California Ski Area Posts Signs Encouraging Guests to ‘Rat Out’ Lifties Donner Ski Ranch, California, is taking chairlift safety to a whole new level. The Tahoe-area resort recently took to its Facebook to reveal a new sign that will be posted at the bottom of every chairlift and carpet. The sign encourages guests to “rat,” or report, on lifties using their cell phones while working the lifts. “Safety first,” the sign reads. “It […] Industry News Quinn Brophy | June 29, 2026 3 Comments
Top 7 Gnarliest Inbounds Runs at Ski Resorts in California California is well-known for having incredible, world-class ski resorts throughout the state, from Lake Tahoe to Mammoth. Within those resorts, there are a number of extremely difficult runs and zones — not always necessarily listed on a resort trail map, but 100% inbounds — that attract locals, professionals, and visitors from all over the globe, powder day after powder day, […] Brains John Cunningham | June 4, 2026 1 Comment
SnowBrains Forecast: Light Late-May Sierra Refresh for California The California snow forecast brings a cooler, unsettled stretch with light late-May mountain snow from Tuesday through Friday. The main ski-relevant window is Wednesday into Thursday, when showers are most widespread, snow levels are low enough for upper-mountain accumulation, and the highest terrain from Tahoe south to Mammoth can pick up a modest refresh. Mammoth remains the primary lift-served option, […] Weather WeatherBrains | May 25, 2026 0 Comments
California’s 9,945′ Tioga Pass Opens for 2026 — and It’s the Earliest Opening Since 2015 Tioga Pass opens for 2026 at 8 a.m. Friday, May 15, marking the earliest start to the season at Yosemite National Park’s eastern gateway in 11 years and completing the full slate of High Sierra passes for the summer season. The pass, which carries Highway 120 through the park at 9,945 feet above sea level, is the highest paved route […] National Parks SnowBrains | May 18, 2026 0 Comments
SnowBrains Forecast: Light 2-7 Inches for California Before Warmth Returns A cool, unsettled system brings scattered thunderstorms and a light Sierra snow event from Sunday afternoon through Tuesday evening. Most accumulation favors the higher terrain, with generally 2-4 inches for better-placed mountains and up to 5-7 inches near Mt. Rose. Snow starts wet and dense where it falls, improves briefly Monday night, then a warmer and mostly dry pattern takes […] Weather WeatherBrains | May 2, 2026 0 Comments
Unlimited — And Transferable — Access to 36 Resorts: The 2026-27 Ski California Gold Pass Goes on Sale May 1 for $4,250 For those who want the ultimate no-strings-attached relationship with the mountains of the Sierra and beyond, the wait is almost over. In a press release shared with SnowBrains, Ski California has announced that the highly exclusive 2026-27 Gold Pass will officially go on sale May 1. Related: 34th Annual Cushing Crossing Pond Skim Returns to Palisades Tahoe, CA, on May […] Industry News Martin Kuprianowicz | April 30, 2026 0 Comments
Precision at 12,400 Feet: California Helicopter Crew Executes High-Stakes Sierra Rescue A mountain climber is recovering after surviving a 500-foot fall and a freezing night on a remote granite ledge in is likely one of the most technical helicopter rescues in the history of the High Sierra. According to a report from the SF Chronicle, the incident unfolded on April 16, 2026, on the rugged western flank of Mount Baxter, a […] Backcountry Martin Kuprianowicz | April 27, 2026 0 Comments
SnowBrains Forecast: Light 5-10 Inches for the California Sierra, Then Warmer A light, showery Sierra storm cycle is the main ski-weather feature from Saturday into Monday, with the best odds for meaningful accumulation focused south of the Tahoe basin. Expect dense to moderate spring snow during colder bursts, snow levels dropping from near 8,000 feet toward 6,000-6,500 feet, and generally modest totals, while a warmer and mostly dry pattern takes over […] Weather WeatherBrains | April 25, 2026 0 Comments
The Waldos: The California Teens Who Accidentally Invented 420 What Is the Real Origin of 420? The origin of 420 is one of pop culture’s best-kept secrets. Each year on this day, 4/20, 20 April, marijuana enthusiasts all around the world, from Amsterdam to London to California, congregate to celebrate cannabis culture, whether it’s legal or not. Related: Is It A Smart Idea to Use Marijuana In The Mountains? Every […] Brains Steven Agar | April 20, 2026 0 Comments
SnowBrains Forecast: 1-2 Feet for the California Sierra Through Wednesday California gets one short but useful Sierra storm from early Tuesday through Wednesday evening, with around 1-2 feet on the favored west-slope higher terrain and much less for the lower Tahoe bases and Mount Baldy. The guidance is in good agreement on a windy lead-in Monday, a colder turn as the storm comes inland Tuesday, and the best ski value […] Weather WeatherBrains | April 19, 2026 0 Comments
