Spring officially arrived Tuesday, and that means the weather roller-coaster continues as the seasons change. This week is no exception, with mild conditions to start the week, making it feel truly like spring. That continues until the weekend. Snow is likely Sunday, as temperatures drop. The cooling trend with potential snowfall persists into early next week. As proven last week, sometimes the spring storms bring a wallop and, other times, only a glancing blow.
Last week’s storm really dumped on the slopes at Snowy Range Ski and Recreation Area. A grand total of 33 inches fell in about two days. Getting to the ski area due to road conditions was challenging, but those who made the trek enjoyed plenty of new snow. The next round of snow arrives late this weekend, with about eight inches expected.
Northwest Wyoming was passed over, with only a few inches of snow at both Grand Targhee and Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. Snow is in the forecast starting Sunday, with up to 20 inches expected through early next week.
To the south in Colorado, snowfall amounts varied, but coverage is good throughout the region. Riders and skiers at Steamboat enjoyed a foot of snow over two days. The snowpack there is a healthy 113% of average. Skiers and riders at Winter Park relished 19 inches of snow with the storm. They have a breather there until the next storm arrives late this weekend and continues into early next week.
Personnel at the Colorado Avalanche Information Center report the avalanche danger for the southern Wyoming and northern Colorado mountains is rated “moderate” at all elevations. Avalanches can be triggered in any areas with more than about eight inches of drifted snow. Treat any slopes with wind-textured snow as suspect. There are no recent reports of avalanche observations in the Snowy Range or Sierra Madre Mountains on the Eastern Wyoming Avalanche Information Exchange.
At Keystone, near Rob Roy Reservoir, there has been a total of 216 inches of snow so far this season, according to Don Day Jr. at dayweather.com. This is a 33-inch increase from last week. The amount surpasses the 207 inches reported by this time last year. According to Open Snow, the snowpack in the Snowy Range is 107% of average for this time of year, an increase of seven percentage points from last week.
Conditions “up top” in the Snowy Range are outstanding, although the big dump of snow is not exactly light and fluffy. The sunshine and warm temperatures make the going akin to plowing through mashed potatoes, but there is excellent coverage, with deep snow everywhere. Blue skies prevail until the weekend, with the next snow expected Sunday into Monday, with six to 12 inches in the forecast.
Backcountry skiers likely had plenty of trudging starting last weekend, thanks to the nearly three feet of new snow. All of the ski trails off of Highway 130, including Libby Creek, Barber Lake and Little Laramie, are user-packed. Expect some trudging until there’s enough use to pack the snow into a solid base.
Similar deep snow fell at Chimney Park and along the Medicine Bow Rail Trail. These routes are also user-packed, with no grooming likely through the remainder of the season.
The trails at the Happy Jack Recreation Area got dumped on, with about a foot of snow before the storm moved out. The groomers worked diligently to pack all that snow, although conditions remained quite soft to start the week. Skate lanes and classic tracks are now in great shape for the variable spring conditions.
The multi-use trails benefitted from those getting out on skis and snowshoes to pack down all the new snow. Grooming to pack the snow is underway, but conditions remain very soft. Those on foot or bicycle should be mindful if they are leaving significant ruts or “postholes” and opt to return another day when conditions improve.
As of Tuesday morning, the U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service snow measuring station reports 74 inches of snow at Cinnabar Park, an increase of 19 inches from last week. The station at Brooklyn Lake reports 82 inches, an increase of 12 inches from last week. The report at Sand Lake on the north end of the Medicine Bow Mountains is 105 inches, an increase of 19 inches from last week. The measuring station at Medicine Bow Peak, at an elevation of 10,500 feet, reports 104 inches, an increase of five inches from last week. The Crow Creek station on Pole Mountain shows 24 inches, an increase of six inches from last week.
Cross-country skiing
Pole Mountain/Happy Jack Recreation Area Nordic ski trails: Conditions on the Nordic trails are very good for spring. Daily grooming is underway, with good coverage.
Pole Mountain/Happy Jack Recreation Area Multi-use trails: Conditions are soft, but with good coverage. Snowshoes and skis are the recommended mode until the base firms up more.
Chimney Park Nordic ski trails: The trails are in very good condition, with plenty of new snow. The routes are user-packed.
Snowy Range backcountry conditions: Excellent conditions with deep snow. Trails are user-packed and suitable for skiers and snowshoers.
Snowmobile conditions
Snowy Range: Conditions are excellent up high, with a 6- to 8-foot-deep base. The snow is heavy, but with excellent coverage.
Quick Numbers
Wyoming downhill areas
Snowy Range Ski Area: 56-inch base; 5 lifts, 33 trails and 100% of terrain open.
Antelope Butte: 24-inch base; no additional information available.
Grand Targhee: 126-inch base; 6 lifts, 93 trails and 98% of terrain open.
Hogadon: 55-inch base; 2 lifts, 26 trails and 93% of terrain open.
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort: 101-inch base; 13 lifts, 126 trails and 96% of terrain open.
Meadowlark Ski Area: 10-inch base; 2 lifts, 12 trails and 86% of terrain open.
Sleeping Giant: Closed this season.
Snow King: 50-inch base; 7 lifts, 39 trails and 83% of terrain open.
White Pine: 26-inch base; 2 lifts, 29 trails and 100% of terrain open.
Colorado downhill areas
Arapahoe Basin: 62-inch base; 9 lifts, 126 trails and 87% of terrain open.
Breckenridge: 64-inch base; 33 lifts, 187 trails and 100% of terrain open.
Copper Mountain: 60-inch base; 23 lifts, 155 trails and 99% of terrain open.
Eldora: 34-inch base; 10 lifts, 65 trails and 100% of terrain open.
Keystone: 56-inch base; 21 lifts, 140 trails and 100% of terrain open.
Loveland: 58-inch base; 10 lifts, 93 trails and 99% of terrain open.
Steamboat: 102-inch base; 23 lifts, 181 trails and 100% of terrain open.
Vail: 65-inch base; 33 lifts, 275 trails and 100% of terrain open.
Winter Park: 90-inch base; 20 lifts, 168 trails and 100% of terrain open.
Let the news come to you
Get any of our free email newsletters — news headlines, sports, arts & entertainment, state legislature, CFD news, and more.
