The ski season will commence on the 26th November. Snow fell last weekend and the snow cannons are currently working in full force to re-enforce and boost the exisiting cover in anticipation of a great start to the season
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=J9U3RIIeFDA
Sierra Nevada defies many concepts associated with skiing. Located barely a stone's throw from the Mediterranean coast, it has practically guaranteed sunshine, the best Spring snow conditions in Europe, and is still reasonably priced compared to many of its European counterparts.
Picture taken yesterday...
As one of Europe's highest resorts it is (perhaps surprisingly) very snowsure and typically has a long season. Traditionally the season starts around the end of November running through to the end of April or even into the first week of May.
The longest season on record was the
winter of 2008/9 which ran from the 15th November 2008 until the 17th
May 2009.
Sierra Nevada literally means "Snowy Mountain Range", and it includes
some of the highest peaks in Europe, not to mention the highest
concentration of peaks over 3,000m in the country. The Mulhacen at
3,482m is the Iberian Peninsula's highest.
The ski terrain is majestically overlooked by the jagged
glacier-formed Veleta peak, at 3,398m, Spain's third highest after Aneto
(3,404m) in the Pyrenees.
From the top of the Veleta peak, skiers can see across the Mediterranean to the Atlas Mountains of Morocco.
Overview
Resort Base Level
|
2100m
|
Top Station
|
3300m (Veleta peak 3398m)
|
Vertical Drop
|
1200m
|
Slope Orientation
|
NW & W
|
Pisted Runs
|
102.89 kilometres (inc. Snowboard Park) over 115 runs
|
Green Runs
|
16
|
Blue Runs
|
40 |
Red Runs
|
50 |
Black Runs
|
9
|
Longest Run
|
"El Aguila" - 6.18 kms
|
Cross Country Skiing
|
1 circuit. 4 kilometres
|
Number of Lifts
|
29 (2 Gondolas; 16 Chairlifts (6 Detachable); 2 T-bar drag lift; 8 Conveyer Belt, 1 rope drag)
|
Lift Opening Times
|
09.00 to 17.00 (Last lift up 16.45)
|
Total Lift Capacity
|
47,141 skiers per hour
|
No. of Ski Areas
|
6 (Veleta; Laguna De Las Yeguas; Borreguiles; Lomar de Dilar; Rio Monachil; Parador)
|
Snow Making
|
350 canons & 725 hydrants over 33 kms of piste on 32 runs.
|
Child Care
|
2 options: 1 - The "Snow Garden" in Borreguiles main ski area, 2 - The crèche at the base of Al-Andalus Gondola)
|
Night Skiing
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Saturdays from 19.00 to 21.30hrs (subject to weather /snow conditions)
|
Freestyle Parks
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1 with half-pipe, full range of jumps & rails plus a small lift. 1 Mini-Park with a small selection of ramps and rails.
|
Link to Piste Map
http://www.sierranevada.co.uk/images/stories/pistemap_big.jpg
An important factor, which very few resorts can boast, is that you are practically guaranteed sunshine throughout your stay! Being so far south, the climate is superb for brushing up on the deepest ski tan you are likely to get anywhere! Visitors are consistently stunned at how the snow lasts during the typically deep-blue-skied and sun-blazoned days.
