Today is the first day of the new ski season in Sierra Nevada. The Granada winter sports resort, close to the city itself, is the furthest south in Europe, and is the first Spanish resort to open this year.
The resort has started the 2012/2013 season two days earlier than originally scheduled, thanks to the recent snowfall and low temperatures, making ideal snowmaking conditions. Skiers can enjoy 11.5km of pistes in Veleta and Borreguiles, and it's hoped that on Saturday, the El Rio run will also be open. The slopes currently have an average of 20-30cm of snow.
The pistes which are open today are Panorámica, Panorámica II, Collado de Borreguiles, Rebeco (partial), Zorro, Peseta, Perdiz, Principiantes I, II, IV and V. To access these, you can use the following gondola lifts: Borreguiles, Emile Allais, Veleta II, Veleta, Stadium, Zayas, as well as the Borreguiles and Dauro carpet lifts.
Lift passes are available for these two opening days of the season (Thursday and Friday) at the special price of 30 euros.
Check out this video of the slopes being prepared, and also the Sierra Nevada webcam.