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zermatt summerSAM Magazine—Zermatt, Switzerland, Mar. 25, 2016—High-altitude resorts across the Alps are preparing for and investing in summer operations, according to Patrick Thorne's SnowHunter World Weekly Snow News. The strategies are, not surprisingly, diverse.

Austria's Stubai glacier is making the biggest investment. The glacier, which is normally open for skiing about 10 months of the year, will close earlier than normal at the beginning of May to continue work on a new $65 million Eisgrat 3S Gondola. The lift is a replacement for the ski area's Eisgrat cable car, which has ceased operating after more than 40 years of service. The gondola will have a capacity of just over 3,000 skiers per hour. Two major buildings, at the base and mid-station, are also included in price tag. The new lift is expected to open on October 1, 2016.

In France, Les Deux Alpes is extending its summer ski and snowboard season to 10 weeks, opening from mid-June to the end of August. This tops Tignes, which was formerly open year round, but won't re-open its Grand Motte glacier ski area this summer until the start of July. Tignes still has the longest overall operating schedule of any resort in France, spinning lifts for two months in autumn when no other resorts are open.

Les Deux Alpes glacier ski area has a summit elevation of 11,811 feet and will operate 17 lifts this summer, serving 11 runs and a terrain park, from 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. daily, June 18–Aug. 27.

Zermatt, which is open every day of the year for skiing (weather permitting), is offering visitors the chance to ski and play golf on the same day. Its new “Ski & Green Fee” package includes a ticket to ski Zermatt's 12 miles of summer ski terrain in the morning, and a round of golf on the nine-hole course in the neighbouring village of Täsch in the afternoon.

The package costs $160. There's also the “Ski & Golf Pro” package, which includes a 100-minute golf lesson with a professional instructor, and costs $347. The offer is valid for three days after redemption of the first benefit (whether golf or ski), June 25 – Sept. 30.