Today the Gran San Bernardo Pass has reopened to the public. The pass, at 2,450 meters links Valais in Switzerland to the Aosta Valley in Italy. Lots of people came to the open ceremony. The opening works started by Anas personnel in April. Snow has accumulated on the sides of State Road 27 up to 12 meters of height.
The Gran San Bernardo pass has reopened. Photo: AostaSera.
Anas personnel started opening a gap in the snow reaching a stretch about 4 km from the state border. As the road was cleaned, the side barriers and vertical signs were also restored, removed before closing and stored to avoid damage due to possible avalanches.
NATURAL HAZARDS : Camping in Switzerland carries certain risks
From Swissinfo.ch
I’ve found this post on Swissinfo.ch about Switzerland, but this applies to all mountainous areas all over the world really.
It states that about one in three campsites in Switzerland located in or near a risk zone along rivers, lakes or in avalanche regions, are in danger. This was found in an in-depth analysis by the Sonntags Zeintug and Le Matin Dimanche newspapers.
Photo: SB VonLanthen. Unsplash. NATURAL HAZARDS : Camping in Switzerland carries certain risks.
There are 444 campsites across the country of which some are open all year round. People living in these zones during the winter or bad weather spells with high waters could be killed.
I have been last year trekking with my family in Courmayeur during a week when it was raining a lot every afternoon – one day we’ve been up the mountain and we made it down and to the multi-sports enclosed centre when it started raining, and the next day, we’ve heard that just up the road a bit, in Val Veny, there was a massive mudslide as the rivers got really full with lots of rain in a short period of time, and a couple had been wiped away in their car and perished. One has to respect these areas, as nature can turn very hard against one really quickly.
Search efforts continue for 8 climbers missing in the Indian Himalayas, but hopes are fading after possible avalanche
Last Update
From CNN.com
A search team has spotted five bodies on an unnamed peak in the Indian Himalayas, where the eight climbers were believed to have gone missing a week ago.
Pithoragarh District Magistrate Vijay Kumar Jogdande said on Monday that the bodies seemed to be partially buried in an avalanche on the peak in different locations.
The analysis of some photographs taken by a helicopter that did an air survey of the area earlier today allowed to identify the bodies.
The operation has stopped by Monday afternoon local time for the day, Jogdande said. Now the authorities are figuring out how to recover the bodies.
On Sunday, helicopter teams saw signs of an avalanche on the peak where the group was thought to have been, according to two state officials. Also, on Monday, a helicopter made a recce of the area and the crew saw a backpack at an elevation of 5,000 meters.
Search efforts continue for 8 climbers missing in the Indian Himalayas, but hopes are fading after possible avalanche
Jogdande said that for sure the missing team has been caught by a “huge avalanche” and that the ‘chances of survival are almost zero now.”
The missing climbers — four Britons, two Americans, an Australian and their Indian liaison officer — went missing in the region of Nanda Devi East, one of the highest peaks in India at just over 7,400 meters (24,000 feet.)
According to group’s expedition company Facebook posts, the group was attempting to climb a previously unclimbed and unnamed peak of about 6,477 meters (21,250 feet)
Indian authorities said on Monday that the climbers had no permission to climb an unnamed peak. Jogdande added that if they had known that the eight climbers were planning on climbing the unnamed peak instead of Nanda Devi East, they “would not have given permission.”
He added that heavy rain and high winds in the area have been hampering the search efforts.
Eight climbers have been missing when climbing Nanda Devi, India’s second tallest mountain at 7,816 meters. The group was supposed to return on May 31, having departed on May 13.
India – Nanda Devi. Search efforts continue for 8 climbers missing in the Indian Himalayas, but hopes are fading after possible avalanche.
They were guided by British Mountain guide Martin Moran, owner of Scottish Moran Mountain tour company, who is an experienced mountain guide and has run numerous expeditions in the Indian Himalayas.
Search efforts started on Saturday, but bad weather conditions forced them to be called off during the evening hours. There are indications that an avalanche may have swept up the team.
The operation resumed on Sunday morning, with the Indian Air Force deploying two helicopters to aid in the search.
Upcoming Projects at Nendaz Veysonnaz: new gondola, snowmaking and on-mountain restaurant
NV Remontées mécaniques has definitely obtained all the necessary authorizations for the construction of the Gondola connecting Prarion to Plan du Fou as well as artificial snow making of the Greppon-Blanc sector (Combatseline-Thyon).
Upcoming Projects at Nendaz Veysonnaz: new gondola, snowmaking and on-mountain restaurant. Poster: NV Remontées mécaniques
These two projects will be carried out during summer 2019 and the installations commissioned for the winter 2019-2020. In parallel, the artificial snow of the Plan du Fou’s free track will also be finalized.
The total investment represents around CHF 25 million. NV Remontées mécaniques will therefore have invested a total of CHF 60 millions in 4 years (2016 to 2019) in order to improve its offer and best meet the expectations of customers.
The Panoramic Mont Blanc gondola to re-open 15 June
The Panoramic Mont Blanc Gondola has been closed since January 2018, when storm Eleanor laid too much snow on the cables and that cause them breaking and two gondolas falling down on the Glacier du Géant.
The lift connects the Aiguille du Midi (3,842m) in Chamonix, France to Punta Helbronner (3,466m) in Courmayeur, Italy, and the people that ride on the lift can see the marvellous Mer de Glace underneath. The ride takes 30 minutes to cross 5 km and is only opened in summer.
Around February the Compagnie du Mont Blanc found some more faults, but the company was still optimistic to open by the end of May. Now they are announcing its opening on 15 June. Last summer the gondola has to remained closed in order to change its power cable.
