Western North America Conditions 2025/26

[EMSC]

No FOMO. More like a hard pass.

Yep. Haven't even considered skiing yet.

At least Copper is pretty close on opening several more public trails. Though it won't help much because lots more skiers are about to show up.

 

[Tony Crocker]

In addition to my imminent departure for two weeks with questionable connectivity,
1) My home internet has crashed; a tech is coming out tomorrow.
2) My OpenSnow subscription (group with Adam) expired and even though he renewed mine isn’t working yet.

 

[Tony Crocker]

Problems above were resolved this morning. This is now the rainiest SoCal November since 1965. The 3 days last weekend were 100% rain in the ski areas. but round 2 Wednesday-Friday snowed 17 inches at Mt. High and 12-20 at Baldy, both of which opened today. 9 inches at Big Bear, where they are making snow but have not announced an opening.

 

[MarzNC]

Looking at the forecast for the next 10 days for Wolf Creek . . . I think my crew will have a good time the week of Dec. 7.

 

[ChrisC]

Steamboat opened. lol

 

[snowtrekker]

Basically 1 lift (green) and run (blue) open, and the gondola for access:

 

[jamesdeluxe]

Steamboat opened.

Dirt and condos

 

[Tony Crocker]

Looking at the forecast for the next 10 days for Wolf Creek

That's a week out with lots of variability, but probably better than nearly anywhere else. Wolf Creek got 13 inches from the recent SW storm.

 

[MarzNC]

That's a week out with lots of variability, but probably better than nearly anywhere else.

I started looking at the total snowfall forecast map for Colorado. As of this morning, only Wolf Creek and Purgatory have the potential to get into a purple zone of 30+ inches by Dec. 7.

 

[ShiftyRider]

Lotsa snow to ski and snowboard on @Baldy, but it's a little on the pink side...

 

[takeahike46er]

Whistler isn’t as bad as I feared. Yes, coverage and conditions are bad on the lower third of Jersey Cream and Catskinner, but coverage above 1800m is great. Much more skiable terrain than the 3 trails officially open.

Skiers coming down Saudan

The runs off Chainsaw Ridge and elsewhere in the alpine were already in and fair game (False Face, Saudan Couloir, Cougar Chutes). Technically it’s all out of bounds, but that’s more to do with staffing than coverage. How many mountains can you get into that kind of terrain for opening weekend?

Uphill travel permitted via 7th

 

[Tony Crocker]

So 7th Heaven is running to get you up to Saudan and Chainsaw? If not that’s a tough hike from Jersey Cream. Those alpine pics are what I expected with the estimated 104 inches.

Mammoth has openings that include high alpine expert terrain. That includes now, but I’d guess there is twice as much snowpack at Whistler.

 

[takeahike46er]

7th is not running. The uphill route is a groomed cat track starting at the top of Jersey Cream. It’s actually quite an easy hike/skin with a gentler pitch than Flute. It takes approximately 10 minutes to get to the lower Chainsaw runs and 45 minutes to get to top of 7th. Much easier than hike to terrain at Telluride, Taos, etc.

On the Whistler side, a similar uphill route goes up Pika’s giving access to the Harmony, Peak, and Symphony zones. Much of that terrain should be skiing well when Whistler opens, which I am told may be as soon as Wednesday.