It is that time of year when the weather flip-flops between winter and spring. The rest of this week is more in the spring category before flopping back into winter for the weekend. This form of winter is warmer, and the snow lacks that fluffy quality. Timing is the key to getting out as the crust softens, but before it turns to mush.
The season comes to a close after this weekend at Snowy Range Ski and Recreation Area. Skies remain clear until the weekend, when a few flurries might provide a little fluff to soften the slopes. Festivities are slated for both Saturday and Sunday, including the pond skim at 2 p.m. Sunday, where those participating are advised to bring a change of clothing. Getting wet is a given.
That lack of new snow for a few days is also the forecast in northwest Wyoming. Snow returns for the weekend, with 20 inches in the forecast for the slopes at Grand Targhee and about 12 inches at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.
To the south, in Colorado, sunshine reigns for the next few days before the clouds return for the weekend. Coverage is excellent on the slopes at Steamboat, resulting in an extension of the season through April 21. Skiers and riders at WinterPark should see flurries by the weekend, with more arriving to start the following week. The snow base there is 116% of average for the season.
Personnel at the Colorado Avalanche Information Center report the avalanche danger for the southern Wyoming and northern Colorado mountains is rated “considerable” above and near treeline, while it is “moderate” below treeline. Avalanches can be triggered easily on steep, wind-loaded slopes facing north through east to southeast directions. There are no recent observations of instability or avalanches on the Eastern Wyoming Avalanche Information Exchange.
At Keystone, near Rob Roy Reservoir, there has been a total of 230 inches of snow so far this season, according to Don Day Jr. at dayweather.com. This is a 10-inch increase from last week. The amount is nearly the same as the 229 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 three percentage points from last week.
Conditions “up top” in the Snowy Range are excellent for those getting out early after new snowfall. After that, it turns into “hero” snow that is either crusty or mushy. Temperatures get above freezing, even at Medicine Bow Peak, on Thursday and Friday before snow returns Saturday.
All of the ski trails off of Highway 130, including Libby Creek, Barber Lake and Little Laramie, have excellent coverage, with spring conditions. Get out earlier in the day to enjoy the best conditions.
Conditions are similar at Chimney Park and along the Medicine Bow Rail Trail. Coverage is very good on user-packed trails.
The short bouts of fresh snow through the weekend and to start this week made for some excellent conditions on the trails at the Happy Jack Recreation Area. Thanks to daily grooming breaking up the crusty surface in the skate lane and the setting of new classic tracks as conditions allow, the season continues. The warm temperatures the next couple days likely will really hit these trails, though. Expect constantly changing conditions.
The multi-use trails are in good condition early in the morning, but get quite soft and slushy as the day warms.
As of Tuesday morning, the U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service snow measuring stations reports 65 inches of snow at Cinnabar Park, an increase of one inch from last week. The station at Brooklyn Lake reports 77 inches, an increase of seven inches from last week. The report at Sand Lake on the north end of the Medicine Bow Mountains reports 100 inches, an increase of eight inches from last week. The measuring station at Medicine Bow Peak, at an elevation of 10,500 feet, reports 109 inches, an increase of 12 inches from last week. The Crow Creek station on Pole Mountain shows 21 inches, a decrease of four inches from last week.
Cross-country skiing
Pole Mountain/Happy Jack Recreation Area Nordic ski trails: Conditions on the Nordic trails are very good, with good coverage. Daily grooming continues.
Pole Mountain/Happy Jack Recreation Area Multi-use trails: Conditions are marginal for those on fat bikes, except early in the morning. Snowshoes and skis are the recommended mode as the day warms.
Chimney Park Nordic ski trails: The trails are in very good condition, with plenty of snow. The routes are user-packed.
Snowy Range backcountry conditions: Excellent spring conditions. Good coverage with trails user-packed and suitable for skiers and snowshoers.
Snowmobile conditions
Snowy Range: Conditions are good up high, with mostly clear skies until the weekend, when flurries arrive. Current base ranges from five to seven feet.
Quick Numbers
Wyoming downhill areas
Snowy Range Ski Area: 51-inch base; 4 lifts, 25 trails and 76% of terrain open.
Antelope Butte: 27-inch base; closes April 7.
Grand Targhee: 116-inch base; 6 lifts, 87 trails and 92% of terrain open.
Hogadon: 55-inch base; 2 lifts, 26 trails and 100% of terrain open.
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort: 114-inch base; 13 lifts, 123 trails and 94% of terrain open.
Meadowlark Ski Area: Closed for the season.
Sleeping Giant: Closed this season.
Snow King: Closed for the season.
White Pine: 36-inch base; 2 lifts, 29 trails and 100% of terrain open.
Colorado downhill areas
Arapahoe Basin: 62-inch base; 9 lifts, 140 trails and 98% of terrain open.
Breckenridge: 66-inch base; 33 lifts, 187 trails and 100% of terrain open.
Copper Mountain: 66-inch base; 23 lifts, 154 trails and 92% of terrain open.
Eldora: 47-inch base; 10 lifts, 65 trails and 100% of terrain open.
Keystone: 56-inch base; 15 lifts, 129 trails and 92% of terrain open.
Loveland: 60-inch base; 10 lifts, 93 trails and 99% of terrain open.
Steamboat: 117-inch base; 23 lifts, 181 trails and 100% of terrain open.
Vail: 74-inch base; 33 lifts, 275 trails and 100% of terrain open.
Winter Park: 80-inch base; 19 lifts, 161 trails and 96% of terrain open.
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