The Kitzbühel Alps are twice as sure of snow. Blessed with nature, but also supported by the best of modern technology to cope with all eventualities. Here are 10 reasons whu the area is 10 times more sure of snow...
| 5 NATURAL reasons for assured snow | |
| 1. | Location on the main Alpine Ridge The clouds from the prevalent north-westerly direction tend to stick around the main Alpine ridge, allowing for heavy snowfall in the Kitzbüheler Alpen. |
| 2. | Constant new snowfall* The average yearly snowfall in Kitzbühel over the last 50 years has remained constant. Every year it snows more than 2.5m in the valley, and 8m on the mountain. |
| 3. | Wintery Hannenkahm*: Since1993 it have been colder in the Kitzbühel mountains, and the is more snow, falling more often. More than 20cm of natural snow lays on the mountains for almost half the year. |
| 4. | Direction of the ski pistes: Most of the ski pistes face the ideal, and snow-sure north, north-east or north-westerly direction, where the sun shines at its weakest, and the snow stay longer. |
| 5. | Alpine pastures underfoot Alpine pastures make the perfect base for ski pistes. Whereas high alpine ski areas with stony ground need lots of snow, just 20cm of compact snow coverage is enough in the Kitzbüheler Alpen for perfect ski conditions. Woodland either side of the pistes also prevent snow drifts. |
| *Source: Based on weather data for Kitzbühel-valley and Kitzbühel-mountain (Hahnenkamm) sin ce1948, from the Central Institute of Meteorology and Geology in Innsbruck. | |
View of of snow-covered landscape
Piste machine with a view of the Kitzbüheler Horn
Ski touring through the snow-covered landscape
| 5 TECHNICAL reasons for assured snow | |
| 1. | Number of snow machines In total 3.512 snow machines (1.475snow cannons and 2.033 snow lances) provide forguaranteed snow on 811 kilometers of pistes, that is 76% of the total kilometers of pistes. |
| 2. | Performance of the snow machines The Kitzbüheler Alpen are at the very peak of performance for the snow machines. The St. Johann ski area for example, can be completely covered in artificial snow in just 60 hours. The SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser-Brixental can cover 110 kilometers of piste in only 110 hours, the equivalent of the distance between Kitzbühel and Munich. |
| 3. | Raw material for the snow machines 46 reservoirs with a total of more than 2.9 million cubic meters of water, provide sufficient reserves for a longterm covering of snow. Thanks to a relatively dry air in the regon, the snow quality can be maintained over a longer period. |
| 4. | Temperature for making snow* In the Kitzbühel mountains there is on average 157 days of frost per year, during some of which the snow machines, mainly at night, can be used. For 77 days the temperature does not rise above 0 degrees, and round the clock snow-making is possible. |
| 5. | Experienced snow 'maestros': Skiing has been part of life in the Kitzbüheler Alpen for nearly 100 years, and snow-making has been in operation for the last 20 years. The snow makers and piste men know the terrain, the climate and the weather in the Kitzbüheler Alpen inside and out, and provide for the best skiing conditions until the very last day of the season. |
| *Source: Based on weather data for Kitzbühel-valley and Kitzbühel-mountain (Hahnenkamm) sin ce1948, from the Central Institute of Meteorology and Geology in Innsbruck. | |
Snow cannons at work
Snow cannon up-close
Snow cannon at work
Walking & biking
The region Kitzbüheler Alpen
