Fresh snow and cold make for very good winter sports conditions
After the first ‘real’ winter sports weekend of the season, the offerings continue to grow. The snow guns are running in sub-zero temperatures. Up to 20 centimetres of natural snow could ensure that even natural snow slopes open. At least 50 ski and toboggan lifts are expected to be running at the weekend. The first cross-country ski trails should also be groomed.
Alpine skiing
On the snow-covered pistes, there is a mixture of technically produced snow and natural snow up to 40 centimetres thick. The conditions on the slopes with thick snow cover are ideal. Around 50 lifts in snow-covered ski areas are said to be running. In ski resorts with extensive pistes, skiing is possible in unprepared areas. If the predicted snowfall materialises in full, one or two natural snow slopes could also open. This would further increase the number of lifts available. High-altitude areas will then offer good conditions at the weekend.
Floodlit skiing:
Thursday in Bödefeld-Hunau
Friday in Winterberg, Neuastenberg (also tobogganing) and Bödefeld-Hunau
Saturday in Neuastenberg (also tobogganing)
Tuesday in Winterberg
Wednesday: Neustenberg, Willingen, Bödefeld
Floodlight information at www.wintersport-arena.de
Tobogganing
Up to 10 ski resorts offer tobogganing at the weekend. Children and adults can toboggan on 12 snow-covered toboggan runs with lifts. These include Willingen, Ruhrquelle, Neuastenberg, Winterberg, Sahnehang, Bödefeld, Fahlenscheid and more. At Sternrodt in Bruchhausen, at Schlossberg in Küstelberg, in the spa parks in Winterberg and Willingen, tobogganing is possible free of charge without a lift. Further offers may be added. Information at www.wintersport-arena.de
Tobogganing is also possible in the countryside with good fresh snow conditions.
Cross-country skiing
Some cross-country ski areas have already rolled on the snow cover, which is still a little thin, to create the best possible basis for making tracks. As soon as the snowfall subsides, the cross-country skiing vehicles will be making fresh tracks in the high-altitude areas - the first of the still young winter season. At the Westfeld cross-country skiing centre, the operators will use the cold to produce snow. As soon as there is enough, the centre will open. Trail information is available at www.wintersport-arena.de
Hiking
The snow-covered mountains provide impressive winter impressions. There are hiking trails all over the region, so you don't have to travel directly to the centre of the region. The landscape is white right up to the middle altitudes. In Brilon, Winterberg, Schmallenberg, Girkhausen and Willingen there are paths on which the snow is rolled or pressed. The tourist information centres in the other towns also provide tips for winter hiking. Information on groomed and certified winter hiking trails can be found at www.wintersport-arena.de
Weather
It has been snowing heavily on and off since Tuesday. Up to 20 centimetres of fresh snow could fall by Friday. After that, the snowfall will subside and very cold air will move into the region. Even during the day, the thermometer on the mountains remains well below freezing. Towards the beginning of the new week, the sun will increasingly prevail and it will remain cold.
Snowmaking
The lift operators will use the low, cold night-time temperatures to produce more snow in order to expand the range of winter sports on offer and create a secure basis for the rest of the season. This should be the case by around the middle of next week. By then, almost all snow-covered pistes should be open.
Travel tips
- If you simply want to enjoy the winter air and do some hiking, you will find plenty of opportunities, tranquillity and nature throughout the region. The tourist information centres are happy to provide information about hiking trails.
- It doesn't always have to be the centre of the region. If you want to go skiing, there are currently around 10 ski resorts between Willingen, Olsberg, Winterberg, Medebach, Schmallenberg and Olpe-Fahlenscheind. An overview can be found at www.wintersport-arena.de.
- Find out at home what you want to experience and where you want to go and then travel directly to your destination. Avoid the main travelling routes. This will make your journey more relaxed and reduce road traffic.
- If you absolutely have to go to the main area and the largest ski resort, arrive very early. Most of the car parks are already full by 9 am. When the car parks are full, the ski area is also full.
- The large ski resorts have online shops. If you want to save yourself waiting times at the ticket office, have a KeyCard sent to you in good time, book your ticket online and use it to get straight onto the piste.