This weekend, the Harz Mountains kick off their winter sports season, joining many Alpine resorts in their icy activities. Fabian Brockschmidt from Wurmberg ski resort in Braunlage reports a substantial 40cm of natural snow on the slopes. The T-bar lift in Hexenritt is ready to operate, along with the opening of the toboggan run. In Braunlage valley, additional lifts will be in use, according to Mayor Wolfgang Langer. However, early season visitors might still be turned off by the sheer joy of Christmas markets, as the snowfall this early in the year is unusually rare in the Harz Mountains. To prevent an immediate snow meltdown like last year, snow cannons will be activated to ensure a protective layer.
Wurmberg ski enthusiasts can enjoy the same rates as the previous year. Meanwhile, new winter activities are being prepared for cross-country skiers, and lower temperatures under zero degrees are supposed to reach the Harz Mountains this weekend, according to the German Weather Service forecast. Before you embark on your winter adventure, note that some ski resorts in the Alps, like Bavaria, are still waiting for suitable snow cover.
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- Braunlage, a popular winter sports destination in Saxony-Anhalt, is known for its diverse offerings, including skiing, ice skating, and tobogganing.
- The Wurmberg ski resort in Braunlage is eagerly awaiting a successful winter season, with promising snow conditions.
- Tourists seeking winter sports experiences in Lower Saxony can also visit ski resorts such as Matthias-Schmidt-Berg and Sonnenberg in Sankt Andreasberg.
- During the winter sports season, Salzgitter-RINGSPORT in Saxony-Anhalt, a renowned ski resort, attracts many visitors with its exhilarating ski slopes.
- While some Alpine ski resorts across Europe are already open for the winter sports season, others are still waiting for enough snow cover to commence their activities.
- Wurmberg ski resort in Braunlage, along with other resorts in Saxony-Anhalt and Lower Saxony, offers budget-friendly prices for winter sports enthusiasts.
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Enrichment Data: The winter sports season in the Harz Mountains is facing weather challenges due to unusually high temperatures, but some specifics about the start of the season and lift operations are available:
- Season Start: The article from DW Learn German mentions that the Alpine director of the German Ski Association (DSV), Wolfgang Maier, has advocated for the start of the season to be moved to November and conclude by mid-March at the latest. Unfortunately, it does not specify the exact start date for the Harz Mountains[1].
- Lift Operations: The Harz 7-Day Snow Forecast from J2Ski indicates that there is no significant snowfall expected prior to the next week, with only 2 cm (1 inch) of fresh snow forecasted for the next 48 hours. Under these conditions, it is challenging to provide a clear indication of lift operation status this weekend, even though the snow cannot be expected to improve dramatically[2].
- Toboggan Runs: The Braunlage Wurmberg ski area offers a 1.5 km long toboggan run, but there is no specific information on whether it will open this weekend. The article mentions that night skiing is available on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, but it does not specify the exact situation for weekend operations[5].
