megeve, although a weather front moving in this week is due to deliver fresh snow, according to weathertoski.co.uk. 

With snow melting in lower-altitude resorts, where you choose to go for late-season skiing has never been more important

That said, most snow is expected above 1,500m (4,920ft).

So where you choose to go for late-season skiing has never been more important. Here we round-up some of the very highest (and most ‘snow sure’) resorts.

WAY UP IN FRANCE

Val Thorens is the highest ski village in France, with reliable snow cover and runs connected to the Three Valleys ski area. Expect extensive skiing until the resort closes on May 5. Slopes reach 3,230m (10,600ft).

Book it: Seven nights at Tourotel de Val Thorens from £891pp self-catering on April 6 including Stansted-Geneva Jet2 flights and transfers (heidi.com).

AUSTRIAN ALTITUDE

Inviting: Obergurgl, located in Austria's highest parish, is renowned for good snow in April 

Within Austria’s highest parish, Obergurgl is renowned for good snow into April, wide-ranging pistes suited to all levels and famously extravagant apres ski — especially at the raucous Nederhutte bar. Pistes rise to 3,080m (10,100ft).

Book it: Seven nights in Apartmenthouse Madeleine from £995pp self-catering on April 6 including Edinburgh-Innsbruck flights and transfers (crystalski.co.uk).

SWISS SNOW BANKER

Swanky Zermatt is a must-visit at least once in a lifetime. The village is quite low, but slopes reach 3,820m (12,530ft), Europe’s highest runs. Webcams showed thick snow across the resorts this week. Lifts are open until April 23.

Book it: Seven nights at Chalet Hotel Schonegg from £1,449pp half-board on April 6 including Manchester-Geneva flights and transfers (inghams.co.uk).

FRENCH GLACIER DREAM

The French resort of Tigne currently has a good snow base of 100cm at lower slopes and as much as 380cm higher up

READ MORE: Inside Obertauern, the ski resort made famous by The Beatles that gets so much snow it's 'climate-change-proof' 

The resort of Tignes is another French high one, with a glacier and extensive slopes mainly suited to intermediates and above. There’s currently a good snow base of 100cm at lower slopes and as much as 380cm higher up. The top point is 3,455m (11,340ft).

Book it: Seven nights at Chalet Hotel L’Ecrin from £1,199pp chalet-board on April 7 including Gatwick-Grenoble flights and transfers (markwarner.co.uk).

SUPER RELIABLE SAAS-FEE

Enjoy this charming, high-altitude Swiss resort which has lifts rising to 3,500m (11,480ft). Much of the ski area is above 2,500m (8,200ft), so you can rely on decent snow conditions late in the season.

Book it: Seven nights at Hotel Alpenperle, central Saas-Fee, from £1,341pp B&B on April 6 including Stansted-Milan flights and transfers (heidi.com).

OUTSTANDING OBERTAUERN

Obertauern in Austria is 'snow sure' thanks to two weather fronts bringing fresh snow

This Austrian resort has two weather fronts bringing snow from the north and west.

So although the highest slopes are 2,315m (7,600ft), it’s ‘snow sure’. The resort, where The Beatles shot scenes for 1965’s Help!, is open until May 1.

Book it: Seven nights at Hotel Steiner from £1,654pp full-board on March 16 including East Midlands-Salzburg flights and transfers (igluski.com).

PERFECT PISTES IN ITALY'S ALPS 

One foot was in Italy, the other in Switzerland. It was very high up at 3,480m (11,417ft) — and there was lots of snow.

From this meeting point of countries at the Theodul glacier, you could see the ‘Toblerone’ peak of the Matterhorn towering above the Swiss resort of Zermatt to the north and Cervinia in Italy to the south.

This must be one of Europe’s finest frontiers - not just for the splendid view of the Matterhorn. You’ve also got a cosy wooden ‘refugio’ complete with a little restaurant/bar. A heavenly spot to rest weary limbs.

Above, the peak of the Matterhorn, which straddles Switzerland and Italy 

Pistes remain open across Zermatt until April 21 (with glacier skiing year-round) and in Cervinia until May 5. Both are perfect for late season trips.

Zermatt is better-known, with its boutique hotels and designer shops. Cervinia is a quieter Italian neighbour. It is Italy’s highest ski village at 2,050m (6,730ft), tucked up in the Aosta Valley.

It has cobbled streets lined with inviting restaurants and bars. Compared to glitzy Zermatt this is down-to-earth value in the Alps.

And the best thing right now? There’s plenty of snow about.

• Seven nights at VRetreats spa hotel in Cervinia, Italy from £1,689pp half-board on March 16 including flights and transfers (inghams.co.uk). More information: cervinia.it.

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