High snow reliability in December, but zero interest in mass tourism? My findings from 15 years of snow statistics

Servus everyone,

I’m currently planning my first trip for the new season. Since my job usually only allows me to head out in December (before Christmas), I face the exact same dilemma every single year: Where is there already enough snow without having to share the slopes with tens of thousands of other people?

I took a deep dive into the snow statistics from the past 15 years for the December weeks (Calendar Weeks 49 to 52). When it comes to absolute snow reliability in December, these three Austrian candidates statistically lead the pack:

• Stubai Glacier: Average snow depth of 114 cm* and an average of 3.1 snowfall days per week in December.
• Pitztal Glacier: Average snow depth of 99 cm (2.9 snowfall days/week).
• Ischgl: Average snow depth of 97 cm (2.9 snowfall days/week).

The catch: Ischgl is obviously no hidden gem in December and often gets completely packed.

How do you guys handle December trips? Do you play it safe with a glacier guarantee and put up with the crowds, or do you prefer taking a gamble on smaller, quieter resorts?

*By the way: I put all these snow depths and crowd/occupancy data together on a site in case anyone wants to browse around: leere-pisten.de/en Hope it helps a few of you out with your trip planning!