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Latest in Valais
Fatal Explosion at Crans-Montana Claims Multiple Lives on New Year's Morning
A fatal explosion at a bar in the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana has killed multiple people and injured others in the early hours of New Year's Day. The cause of the blast at Le Constellation bar remains under investigation, with authorities yet to determine whether it was accidental or deliberate.
Michael Fulton
Zermatt Replaces Gifthittli Six-Seater with Eight-Seater Chairlift
Zermatt has opened a new eight-seater chairlift to replace the 21-year-old Gifthittli six-seater. The CHF 25 million upgrade brings incremental capacity improvements and modern features to a critical mid-mountain connector, though the investment raises questions about priorities in an increasingly competitive Swiss market.
Michael Fulton
Verbier Opens Early for 2025-26 Season Following November Snowfall
Verbier has opened for the 2025-26 season on 1 November after receiving 40cm of snow at higher elevations. The early opening is notable for a non-glacier resort in the Alps, though questions remain about terrain coverage and snow depth sustainability.
Michael Fulton
Crans-Montana's Mountain Biking Expansion: A New Chapter for Alpine Tourism
Crans-Montana is set to transform its summer tourism with a major focus on mountain biking, including new trails, gravel routes, and hosting the 2025 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships.
Michael Fulton
Climate Change and Mountain Instability in Swiss Alps
Recent evacuations in Swiss Alpine villages highlight the increasing risks of landslides and debris flows. This article explores the complex factors behind mountain instability and the challenges of predicting such events in a changing climate.
Michael Fulton
Five Skiers Found Dead Near Zermatt After Avalanche
In a tragic incident near Zermatt, Switzerland, the bodies of five skiers were discovered in avalanche debris. The group went missing during an ascent of the Rimpfischhorn, prompting a search operation.
Michael Fulton
Landslide Risk Prompts Evacuation of Swiss Mountain Village
The village of Blatten in Switzerland's Valais canton has been evacuated due to significant landslide risk. Ongoing geological instability and recent rockfalls have forced authorities to take immediate action to ensure residents' safety.
Michael Fulton
Fatal Avalanche Claims Two Backcountry Skiers Near Saas-Fee
A tragic avalanche incident on the Alphubel peak in Switzerland's Valais region has resulted in the deaths of two backcountry skiers, highlighting the persistent dangers in high-altitude terrain.
Michael Fulton
Major Snowstorm Closes Ski Resorts and Transport Routes in Swiss Alps
A powerful late-season snowstorm has shut down ski areas and major transport routes in southern Switzerland and northern Italy, raising avalanche risks to maximum levels and isolating mountain communities.
Michael Fulton
Two Fatal Avalanches in Swiss Alps Highlight Evolving Danger Scale
Recent avalanche incidents in Switzerland's Valais Alps underscore the importance of the new three-tiered danger scale developed by the Swiss Federal Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research.
Michael Fulton
Latest News
More from the SnowStash desk
Four Dead After Avalanche Near Ski Portillo in Chile
A large avalanche struck near Laguna del Inca adjacent to Ski Portillo on Saturday afternoon, killing four people and injuring four others. The group were day visitors mountaineering in the backcountry after reportedly being warned about elevated avalanche risk by resort staff.
18 Oct 2026
Europe Ski Resorts Open Now: What Is Skiable in Mid-October 2026
Europe’s ski season is open, technically. After a record-warm summer, glaciers in Austria, Switzerland and Italy are running a few pistes apiece, Sölden, Stubai and Kitzsteinhorn started late, Titlis has pushed back to 24 October, and Zermatt reopens a few lifts on 14 October after more than two months shut. Finland’s Levi and Ruka are skiing on stored snow. Here is what is open, and what you actually get at each.
14 Oct 2026
Zermatt Plans World Cup Downhill Return on the Gornergrat for 2028
Zermatt is having another crack at a World Cup downhill, and this time nobody has to cross a border. Around 13 million Swiss francs is going into rebuilding the Gornergrat piste, including a jump fed by a roughly 300-metre in-run across the roof of the Gornergrat Railway gallery, with the Matterhorn lined up behind it for the TV cameras. First men’s race is pencilled in for March 2028, pending FIS homologation.
14 Oct 2026
Mt. Rose Begins Snowmaking for the 2026-27 Season at Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe’s highest base elevation is paying off early: Mt. Rose has started making snow for 2026-27 after the first flurries and a cold snap. The Nevada resort is backing it with nearly US$2 million in upgrades, including a replacement snowmaking main line, a new PistenBully groomer and restraint bars on every lift. Opening day is yet to be confirmed, though Heavenly and Northstar are already eyeing 20 November.
13 Oct 2026
Utah Ski Resorts 2026-27: What’s New at Alta, Deer Valley, Powder Mountain and More
Utah is still building flat out. For 2026-27, Powder Mountain opens a steep new Skytrac chair into more than 1,000 acres of advanced terrain, Deer Valley adds 200 acres on Hail Peak, Sundance gets a new quad and Park City adds a gondola from its new parking structure. Snowmaking is expanding almost everywhere, Eagle Point stays closed after the Cottonwood Fire, and the 2034 Games are setting the pace. Here’s what’s new, resort by resort.
13 Oct 2026
Mt Hutt Invests NZ$12 Million in Base Area, Tripling Its Sun Deck
Mt Hutt is getting busier, and its base lodge is about to catch up. NZ$12 million goes into a heated sun deck roughly three times the current size (430 m² to 1,300 m²), plus a new toilet block, heated steps down to snow level, extra storage and a new food and beverage outlet. Building starts after the 2026 season, with everything due for winter 2027.
11 Oct 2026
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
Crans-Montana 2027 World Championships President Resigns Ahead of Fraud Hearing
Less than four months out from the Crans-Montana 2027 World Championships, the man running the organising committee has stepped down. Claude-Alain Schmidhalter resigned as Swiss-Ski vice president and OC president after being indicted over a business dispute unrelated to skiing. He denies the allegations and faces court on October 27. Interim leaders are in place for the February 1-14 event.
9 Oct 2026