Ski season begins in Catalonia

Barcelona (ACN).- The ski season begins this weekend on the 23^rd and the 24^th of November in 5 major ski resorts of the Catalan Pyrenees: La Molina, Vall de Núria, Vallter, Masella and Baqueira Beret. Thanks to the weather of these past few days, the resorts have been able to advance their opening a week earlier than initially planned. Indeed, the snowfalls have been exceptional for this time of year, ranging between 30 and 100 centimetres. Vallter was the luckiest resort with a snow thickness varying between 90 and 100 centimetres. They will be launching their new season with a party and a new range of mountain activities for all snow sports fans. Meanwhile, three other resorts, Espot Esquí, PortAiné and Port del Comte are planning to open on the following weekend (30^th of November and the 1^st of December).  Finally, Catalonia’s last ski resort, Boí Taüll, will open on the 5^th of December, right for the bank holiday on the 6^th December.

La Molina, Vall de Núria, and Vallter – resorts managed by the ‘Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya’ (FGC-public transportation), have advanced their opening due to a combination of significant snowfall and low temperatures these past few days. In La Molina, snow thickness varies between 30 and 70 centimetres. 21 slopes will open, as well as the Leisure and Snow Parks. The adult pass will cost €22 and the children’s one €16. The Vall de Núria snow thickness ranges between 40 to 60 centimetres. The Finestrelles, Eina and Roc Malé slopes will open as well as the Leisure Park. The adult pass will cost €20 and the children’s one €15.

Vallter benefits from a snow thickness ranging between 90 and 100 centimetres. 10 slopes will open along with the Leisure Park and the new area dedicated to mountain activities. The adult pass costs €25 and the children’s one €16 (on the 23^rd, the price also includes breakfast and a grilled-sausage lunch). After this first weekend, the three stations will remain closed during the next week days, until Saturday the 30^th of November, when they will re-open alongside Espot and Port Ainé, marking the beginning of the ski season for all resorts managed by the ‘FGC Turisme i Muntanya’ group. From this day onwards, the resorts will be opened on week days and holidays.

Vallter resort opening with party and typical breakfast

This weekend, Vallter resort will be launching its season with a party and a wide range of new mountain activities to attract all snow fans by offering them easy access to mountain sports. In this reinvented ski resort, residents will be able to participate in different activities such as guided snowshoe walks or new skiing mountain itineraries.

For the occasion, the resort has prepared a special offer for all visitors of the 23^rd of November. For €25 for adults and €16 for children, visitors can purchase a day pass, which includes free access to all the activities of the resort and to popular walking tracks plus a typical mountain breakfast with sausages.

Snow thicknesses of 50 to 80 centimetres and partial opening in Baqueira

At Baqueira Beret, the resort located at the most western point of the Catalan Pyrenees, snow thickness ranges between 50 and 80 centimetres and enabled the resort to open a week earlier than planned. It will be a partial opening as from the 23^rd to the 29^th of November, only the chairlifts of Bosc, Mirador, Era Cabana and Jorge Jordana will be open in the area of ​​Baqueira. While it was initially planned to only open the Northern Baqueira Jorge Jordana chairlift, the heavy snowfalls and the success of the early opening among ski fans caused the station to expand its opening to central areas of ​​Baqueira.

This decision also provides an easier access to the ski slopes that are not usually opened this early, notably around the Orri area of Baqueira. There will be 1500 outside parking places available. Buses will run all around the resort, and visitors will be able to eat out at the Cafeteria Bosc and the Pàrrec d'Orri (the Moët will however be closed). The day pass for Baqueira Beret resort will be worth €30 for adults and €20 for children.