I’m still waiting to book our trip for the week after New Year’s. Just looking around on OpenSnow, maybe Schweitzer will be an option. We have hotel credits at snowbird but hard to see how they get enough snow by then at this point. Presidents Weekend will probably be the time we go.
Western North America Conditions 2025/26
- Thread starter ChrisC
- Start date
Canada! Whistler is probably best but Banff is off to a decent start. Louise and Sunshine are half open already. It may not be deep snowpack but at least it doesn’t rain there, which has been the big issue in the Northwest and lower resorts in B.C.
ChrisC
Well-known member
It’s too early to tell what will happen the rest of the season, but a lack of snow in the fall doesn’t portend well for a strong snow season for the rest of the year. Allegretto said that of the 12 seasons that started with snowfall this low or lower, only three ended up with average or better snow. And 75% of those seasons ended up with below-average snowfall.
Flawed analysis above. Of course it’s unlikely that a season starting like this will catch up and reach average for the season overall.
But as for future months what happened in November has a small influence upon December and zero influence for January and later.
Anyone who has advance booked February or later has no reason whatsoever to be panicking now. But this season will be yet another object lesson about advance booking Christmas Week.
That sfgate article is even more drivel than I thought: “enjoying powder days in the Wasatch and the Rockies,”?????
But as for future months what happened in November has a small influence upon December and zero influence for January and later.
Anyone who has advance booked February or later has no reason whatsoever to be panicking now. But this season will be yet another object lesson about advance booking Christmas Week.
That sfgate article is even more drivel than I thought: “enjoying powder days in the Wasatch and the Rockies,”?????
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tseeb
Well-known member
Have to disagree with sfgate article sayng "enjoying powder days in the Wasatch and the Rockies" as Alta reported 14" today and 6" more is predicted by tomorrow, but that is not enough to be enjoying powder with no base. And Alta does not open until tomorrow.
While snowsports enthusiasts across the country are already carving turns off the top of Central California’s Mammoth Mountain, enjoying powder days in the Wasatch and the Rockies, and even getting snow days in New England, unseasonably warm temperatures have left some of Tahoe’s resorts struggling to get even the beginner lifts running before Christmas.
And it does not look good for snowmaking with only one day in the next 10 predicted to get below freezing (31F on Mon) at Mammoth and none in the next 10 at Kirkwood.
While snowsports enthusiasts across the country are already carving turns off the top of Central California’s Mammoth Mountain, enjoying powder days in the Wasatch and the Rockies, and even getting snow days in New England, unseasonably warm temperatures have left some of Tahoe’s resorts struggling to get even the beginner lifts running before Christmas.
And it does not look good for snowmaking with only one day in the next 10 predicted to get below freezing (31F on Mon) at Mammoth and none in the next 10 at Kirkwood.
On a more optimistic note, Wolf Creek now reports a 34-41 inch base, which gives the 100% open claim more credibility. We await MarzNC’s eyewitness report.
Yes the New England part of that sfgate article was the only part that made sense.
FYI Targhee’s spotless record is being put to the test. It’s 10% open now but claims a 3 foot base with more openings soon. However a storm next Monday is expected to rain to 9,000 feet.
Yes the New England part of that sfgate article was the only part that made sense.
FYI Targhee’s spotless record is being put to the test. It’s 10% open now but claims a 3 foot base with more openings soon. However a storm next Monday is expected to rain to 9,000 feet.
Too tired to do a trip report. First day at high altitude and first day on skis for the season. Here are a few pics.
Fair to stay that locals clearly had a great time yesterday, which was a Saturday. The fresh snow wasn't exactly fluffy, but could qualify as "powder." Groomers felt more like packed powder than just snowmaking product.
Wolf Creek on December 7, 2025
In addition having my laptop locked up, I lost my iPhone on the last day in Quito. I really don't know how, but when using find my iPhone via Liz, it showed its last known location 15 hours prior and was presumably turned off, even though it was on and 90% charged this morning when I last used it.
I collected end of November snow data before the laptop locked up, but could not write a progress report. Now I will need to do a new one Tuesday while also replacing my lost phone. I read a lot of OpenSnow reports Sunday while in transit from Galapagos to Quito and also uploaded those Galapagos phone pics
I wanted to go to Mammoth this Thu/Fri but Liz has multiple appointments. So I expect we will start our season next Mon/Tue.
I collected end of November snow data before the laptop locked up, but could not write a progress report. Now I will need to do a new one Tuesday while also replacing my lost phone. I read a lot of OpenSnow reports Sunday while in transit from Galapagos to Quito and also uploaded those Galapagos phone pics
I wanted to go to Mammoth this Thu/Fri but Liz has multiple appointments. So I expect we will start our season next Mon/Tue.
I belatedly posted Nov. 30 "No Progress Report" last night. I will collect data again today and hopefully get an updated report up tonight.
The good news is that I have a new iPhone fully restored from a cloud backup Dec. 5. The bad news is that we now know the phone was stolen because I lost it in downtown Quito and since yesterday evening Find My iPhone shows it being at Quito airport. I attempted to lock the phone when I discovered it missing Sunday afternoon and to erase it at the Apple Store yesterday when I was buying the new one. Nonetheless my gmail remains inaccessible and will require professional help late today to make any further progress. Find My iPhone shows the erase as "Pending."
