
Arabba-Marmolada combines challenging terrain with spectacular Dolomite views, centred around the imposing Marmolada glacier—rising to 3,343 metres as the Dolomites' highest peak. The area delivers 63 kilometres of marked pistes with vertical drops exceeding 1,400 metres on north-facing slopes that maintain excellent snow quality.
Challenging black runs, including the demanding Fodoma descent, attract advanced skiers, while the resort's position on the Sella Ronda circuit provides access to over 500 kilometres of interconnected terrain. Arabba's remarkable scenery earned UNESCO World Heritage status, with distinctive pale limestone formations creating an extraordinary backdrop for technical skiing.
Arabba Marmolada has the biggest vertical in this batch, at 1,823 metres, from a 1,446-metre base up to a 3,269-metre summit on the Marmolada glacier. Sanity lists 43 runs over 63 kilometres, graded 37% beginner, 48% intermediate and 15% advanced, with no expert terrain. Despite that grading, the character is steeper than the numbers suggest, because many runs fall away on north-facing faces beneath Porta Vescovo and the Marmolada. Aerial trams, gondolas and a strong set of quad and six-seat chairs carry skiers up, and the area sits on the Sellaronda circuit.
The runs worth planning around are the black pistes above Arabba, including Fodoma, Sourasass and Variante Ornella, along with the Bellunese run from Punta Rocca on the Marmolada down to Malga Ciapela, a long glacier descent of many kilometres. Porta Vescovo gives reliable cold slopes and good cruising for intermediates. Off-piste lines exist beneath the lifts, but they need local knowledge and avalanche gear. The area suits strong intermediates, advanced skiers and anyone wanting big vertical and high-altitude skiing, and it is less suited to complete beginners.
The Arabba winter season typically extends from early December through late April, with the high-altitude Marmolada glacier often operating into May. The area receives approximately 4 metres of annual snowfall, supplemented by extensive snowmaking on lower elevations. January and February deliver consistently cold temperatures, preserving snow quality on Arabba's predominantly north-facing slopes.
The high alpine terrain around Marmolada offers exceptional late-season skiing with stable spring snow conditions and extended daylight hours. The resort follows the Dolomiti Superski calendar, with operations beginning on northeastern slopes before expanding to fully connect with the Sella Ronda circuit by mid-December.
Situated in Veneto's Livinallongo del Col di Lana municipality, 100 kilometres north of Venice and 60 kilometres east of Bolzano, Arabba occupies a strategic position at the junction of four Dolomite valleys. The compact village centre sits at 1,600 metres elevation, featuring traditional Ladin architecture and mountain-focused facilities rather than extensive nightlife.
This authentic Alpine community maintains strong connections to regional culture through cuisine, language, and seasonal festivals. The resort's central location on the Sella Ronda circuit provides outstanding accessibility to neighbouring valleys, while its position beneath the Marmolada's north face ensures excellent snow preservation throughout winter.
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Arapahoe Basin, Keystone and Winter Park are all chasing an October start, though none has a firm date yet. The first dated openers are Breckenridge and Copper on Friday 6 November, then Vail on 13 November, with most of the rest bunched around US Thanksgiving. Hesperus did not open at all last season. A super El Niño offers hope but no guarantee, and forecasters say the southern mountains have the better odds.

Dolomiti Superski is spending around €100 million across its 12 areas before winter. Kronplatz gets a new 10-passenger gondola with a middle station, 3 Zinnen gets Helmissimo, and Val di Fassa swaps a chairlift for a gondola above Col Valvacin. New water-storage basins and upgraded snowmaking follow, and construction has started on the San Martino to Passo Rolle link. A peak adult day pass is €89.

Brian Head is targeting 6 November, though last year it aimed for 7 November and did not open until the 25th. Park City, Alta and Solitude are pencilled in for 20 November, Snowbird and Snowbasin for 27 November, and Deer Valley for 5 December. Eagle Point will stay closed after the Cottonwood Fire. A super El Niño is forecast, but the big snow is not expected until January.

Hintertux became Austria's second glacier to open for 2026-27 on Friday 2 October, after the Pitztal Glacier. Twelve kilometres of piste are running around the Olperer and Gefrorene Wand, served by one gondola and two drag lifts, with the Betterpark also open. Lifts officially run 8:15 am to 4:30 pm, but skiing stops at 2 pm for now.

A historically poor western winter cut Vail Resorts' annual net income from $280 million to $147.5 million and skier visits by 13.4 per cent. Now 2026-27 pass units are down 12 per cent as of 18 September, worse than the 10 per cent flagged in spring. Vail blames the weather and thinks some buyers are simply waiting, and it forecasts a rebound if the snow behaves.

Arizona Snowbowl advertised eight $1 lift ticket days this winter. Go looking and only three are showing - 10 March, 1 April and 10 April - so the rest may already have gone. The consolation is a calendar full of $9 days, including all but one day in April. Opening day is 20 November, weather permitting, and opening weekend is $19.

For years, Whitewater's Short Side was where you ducked a rope and hoped for the best: unmapped, ungroomed and unpatrolled. This winter it's inbounds. Six new runs of glades and fall-line skiing add 190 acres (about 77 hectares), taking the resort past 1,400 acres in total. F2 Logging spent a month in the trees to make it happen, and opening day is pencilled in for 4 December. Bonanza now needs less snow to groom, too.

Mammoth got its first snow of 2026-27 on Monday 28 September - and promptly lost it by Tuesday morning. Barely an inch fell at McCoy Station, but with opening day pencilled in for Friday 13 November, it's the first sign the Sierra is waking up. Last year's date slipped from 14 November to 20 November, so nobody's booking flights on a dusting just yet. Here's where California's early openers stand.
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