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 11 lifts open, with some of them only until early afternoon.
Maximum snow depth on 01 October was 90cm.
More information: www.hintertuxergletscher.at
Stubai Glacier
Skiing on the Stubai glacier will start on 08 October 2021.
Maximum snow depth on 01 October was 15cm.
More information: 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 01 October of 50cm.
More information: 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 two red runs and one blue run open.
Maximum snow depth on 01 October was 15cm.
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
The Kitzsteinhorn glacier in Salzburg is scheduled to open on 09 October.
More information: www.kitzsteinhorn.at
The Dachstein glacier in Upper Austria is closed for downhill skiing but has one cross-country trail open. The downhill runs will open when snow conditions allow.
The Mölltal glacier in Carinthia is now open and lists 40cm of snow and three runs in operation.
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 into October.
More information: www.passostelvio.eu
Val Senales
The Schnalstal (or Val Senales, as Italian speakers call it) glacier is now open with with 80cm of snow and three runs operating.
More information: www.schnalstal.com
Switzerland
Zermatt
The summer ski area on the Plateau Rosa above Zermatt is open all year round, although summer skiing on the Italian side above Cervinia is closed.
More information: www.matterhornparadise.ch
Saas Fee
The ski area above Saas Fee will be opening on 30 October 2021.
More information: www.saas-fee.ch
Engelberg
The skiing on the Titlis glacier near Engelberg is scheduled to open on 09 October 2021.
More information: www.titlis.ch
France
Tignes
The Tignes glacier ski area is now scheduled to open on 16 October 2021.
More information: en.tignes.net
