Colorado Ski Country USA Announces Double Digit Increase in Skier Visits in 2018-19 Season

Eldora-Sam Bass. Colorado Ski Country USA. Colorado Ski Country USA Announces Double Digit Increase in Skier Visits in 2018-19 Season.

Colorado Ski Country USA Announces Double Digit Increase in Skier Visits in 2018-19 Season

2018-19 Sees New Statewide Record, Double Digit Increase in 5-Year Average

Colorado Ski Country USA (CSCUSA) announced today at its 56th Annual Meeting in Denver skier visits at its now 23-member ski resorts increased 13 percent over last year’s total, which is nearly 12 percent above the five-year average. Using publicly available information, CSCUSA is projecting a new statewide record for skier visits of 13.8 million. Today’s announcement reflects a percentage increase that includes the current makeup of the association and is adjusted for the departure of Crested Butte from the membership in 2018-19.

“The 2018-19 season was one for the history books,” Colorado Ski Country USA President and CEO Melanie Mills said. “Not only did the industry set a new statewide record for skier visits, but there were substantial investments in capital improvements across our member resorts and snowfall was plentiful across the entire state.”

Copper Mountain. Photo: CSCUSA. Colorado Ski Country USA Announces Double Digit Increase in Skier Visits in 2018-19 Season.
Copper Mountain. Photo: CSCUSA. Colorado Ski Country USA Announces Double Digit Increase in Skier Visits in 2018-19 Season.

All regions of Colorado received significant snowfall throughout the season with the northern, central and southern mountains all blanketed in white. The early season was marked by significant resort investment with six new chairlifts whisking skiers and riders up the mountain, five new restaurants across the state, the new Limelight Hotel in Snowmass and other new activities and offerings. January and February saw additional snowfall and increased industry wide advocacy on climate change with the formation of the Outdoor Business Climate Partnership and a joint statement from eight state ski trade associations in support of increased climate action. Late February and March featured record or near record snow totals and set up a strong end to the season with five CSCUSA member ski areas announcing season extensions with Aspen Mountain and Arapahoe Basin still spinning lifts on weekends.

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Baqueira Beret has closed its third best season in the decade

Baqueira Beret photo. Baqueira Beret has closed its third best season in the decade.

Baqueira Beret has closed its third best season in the decade

The ski resorts of Val d’Aran and Valls d’Àneu have finshed the 2018-19 ski season. This season which started on December 1st has registered very positive affluency with 876.000 skier-days and a season of 143 days

With 876.008 skier days, Baqueira Beret had the third best ski season in this decade.

Powder skiing at Baqueira Beret. Baqueira Beret photo. Baqueira Beret has closed its third best season in the decade.
Powder skiing at Baqueira Beret. Baqueira Beret photo. Baqueira Beret has closed its third best season in the decade.

The station started with the long weekend in December with 20,000 skiers from Thursday 7th to Sunday 9th and with conditions getting better during that week which allowed to open 40 skiable km. During the Christmas holidays, the resort of Baqueira Beret had 85 km of open trails and lots of family, sport and après-ski activities with DJs on the pistes and a torch-lights parade on Christmas Eve.

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Sierra Nevada: Cetursa approves an investment of 10 million for the next season and addresses the installation of a new ski lift

Archive Cetursa Sierra Nevada.Sierra Nevada: Cetursa approves an investment of 10 million for the next season and addresses the installation of a new ski lift.

Sierra Nevada: Cetursa approves an investment of 10 million for the next season and addresses the installation of a new ski lift

  • The board of directors of the company gives the green light to the purchase 33 last-generation snow ‘cannons’, to the digital renewal of the station, and the introduction of improvements in customer services
  • The company, in the framework of the actions for the reordering of Borreguiles, addresses the replacement of one of the chairlifts in that area by an eight-seater-chairlift.
Administrative Council of CETURSA in meeting. Sierra Nevada: Cetursa approves an investment of 10 million for the next season and addresses the installation of a new ski lift. Photo: CETURSA.
Administrative Council of CETURSA in meeting. Sierra Nevada: Cetursa approves an investment of 10 million for the next season and addresses the installation of a new ski lift. Photo: CETURSA.

