The good news is the ski season has already started in Switzerland. Diavolezza near St Moritz and Pontresina opens 22nd October (Corviglia on 26th November), followed by Saas-Fee on 1st November, Davos/Klosters on the 15th November and Zermatt on 26th November. For sure the entire resorts will not be open so early, but the temperatures in Switzerland have fallen recently and new snow is forecast above 2000m from 24th October. At St Moritz the lifts that are open are on Diavolezza, but they will be fitting new panoramic cabins on the Diavolezza cable car so it will close for re-fitting from 26 November until 11 February 2012 – not such a loss as chilly Diavolezza is best as an early or late season outing – but what a fabulous vertical!
In truth, for Zermatt and Saas-Fee, the season never really ends, with glacier skiing available throughout most of the year ahead of the official winter season start dates – both usually have about 20km open. From 29 October 2011 the Vorab Glacier in Laax will be open at weekends, with the resort opening up daily from 3rd December. The snowpark and Dôme skilift will be open at Glacier 3000 near Gstaad and Les Diablerets from 5th November. The glacier on Titlis in Engelberg opened on 1st October, but the lifts will be closed for maintenance from 7th to 25th November. Depending on snow conditions many resorts may open early or have limited opening after the official season start date, but here are those official opening dates for this autumn:
| Resort | Start |
| Engelberg-Titlis | 1.10.2011 |
| Engadine St. Moritz | 22.10.2011 |
| Saas-Fee/Saastal | 1.11.2011 |
| Alpes Vaudoises | 5.11.2011 |
| Gstaad Mountain Rides | 5.11.2011 |
| Gotthard Oberalp Arena | 12.11.2011 |
| Davos Klosters | 18.11.2011 |
| Crans-Montana | 19.11.2011 |
| Jungfrau Region | 19.11.2011 |
| Flumserberg | 26.11.2011 |
| Verbier | 26.11.2011 |
| Zermatt & Cervinia | 26.11.2011 |
| Hoch-Ybrig | 1.12.2011 |
| Aletsch Arena | 3.12.2011 |
| Arosa | 3.12.2011 |
| Flims Laax Falera | 3.12.2011 |
| Klewenalp Stockhütte | 3.12.2011 |
| Lenzerheide | 3.12.2011 |
| Nendaz | 8.12.2011 |
| Braunwald | 10.12.2011 |
| Motta Naluns, Scuol-Sent-Ftan | 10.12.2011 |
| Pizol | 10.12.2011 |
| Adelboden-Lenk | 17.12.2011 |
| Airolo | 17.12.2011 |
| Belalp-Blatten | 17.12.2011 |
| Lauchernalp / Lötschental | 17.12.2011 |
| Leukerbad | 17.12.2011 |
| Meiringen-Hasliberg | 17.12.2011 |
| Melchsee-Frutt | 17.12.2011 |
| Portes du Soleil | 17.12.2011 |
| Sierre-Anniviers | 17.12.2011 |
| Sörenberg | 17.12.2011 |
| Stoos | 17.12.2011 |
| Visp | 17.12.2011 |
Many of the smaller resorts will open around Christmas, weather conditions permitting. For details of what is open today, check out http://snow.myswitzerland.com/wispo.html#
