October is the real start of the early ski season in Europe. Most (but not all) of the glacier resorts will be up and running during the month, helped by snowmaking and colder night-time temperatures.
Austria
Hintertux Glacier
The Hintertux glacier ski area at the end of the Tux valley in the Tyrol offers year-round skiing. At the time of writing it has 7 lifts open, with some of them only until early afternoon.
Maximum snow depth on 02 October was 45cm.
Ski area website: www.hintertuxergletscher.at
Stubai Glacier
Skiing on the Stubai glacier opened on 30 September 2022. There are currently five lifts open with two ski runs and a snow depth of 15cm.
Ski area website: www.stubaier-gletscher.com
Sölden Glaciers
The Rettenbach glacier above the Tyrolean ski resort of Sölden is open with five lifts operating and a maximum snow depth on 02 October of 85cm. The second glacier, the Tiefenbach glacier, will open on 07 October to provide an even greater ski area before the World Cup ski race on the Rettenbach towards the end of October.
Ski area website: www.soelden.com
Pitztal Glacier
The glacier ski area at the end of the Pitztal valley in the Tyrol currently has four lifts running and one long red run and one shorter blue run open. Maximum snow depth on 02 October was 55cm.
More information: www.pitztal.com
Kaunertal Glacier
The Kaunertal Glacier in the Tyrol currently has two lifts open with four blue and three red runs available. Maximum snow depth on 01 October was 40cm.
More information: www.kaunertaler-gletscher.at
Other Austrian Provinces
Skiing on the Kitzsteinhorn glacier above the town of Kaprun in Salzburg is scheduled to open on 07 October 2022. Snow depth on 02 October 2022 was 55cm on the glacier.
More information: www.kitzsteinhorn.at
The Dachstein glacier in Upper Austria has closed for downhill skiing for the entire late summer and winter season in 2022.
The Mölltal glacier in Carinthia is currently closed and will open when snow and weather conditions permit.
Italy
Passo Stelvio
The Passo Stelvio (or the Stilfserjoch as the German-speakers in the area call it), a small summer-only ski area on the border between Lombardy and the South Tyrol, is open until the beginning of November.
More information: www.passostelvio.eu
Val Senales
The Schnalstal (or Val Senales, as Italian speakers call it) glacier is now open with with 15cm of snow and three runs operating.
More information: www.schnalstal.com
Switzerland
Zermatt
The summer ski area on the Plateau Rosa above Zermatt, which is usually open all year round, closed for a period this summer because of lack of snow and warm temperatures. Skiing will resume as soon as conditions permit and preparations for the World Cup race later in October continue.
Ski area website: www.matterhornparadise.ch
Saas Fee
The ski area above Saas Fee will be opening on 29 October 2022.
Ski area website: www.saas-fee.ch
Engelberg
The skiing on the Titlis glacier near Engelberg has been postponed for October 2022 due to the “very warm summer and the lack of fresh snow”. The ski area will open as soon as conditions permit.
Ski area website: www.titlis.ch
France
Tignes
The glacier ski area above the French ski resort of Tignes has also postponed its opening for 2022 because of lack of snow and warm temperatures. Instead of its usual October opening, it will be offering skiing “when conditions permit”.
Ski area website: en.tignes.net
