Snow blankets ski resorts in Catalan Pyrenees

The recent wave of unseasonably mild, almost spring-like weather has finally given way to more wintery temperatures, with thermometers at some weather stations in Catalonia dipping below zero – good news for ski resorts and winter sports lovers alike. 

At Tossa d'Alp, home to the Masella ski resort, temperatures fell to -0.3°C, while at Boí Taüll, the highest ski resort in the Pyrenees (highest skiiing point of 2,751m), the thermometer read -0.2°C at 2,535m. 

Temperatures have also plummeted across the rest of Catalonia but have remained above freezing. 

Snow in the high Pyrenees has painted the peaks white, allowing the first skiers of the season to take to the slopes at ski stations such as Baqueira Beret, Espot and Port Ainé. 

And while not many people could be spotted on the slopes this November Monday morning, the Catalan News Agency (ACN) did spot one Basque couple – and their dog – out making the most of the wintery weather at Port de la Bonaigua. 

Environmental issues 

Climate change is a challenge for ski resorts in the Pyrenees, but FGC, the Catalan government-owned company which manages six stations, has defended their commitment to sustainability and the environment. 

"Since 2018, we have reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 66% and limited water consumption by 26%, an issue that is particularly sensitive this year," Marta Subirà, FGC president explained earlier this month. 

"In addition, for several years, the energy we consume comes from 100% renewable and solar origin, we are working on the decarbonization of the entire fleet of vehicles and also on the replacement of snow cannons with more modern, state-of-the-art cannons." 

"They allow us to make more snow with less energy and less water." Subirà said. 

World Championships 

Boí Taüll ski station, located in the Vall de Boí, Alta Ribagorça, will host the Mountain Ski World Championships from February 26 to March 4, 2023, building on the success of hosting the European Championships in 2022. 

The resort was named one of Europe's best affordable ski resorts by Lonely Planet last year. The travel guide praised Boí Taüll as "crowd-free, family-friendly and north-facing – crucial for long-lasting snow."