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The ice is disappearing: Another summer resort has closed in the Alps
The summer ski season in the European Alps continues to shrink: the Sass-Fee ski resort in Switzerland announced that it will cease operations as early as the beginning of August due to extreme weather conditions. The closure follows a similar decision recently made at the Zermatt resort, leaving only one area still operating in the summer
very gray, Sass Fee
According to the resort management, the high temperatures and lack of cooling at night have severely affected the snow and glacier to the extent that safe operation cannot be guaranteed. The last operating day is scheduled for August 9, after which the resort will close until further notice, with no clear date for resuming skiing.
This is a significant blow to the competitive skiing industry. Sass-Fee is considered one of the main training sites in the summer for teams and professional skiers from around the world, mainly in speed disciplines. In the days leading up to the announcement, hundreds of athletes were training at the site, but the skiing area has dramatically shrunk compared to its usual size, leading to unusual congestion on the slopes.
The closure comes shortly after Zermatt also stopped skiing on the local glacier due to similar conditions. As a result, the Passo Stelvio resort in Italy remains the only place in the Alps where skiing is still possible in the summer, and even there the conditions are far from ideal.
In Stelvio, there are reports of significant glacier retreat, a reduction in skiing area, and even the appearance of large cracks. Some of the facilities have not been operational for years due to the disappearance of the ice beneath them.
Matterhorn Glacier, Zermatt
The new situation forces many teams to seek solutions outside of Europe, mainly in South America and New Zealand. Within the continent, the options are very limited and do not provide suitable conditions for high-level speed training.
Industry sources continue to monitor weather conditions, but for now, it seems that the summer ski season in the Alps is at one of its most significant low points in recent years.
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