J2Ski's Where to Ski in July 2024
J2Ski's Where to Ski in July 2024
Published : 01-Jul-2024 08:35
It's been an epic start to the South American season, a slower one for Australia and New Zealand. In the northern hemisphere, open ski areas will be down to half a dozen glaciers by the end of the month.
Hotham, Victoria, Australia looking rather lovely this morning.
Where to Ski in May 2024
July marks the start of full winter in the southern hemisphere.
So far it has been a spectacular start in South America with the biggest snowfalls anywhere in the world this year so far. Snow totals have been the greatest in the Andes this century and there's no sign of it slowing down.
New Zealand and Australia by contrast have had a slower start, battling for every kilometre of slope opening, so have some catching up to do.
In Southern Africa, Lesotho's Afriski has its main run complete and open for the first time since the 2022 season.
In the northern hemisphere, July is usually the month when the surviving summer glacier ski areas battle the heat to stay open. This year at least, most have a thick 'cushion' of snow on the glacial ice from above-average winter accumulations.
The month starts with 10 operating in Europe and North America although about half are due to close before the end of the month.
Southern Hemisphere
Australia
Australia has had a largely dry but cold June which has been good news for snowmaking but hasn't enabled resorts to build deep bases or open very much terrain so far.
Unsurprisingly the largest centre, Perisher, has been opening the most with about a quarter of its terrain open. Most other centres are at 5-10% of their slopes open but with the best snowfall of the season so far (up to 25cm reported) in the final few days of June it is an improving picture as we start July.
New Zealand
Similar issues to Australia although there was a little more natural snowfall in June here and resorts opened with typically a few main runs open along with the beginner areas.
However, more cold and snowy weather early in the month would definitely be a welcome boost as July starts with limited terrain open.
Most of the commercial centres are now open although some of the volunteer club fields without snowmaking are not.
South America
It has been a pretty incredible start to the season in both Argentina and Chile with most centres on the continent opening weeks ahead of the planned main season start date on June 21/22.
Reports of up to 6 metres (20 feet) of autumn snowfall before the season had begun led to claims that this is the best start to the season in 30 years and some centres are saying they'd already had more snowfall before the season started than their season average calculated each spring.
So, in short, if you're lucky enough to already be in or near the Andes or can get there this July, 2024 is the year to go.
Southern Africa
Although, in the event, ski areas in South America were the first to open, weeks early due to all the snowfall, Lesotho's Afriski had been the first scheduled to open on 1st June, so 1st July marks the completion of the first month of its three month season.
After not opening for skiing last year it's good to see the kilometre-long main run in place again, completed thanks to snowmaking efforts during low overnight temperatures. There has not been much natural snowfall so far this season.
The region's other ski area, South Africa's Tiffindell, has not operated since 2019 and is currently up for sale.
Europe
Alps
July starts with three resorts offering summer skiing in France – Les 2 Alpes, Val d'Isere and Tignes, each reporting snow depths of about 4 metres and 4-20km of slopes open.
Summer ski seasons are nearing their end though and, unless it extends, Les 2 Alpes will complete more than 7 months of operations (now France's longest season), a week into the month.
Val d'Isere will also close at the start of the month but Tignes is scheduled to continue through to the 21st.
Hintertux is the only centre open in Austria now but is posting the largest area open in the northern hemisphere at about 24km (15 miles) of slopes and the deepest snow, just, at just over 4 metres. It should be open all month, as should Italy's Passo Stelvio area and the Matterhorn glacier paradise ski area above Zermatt in Switzerland, also accessible from Cervinia in Italy.
Other than French areas closing the only other expected change this month is Saas Fee opening for summer skiing and its 24-25 season on July 8th.
Scandinavia
Two glaciers are currently open in the region, both in Norway, both with a few kilometres of slopes on offer and both are expected to stay open all month if not impacted by snowmelt.
Galdhopiggen has Scandinavia's highest slopes whilst Fonna Glacier starts the month with the world's deepest snow lying at over six metres (20 feet).
North America
Just one ski centre is still open in North America as we begin July.
The Timberline ski area on Mount Hood in Oregon has a few miles of slopes on its Palmer snowfield which are heavily used by ski teams for training, there's also a terrain park. There can be fresh snow anytime (7" was reported in a late June snowfall) but more typically it does get warm in the daytime so early morning snowsports are the order of the day. Hopefully, these will remain open through July.
There's also a terrain park open weekends at Copper Mountain in Colorado and for the first three days of the month only, another at Mont St Sauveur in Quebec, Canada.
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