No snow, no skiing in Solang Valley

MC Thakur

Manali, January 28

Snow continues to elude the upper Manali region, disappointing ski enthusiasts. The famous ski slopes of Solang are wearing a deserted look these days.

The Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports (ABVIMAS) has for the second time postponed ski courses scheduled for January 27.

Earlier, the first 14-day basic ski course, which was to start from January 11, had to be postponed due to dry weather.

The ABVIMAS conducts many skiing courses during winter and imparts skiing training to hundreds of winter sports lovers from all over the country every year.

Nanak Chand Soni, senior mountaineering and rescue instructor, said participants from other states of the country who had applied for basic and intermediate ski courses were being informed telephonically the schedule of the courses.

He said the participants would be included in the next ski course staring from February 11. A special ski course could be conducted only if the area received snow in the coming days, he added.

Around this time of the year, Solang gets 3 to 4 ft snow. This year, Solang received moderate snowfall four times. The main ski slopes had received light snowfall on January 24. However, due to the rise in atmospheric temperature, the snow melted.

Even the Bhrighu ski slopes, Hamta ski slopes and the Seri ski slopes, which are at an altitude ranging from 10,000 ft to 14,000 ft, received scanty snow.