Boreal Summer Shred 2013 | Photo Tour Boreal’s annual Summer Shred Session went off this weekend, and the masses were out to enjoy it. With a number of park features, a freshly cut 13 ft. pipe, a jump, and the narrowest white ribbon of death to date, the skiing and riding was all time. While most were out enjoying a paddle around the lake or pleasant summer […] SnowBrains | June 17, 2013 5 Comments
Boreal, CA ReOpens Tomorrow, June 15th | 4th Annual “Summer Shred” Boreal ski resort on Donner Summit, CA will reopen for one day this Saturday, June 15th. They’ll be open to the public from 10am – 2pm. SnowBrains will have a reporter on the hill to bring you a full report of the fun on Monday. This is our last chance for skiing and riding from a chairlift in California this […] SnowBrains | June 14, 2013 5 Comments
I Camped on a Glacier in Alaska with 3 Finnish Dudes and Had a Life-Changing Experience “Aleksi and I have been talking about going to Alaska for 10, 15 years now and it’s always something we wanted to do.” “Well…Why don’t we go?” “Yeah, that’d be cool.” “…No…Seriously. Let’s plan a trip—what about next spring?” That brief conversation sometime during winter 2024-2025 between Finnish splitboarder Janne Lääkkö and I—someone who I am lucky to consider both […] Trip Report Martin Kuprianowicz | April 20, 2026 3 Comments
Falling Through Ice Can Kill in Minutes — Here’s Exactly How to Survive How to Survive Falling Through Ice The coming of spring brings warm temperatures, longer days, and the end of wintery weather. But as temperatures rise, the ice that blankets frozen ponds and lakes begins to weaken. Thin ice can come out of nowhere, and falling through the ice into freezing water can kill. Understanding how to survive falling through ice and […] Brains Quinn Brophy | April 18, 2026 0 Comments
Where Will it Be Deep This Week? These are the Top 5 Forecasted Resorts in North America for the Next 10 Days Forecast for April 11-20, 2026 It’s always snowing somewhere, and for skiers and riders, that’s where the magic happens. Fresh snow is what turns ordinary runs into powder days, and every skier knows the thrill of waking up to see a few extra inches (or feet) on the mountain report. Whether you’re chasing the deepest conditions or just living vicariously through […] Weather Brent Glogau | April 11, 2026 0 Comments
Shaydar Edelmann Is the New Vail Mountain COO and He Comes With 25 Years of Credentials Vail Mountain has announced a major leadership change at the COO level. Beth Howard, Vice President and Vail Mountain COO since 2019, is retiring after a 41-year career that helped define the modern ski and hospitality experience across Vail Resorts‘ flagship mountains. Shaydar Edelmann has been named her successor, appointed Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. The announcement marks a […] Industry News SnowBrains | April 8, 2026 0 Comments
[UPDATE] Castle Peak Avalanche Recovery Ongoing & Forest Closure Issued as Communities Mourn 9 Dead Recovery efforts continue on Castle Peak, California, after what is now confirmed as the deadliest avalanche in modern California history, as authorities warn that hazardous conditions are preventing victims from being safely extracted. In two updates released Thursday, February 19, the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office said that dangerous weather and unstable snowpack are delaying recovery operations and that efforts are […] Avalanche Julia Schneemann | February 19, 2026 0 Comments
California Ski Resorts Closed Today as Significant Snow Storm Slams Sierra Nevada Heavy snow and high winds forced multiple ski resorts around Lake Tahoe and Mammoth Mountain to close today, February 17, as storm conditions battered the Sierra Nevada. Resorts cited poor visibility, avalanche risks, and deep snow for the shutdowns, with some areas postponing openings into Wednesday. BREAKING: 10 Skiers Still Missing After Huge Avalanche on Castle Peak, CA, Caught Group […] Industry News SnowBrains | February 17, 2026 0 Comments
10 Skiers Still Missing After Huge Avalanche on Castle Peak, CA, Caught Group of 16 The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office reports that rescue operations continue for a group of 16 backcountry skiers caught in an avalanche on Castle Peak, California, at approximately 11:30 a.m. today. Six skiers survived the slide and remain at the site, sheltering in place while awaiting extraction; ten others, including members of the guided party of four ski guides and 12 […] Avalanche Steven Agar | February 17, 2026 0 Comments
Snowmobiler Killed in Avalanche Near Truckee, CA A snowmobiler was killed Monday afternoon after being buried in an avalanche near Johnson Peak and Castle Peak west of Truckee, California, according to the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office. Castle Peak is located just north of Boreal, Soda Springs, Sugar Bowl, and Tahoe Donner ski areas. Related: Head On A Swivel – Snowmobile Avalanche Awareness Authorities said the avalanche occurred […] Avalanche SnowBrains | January 6, 2026 0 Comments
