Just a few days ago and even in the last few hours, few believed this news - in a year that is on track to be the driest on record - but the stars seem to have allied themselves with the ski sector and Baqueira-Beret confirmed to last hour last night that this Saturday, November 25, the 2023/24 season premieres.
It will be the first station in Spain to raise the curtain, thanks to the snowfall that has occurred in recent hours. A surgical precipitation, those snowfalls that arrive at the most opportune moment.
At the highest levels, up to 35 centimeters of snow have accumulated, which will allow the Aranese resort to open 25 kilometers of slopes and 8 lifts in the Baqueira area at this early stage.
These rainfalls have been accompanied by a sharp drop in temperatures in these mountains, which is allowing the resorts to start up the artificial snow cannons in November. A support - now the sector prays that the mercury remains below zero degrees - is key to guaranteeing business.
At the Aranese station, therefore, the schedule planned for 2023-2024 is maintained, with this early opening. Most stations will wait until next weekend, if the weather is good, to raise the same curtain and be operational on the long Constitution and Purísima bridge.
This first ski getaway at the beginning of December has become an important event for a business that can bill in that week - when the weather cooperates - between 10% and 20% of the entire season's income.
The new season “is being faced with optimism”, as stated by the station's commercial director, Xavi Ubeira, and it is hoped to repeat, at least, the figures of the last two campaigns. Two years ago we surpassed one million visitors and last year we were very close to that figure, with more than 990,000 days of skiing sold.
This optimism is reflected in the investment of almost 13 million euros for this new season, in which a ski area of 170 kilometers is offered after the rearrangement of slopes (114) and added routes. This new map highlights a new red access track to the Argulls area from the Baqueira Viewpoint, called Barqueta. It has a length of 770 meters and allows a direct descent to the Bonaigua area.
An important part of this investment has been allocated to completing the renovation of the Montarto Hotel (at elevation 1,500) and updating the La Choza cafeteria.
The Aranese resort will not have the Government subsidy this year for aid received the last three seasons to alleviate the losses caused in the snow business due to the pandemic.
It was 1.2 million euros that were distributed to the only three private stations in Catalonia: Baqueira, Masella and Port del Compte. The Generalitat has decided to allocate that money from now on to the construction of social housing in the Pyrenees.
The Val d'Aran station will open the lifts TC Baqueira, TS Esquiròs, TSD Mirador, TSD Cabana, TSD Jorge Jordana, TQ Rabadà, and the Carreretes 1 and 2 lifts in the beginner area in Baqueira 1800.
The BaqueiraPASS and BaqueiraTICKET ski pass will have a special price at this start; €39.50 for adults and €26.50 for children. That offer will remain until December 2. From that day on it will be changed to the general rate: 62 euros.
In the restaurant offer, the resort, which has already put all its machinery in motion to expand the ski area if the weather cooperates, confirms the opening of the Bosque en 1800 cafeteria, Baqueira 1500, the Viña Pomal Wine Bar and the Hotel Montarto.
The rental, repair, ski storage and equipment sales services are also open at Ski Service 1,500, Baqueira Store-Ski Service Ruda, Guardaesquís Bosque en 1800. On the other hand, the covered car park of the Telecabina in Ruda will be open.
