Western North America Conditions 2025/26

[tseeb]

Also posted some of this in Shasta thread that @jamesdeluxe brought back from the dead

From Mt Ashland's Mountain Report Page: "Beginning Thursday, January 15, 2026, Mt. Ashland Ski Area is forced to pause Ski Operations indefinitely due to low snowpack, warm weather in the forecast and no snowfall projected. All terrain and chairlifts are closed." They report 15" at Base, 24" mid-mountain and 0" at top on 42" season snowfall.

There are rumors that Willamette Pass who reports 3/6 lifts and 7/30 trails open and an11" base after 36" season snowfall could be next.

 

[Skieric]

I am currently at Mustang. Surprisingly skiing is better than I was expecting. Clear blue skis and temps fluctuating around the freezing mark. As Tony speculated, we are predominantly skiing in the alpine. We have been getting predominantly spring like conditions with some recrystallized snow and also some corn on south facing slopes. Surfaces are predominantly soft, but certainly not fresh powder.

 

[Tony Crocker]

We have been getting predominantly spring like conditions with some recrystallized snow and also some corn on south facing slopes. Surfaces are predominantly soft, but certainly not fresh powder.

That warm? If the south facing corn is from rain, I'd expect north facing to be bulletproof. One possible explanation: it snowed but was very high water content snow that is more likely to transition to spring conditions on sunny exposures. That's still surprising at 50 degrees latitude in January though.

 

[Skieric]

That warm? If the south facing corn is from rain, I'd expect north facing to be bulletproof. One possible explanation: it snowed but was very high water content snow that is more likely to transition to spring conditions on sunny exposures. That's still surprising at 50 degrees latitude in January though.

Rain was predominantly below 6000 feet, and moisture petered ot when temperatures warmed above freezing to 10000 feet. Somehow sun actually feels warm now. Lows around 20 and highs upper 20’s. Lower elevation that got full on rain are indeed bulletproof. Higher elevations have varying surfaces that are carvable to soft depending on aspect. Best skiing has been alpine with some afternoon softening of lower elevation rain crust in the afternoon. Snow has been developing facet changes, corn and some surface hoar depending on aspect, elevation, wind exposure. Overall guides are finding fun lines and the group is having a good time, however 2 feet of fresh powder would be better.

 

[Tony Crocker]

Competent guides can often extract maximum fun from challenging circumstances. But the key is that weather is allowing you to stay above tree/rain line. This is the third Mustang TR posted on FTO that has more challenging conditions than any of my 10 tours. Hopefully that will change before Tseeb arrives Feb. 20.