Record Breaking 140″ Snowfall Event Triggers Extreme Avalanche Danger in Europe Austrian and Italian authorities issued avalanche alerts this week as record-breaking snowfall jeopardized public safety. Related: Heavy Snowfall and Avalanche Risk Forces Cancelation of Women’s World Cup Super-G Races According to snow-forecast.com, resorts in Northern Italy received nearly 140″ (355cm) of snow in just 4 days. Much of the Alps region received more than 100″ (250 cm) in the same time […] Avalanche Clay Malott | December 8, 2020 0 Comments
VIDEO: Made in the Mitten | Never Before Seen Footage of the Birth of Snowboarding. In Michigan. [arve url="https://vimeo.com/460666206"] SnowBrains | December 8, 2020 Likes Tweets 0 Comments
Backcountry Access (BCA) Releases New Workhorse Beacon—The Tracker4 Backcountry Access (BCA) this month announced the release of its newest avalanche beacon, the Tracker4™, for winter 2020/21. The design of the Tracker4 avalanche transceiver marks a new industry standard for transceiver durability and ease-of-use for those moments when every second counts. Related: Backcountry Skiing Etiquette: The Do’s and Don’ts When asked about what makes the Tracker4 different from other […] Backcountry SnowBrains | December 8, 2020 0 Comments
Andorra the Latest in Europe to Close its Ski Resorts Until January Scheduled to start their season on Friday 4th December 2020, Andorra has decided to postpone the reopening of its ski resorts until early January 2021. “It is a difficult and painful decision, but from a health point of view, it is better to postpone the opening of ski resorts to January.” – head of Andorran government Xavier Espot The government […] Industry News SnowBrains | December 8, 2020 0 Comments
Excessive Amounts of Human Waste found at the Popular Ice Lakes, Colorado The Ice Lakes reside just outside the famous Silverton, Colorado. They offer some of the most stunning and picture-perfect views in the state with a relatively short hike. After the abnormally busy summer, as expected, the area was left with an excessive amount of human waste and impacts. Related: Popular Paradise Falls, CA Closed After Visitors Left Truckloads of Trash […] Dominic Gawel | December 8, 2020 0 Comments
Trespassing Backcountry Skiers Cause Closure of Major Rogers Pass Ski Area A popular backcountry ski area off Rogers Pass, BC, has been temporarily closed after skiers were witnessed entering an adjacent prohibited area. Related: The Importance of Understanding the Winter Permit System on Rogers Pass, BC Backcountry skiers were seen entering the winter prohibited area Macdonald West Shoulder on December 3rd, 2020. The next day Parks Canada temporarily closed NRC Gully trailhead […] Backcountry SnowBrains | December 7, 2020 0 Comments
Two People Fall From Chairlift at 49° North, Washington Two skiers fell from Chair 1 at 49° North Mountain Resort in Chewelah, Washington, at around 11 am on Saturday, December 5. The resort says that the chairlift unexpectedly detached from the cable. Related: Skiing the PNW – The Best Months to Ski Oregon and Washington 49° North says both guests suffered minor injuries and were immediately attended to by OEC […] Industry News Clay Malott | December 7, 2020 0 Comments
Climber Survives 15-Foot Fall Into a Fumarole on Mount Hood, OR Just before 1:30 pm on Friday, December 4, 2020, Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office Search & Rescue (SAR) Coordinators learned of a climbing accident on Mount Hood, OR. Related: Body of Climber Missing Since Tuesday Found in Crevasse on Mount Hood, OR A climber, Caroline Sundbaum, 32, of Portland, had fallen into a fumarole in the Devil’s Kitchen area, located around […] Climbing CragBrains | December 7, 2020 0 Comments
Heavy Snowfall and Avalanche Risk Forces Cancelation of Women’s World Cup Super-G Races Heavy snowfall, strong winds, and high avalanche risk forced the cancellation of the women’s FIS World Cup super-G races in St. Moritz, Switzerland, this weekend. The men, racing in Santa Caterina, Italy, managed to complete one race before 16″ of fresh snow postponed the second. The first scheduled race in St.Moritz was canceled early Saturday morning due to the continuous snowfall […] Industry News SnowBrains | December 7, 2020 0 Comments
Alpine Meadows, CA Report: Fast, Fun, the Sun is Shining and the Park is Firing This report is from December 4th and 5th, 2020 at Alpine Meadows, California. According to rumors heard throughout the week, Alpine Meadows currently has the best lift-accessed skiing in the Sierra and that has been confirmed. After spending the first few days on the other side of the resort following the holiday, Friday and Saturday were spent at Alpine Meadows where […] Conditions Report Galen Carrico | December 7, 2020 1 Comment
