News category
Latest in Germany
Resort Spotlight: Arber - Bavaria's Highest Resort Without the Alpine Crowds
Arber bills itself as the Bavarian Forest's premier ski destination, which sounds optimistic until you realise it's also the only proper resort in the region. At 406 vertical metres and 11.5km of trails, this is weekend skiing territory - but that doesn't mean it isn't worth considering.
Michael Fulton
Resort Spotlight: Hindelang Oberjoch - Germany's Highest Village Offers Reliable Intermediate Terrain
At 1,200 metres, Oberjoch claims the title of Germany's highest mountain village, which matters more for marketing than actual skiing. What does matter: 32 kilometres of well-maintained intermediate terrain, substantial snowmaking, and a notably lower-key atmosphere than the Bavarian circus further east.
Michael Fulton
Resort Spotlight: Kreuzberg - Bavaria's Low-Key Alternative to the Alpine Circus
Kreuzberg delivers something increasingly rare in German skiing - uncrowded slopes at sensible prices. This Rhön Mountains resort offers 318 metres of vertical across 13 kilometres of trails, targeting families and intermediates who've had enough of Alpine weekend queues.
Michael Fulton
Resort Spotlight: Todtnauberg - Black Forest Skiing Without the Crowd
Todtnauberg delivers 400 vertical metres of intermediate skiing in the Black Forest, backed by cross-country trails and woodland hiking. The terrain is modest, but the location works for families avoiding the Alps pricing.
Michael Fulton
Resort Spotlight: Wendelstein - Bavaria's Cogwheel Railway Ski Area
Wendelstein runs six trails accessed by a cogwheel railway built in 1912. The 932-metre vertical drop and north-facing aspect make this 11km Bavarian ski area worth considering for anyone within day-trip range of Munich.
Michael Fulton
Resort Spotlight: Hörnle – Bad Kohlgrub - Bavaria's Family-Scale Alternative to the Garmisch Crowds
This small Bavarian resort delivers exactly what its stats suggest: straightforward skiing on nine kilometres of primarily beginner terrain, served by two lifts. An honest look at who Hörnle works for and who should look elsewhere.
Michael Fulton
Resort Spotlight: Willingen - Germany's Sauerland Workhorse Delivers More Than Expected
Willingen punches above its weight for a central German resort. With 260 vertical metres, extensive night skiing, and snowmaking across nearly every run, it's built for consistency rather than bragging rights.
Michael Fulton
Resort Spotlight: Arnsberg - Where the Ruhr Valley Goes Skiing
An hour from Dortmund, Arnsberg offers something increasingly rare in European skiing - genuinely modest ambitions. With 9.5 kilometres of predominantly beginner terrain and €21 day tickets, this is skiing stripped back to essentials.
Michael Fulton
Resort Spotlight: Neuastenberg Postwiesen - Low-Altitude Skiing That Actually Works
At 730 metres summit elevation, Neuastenberg Postwiesen shouldn't work as a ski resort. Yet this Sauerland area 150km from Cologne has cracked the low-altitude code through aggressive snowmaking and realistic expectations about what it offers.
Michael Fulton
Resort Spotlight: Nesselwang Alpspitzbahn - Bavaria's Perfectly Scaled Family Resort
With just six runs spread across 563 vertical metres, Nesselwang Alpspitzbahn isn't trying to compete with Bavaria's larger operations. Instead, it delivers exactly what learning families need: uncrowded slopes, reasonable pricing, and terrain that builds confidence without intimidation.
Michael Fulton
Germany's Zugspitze Ski Lift Demolished as Glacier Disappears Beneath It
A ski lift that operated on the Schneeferner glacier atop the Zugspitze for more than 50 years has been demolished after the glacier it ran on melted away. New data shows Bavaria's glaciers shrank by more than a quarter between 2023 and 2025 alone - and scientists say there is no chance of saving what remains.
