Whats the minimum amount of snow in which you can ski?
It does depend a lot on what is underneath the snow. If it is mud, and smooth without rocks or big stones, then you can get away with very little snow. When it is rocky, you need a good coverage. When the piste is bashed, the snow compacts and so 5 cm of compact snow is quite low. There may be bare patches. Just stay near the top and the skiing will be fine. Last year in Solden there was plenty of snow on 5 December. By the 8th there was ample in St Anton. By Christmas the skiing in Zermatt was a bit patchy at some of the resort level runs. At New Year and early January the skiing was superb in L’Espace Killy.