Grand Targhee, WY Report: Sunday the 6th; Blackfoot Open And Promising Forecast Brought to you by 10 Barrel Brewing Report from Sunday the 6th, December 2020 A big old system of bossy high pressure has kept the sun shining brightly over the Tetons and Grand Targhee Resort. One might even liken it to Spring Fling but the air temps remind us, happily, that it is winter. The next ingredient required is the […] Conditions Report Paulie | December 7, 2020 0 Comments
Covid Plan Approved, Taos Ski Valley, NM Set to Open on Wednesday, December 9, 2020 Taos Ski Valley, NM, had their staff COVID testing plan approved by the state on Friday, December 4, 2020. They are excited to announce they will open for passholder appreciation days on December 9th & 10th. Related: New Mexico Updates Public Health Order Allowing Ski Resorts to Finally Open They will open to the public starting Friday, December 11th. Day tickets must […] SnowBrains | December 7, 2020 0 Comments
Trip Report: Rest Day in Maple Canyon, UT Report from Dec. 6, 2020 This report is brought to you by 10 Barrel Brewing Co. A rest day is a day when you don’t ski. And because I’ve skied the past 23 days in a row, I figured I could give the ol titanium legs a break from the hardpacked slopes. This is how we wound up at Maple […] Trip Report Martin Kuprianowicz | December 7, 2020 2 Comments
Cuchara Mountain Park, CO: The Reopening of this Hidden Gem Cuchara Mountain is nestled away in the beautiful Sangre de Cristo range of Southern Colorado, just 25 miles north of the border of New Mexico. Cuchara Mountain Resort first opened for the 1981/1982 ski season as Pandero Resort with five lifts and snowmaking. The resort operated on and off for the next twenty years under several different ownerships. In 2000, […] Industry News Dominic Gawel | December 7, 2020 0 Comments
Vail Resorts Not Offering Paper Trail Maps This Season Vail Resorts will not have paper trail maps this season. Many resorts around the country will likely follow as Vail often sets the industry standard. We are in a technological era, and it is easy to access trail maps with a Google search, on apps, and even on Google Maps. Related: The Ticket Wicket – Do You Wicket Your Ticket? […] Industry News Dominic Gawel | December 7, 2020 9 Comments
Alta, UT Report: Ripping Groomers in Warm Temps & Sunshine Brought to you by Alta Ski Area Report from December 4th, 2020 Yesterday was the first warm day since Alta opened for the season. The signboard at the bottom of the Collins chair said 51ºF for a while. It was nice. Sunny, light wind, few people, and I met up with an old friend for a few laps. We’ve found […] Conditions Report Miles Clark | December 5, 2020 0 Comments
VIDEO: Epic New SnowBoarder Film “Tangle (2020)” | Presented by Snowboarder Magazine | Full Movie [arve url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87KxS5B014o"] SnowBrains | December 4, 2020 Likes Tweets 0 Comments
SnowBrains Forecast Update: 6-18″ of Snow For New England This Weekend Forecast By SnowBrains Meteorologist – Eric McNamee 10:20 AM MST, Dec. 4, 2020 Forecast Summary: A strong closed low is expected to develop this weekend across the Northeast, bringing 6-18″ of snow to New England. Models are in much better agreement than Wednesday for the track of this storm and the amount of snowfall. Getting into next week, conditions generally clear […] Weather Eric McNamee | December 4, 2020 0 Comments
Schweitzer Mountain Resort, ID CEO Will “Shut Down the Entire Operation” if Guests Continue to Defy Mask Wearing Mandate There’s a small minority of guests at Schweitzer Mountain Resort, ID, putting everybody’s ski season at risk – by refusing to wear a mask. Related: Not Wearing a Mask is More Serious Than Skiing Out-of-Bounds | Big White Ski Resort, BC Pulling Passes if You Don’t Comply According to President and CEO Tom Chasse, 90% of guests at the mountain […] SnowBrains | December 4, 2020 0 Comments
Pitkin County, CO (Aspen) Requires Visitors to Sign an Affidavit Confirming Negative Covid-19 Test Pitkin County, CO, home to Aspen’s four ski areas, will require visitors to declare that they have had a negative covid-19 test 72-hours before arriving, county manager Jon Peacock announced on Tuesday. Travelers unable to provide proof of a negative test will be required to quarantine for 14-days or obtain a test at their own cost, reports the Aspen Daily […] Industry News SnowBrains | December 4, 2020 0 Comments