SnowBrains Forecast: 2-3 Feet for the California Sierra Through Monday California skiing stays active through Monday night as the current storm keeps reloading the Sierra, while Mount Baldy picks up a shorter, lighter shot on Sunday. The best window for fresh turns at the open Sierra resorts runs from late Saturday through Sunday night, when snowfall intensity peaks, snow levels fall fast, and gusty south to southwest winds make exposed […] Weather WeatherBrains | April 11, 2026 0 Comments
SnowBrains Forecast: 2-3 Feet for the California Sierra Through Monday A real weekend storm is the story across California, with the Sierra turning wintry again from Saturday into Monday. The biggest payoff goes to the Tahoe crest and the central Sierra, where favored terrain stacks up 2-3 feet by Monday morning, while Mammoth lands closer to 14-19 in and Mt. Rose stays much lighter on the east side at 7-10 […] Weather WeatherBrains | April 11, 2026 0 Comments
SnowBrains Forecast: 1-3 Feet for California’s Sierra This Weekend California’s main ski weather story is a weekend Sierra storm that starts warm and wind-affected on Friday, then turns colder and more productive from Friday night through Sunday. Confidence is strongest from Friday through Monday morning, when the open Sierra mountains should stack up meaningful fresh snow and the quality improves as colder air settles in. After that, next week […] Weather WeatherBrains | April 9, 2026 0 Comments
Spider Sabich: Murder, Cocaine, Money, Olympics & Skiing — California Golden Boy April 8 is Spider Sabich Day—a local holiday celebrated every year in Snowmass Village, Aspen, Colorado, in honor of one of America’s greatest ski racers. And yet, most people have never heard of him. Spider Sabich was the most famous ski racer in America, an Olympic competitor, a pro tour champion, and the man Robert Redford’s character in Downhill Racer […] Brains Miles Clark | April 8, 2026 140 Comments
California’s April Snow Survey Just Found Almost Nothing — And It’s the Second-Worst on Record The Department of Water Resources (DWR) yesterday conducted the critical April snow survey at Phillips Station and found no measurable snow, a stark indicator of how record‑hot March temperatures and high‑elevation rain have erased the Sierra Nevada snowpack months ahead of schedule. The combination of warm storms and unusually hot temperatures rapidly melted what remained of this year’s already sparse […] SnowBrains | April 2, 2026 0 Comments
SnowBrains Forecast: Up to 1 Foot for California Through Thursday, Then Warm and Mostly Dry A fast-moving Wednesday-Thursday storm is the only meaningful snow producer in this California forecast, with the best refresh focused on the Tahoe crest before a long stretch of warmer, mostly dry weather takes over. Confidence is highest from Wednesday morning through Thursday midday, when strong winds, falling snow levels, and dense to moderately packed snow will matter most for skiers. […] Weather WeatherBrains | April 1, 2026 0 Comments
Cody Townsend, Tommy Caldwell, and Bjarne Salén Complete Bold Winter Traverse of California’s Highest Peaks The Sierra Nevada contain some of the highest peaks in North America. Outside of Colorado, Washington and California are the only states in the lower 48 that have any summits over 14,000 feet. The Eastern Sierra is home to Mt. Whitney, the highest peak in the lower 48, as well as a host of other equally imposing mountains. A summit […] Backcountry Zach Armstrong | April 1, 2026 1 Comment
SnowBrains Forecast: 1-2 Feet for the California Sierra Through Thursday California’s ski weather turns active from Tuesday morning through Thursday afternoon, with a windy Sierra storm bringing the best refresh of the period before a quick shift back to warm spring conditions. Open Sierra and Carson Range resorts should come away with generally 3″-19″, with the biggest totals on the Tahoe crest and Mammoth more in the 7″-10″ range. Snow […] Weather WeatherBrains | March 30, 2026 0 Comments
Californian Heli-Skier Dies in Chugach Avalanche Near Lake George, AK A California man died on Friday after being caught in an avalanche while heli-skiing in Alaska’s remote Chugach Mountains, marking another tragic incident during a period of elevated spring avalanche risk. Related: “We are Heartbroken” — Blackbird Mountain Guides Speak After Castle Peak, CA, Avalanche According to the Alaska State Troopers, 63-year-old Eric Sommer was caught in an avalanche at […] Avalanche AvyBrains | March 29, 2026 0 Comments
SnowBrains Forecast: 1-2 Feet for the California Sierra Through Friday California skiing stays spring-like through the weekend, then turns cooler, windier, and more wintry from Tuesday into Friday morning as a two-part Sierra storm brings the best snow to the crest. The most meaningful accumulations favor Kirkwood, Bear Valley, Palisades Tahoe, and Sugar Bowl, while Mammoth looks lighter and Southern California stays mostly dry. Confidence is highest from Tuesday through […] Weather WeatherBrains | March 27, 2026 0 Comments
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