“Too Much Snow” Delays Opening of Italian Summer Ski Area

Due to recent heavy snowfall, Pirovano Stelvio, an Italian summer ski area and hotel, has delayed its opening.

Initially, Pirovano Stelvio planned to open the ski area on June 1st, one day after the May 31st opening of the Pirovano Quarto, an accompanying slopeside hotel.

The hotel will now open later-than-planned on June 7th, although the opening date of the ski are remains a bit foggy. An updated release indicates that the ski area will open on the 7th alongside the Quarto, although another site dedicated to the resort says June 1st is still the planned opening date.

Either way, a bunch of snow has thrown a wrench in Pirovano Stelvio's usual plans.

“A.N.A.S. Spa, which is in charge of the road infrastructure, until the preparatory activities for safe vehicular transit are completed, will not even allow operators access to the hotel facilities,” the Pirovano Stelvio wrote in a release, noting the snow has made reaching the hotel and accompanying ski area difficult.

Of course, this is a good problem to have. While the usual operations at Priovano Stelvio are delayed, they've been delayed by a natural occurrence that should benefit summer skiing conditions.

“This year big summer skis are guaranteed on the Stelvio glaciers that are loaded with snow like never happened for a long time!” Priovano Stelvio wrote on Facebook. Yes, that’s a funky Google translation.

Pirovano Stelvio is located on Stelvio Pass, Italy’s highest car-accessible pass. While the pass provides high-altitude access for summer skiers, it’s also a destination for cyclists interested in massive elevation gain and self-flagellation, er, cardio exercise.

Typically, the ski area—which boasts 12 miles of trails and 2300 feet of vertical—remains open from the end of May through the beginning of November.

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