The good news is that I have a new iPhone fully restored from a cloud backup Dec. 5. The bad news is that we now know the phone was stolen because I lost it in downtown Quito and since yesterday evening Find My iPhone shows it being at Quito airport. I attempted to lock the phone when I discovered it missing Sunday afternoon and to erase it at the Apple Store yesterday when I was buying the new one. Nonetheless my gmail remains inaccessible and will require professional help late today to make any further progress. Find My iPhone shows the erase as "Pending."
My percent open stats for Alta go back to 2003-04, a year before Guido moved there. There are no season until now where Alta was not open at all Dec. 1. there are two (2007-08 and 2017-18) where the open terrain on Dec. 1 was the same <5% on snowmaking that it was for Sunday's opening (claims 33% today though). There are a couple of other low Novembers since 2004 with ~20 inches but more terrain was open because there was a residual base from 3+ feet of October snow. There is no question in my mind that 1976-77 was the last time Alta was not open Dec. 1. November snowfall of 14.5 inches this year was similar to the 13.5 then. However it only snowed 17 inches in all of December 1976 while it has already snowed 23 inches this December. From the Alta Guard data, there are two earlier seasons with 22 inches November snowfall (1959-60 and 1967-68) where Alta might not have been open Dec. 1.
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snowave
Active member
It's quite depressing watching it rain up to 8,000' here in W-central Idaho. Thankfully, (to this point at least)... rainfall amounts have been less than predicted with this rain event. If I didn't have family obligations most of this month, I'd probably be much more impatient. (Although, seeing facebook posts from last year pop up when we were riding in the trees on Thankgiving doesn't help).
Looking at the long range outlooks... not much in sight for a cool down in the west, although a couple signals show a slight reduction of the ridge (more zonal) in the Dec 20-30 timeframe. Precip will likely stay above normal in the PNW.
Looking at the long range outlooks... not much in sight for a cool down in the west, although a couple signals show a slight reduction of the ridge (more zonal) in the Dec 20-30 timeframe. Precip will likely stay above normal in the PNW.
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ChrisC
Well-known member
This recent NW storm turned into a Pineapple Express with high snow levels.
Outside of Canada, there is not a lot to be optimistic about in the mountain West. Even British Columbia is not looking great down low.
It will be interesting to see what happens crowd-wise with these multi-area passes. Will some Ikon holders relocate from Palisades Tahoe to Mammoth? Will Epic holders decide to go to Whistler?
I assume most Western US Mountains will only be skiing on snowmaking runs - or very flat green/low intermediate slopes. Assume all the majors (besides Mammoth) will be well under 50% open, and many lucky to make it 25% open. Likely some resorts will just open terrain with inadequate snow bases just to 'goose' numbers and disperse crowds.
In short, it's going to be a brutal start to the holidays.
Maybe storms during Xmas-New Years?!
Outside of Canada, there is not a lot to be optimistic about in the mountain West. Even British Columbia is not looking great down low.
It will be interesting to see what happens crowd-wise with these multi-area passes. Will some Ikon holders relocate from Palisades Tahoe to Mammoth? Will Epic holders decide to go to Whistler?
I assume most Western US Mountains will only be skiing on snowmaking runs - or very flat green/low intermediate slopes. Assume all the majors (besides Mammoth) will be well under 50% open, and many lucky to make it 25% open. Likely some resorts will just open terrain with inadequate snow bases just to 'goose' numbers and disperse crowds.
In short, it's going to be a brutal start to the holidays.
Maybe storms during Xmas-New Years?!
Western snowfall is 59% of average now, but we know that number is coming down over the next 10 days. It is highly likely this will be second worst November/December season to 1976-77 overall.
Only western areas with more than just WRODs now:
Arizona Snowbowl 93% open on 30 inch base
Mammoth 39% open on 12-40 inch base
Whistler 20% open on 40 inch base (will increase soon when Glacier and Peak lifts open)
Lake Louise 64% open on 39-47 inch base (current storms all snow)
Sunshine 57% open on 39-59 inch base (current storms all snow)
Revelstoke 48% open on 52 inch base
Kicking Horse opens Dec. 12 with 44 inch base and gets rain only near bottom from current storms.
Panorama 32% open on 5-35 inch base and gets rain only near bottom from current storms.
Whitefish 48% open on 17-37 inch base (perhaps Sibhusky can comment)
Targhee 24% open on 36 inch base (record low percent open Dec. 15 is 50%)
Alta 33% open on 28 inch base
Monarch 60% open on 22 inch base
Wolf Creek 100% open on 31-38 inch base
Areas with no opening date set yet include Brundage and all areas in Washington and Oregon.
If you want more than low tide you need to go to Canada.
