April 2026 Recap

The month of April in the Alps started with powder and ended with corn, which is exactly what you might expect. Here are some photos and videos showcasing the three European countries I visited.

I showed up at one of my favorite blue-collar-under-the-radar Swiss ski areas just after a meter of new snow and as the skies were clearing. Once again, taking the time to study the forecasts set me up in pole position. Its a part time job but someone has to do it. The avalanche rating was a 4 out of 5, so I exercised restraint and yet still enjoyed some high-quality turns.

Like clockwork, the snowpack peaked in early April throughout much of the Alps

On my way back to my Italian home base, I decided to visit yet another obscure ski area that is on my Magic Pass. It is located many kilometers up a windy, one-lane road that included two barbaric tunnels drilled through the Alps. I arrived to an unattended parking garage and booted up, without any signs that a ski area existed (or any winter sports participants for that matter). I found a human and asked him “Dove si trova lo sci?” He pointed to a road, instructing me to “Cammina per cinque minuti” and hang a left by the church. I followed the directions and soon enough found myself at the base area, consisting of a double chair, ticket shack and rental shop.

I jumped on the old double “Seggovia” and rode up, admiring the pleasantly entertaining terrain including some legit off-piste opportunities. Above the chairlift are two additional poma lifts, powered by generators that look like they were borrowed from the corn dog vendor at the county fair.

After exploring what was definetly the most random ski area I’ve ever visited, I returned back to my side of the Alps, which was starting to enter a good corn cycle. I have been expanding my knowledge at the home hill and trying to ski new freeride descents.

After a few days of corn snow, the Monte Rosa region was in the bullseye and received a solid 50-60 cm overnight storm. I then experienced something that has never happened before during my illustrous ski career. It began by riding the top tram on a powder day without anyone else, except the driver. When we reached the top at 3,270 meters (almost 10,000′), I felt a wee bit intimidated being up there all by myself. Not only was avalanche danger a 4 of 5 and signs of slide activity, but whichever line I chose would require some serious trail breaking (both to and from). So I decided to do the unthinkable and sit tight, waiting for others to join the powder party. This is the complete opposite of Powder Panic.

After the quick hitting storm, the temperatures spiked that afternoon and quickly rendered the off-piste no bene. However, back on the other side of the Alpine ridge, the Rhone zone only received a small amount of new snow. So I jumped in the car and crossed the Andes for my final Swiss strike of the season. I checked out a high mountain refugio and new zone, which were easily accessible from a ski area that I have visited various times.

I then popped over to another of my favorite sleeper ski areas, deep up a side valley. This little gem has two pomas that serve over 3,000 vertical feet including some great off-piste and easily accessible touring terrain. The views are outrageous, and in my combined five or so visits, I have never heard a word of English.

After a few poma laps, I had a leisurely ski tour up and was well rewarded with excellent snow.

Included in my home hill’s season pass are four days at Verbier, which is a personal top three contender for best lift-served terrain on the planet. While I was taking advantage of the free day of skiing, the semiannual mountaineering race put on by the Swiss Armed Forces was taking place.

I then bee-lined to the high French Alps to close out the lift-served skiing. This has become an annual tradition as it is arguably the best skiing on the planet for the second half of April and into early May. Stay tuned for a separate trip report.

Here’s one of many highlights of the lift-served season finale