Industry News
Four more West Coast resorts have closed due to low snow, adding to the 3 Californian ski mountains that closed last week. In Oregon, Mt. Ashland Ski Area, Hoodoo Ski Area, and Willamette Pass Resort have all stopped operations until they get enough snow. Eaglecrest Ski Area in Juneau, Alaska has also suspended operations.
***Update: We just discovered that Homewood Ski Resort in Lake Tahoe, CA has shut down as well making it 8 ski resorts. Homewood is keeping two bunny hill rope tows open but they are essentially closed. – editor
Badger Pass, Dodge Ridge, and Mt. Shasta, all in California, have been closed for over a week. “We probably could have limped along with some of our learning-area terrain open,” said Sean Waterman, a spokesman for Dodge Ridge Wintersports Area. “But it’s not quite the experience that we want people to have.”
California is experiencing its fourth year of extreme and exceptional drought. Snowfall has been measured at 33% of average.
Low snowfall, high snow levels, and record-breaking warmth combine to make a very difficult winter for resorts in the Sierras and Cascades. Redding, California, near Mt. Shasta reached 80 degrees on Saturday, matching the city’s all-time record high set Jan. 15-16, 2014.
Daily record highs were set in several other California cities as well as parts of Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Nevada. The warm weather is expected to continue into the weekend.
There’s a chance of snow in the mountains starting Thursday, but high temperatures over the weekend may melt any powder in the mountains.
These resorts are ready and waiting to open once the snow falls. Keep your fingers crossed and pray for snow!!!
is closed as well.
Sad!!!