Only western areas with more than just WRODs now:
Arizona Snowbowl 93% open on 30 inch base
Mammoth 39% open on 12-40 inch base
Whistler 20% open on 40 inch base (will increase soon when Glacier and Peak lifts open)
Lake Louise 64% open on 39-47 inch base (current storms all snow)
Sunshine 57% open on 39-59 inch base (current storms all snow)
Revelstoke 48% open on 52 inch base
Kicking Horse opens Dec. 12 with 44 inch base and gets rain only near bottom from current storms.
Panorama 32% open on 5-35 inch base and gets rain only near bottom from current storms.
Whitefish 48% open on 17-37 inch base (perhaps Sibhusky can comment)
Targhee 24% open on 36 inch base (record low percent open Dec. 15 is 50%)
Alta 33% open on 28 inch base
Monarch 60% open on 22 inch base
Wolf Creek 100% open on 31-38 inch base
Areas with no opening date set yet include Brundage and all areas in Washington and Oregon.
If you want more than low tide you need to go to Canada.
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Had a good time in good snow today on the Alberta side at Wolf Creek. Was part of a lesson with a couple of ski buddies so wasn't stopping to take pictures. We've been working with the same L3 instructor for several years. Coverage is better than last year because of the timing and type of snow last week. Enough skiers to create a good base. Still cold snow in spite of relatively warm temps.
Bottom of Feather Duster, Dec. 9, 2025
Bottom of Feather Duster, Dec. 9, 2025
I very much appreciate your regular snowfall data and find it very helpful. As a frequent skier to Mont Tremblant, I have always wondered why you don’t include their snow info in your report?
After 2 years of having to change our pre-booked holiday ski trip plans I decided to just hold off this year and book once snow is on the ground. We'd leave around the 1st of January and ski until the 5th or so. Looking like a trip to Banff might be an option, too early to book? We have an Ikon pass but I guess we could just go to Hawaii if there just isn't enough snow to make sense of the cost of travel and lodging to ski medicore skiing. The kids are old enough to ski most black diamonds, they were pumped to ski Climax last season so we want to ski the whole mountain, not groomers.
Wait or book?
Wait or book?
I do include Tremblant among the Northeast areas where I have recorded percent of terrain open bimonthly since 2003-04. At that time I made an arbitrary decision which areas without adequate snowfall info were important enough to track percent of terrain open. Apologies to Harvey for not including Gore.
To track in-season snowfall I need certain info:
1) Past historical monthly records so at any date I can calculate percent of normal. Tremblant has season snowfall history on its website here but I don't know for how long it's been online. I have put that into one of my spreadsheets, but have never used it publicly. Why? I distrust season totals because I don't know starting and ending dates, and I want to normalize data on a Nov. 1 - Apr. 30 basis for consistency. It's also much easier to curate monthly data for credibility.
2) The ski area needs to update season totals daily on its website. The Tremblant snow report page is in Alterra's format but it may not have been reporting in-season snowfall pre-Alterra.
There's also my personal perception of eastern Canada based upon:
1) My original Powder Magazine contact Leslie Anthony in 1995. He was a huge fan of Le Massif dating back to it bus shuttle days so that why it's the one eastern Canadian place where I do track in-season snowfall. Leslie grew up in eastern Canada and for the Powder cover story he had me call many upper New England areas to get historical snowfall but never asked me to call Tremblant.
2) The Jay Peak discussion back in 2015 put the eastern townships and Mt. Sutton specifically on my radar. Sutton's data is also season totals, but opening and closing date history is available too. I had enough Jay daily data to project a Nov. 1 - Apr. 30 average of 243 inches for Sutton and put that on my regional snowfall page.
My perception (see Leslie Anthony above) was that the Laurentians were mostly snowmaking dependent so that natural snow was less important, sort of like southern New England or the Catskills. Those kind of ski areas generally don't maintain accurate snowfall histories in any case.
The Tremblant annual data averages 175 inches, which is similar to Whiteface or Sugarloaf. I would have to model the in-season distribution of those annual totals in order to do in-season snowfall tracking. I'm inclined to get around to that sometime since Tremblant has similar prominence to eastern skiers as Whiteface or Sugarloaf, probably after adding Tremblant to the regional snowfall page at the end of this season.
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ChrisC
Well-known member
Looks pretty good. Most of the Colorado San Juan mountains have learned to be 80%+ skiable on a 30-40 inch base.
That said, I have never been motivated to detour (more than once) to ski Wolf Creek with numerous trips to Southwest Colorado over 20+ years.
A few reasons:
- it becomes a 3.5 hour drive to Telluride from Wolf Creek with crossing substantial, storm-prone mountain passes
- Silverton is a better competitor for expert skiing
- I found Wolf Creek to ski be a bit flat - despite great ladders to its ridges
- Alberta is a slow quad - why is everything high-speed but its longest chairlift??!!
Almost all the ski resorts on the Western Slope of Colorado have an issue:
- Monarch faces mostly south, but is located high on a high pass to semi-help snow preservation.
- Powderhorn has great vertical, cruising, minor glades - but it's located at lower elevastions with warmer temps
I find Purgatory with its massive rollers for 2000 vertical feet - or Silverton with great hiking and heli-skiing to be the most best choices.
A slightly longer drive to Aspen or Crested Butte is always interesting.