Western North America Conditions 2025/26

jimk said:
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?
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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.
 
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? :eusa-think: Hopefully the chaos will be over when we drive up the road to Iron Blosam later today.
 
This is our 3rd attempt for our Bachelor trip... February, no snow. This week it was winds/hardpack... was gonna go next week, but Bend will be 75º, with 55-60º on the mountain. Incredible.
 

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."
Mt Shasta Ski Park, CA also closed for season: "the northernmost ski area in California, has closed for the rest of the 2025-26 season after unseasonably warm weather and one of the state’s worst snowpacks in a decade forced the resort to call it quits early."

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.
snowave said:
This is our 3rd attempt for our Bachelor trip... February, no snow. This week it was winds/hardpack... was gonna go next week, but Bend will be 75º, with 55-60º on the mountain. Incredible.
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Bachelor is very limited today with 75mph winds.
Northwest will remain closed, awaiting more snowfall.
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I forgot whether snowave has prepaid tickets at Bachelor. If so, perhaps it's time to request a rain check to next season.
 
The really crazy part of this winter has been the warmth. Current forecast for next week includes temps at least into the mid to potentially upper 80's in Denver area. Those are June temps, not March temps. The current record for March is 84 degrees.
 
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.
 
EMSC said:
The really crazy part of this winter has been the warmth.
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Look at this forecast for next week!
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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.
 
More iPhone weather app temp prediction for next Friday:
Kirkwood 66
South Lake Tahoe 68 (lows Thu, Fri, Sat 47)
Truckee 72 (also on Tues and Thurs, Wed only 71, lows in mid-40s Tue-Sat)
San Jose 90 (likely higher at my house as official temp taken much closer to SF Bay)
 
Washington State is getting the treatment this week that the Sierra got in February. Since Wednesday 40-85 inches snow, roads closed into ski areas Friday and Crystal today. Starting Sunday night rain is predicted to 8,000 feet for a few days next week.:icon-twisted:

This week’s storm hit Schweitzer and Whitefish with more manageable intensity (20-22 inches). The rain will get to those places starting late Monday.
 
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Conditions in the wasatch backcountry are a mixed bag. Soft cold powder exists on high north facing. Best bet on south/east facing is to skin up and wait until excellent corn forms on sunny days between 10-12 currently.
East bowl pass and davenport hill yesterday. Accessed through LCC grizzly gulch, it's the head of silver fork canyon in BCC.

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