California

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 […]
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WeatherBrains |
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Mammoth Mountain, CA, Pond Skim Canceled as Resort Pushes Forward With Second Season

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Mammoth Mountain, California, has canceled its annual Pond Skim at Canyon Lodge, the resort confirmed in a social media post yesterday, citing conditions that made the beloved spring tradition unworkable. The event, which draws crowds each year to watch skiers and snowboarders attempt to cross a meltwater pond in costume, will not take place this season. Related: It’s Pond Skimming […]
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Which Ski Resorts Are Still Open in the West? Here’s Every One — and When They Close

Spring Shred. | Photo: Palisades Tahoe

The 2025–26 ski season across the American West is limping to a close in historic fashion. A combination of below-average snowfall and a record-breaking spring heat wave is sending snowpacks crashing. In Colorado, the season is being described as the worst in 50 years, with resorts opening less than half their usual terrain for much of the winter. In Utah, […]
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Dodge Ridge, CA: Lock in Affordable 2026-27 Season Passes Before April 30

Dodge Ridge, California, just completed its 75th season, celebrating its family roots, quaint atmosphere, and heritage. Dodge Ridge, located in the Central Sierra Nevada mountains, is the Central Valley and Bay Area’s closest skiing. It has 1,600 vertical feet, more than 800 acres of terrain, and 11 lifts—a family resort with something for everyone. Dodge Ridge is also a member […]
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Dominic Gawel |
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Official Report on the Castle Peak, CA, Avalanche That Killed 9 Reveals Critical Decision Errors, Undeployed Airbags, and Victims Buried 8 Feet Deep

tahoe avalanche

The Sierra Avalanche Center has published its official investigation report on the February 17, 2026, Perry Peak near Frog Lake/Castle Peak avalanche that killed nine skiers and guides northwest of Lake Tahoe. The report, publically viewable on Avalanche.org, documents snowpack conditions, the route taken by the party, an account of the companion rescue, and a set of observations about group […]
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AvyBrains |
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California’s April Snow Survey Just Found Almost Nothing — And It’s the Second-Worst on Record

DWR staff taking snowpack measurements at Phillips Station yesterday, April 1, 2026. | Photo: DWR

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 […]
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Keep the Season Going: Mammoth, CA, Offers >50% Discounted Spring Lift Tickets for Pass Holders from Other Resorts

Just because your home mountain is starting to wind down (or has wound down) doesn’t mean your ski season has to. At California’s Mammoth Mountain, spring is when the skiing and riding really hit their stride. Soft turns, bluebird skies, and uncrowded runs make this the perfect time to keep stacking days while other resorts start calling it quits. Related: […]
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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. […]
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WeatherBrains |
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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 […]
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Zach Armstrong |
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Eagle Lodge Is Done for the Year but Mammoth Mountain, CA’s, Second Season Is Just Getting Started

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Mammoth Mountain, California, began scaling back its lift network Monday, closing Eagle Lodge and a series of chairs for the remainder of the 2025–26 season while confirming the resort remains on course to ski through Memorial Day. Related: Which Ski Resorts Are Still Open in the West? Here’s Every One — and When They Close Effective March 30, the resort […]
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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 […]
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WeatherBrains |
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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 […]
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WeatherBrains |
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SnowBrains Forecast: Quiet Weekend, Then 12-22″ of Snow for Bear Valley, CA, Next Week

This forecast is brought to you by Bear Valley Mountain Resort. Bear Valley stays mostly dry through Monday with spring skiing conditions, then a two-part storm brings a meaningful refresh from Tuesday into early Friday. The first part of the storm looks relatively warm, so the upper mountain should do best while the 6,600-foot base sits close to the rain-snow […]
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WeatherBrains |
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Sunski Hands Out 300 Pairs of Sunglasses to Ski Resort Staff at Pain McShlonkey Classic at Palisades Tahoe, CA

Sunski sunglasses

Ski resort employees at Palisades Tahoe, California, got more than just sunshine during this year’s Pain McShlonkey Classic—they walked away with fresh shades and a whole lot of appreciation. California-based eyewear company Sunski showed up in force on March 21, handing out roughly 300 pairs of alpine sunglasses to on-mountain staff as part of the event’s festivities. Set up on the […]
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Bear Valley Mountain Resort, CA, Will Be Open Until at Least This Sunday

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It has been a tough ski season out West. Below-average snowfall, warm temperatures, thin coverage, and bare spots have plagued most of the region’s ski resorts, with some not even opening at all this year. So far, 11 California ski resorts have closed for the season, and many others have announced earlier-than-usual closing dates. Palisades Tahoe closed a full month […]
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Avatar photo Gregg Frantz |
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