The board of directors of Cetursa Sierra Nevada SA today approved an investment of more than 10 million euros for the 2019/20 season, which, among other actions, will finance the purchase of 33 last-generation snow cannons, and has agreed to study the formula to install a new eight-seater chairlift in Borreguiles to replace one of the old ones (Emile Allais).

The investment for this season, with own funds of Cetursa Sierra Nevada, is the largest in the last decade and also includes a new boost to the digital transformation of the company (web, trade centre, external information, mobile application, customer service , among other actions) in order to more effective attention and communication with the user of the station.

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Cliffhanging restaurant opens for the season in Switzerland: Äscher Mountain Restaurant

Äscher Mountain Restaurant. Photo: Switzerland Tourism. Cliffhanging restaurant opens for the season in Switzerland: Äscher Mountain Restaurant.

Cliffhanging restaurant opens for the season in Switzerland: Äscher Mountain Restaurant

This summer the Äscher mountain restaurant had a weather delay that did not allow it to open in time. This restaurant is a bucket list place to go – nested by a cliff. One of the hiking routes up to the restaurant via the Blättli and Alp Bommen, are still closed due to high avalanche risk.

There are other paths to reach the restaurant that are still covered with snow. You should get the latest route information before venturing to the restaurant.

The restaurant is now under new management, because the people taking care of it until last year decided to cease their work there as the hotel had become victim of its own success, not being able to cope with soaring visitors’ numbers.

Cliffhanging restaurant opens for the season in Switzerland: Äscher Mountain Restaurant.
Cliffhanging restaurant opens for the season in Switzerland: Äscher Mountain Restaurant. Instagram photo.

The hotel is an Instagram sensation, and you can see by watching the pictures why. But it also got very well-known thanks to be named one of the world’s five most

The Äscher came to prominence in 2014 when it was named one of the five most interesting restaurants in the world in the Huffington Post.

Also, National Geographic featured it in the “Destinations of a Lifetime’ special. To reach the restaurant, you need to take a cable car and a short walk from Wasserauen in the canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden.

The foundation that owns the restaurant said last year that they were working on improving the establishment.

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SnoFolio Announces Partnership with U.S. Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association

SnoFolio Announces Partnership with U.S. Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association. Photo courtesy of SnoFolio.

SnoFolio Announces Partnership with U.S. Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association.

Snowsports Performance Technology Company Expands Support of Athletes with Ski Training Management System

SnoFolio announced a partnership with the United States Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association (USCSA). The partnership furthers SnoFolio’s mission of supporting and progressing skiers throughout their lifetime by making its Snowsport performance technology available to more athletes.

SnoFolio Announces Partnership with U.S. Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association. Photo courtesy of SnoFolio.
SnoFolio Announces Partnership with U.S. Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association. Photo courtesy of SnoFolio.

The USCSA is recognized as the sports federation for collegiate team ski racing and snowboarding in America. USCSA scores the top three performances out of teams of five. Teams compete in a variety of disciplines, including women’s and men’s alpine, cross country, snowboarding, freestyle, and jumping. Over 5,000 student athletes compete in USCSA events annually, representing over 170 institutions in 11 Conferences and 6 Regions.

Alec Tandara-Kuhns, Executive Director of the USCSA, said, “The partnership between the USCSA and SnoFolio is a great fit because it offers additional training outlets for our membership from the club level through to the fully funded varsity programs.”  Continue reading “SnoFolio Announces Partnership with U.S. Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association”

Aspen Snowmass Adds Another Bonus Weekend for Skiing and Riding

Matt Ross skiing at Aspen Resort, Aspen, Colorado. Aspen Snowmass. Aspen Snowmass Adds Another Bonus Weekend for Skiing and Riding.