LEITNER ropeways wins award for special technical feature
By building the world’s highest 3S gondola lift ‘Matterhorn glacier ride’ to Klein Matterhorn in Zermatt (CH), LEITNER ropeways has created a ropeway highlight that has made waves worldwide. Some of the cabins developed with Italian design firm Pininfarina feature glass floors. These cabins have now been recognized with an award in the ‘Aviation & Maritime Technologies’ category at the renowned German Innovation Award.
Leitner Crystal ride. The Matterhorn Glacier Ride. German innovation award for Zermatt 3s cabins.
Special Features
Each year, the Design Council, which was initiated by the German Parliament and is founded by the German industry, presents the ‘German Innovation Award’ to honour outstanding products and solutions with a special user focus and which add special value compared with previous solutions.
The 3S cabin of the ‘Matterhorn glacier ride’ on Klein Matterhorn was one of this year’s award winners. Its unique design earned it a win in the ‘Aviation & Maritime Technologies’ category. The jury made up of independent, interdisciplinary experts from industry, science, institutions and the financial sector, was particularly impressed by the exclusive “special features” in four of the 25 cabins.
These four cabins have a glass floor with a surprise feature. The cabins’ true secret is revealed after three minutes of the journey, when the opaque glass floor suddenly becomes transparent and reveals a spectacular view of the glacier landscape 170 meters below.
Over 1 Million Skier Visits for the Jungfrau Ski Region
In the 2018/2019 winter sports season the Jungfrau Ski Region recorded 1.05 million ski visits and increased the number of visitors by 5.9 per cent compared to the 2017/2018 season.
After the challenging start to the 2018/2019 winter sports season, more ski visits were registered over public holidays as well as during the main holiday season in the Jungfrau Ski Region than during last year’s season. Not least, the long-lasting good weather and the excellent snow conditions in February contributed to the positive result. With 1,045,955 skier visits from the beginning of the season up to 28 April 2019, the entire Jungfrau Ski region recorded an increase of 5.9% on the winter sports season 2017/2018. However, visitor numbers are still lower than in the successful winter sports season of 2007/2008.
Over 1 Million Skier Visits for the Jungfrau Ski Region Grindelwald. First Winterski – Wetterhorn. – Photo by Jungrau Ski Region.
Biggest growth for Grindelwald and Wengen
The Jungfrau Ski Region consists of the sub-ski areas of Grindelwald-First, Kleine Scheidegg-Männlichen and Mürren-Schilthorn. Overall, the areas of Grindelwald and Wengen recorded the largest increase in visitors. In the First area, 6.2 per cent more winter sports enthusiasts were registered than in the previous year. In the Kleine Scheidegg-Männlichen area, a total of 607,333 guests enjoyed their skiing in front of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, an increase of 7.6 per cent. In Mürren 226,807 skier visits (+ 1.9%) were registered for the Schilthorn area.
Commencing in 2021, Doppelmayr/Garaventa is to build four Funifors and one of the world’s steepest reversible aerial tramways for Schilthornbahn AG. If these had been in place 50 years ago, James Bond would have reached his destination a whole lot faster…
Station on the Doppelmayr-Garaaventa at the Schilthorn. Drawing courtesy of Doppelmayr-Garaventa. Doppelmayr/Garaventa to build on the Schilthorn.
Garaventa AG submitted the winning bid for the project, “SCHILTHORN 20XX”, and is to build the new ropeways from Stechelberg up to the popular tourist destination, Schilthorn mountain, which in 1969 provided the setting for the James Bond film “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service”. The operating company is investing in the construction of four Funifors (particularly wind-resistant ropeway system with wide rope gauge) and one of the world’s steepest aerial tramways with a maximum grade of 160 percent. Total order volume amounts to 45 million Swiss francs. The construction work is due to begin in 2021 and will take until 2026.
Leitner Premium EVO: The chair evolution continues
LEITNER ropeways maximizes headroom for passengers and introduces new safety and comfort components
One of LEITNER ropeways’ main aims is to further develop existing strengths. The latest example is the LEITNER Premium Chair EVO, setting the new standard by combining ride comfort, safety and technology. The key features of this striking evolutionary stage include the significantly increased headroom thanks to a uniquely arched bubble and an even quieter ride experience thanks to optimized technology used for the chair suspension. The range of services is completed by new safety features and even more individual design freedom.
https://youtu.be/N-PCN_J-944
When first developing the LEITNER Premium Chair EVO, a high standard was expected: to optimize all component parts. The first visible signs of this are the elegant shape and design featuring high-quality materials. As an example, the discerning design of the new chair has been refined with a leather finish, therefore ensuring a premium ride experience.
For years, standard modern chairlifts have featured tried-and-tested comfort padding in synthetic leather variants, and it is therefore also a key component of the new chair model.
SkiStar showcases record results for the first half of 2018/19
Comments from the CEO Mats Årjes. “Continued strong interest in alpine skiing is the underlying reason that SkiStar can present the best half-year result in its history. Profit after tax is SEK 87 million more than last year.
During the quarter, which includes Christmas and New Year and much of the Swedish spring school break period, the number of skier days increased by one percent from the corresponding period last year. The Christmas and New Year periods as well as the spring school break period have led to new visit and sales records. The quarter ended with total sales growth, including the exploitation business, of 11 percent.
Powder Skiing. Photo courtesy: SkiStar. SkiStar showcases record results for the first half of 2018/19
This season we have only one Easter week, 15-22 April. Last year we had two earlier Easter weeks, from 26 March to 8 April. This means that our booking situation (through SkiStar accommodation agency operations) for the remaining season is seven percent lower than at the same time last year. The later Easter will of course also mean later bookings, which affects the comparative figures.
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