Photo: Jackson Hole Mountain Resort
This winter has turned into pure insanity, with snow and moisture totals in general approaching biblical proportion. Floods have ravaged California and other parts of the Western United States. But ski resorts have enjoyed some of the best conditions this decade. Here’s a quick wrap-up of where we’re at in terms of snow totals from resorts around the country, with a little video evidence to back it up.
Mammoth
California’s eastern slope behemoth is enjoying a massive year, and just announced it had received 500 inches of snow on the year. For all of you scoring at home, that’s over 40 feet of snow. What the hell? Residents are crying uncle while visiting tourists are rejoicing and the cash registers keep ringing.
Squaw Valley
A Lake Tahoe gem, Squaw Valley announced it would stay open until July 4 this year, thanks to 565 inches on the year. Yep, 47 feet of snow. “In 2017 alone, since January 1, we’ve had 460 inches,” said Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows’ Sam Kieckhefer. “Our season average is 450 inches. We received more snow since the start of 2017 than our average season.”
Mt. Bachelor
Since the start of the 2016-2017 season, Bachelor has received 405″, almost double what they had all of last year. And it’s the quality of the snow that has everyone in Oregon stoked. According to reports, the resort got 123″ of snow in December, 108″ in January, and 96″ this month, as of February 22. “Through most of that, temps have remained cold, so the snow quality has been some of the best we’ve seen here at Mt. Bachelor in probably a few years,” said Mt. Bachelor’s Stirling Cobb. “It just keeps smiling faces having fun out there.”
Snowbird
The ‘Bird is going off. More than 400 inches have graced the slopes of the big mountain up Little Cottonwood Canyon with the snowiest month, March, still ahead. It’s getting super deep, in fact, an avalanche off Mt. Superior, across the road from Snowbird, buried three parked vehicles yesterday.
Jackson Hole
Jackson Hole, like many resorts around the West, has had several closures due to too much of a good thing. Wind and weather have hampered the resort on several occasions. But that doesn’t mean the iconic resort isn’t having an insane season. Because it’s been an epic one in Jackson. The resort has received 126″ in February with another winter storm on the way as we write this. It’s been an epic winter, to say the least.
