Austria's Slopes Open

Although Austrian resorts have invested heavily in snowmaking guns in recent years, warm temperatures up to mid-December stopped these functioning in most cases. Whereas higher ski areas in the Alps now have healthy snowcover in many cases, most of Austria's best known resorts are amongst the lowest in the Alps, increasing the challenge they face to provide snow cover. The country's largest ski area, with the most snow making in Austria, but also one of the lowest, the SkiWelt above Westendorf, Soll and half a dozen other lift linked resorts, currently has snow depths of 2cm (just two thirds of an inch) to 28cm (11 inches), but with 65 of the 89 lifts in the region running. On the other hand Austria's higher resorts have good cover. Obergurgl for example has 60cm (24 inches) snow depth on higher slopes, with 20cm (eight inches), right down to resort level and conditions are described as "perfect."