Las Leñas ski resort announces partial opening amid snow crisis

Las Leñas, a prominent ski resort in South America, is preparing to launch its winter season on July 11, albeit with a partial opening. The resort faces significant challenges due to a severe lack of natural snowfall, a problem affecting the entire Andean region. "The entire mountain range is having problems. All resorts are opening similarly to ours. These are partial openings, with some slopes for practicing skiing, all with artificial snow today," stated Fernando Passano, Mountain Activities Manager at Las Leñas.

Meteorological experts describe the current season as complex, with the landscape showing more earth and water than snow. Compounding the issue is the anticipated arrival of the "Super Niño" phenomenon, which could bring extreme storms. These storms might manifest as heavy rain and strong winds rather than the snow needed to cover the slopes, especially if accompanied by higher temperatures.

Despite the adverse conditions, Las Leñas has activated its snow-making machines. The resort boasts 51 ground-based and 3 aerial snow cannons, capable of producing over 100 cubic meters of ice crystals per hour. These machines operate most effectively during the night when temperatures are lowest, mixing water and air under high pressure to create snow.

The resort initially planned to open nearly 3.5 kilometers of slopes, including Eros I, Venus, Neptuno, and the Children's Park, along with the already open Adventure Park. However, a recent update from the resort indicated that the Neptuno slope would not be available as planned due to weather conditions in the preceding 48 hours. The resort confirmed its season would commence with the available slopes, relying heavily on its artificial snowmaking capabilities.