Western North America Conditions 2025/26

[ChrisC]

When I talked to Kristen in the booking office before going up, she told me to be expect to do some touring and recommend renting high quality touring gear from a shop in Revy. After taking the time and $ to rent the touring gear, I was certainly interested in trying it out and discussed this with our group and the guide.

Interesting. Does everyone in the Mustang's small-group option come equipped with touring gear? I was not sure whether the program was touring- or hiking-focused, with a focus on entering more difficult couloirs.

I have only dragged/taken my touring gear (and downhill gear) to Japan, because, like in the US/Canada, the marked runs get tracked out, and you are then skiing sidecountry or lift-assisted backcountry. Typically, one needs to use touring gear for exits, and less so for entrances - more often at Kiroro and Rusutsu. Niseko has traverses like Mt. Bachelor for easy returns, unless you ski the huge North Face on the backside.

On our last day in Niseko, I said, "Enough touring," and just called a cab for everyone after spending an hour in the backside Onsen, and did not feel like touring and lift-riding for 1.5 hours, 180 degrees around to the other side.

 

[takeahike46er]

Three of my 6 Whistler trips were in late March/early April. My impression was that the Whistler alpine had similar snow preservation as Mammoth at that time of year, but all 3 trips had some new snow (only one of those a big dump though).

Perhaps the time of year stacked the odds in your favor? Atmospheric rivers are most common in the fall through January. They’re often behind the wild temperature swings even if Whistler is not in the line of fire. The deep coastal snowpack also keeps temperatures at elevation cool well into April.

March and early April are when I experience the most reliable conditions in the alpine. Steep, shaded aspects remain chalky. Even if there has been freeze/thaw conditions, the solar aspects are likely in play.

 

[Tony Crocker]

Atmospheric rivers are most common in the fall through January.

Larry Schick told me that long ago from his work in Washington State. He said all of the most destructive flood events have been November - January. There was one this recent December.

All of the Pacific State snow sites that measure both snow and water show the lowest water/snow ratios in February/March and the highest in November/December. November/December are also the months where this was one of several recent years with a storm that snowed substantially on the upper half of Mammoth while raining to the top of nearly all ski areas at Tahoe.

 

[EMSC]

Mark was on his 3rd trip this season when we started. He told me that every trip this year has involved some uphill assent.

Very interesting that Mark had never hiked/skinned as of last years Jan trip and now has hiked several times in the same season. Although Also true that Mark has a very short list of named runs that he has never skied before, with a couple of those being hike to only with no direct cat access. Sounds like he is at least ticking off several of those options this year which will make him rather happy.

 

[Tony Crocker]

For the easterners who enjoy their fall foliage, this is my backyard on January 13.

Normally the liquid amber colors turn around Thankgiving and it drops most of the leaves by Christmas. I can't say why so late this year. November and December were unusually rainy but not cold, which is why the SoCal ski areas are in such sad shape.

 

[Sbooker]

For the easterners who enjoy their fall foliage, this is my backyard on January 13.
View attachment 48912
Normally the liquid amber colors turn around Thankgiving and it drops most of the leaves by Christmas. I can't say why so late this year. November and December were unusually rainy but not cold, which is why the SoCal ski areas are in such sad shape.

Your backyard looks a nice place to be Tony. I would love to have a season here in Brisbane that delivered the red and yellow leaves. Having said that my OCD would hate the leaves in the pool.

 

[snowave]

Damn, things continue to really not look good out west. The damn monster ridge just doesn't want to break down. Our trip Feb 9-14 to mt hood was scaled back to just bachelor and hoodoo. Now we're thinking of cancelling altogether, as reports I'm hearing are not good over there. Thankfully, we can cancel up to 2 days before arrival with no penalty.

I was up at Brundage today, and conditions are still relatively good on the groomers. It's stayed cooler the last several days, so much less thaw/freeze. Still, some hardback in spots, and also some crunchy frozen snowballs from overnight grooming, along with some spots of snow irregularities with grooming before it froze.

Brundage is is still 100% open, although most off piste had a series melt refreeze cycle last week, and has not recovered. I'm headed to tamarack tomorrow on my way down to Boise for a dr appt.