Aspen Snowmass Adds Another Bonus Weekend for Skiing and Riding

Aspen Mountain Open for Skiing and Riding Jun. 8-9 

Aspen Mountain will once again offer skiing and riding as part of continued summer operations this weekend, Jun. 8-9, with 130 acres of terrain on a 58-inch base depth.

Aspen Snowmass Adds Another Bonus Weekend for Skiing and Riding. Photo: Aspen Skiing Company.
Aspen Snowmass Adds Another Bonus Weekend for Skiing and Riding. Photo: Aspen Skiing Company.

The Silver Queen Gondola will be open for sightseeing and the Sundeck, located at the top of Aspen Mountain, will offer food and beverage options as well as a DJ on the deck Saturday.

The gondola will operate from 9 a.m.—4 p.m. for sightseeing and the Ajax Express chairlift will run from 9 a.m.-1 p.m., as long as conditions permit, for laps on Aspen Mountain’s upper blue runs as well as black runs such as Summit and Blondie’s. Everyone will be required to download on the gondola.

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Search efforts continue for 8 climbers missing in the Indian Himalayas, but hopes are fading after possible avalanche

India - Nanda Devi. Search efforts continue for 8 climbers missing in the Indian Himalayas, but hopes are fading after possible avalanche.

Search efforts continue for 8 climbers missing in the Indian Himalayas, but hopes are fading after possible avalanche

Last Update

From CNN.com

A search team has spotted five bodies on an unnamed peak in the Indian Himalayas, where the eight climbers were believed to have gone missing a week ago.

Pithoragarh District Magistrate Vijay Kumar Jogdande said on Monday that the bodies seemed to be partially buried in an avalanche on the peak in different locations.

The analysis of some photographs taken by a helicopter that did an air survey of the area earlier today allowed to identify the bodies.

The operation has stopped by Monday afternoon local time for the day, Jogdande said. Now the authorities are figuring out how to recover the bodies.

On Sunday, helicopter teams saw signs of an avalanche on the peak where the group was thought to have been, according to two state officials. Also, on Monday, a helicopter made a recce of the area and the crew saw a backpack at an elevation of 5,000 meters.

Search efforts continue for 8 climbers missing in the Indian Himalayas, but hopes are fading after possible avalanche
Search efforts continue for 8 climbers missing in the Indian Himalayas, but hopes are fading after possible avalanche

Jogdande said that for sure the missing team has been caught by a “huge avalanche” and that the ‘chances of survival are almost zero now.”

The missing climbers — four Britons, two Americans, an Australian and their Indian liaison officer — went missing in the region of Nanda Devi East, one of the highest peaks in India at just over 7,400 meters (24,000 feet.)

According to group’s expedition company Facebook posts, the group was attempting to climb a previously unclimbed and unnamed peak of about 6,477 meters (21,250 feet)

Indian authorities said on Monday that the climbers had no permission to climb an unnamed peak. Jogdande added that if they had known that the eight climbers were planning on climbing the unnamed peak instead of Nanda Devi East, they “would not have given permission.”

He added that heavy rain and high winds in the area have been hampering the search efforts.

More information: CNN.com

From Accuweather and BBC.com

Eight climbers have been missing when climbing Nanda Devi, India’s second tallest mountain at 7,816 meters. The group was supposed to return on May 31, having departed on May 13.

India - Nanda Devi. Search efforts continue for 8 climbers missing in the Indian Himalayas, but hopes are fading after possible avalanche.
India – Nanda Devi. Search efforts continue for 8 climbers missing in the Indian Himalayas, but hopes are fading after possible avalanche.

They were guided by British Mountain guide Martin Moran, owner of Scottish Moran Mountain tour company, who is an experienced mountain guide and has run numerous expeditions in the Indian Himalayas.

Search efforts started on Saturday, but bad weather conditions forced them to be called off during the evening hours. There are indications that an avalanche may have swept up the team.

