With some ski areas closing at the end of March, it is easy to think that the skiing in the Alps is done for another year. Yet each winter, there are metres of snow left on the glacier areas of the Alps, with long days and milder temperatures, offering the chance to get more time on the snow, often is fantastic conditions.
Piste View has their cameras up on the Stubai Glacier, Austria this month and the 4m+ of snow was providing some truly exceptional skiing. Check out their video of piste red 3.
There are 5 impressive glacier skiing areas in the Austrian Tirol, along the Kitzsteinhorn Glacier located above Zell am See - Kaprun in Salzburgerland. All offer skiing right through April. As well as the glacier skiing areas, the resorts of Sölden, Obergurgl and Ischgl all have their full ski areas open right into May.
In France, the season in Les 3 Vallées ramps up to a crescendo at Val Thorens for the ski closing at the beginning of May, with fantastic piste skiing and often, fresh powder conditions, as well as some serious celebrations. Ditto Val d’Isère, with skiing to over 3000m and a resort height of 1850m, the onset of spring does little to disrupt the flow of skiers and snowboarders, whilst the streets are full, with live bands playing to sunny terraces.
So, the message to corporate ski trip planners - January and March might be superb months for conditions, team schedules and availability, but higher up in the Alps, April (and December) are frequently serving up some memorable conditions with some great accommodation options, fewer crowds and great value for money.