Since Alta is where I ski in April, I look at the Season Totals graph comparison with other seasons every so often. The low season within the last decade seems to be 2021-22. There was a longer period with essentially no new snow, but the total as of early January 2022 was over 100 inches more than in January 2026. The total on April 1, 2021 was 370.5 inches, about 125 more than the current total.
Western North America Conditions 2025/26
- Thread starter ChrisC
- Start date
That was the year that the Sierra and Tahoe had 'miracle March' I'm sure. I can still remember the pics of loaded snow at Squaw Valley.
I'm feeling that my flights to Milan on the 22nd of this month will be cancelled. I probably won't know until a week before. Alternative flights through Singapore are now crazy expensive so if the existing flights are cancelled I won't be flying to Europe. Are there any reasons I shouldn't fly into Calgary at about the same time. The trip would extend to over the Easter period. Is Banff and the surrounding area likely to be crazy busy? @Tony Crocker I believe the snow base should be fine in the Canadian Rockies for the next month?
In general, school springs breaks in N. America are spread out over March and early April. So the period that includes Easter is nothing like the holiday period around Christmas. For that matter, in the USA the week of Pres. Day is probably busier in many destination resorts than around Easter.
With the cost of lift tickets in the US coupled with a less than ideal exchange rate I think I’ll stick with Canada. If I had a pass of some kind the US might be in play.
jimk
Well-known member
I'll be skiing Louise and Sunshine Mar 22-27. Let me know if we'll overlap. Perhaps we can make a few turns together?
Sounds good. I've got to nail down exactly what is happening with my flight to Europe. Hopefully they'll let me know one way or another in the next few days.
tseeb
Well-known member
My wife and I will be skiing same places Mar 23-27 as part of the SkiTalk annual Gathering.
Yes I think Banff is still a safe bet this spring.
Mt. Bachelor is opening the Summit chair today. This is surely its latest opening since it was installed in 1982.
Crested Butte's North Face is still closed. Don't be fooled that the lift is running. The only open skiing is the short runs directly adjacent to the lift.
Alta reports 28 inch storm total this morning. It's a Saturday; I wonder what the road is like this morning?
Hopefully the chaos will be over when we drive up the road to Iron Blosam later today.
Mt. Bachelor is opening the Summit chair today. This is surely its latest opening since it was installed in 1982.
Crested Butte's North Face is still closed. Don't be fooled that the lift is running. The only open skiing is the short runs directly adjacent to the lift.
Alta reports 28 inch storm total this morning. It's a Saturday; I wonder what the road is like this morning?
Hopefully the chaos will be over when we drive up the road to Iron Blosam later today.
tseeb
Well-known member
Soldier Mountain, ID giving up on season.
snowbrains.com
I will be driving up LCC ~1 today and hoping people will already be leaving to beat traffic going down.
Our former admin posted on FB about ridiculous traffic this morning going to Alta at 720 AM.
Idaho’s Soldier Mountain Ends Ski Season Early After Difficult Winter - SnowBrains
Soldier Mountain has announced it will be closed for the season after seeing very low snowfall this season.
snowbrains.com
I will be driving up LCC ~1 today and hoping people will already be leaving to beat traffic going down.
Our former admin posted on FB about ridiculous traffic this morning going to Alta at 720 AM.
berkshireskier
Active member
I'll be there too from March 23 through March 29, skiing with my daughter. Conditions still looking good and, maybe, quite a bit (over 2 feet) of new snow in the next week or so.
The Aussie father who spent the entire winter based with the family at Winter Park for the 2024-25 season got his first tasted of Telluride recently. He brought his daughter for a month of training, again based at WP. She was training while he had a good time powder hunting.
Posted March 9, 2026
Went to Telluride for three days over the weekend
Posted March 9, 2026
Went to Telluride for three days over the weekend
tseeb
Well-known member
Mt Ashland, OR gives up for the season. Post includes the following:
"...the nonprofit ski area said the season ended after just 17 operating days and seven twilight night sessions, far below a typical winter for the mountain."and
"Because the resort did not reach its 50-day operating guarantee for season pass holders, Mt. Ashland announced compensation for returning passholders.
During the upcoming spring pass sale:
- Returning unlimited season passholders will receive a 33% discount.
- Returning twilight passholders will receive a 24% discount."
and
"The park’s short season lasted only 55 days, five short of its 60-day guarantee, so season pass holders will receive credits valid for next winter. Having closed temporarily on February 9, Mt. Shasta Ski Park closed again on March 2 before ending its season entirely on March 10."
Email from Homewood, CA, located on the West shore of Lake Tahoe and has a low base elevation, includes closing date of 3/22:
"With warm temperatures, and no precipitation in the extended forecast, we will be making some adjustments to our operations to ensure we can continue to deliver the best skiing experience we can for as long as possible. Here’s what to expect in the coming weeks at Homewood.
Friday, March 13 – Sunday, March 15 2026
Madden Chair, Old Homewood Express, and Ellis Chair will operate from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Monday, March 16 – Sunday, March 22 2026
Old Homewood Express open for Skiing and Riding 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Madden Chair and Old Homewood Express will continue to operate with last chair up on Madden at 2:30 p.m. and last chair on Old Homewood Express at 3 p.m. All skiers and riders will return to the base by downloading Madden Chair.
Plus, starting Monday, March 16, you can snag a lift ticket at the lowest price of the season, starting at $99 for Adult tickets!
Sunday, March 22, 2026 will be our closing day.
Join us for the big finale with an apres celebration at 89 Bar & Grill."
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Pajarito and Ski Apache in New Mexico are already closed and Santa Fe will close March 22.
Snow Valley will close March 15. With all of next week in the 70's it will be interesting to see if any of the other SoCal areas make it past March 22.
Bachelor is very limited today with 75mph winds.
Snow Valley will close March 15. With all of next week in the 70's it will be interesting to see if any of the other SoCal areas make it past March 22.
Bachelor is very limited today with 75mph winds.
I forgot whether snowave has prepaid tickets at Bachelor. If so, perhaps it's time to request a rain check to next season.
berkshireskier
Active member
More snow this past week in Banff. But even next week is supposed to be in the 50's with, maybe, some rain (not sure at elevation, though). But then cooling down after that.
takeahike46er
Member
Indeed. The warmth across the west has been a constant feature, regardless of whether regions were getting normal precipitation levels or not.
On a more local level, I’ve lost count how many times it has rained to the Whistler summit this season. This will also be the 3rd season in a row where low elevation snotels around SWBC are either below the 25th percentile or at their historical mins. Water resource managers and firefighters are going to have a tough go this summer.
iPhone weather app shows hottest day a week from today: 96 Glendale, 99 Las Vegas, 101 Death Valley, 75 Big Bear, 64 Mammoth, 61 Alta, 60 Jackson Hole.