Thoughts On Winter in the Swiss Alps.
It's been a not so normal winter (2023/24) here in the upper Simmental valley, with opinions that it's been terrible in the snow department. I both agree and disagree - let's discuss.
I suppose whether it has been a good or bad winter depends on your perspective, essentially.
Summer person?
Been a great winter with warmer than usual spells and little prolonged snow cover below 1500m.
Winter person (resort skier / XC skier / Aprés Ski Enjoyer)?
Been a terrible winter below 2000m for the same reasons as above.
Winter person (ski touring)?
Hasn’t been bad, just different, you needed to (and still do as spring touring is in full swing) keep your finger on the pulse of conditions at different altitudes and slope aspects.
The Business of Winter:
Here where we live winter, and the snow that normally comes with it, is part of daily life and a big driver of business in the form of tourism.
Most of the resorts in the region fall between 1100-1500m (bottom stations) to 1600-2400m (top stations, with Glacier 3000 at 3000m the only one higher).
Little snow (compared to historical means) below 2000m has made it hard for most of the resorts to operate at full capacity.
Even though we’ve had more snow at certain times than compared to the same time period as before, it didn’t stay cold for long enough afterwards (like it usually does / should) so the snow melted away quickly.
This also meant less people showed up as word spread.
Great for us locals as the pistes were less crowded, but less than ideal for the businesses that form the heart of the winter economy.
So, in that regard, it has indeed been a not so good winter.
The Lesser Known Side of Winter Activities:
When most people think of winter in the Swiss Alps - or any snowy region for that matter - they think of skiing.
And of course fondue, raclette and aprés ski festivities.
But let’s not get distracted!
Skiing, as mentioned above in “The Business of Winter”, for most people is resort dependent (prepared ski slopes, buying ski passes, getting in a cue, etc.).
Can I tell you a secret?
It’s the least fun way of skiing.
What’s more fun?
Ski touring, of course.
In a nutshell, ski touring is attaching some furry strips to the bottom of special skis, which grip onto snow, allowing you to walk (skin) up whereever you want and then ski down (after removing said furry strips).
This can be done anywhere, dependent on safety.
You first have to level up your skiing, to say the least (let me know if I should do a dedicated post / post series on ski touring).
In this regard, it’s been a remarkably good season here.
Like usual?
Not at all, just different.
How can this be?
Well, you see, whereas the resorts / prepared slopes are always in the same place, back country skiing can be done wherever you think you’re able to ski.
This means you can adapt where and how high above sea level you ski based on snow conditions, weather, predicted temperatures, slope aspect, family obligations, etc.
Which I enjoy, as it means you have to keep your finger on the pulse of various variable factors, very much like the surf conditions I grew up monitoring to find good surf when everyone else thought it wasn't worth heading out.
(Disclaimer: skill, knowledge and safety is a massive part of ski touring / back country skiing, be sure to educate yourself and / or make use of a guide).
Summary:
Has it been the best winter ever in the Swiss Alps?
Far from it.
It’s just been different.
And if you’re able to adapt you would have been able to score some all time great snow (especially in the back country).
Is winter as we know it gone forever here?
No, climate varies over time.
It’s cyclical.
Like many things in life.
We just have to roll with it.
That’s it for this week, hope you’ve had (and am about to have) a good one.
Do you have any thoughts to share on winter and/or climate variabilities?
Simply hit reply and let me know / comment below.
Have a great week!
—
Until next time ✌🏽.
Cornelius
Last week’s post:
The Importance of Having a Vision and Getting Out of Bed (for Ski Touring and for Life).
We all know that feeling, right? Alarm clock goes off. You fumble for it, knocking over the bedside lamp in the process. Thinking to yourself: “Is it morning already?”, as you try and make out the …
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