Michael Fulton
Swiss Men Lock Out Garmisch-Partenkirchen Downhill Podium as Odermatt Extends Dominant Season
Switzerland claimed all three podium spots at Saturday's World Cup downhill in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, with Marco Odermatt taking victory ahead of Alexis Monney by just 0.04 seconds. The result extends Odermatt's commanding lead in the overall standings to nearly double his nearest competitor with three races remaining.
Michael Fulton
Garmisch Classic Ski Resort Review: Olympic History and Bavarian Skiing at Its Best
Garmisch Classic combines Olympic heritage, varied terrain across 40km of trails, and authentic Bavarian culture at prices significantly lower than other European destinations. With a massive 1,350m vertical drop and terrain for all abilities, this German resort offers exceptional value for Australians seeking European skiing without Swiss or French price tags.
Michael Fulton
Climber's Narrow Escape from Zugspitze Crevasse Highlights Glacier Risks
A solo mountaineer's fall into a Zugspitze glacier crevasse sparked a precarious rescue operation, underscoring the increasing dangers of alpine climbing amid climate change impacts.
Michael Fulton
Möserbahn Cable Car Upgrade at Oberstdorf Kleinwalsertal
The Möserbahn cable car in Oberstdorf Kleinwalsertal is set for a major renovation in summer 2025, including improved safety features and technical upgrades.
Michael Fulton
Garmisch Classic's Kreuzwankl Ski Express Upgrade: Boosting Capacity and Comfort
The Kreuzwankl Ski Express at Garmisch Classic is set for a major upgrade, transforming from a 6-seater to an 8-seater chairlift. This renovation aims to increase capacity, reduce wait times, and enhance the overall skiing experience.
Michael Fulton
A Day at Garmisch Classic: Germany’s Best Ski Resort
Follow along on a personal journey through Germany's renowned Garmisch Classic ski resort, from morning coffee in the parking lot to conquering the legendary 1,350-meter descent. Experience the challenges and triumphs of skiing European slopes through the eyes of an Australian skier discovering the unique character of Bavarian Alps.
Michael Fulton
Zugspitze Ski Resort Review: Germany's Only Glacier Skiing Experience
Experience Germany's last remaining glacier ski resort at Zugspitze, where world-record-breaking cable cars transport you to 3,000m of Alpine splendour. This intimate ski area offers perfect terrain for beginners and intermediates, complemented by panoramic views of four countries and the stunning Bavarian Alps.
Michael Fulton
Latest News
More from the SnowStash desk
Vermont Ski Resort Opening Dates 2026-27: Few Dates Set, Killington Waits on the Cold
Vermont's season is slow to take shape. Stratton is tentatively targeting 18 November and Sugarbush 21 November, while Pico has Friday 11 December on the calendar. Killington never sets a date and opens when the snowmaking allows, and Vail Resorts has yet to name days for Stowe, Okemo and Mount Snow. The forecasts disagree about snow, and the main El Niño worry for the Green Mountains is warmth.
9 Oct 2026
California Ski Resort Opening Dates 2026-27: Mammoth Leads, Tahoe Follows
Mammoth Mountain is first up in California, targeting Friday 13 November after a dusting of September snow. Heavenly and Northstar follow on 20 November, Palisades Tahoe on Wednesday 25 November and Sugar Bowl on 27 November, with Kirkwood on 4 December and June Mountain on 19 December. Plenty of smaller areas have no date yet. A super El Niño favours the Sierra, but a warmer storm track is the catch.
7 Oct 2026
Colorado Ski Resort Opening Dates 2026-27: A-Basin and Keystone Race to Be First
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.
5 Oct 2026
Dolomiti Superski 2026-27: Four New Gondolas, New Reservoirs and an €89 Peak Day Pass
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.
4 Oct 2026
Utah Ski Resort Opening Dates 2026-27: Brian Head First, Eagle Point Out
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.
4 Oct 2026
Hintertux Glacier Opens for 2026-27 With 12 Kilometres of Piste
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.
4 Oct 2026
Vail Resorts Counts the Cost of a Thin Winter as Pass Sales Slide Further
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.
3 Oct 2026
Arizona Snowbowl's $1 Lift Tickets Are Hard to Find, but $9 Days Are Not
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.
2 Oct 2026