Skiing Season Begins at Fichtelberg, Thaw on Horizon
Just a few days before Christmas, the alpine ski season kicked off at Fichtelberg. Five out of six lifts have been operational since Wednesday, with the Himmelsleiter slope expected to open to skiers by the weekend. Approximately 10 kilometers of slopes are available for skiers to enjoy, according to René Lötzsch, head of the Fichtelberg Schwebebahn. "We have incredible conditions here on Fichtelberg for this time in early December," Lötzsch shared with the German Press Agency. The mix of natural and artificial snow on the slopes stands at about 30 centimeters high in total.
Although there have only been a few winter sports enthusiasts on the freshly groomed slopes so far this week, tourists have been Full of Praise. Despite limited visibility on the summit, the conditions on the slopes have proven to be excellent. A skier from southern Germany expressed their approval, stating, "It's just like being in a fairy tale." One tourist even said, "It's idyllic and beautiful here."
Cross-country skiing fans are currently finding joy in Oberwiesenthal. The trails have been prepared and groomed, and the winter hiking trails are also open.
Thaw on the Horizon for the Mountains
While it's warming up again in the lower-lying regions of Saxony, permafrost will remain in the mountains until Friday, according to meteorologist Florian Engelmann from the German Weather Service. After that, warm air masses will move in, causing a thaw in the mountains that reaches up to 1000 meters. Engelmann notes, "It looks disappointing for winter sports." From the weekend, warm air masses are expected to take over, with temperatures causing a thaw in the mountains.
Lötzsch is hopeful that the slopes at Fichtelberg can handle the slight thaw given the area's new features. For skiers, the Fichtelberg ski resort has some exciting new additions this season, such as a 130-meter-long Wonder Carpet on the main slope and an extended slope crossing from the summit of the Fichtelberg to the main slope. Lötzsch is also looking forward to the upcoming construction of a modern chairlift on the Himmelsleiter, replacing the T-bar lift there. However, funding is still required for this project.
The lifts at the neighboring Keilberg on the Czech side are also expected to open this weekend, providing additional options for winter sports enthusiasts in the area.
Exploring Fichtelberg Ski Resort
Tourists from various municipalities across Germany are currently taking advantage of the leisuretime options at Fichtelberg, praising the excellent conditions despite limited visibility on the summit.
The thaw in the mountains is an unfortunate reality, but skiers can still look forward to enjoying the new features at the Fichtelberg ski resort this season. Cross-country skiing enthusiasts are also making the most of this time thanks to the well-prepared trails in Oberwiesenthal.
The German Press Agency reported that the ski season has begun in Germany, and the Fichtelberg offers around 10 kilometers of slopes for skiers to enjoy.
Enrichment Data:
Although the article does not provide specific information on the expected thaw date in the mountains around the Fichtelberg ski resort, it does suggest that warm temperatures and glacier melt in the Alps might impact the ski season. Based on the sourced information, only four glacier ski areas are open in the Alps, and high temperatures and glacier melt are causing damage to these areas.
Instead of establishing a specific date, the article encourages readers to check the Fichtelberg Schwebebahn Kurort Oberwiesenthal's official website for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
