Despite this summer’s record-breaking heatwaves, the ski season in Zermatt, in the Swiss Alps, is set to begin on Tuesday, October 14th.
After a scorching summer that forced the closure of its Theodul glacier to skiers – and caused accelerated melting of other Swiss glaciers as well – three of Zermatt's ski lifts are ready to begin operations this week.
The Plateau Rosa 1 and 2 lifts will take skiers up on Wednesday to the now-reopened Theodul.
The Matterhorn Glacier Ride II, running between Klein Matterhorn and Testa Grigia, is also set to resume operations on the same day.
Moew slopes in the famous Valais resort are scheduled to re-open on November 1st.
When are other high-altitude Swiss resorts inaugurating their ski season?
Saas-Fe will open its slopes on October 31st, followed by Glacier 3000 (November 7th), Davos (November 13th), Grindelwald (November 21st), Crans-Montana (November 28th), and Verbier / 4 Vallées (December 5th).
You can check out the other openings here.
Will there be abundant - or at least sufficient - snow in the Swiss Alps this coming winter season?
Meteorologists have not yet provided a forecast for the coming months, nor do we know whether the El Niño phenomenon will influence the weather. in the mountains.
READ MORE: How will El Niño affect Switzerland in the coming months?
We do know, however, that intense summer heatwaves have taken their toll on Alpine peaks, with Swiss glaciers suffering a major and irreversible loss of ice in 2026.
READ MORE: Swiss glaciers see catastrophic melting