We keep getting asked if anyone actually got any snow after the “disappointing” wash up of the weekend’s storm. Well, it’s not all doom and gloom as several resorts scored very well out of it indeed.
Before we get started today though, our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Jamie Pierre who tragically died yesterday in an avalanche at Snowbird Resort in Utah before it was even able to be open for the season. It’s a stark reminder that backcountry snow conditions and an unstable snow pack takes no prisoners. Please everyone, take extreme care out there.
Overnight, several Colorado resorts reported a 24 hr top up to the cover, including Breck and Keystone boasting an additional 2 inches, with A-Basin and Copper reporting 4 inches.
The biggest winners out of the weekend storm seem to be Utah and northern Colorado as Utah resorts claimed up to a foot and Steamboat received just under that figure.
If you are wondering what this looks like in reality, then today’s video is for you. It comes yesterday from Solitude and as branded as their first powder day of the season.
The areas circled are still under winter watches and warnings
There are some winter storm warnings and advisories in Montana and northern Idaho at the moment, so the mountains up there should be seeing a few inches out of this trailing weather.
The next storm seems to be lining up British Columbia in Canada from midweek, with Whistler set to receive up to a foot of snow up high, although conditions indicate that the snow will fall all the way to the valley floor. This snow should then move across the interior with other resorts all receiving a good top up, though without the Whistler-esque amounts.
Colrado and Utah will have the odd flurry over the coming day or so, but nothing to write home about. The may see some snow into the weekend.
Tahoe also may see some snow into this weekend, which is just in time for the first resorts there to open for the season.
Conditions are still extremely variable at all open resorts that are reporting. Many are still getting freeze/thaw conditions meaning that daytime temperatures are climbing above zero before the snowpack refreezes overnight. This can create a significant crust on the surface, or worse still, extremely icy conditions.
Off piste, there is a good cover for this time of year, though there are still a lot of unmarked hazards with rocks and branches lurking just below the surface. Remember that even though the surface looks white, the cover is probably only just hiding all the nasties that can do significant damage to your skis or board.
Let us know of first hand reports, photos or videos that you may have from your day out or ski or snowboard vacation and we’ll see you on the mountain.
Pete Kvist began skiing in Australia over 20 years ago and has been addicted to skiing and all things snow ever since. He has worked several seasons on the mountain as a lift operator and has also spent some time in ski resort media departments (so yes, he knows the tricks of the trade).
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