World Snow Wrap – Early Season Falls Getting People Excited
Boreal | October 21, 2016
EDITOR’S NOTE: This year we will once again bring you the fortnightly World Snow Wrap and the weekly Japan Snow Wrap. These regular features are your one-stop-shop that tells you where the snow’s falling, where it ain’t, and provide the usual snow porn just for your desktop viewing pleasure. Expect these features to be published regularly across the Northern Hemisphere season…
AUSTRALIA
OK, the snow wrap is about the Northern Hemisphere season and while the season may be over here, there has been plenty of snow falling in October, including this past weekend which saw another 10-15cms on Saturday. The result is some very good back country skiing with the Main Range in NSW and Victoria’s Mount Bogong the choice destinations. There is a lot of snow out there with some very deep drifts on some aspects that look like holding snow into December. An indication is the Snowy Hydro’s snow depth reading at Spencer’s Creek which hit a peak for 2016 of 170.5cms on October 6, three days after the resort lifts closed. The latest reading on October 20 is still a healthy 134cms, the same depth we had on August 18.
Kosciuszko national park | October 24, 2016
Main Range | October 21, 2016
EUROPE
It hasn’t just been snowing in Australia this October with some promising early season falls in Europe and North America. The glaciers in Austria and Switzerland have been enjoying good conditions after a couple of storms in early October dropped up 10-20cms. In Austria, Hinterux has a decent base of 75cms with good on piste skiing and 16 lifts open. In France, Tignes has six lifts open with good on piste skiing and boarding, but like the other resorts open in Europe, it’s too early for much off piste skiing.
The FIS world cup ski racing season started on the weekend in Solden, Austria with competitors enjoying good firm conditions.
There has also been some good early falls in Italy which is great news after last winter’s poor start. At the moment there is some OK on piste skiing at Passo Stelvio which has a 150cms base and Senales (50cm).
Another area that has been very good for early October is year-round Sass Fee in Switzerland. It has been a hub of activity the past few weeks with some of the world’s best snowboarders and handful of skiers descending on the resort to train at Charles Beckinsale’s Stomping Ground. Charles is the park builder at Perisher and he set up an early training season base in Saas Fee and while the park was epic, the crew also enjoyed some fun powder days.
Tignes, France | October 22, 2016
Solden, Austria | October 22, 2016
NORTH AMERICA
North America has also seen a series of early winter storms hit the west coast and Pacific northwest, building a good early season base. The higher elevations of California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana have a base of 30-90cms. It is similar in Canada with the higher mountains of British Columbia and Alberta (Canada) are measuring 60-120cms. Whistler had a good hit of snow on the upper mountain and should get more snow before the official opening on November 24.
Many of the resorts officially open in late November, early December, but Arapahoe Basin in Colorado was first cab off the rank, opening on Oct 21 thanks to favourable conditions.
Whistler, Canada | October 18, 2016
Big White, Canada | October 19, 2016
JAPAN
It is still too early for snow in Japan, but once the flood gates open, we’ll let you know.
Summary
Overall there are typical early season conditions in Europe where it looks like a mixed bag of weather coming up with wet and windy conditions and some snow above 3000 metres followed by clear conditions. In North America more snow is expected in British Columbia and there is a chance of snow on the upper elevations in California later in the week.
Where we would like to be this week:
Saas Fee was the scene of some epic action over the past month and with the park in great shape and good skiing on a 260cms base. There’s also some snow due followed by sunshine and light winds, so it sounds like the perfect time to kick back in the Alps and get in some early season turns.