The operation resumed on Sunday morning, with the Indian Air Force deploying two helicopters to aid in the search.

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Upcoming Projects at Nendaz Veysonnaz: new gondola, snowmaking and on-mountain restaurant

Nendaz. Photo: Yasmin Gaudin.Upcoming Projects at Nendaz Veysonnaz: new gondola, snowmaking and on-mountain restaurant.

Upcoming Projects at Nendaz Veysonnaz: new gondola, snowmaking and on-mountain restaurant

NV Remontées mécaniques has definitely obtained all the necessary authorizations for the construction of the Gondola connecting Prarion to Plan du Fou as well as artificial snow making of the Greppon-Blanc sector (Combatseline-Thyon).

Upcoming Projects at Nendaz Veysonnaz: new gondola, snowmaking and on-mountain restaurant. Poster: NV Remontées mécaniques
Upcoming Projects at Nendaz Veysonnaz: new gondola, snowmaking and on-mountain restaurant. Poster: NV Remontées mécaniques

These two projects will be carried out during summer 2019 and the installations commissioned for the winter 2019-2020. In parallel, the artificial snow of the Plan du Fou’s free track will also be finalized.

The total investment represents around CHF 25 million. NV Remontées mécaniques will therefore have invested a total of CHF 60 millions in 4 years (2016 to 2019) in order to improve its offer and best meet the expectations of customers.

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The Panoramic Mont Blanc gondola to re-open 15 June

The Panoramic Mont Blanc gondola to re-open 15 June

The Panoramic Mont Blanc gondola to re-open 15 June

The Panoramic Mont Blanc Gondola has been closed since January 2018, when storm Eleanor laid too much snow on the cables and that cause them breaking and  two gondolas falling down on the Glacier du Géant.

The lift connects the Aiguille du Midi (3,842m) in Chamonix, France to Punta Helbronner (3,466m) in Courmayeur, Italy, and the people that ride on the lift can see the marvellous Mer de Glace underneath. The ride takes 30 minutes to cross 5 km and is only opened in summer.

Around February the Compagnie du Mont Blanc found some more faults, but the company was still optimistic to open by the end of May. Now they are announcing its opening on 15 June. Last summer the gondola has to remained closed in order to change its power cable.

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German innovation award for Zermatt 3s cabins.

The Matterhorn Glacier Ride. German innovation award for Zermatt 3s cabins.

German innovation award for Zermatt 3s cabins.

LEITNER ropeways wins award for special technical feature

By building the world’s highest 3S gondola lift ‘Matterhorn glacier ride’ to Klein Matterhorn in Zermatt (CH), LEITNER ropeways has created a ropeway highlight that has made waves worldwide. Some of the cabins developed with Italian design firm Pininfarina feature glass floors. These cabins have now been recognized with an award in the ‘Aviation & Maritime Technologies’ category at the renowned German Innovation Award.

Leitner Crystal ride. The Matterhorn Glacier Ride. German innovation award for Zermatt 3s cabins.
Leitner Crystal ride. The Matterhorn Glacier Ride. German innovation award for Zermatt 3s cabins.

Special Features

Each year, the Design Council, which was initiated by the German Parliament and is founded by the German industry, presents the ‘German Innovation Award’ to honour outstanding products and solutions with a special user focus and which add special value compared with previous solutions.

The 3S cabin of the ‘Matterhorn glacier ride’ on Klein Matterhorn was one of this year’s award winners. Its unique design earned it a win in the ‘Aviation & Maritime Technologies’ category. The jury made up of independent, interdisciplinary experts from industry, science, institutions and the financial sector, was particularly impressed by the exclusive “special features” in four of the 25 cabins.

These four cabins have a glass floor with a surprise feature. The cabins’ true secret is revealed after three minutes of the journey, when the opaque glass floor suddenly becomes transparent and reveals a spectacular view of the glacier landscape 170 meters below.

Continue reading “German innovation award for Zermatt 3s cabins.”