Where Will it Be Deep This Week? These are the Top 5 Forecasted Resorts in North America for the Next 10 Days Forecast for December 28, 2025 – January 6, 2026 It’s always snowing somewhere, and for skiers and riders, that’s where the magic happens. Fresh snow is what turns ordinary runs into powder days, and every skier knows the thrill of waking up to see a few extra inches (or feet) on the mountain report. Whether you’re chasing the deepest conditions or […] Weather WeatherBrains | December 28, 2025 0 Comments
Where Will it Be Deep This Week? These are the Top 5 Forecasted Resorts in North America for the Next 10 Days Forecast for December 21-30, 2025 It’s always snowing somewhere, and for skiers and riders, that’s where the magic happens. Fresh snow is what turns ordinary runs into powder days, and every skier knows the thrill of waking up to see a few extra inches (or feet) on the mountain report. Whether you’re chasing the deepest conditions or just living vicariously through […] Weather WeatherBrains | December 21, 2025 0 Comments
Palisades Tahoe, CA, Delays Opening With No New Date Announced Palisades Tahoe, California, has had to delay its opening day, originally scheduled for Wednesday, November 26. The delay comes as the resort struggles with limited natural snowfall and inconsistent snowmaking conditions, both of which are necessary to establish a safe and durable snow base. Related: Learn to Ski or Board at Palisades Tahoe, CA, and Earn a Free Season Pass […] Industry News SnowBrains | November 24, 2025 0 Comments
Top 5 Best Ski Counties in the United States There are countless great skiing and snowboarding locations across the United States. Some counties, however, pull far above their weight when it comes to quality and quantity of snow, elevation, access to great inbounds and backcountry terrain, vibrant après scene, accessibility from major airports, and of course number of ski resorts. From coast to coast, we’ve compiled a list using […] Brains Joseph Kaufmann | November 14, 2025 1 Comment
[PHOTO TOUR] Northern Lights Dazzle Above North American Ski Areas A powerful geomagnetic storm illuminated ski resorts across the western United States on Tuesday night, treating night owls to a rare display of the northern lights, or aurora borealis. Vibrant green and pink hues danced above ski resorts from Park City, Utah, to the northern slopes of Montana and Washington, as clear skies and solar activity aligned for an extraordinary […] SnowBrains | November 12, 2025 0 Comments
Ski and Ride for Free With Lake Tahoe’s ‘Plates for Powder’ Program With the first snow of the season already dusting the Sierra and ski season primed to kick off at Lake Tahoe area resorts in the coming weeks, now is the time to get a free lift ticket to use this winter. By purchasing a new Lake Tahoe license plate through the “Plates for Powder” program, California and Nevada drivers will […] Industry News Press Release | November 3, 2025 0 Comments
Breckenridge, CO, Receives Dark Sky Certification The town of Breckenridge, Colorado, has officially been certified as an International Dark Sky Community by DarkSky International as of August 2025. A Dark Sky certification shows a town’s commitment to light pollution reduction in order for residents and visitors to enjoy the natural beauty of the night sky. Breckenridge’s efforts to reduce light pollution date back to 2007, when it […] Industry News Joseph Kaufmann | September 1, 2025 4 Comments
The 7 Least Visited National Parks in the U.S. National parks are a vital part of American tourism, attracting millions of visitors—both domestic and international—each year. Visitation has steadily increased in recent years, with a notable surge in 2020 as people turned to the outdoors during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, not all parks share the same level of fame or foot traffic. Some, like Zion, attract millions of visitors […] Brains Zach Suffish | August 28, 2025 7 Comments
NSAA Honors Best in Ski Industry 2025 at Annual Awards Ceremony Association recognizes innovative strategies in sustainability, safety, marketing and growth. The National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) named the winners of its annual awards in sustainability, safety, marketing, and beginner conversion (growth). The awards were presented to ski area members with the most innovative and successful programs in each category at the association’s National Convention and Tradeshow in Marco Island, Florida, […] Industry News Press Release | May 19, 2025 0 Comments
Backcountry Skier Airlifted After Technical Nighttime Rescue Near 8,000-Foot Castle Peak in Lake Tahoe Area, CA A backcountry skier who broke his leg in steep, snowy terrain near Castle Peak in the Lake Tahoe area was rescued late Saturday night in a complex, multi-agency operation, according to the Placer County Sheriff’s Office. The skier, who was 6 feet 8 inches tall, was injured around 8,000 feet elevation in the Castle Peak area, a popular but remote […] SnowBrains | April 28, 2025 0 Comments
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