Turns All Year: A Guide for How to Ski Every Month of the Year in North America Ask any die-hard skier what keeps them up at night in the swelter of July, and odds are they’ll mention three innocent-sounding letters: TAY… Turns All Year. The idea is seductively simple: ski at least once every single month, no matter what the calendar or the weather says. The execution, however, is anything but. It demands early-morning alarms that ring […] Backcountry Clay Malott | April 28, 2025 9 Comments
Where Do I Find the Snow? Using Meteorological Data to Find Fresh Powder Powder: the elusive holy grail of snowsports. Though it may seem hard to find, it isn’t if you know where to look. This article will outline the tools and knowledge you need to be a competent powder chaser. Note: techniques in this article are meant to be used within the patrolled ski area boundary. Backcountry use of these techniques may lead […] Brains Clay Malott | October 29, 2024 0 Comments
The Disadvantages of the Quiver of One There is undoubtedly lots of uncertainty surrounding the 2020-2021 ski season. Resorts will likely be running at reduced capacity, meaning fewer skiers are allowed on the mountain per day. This has triggered a mass exodus to backcountry skiing, the likes of which we have never seen. To backcountry ski, of course, you need to buy the right gear. This year, many […] Backcountry Clay Malott | April 20, 2021 1 Comment
2020-2021 Season Closing Days at Colorado Ski Resorts Spring has sprung and that means the 2020-2021 resort ski season, unfortunately, has to come to an end. Most Colorado ski areas are closing on various Sundays throughout April, starting the 4th through April 25th. This year’s May resort skiing will likely only be at Breckenridge (Closing May 31st) and Arapahoe Basin (TBA). It is common for Winter Park to extend […] Industry News Dominic Gawel | March 24, 2021 0 Comments
How to Safely Begin Backcountry Skiing Brought to you by SCARPA With ski resorts likely reducing capacity to ensure they’re complying with COVID guidelines, thousands are flocking to backcountry skiing. No lifts, no problem! The backcountry this year could be packed with beginner backcountry skiers, who don’t have the necessary safety skills to ensure not only their safety but also others’. The goal of this article is […] Backcountry Clay Malott | February 8, 2021 0 Comments
Abandoned Cuchara Ski Resort In Colorado Gets A Breath Of Life After 20 Years The long-forgotten Cuchara Ski Resort located in Huerfano County, Colorado, is set to make a comeback by the fall of 2021. The resort is located 78-miles south of Pueblo along the 82-mile stretch of Highway 12, close to the New Mexico line and Spanish Peak mountains. It was established in 1984 by a group from Texas receiving funding from Summit Savings […] Industry News Nick Retterer | January 27, 2021 0 Comments
Snowmass, CO Report: Deep Snow and Perfect Groomers [arve url="https://youtu.be/YxdYQlC9J1A"] Clay Malott | December 23, 2020 Likes Tweets 0 Comments
Quebec Ski Tiers: A Model for Other Provinces & States? The COVID-19 pandemic has presented unique challenges for the ski industry that resorts across the world have been trying to tackle. Finding a system that works for both skiers and riders and that allows for the success of ski resort while at the same time prioritizing the safety of all has been a delicate balance that many resorts have found […] Industry News Liam Abbott | December 21, 2020 0 Comments
Long Anticipated La Niña Pattern Set to Engage in Intermountain West Before Christmas As skiers in the Pacific Northwest rejoice over their abundant snowfall, Colorado and Utah skiers are making their yearly sacrifices to Ullr a bit late. Why have Colorado and Utah been so late to receive typical winter snowfall? The culprit: La Niña. However, La Niña itself isn’t directly responsible. Rather, it is La Niña’s tardiness that is causing the dismal snowfall numbers. Thus far […] Weather Clay Malott | December 11, 2020 4 Comments
Face Masks: Which Ones Are Best For Skiing? The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has presented new constraints and restrictions in every aspect of our lives, including skiing this season. Face masks have become the norm for preventing droplet travel and reducing both your and others’ risk of infection. So what are the best masks for skiing? Buffs/gaiters Buffs and gaiters are NOT good COVID face masks. In fact, a recent […] Brains Clay Malott | December 11, 2020 3 Comments
How California’s New Stay At Home Order Will Affect Skiing in the Golden State On December 3, 2020, California’s state officials announced a new COVID-19 health order called the Regional Stay At Home Order. It was signed and put into effect immediately at 11:59 pm on Sunday, December 7. Related: California Health Officials Ban Ski Resorts From Selling Day Of Tickets Unlike the stay at home orders in March at the beginning of the […] Industry News Clay Malott | December 8, 2020 2 Comments
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
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
Late November Forecast Analysis: Three Big Storms Rolling Into December [arve url="https://youtu.be/ijPx4X2cVuI"] Clay Malott | November 20, 2020 Likes Tweets 0 Comments
Exclusive: In Letter to Employees, Aspen Ski Company CEO Warns that US Ski Season is in Jeopardy SnowBrains obtained the following letter that Aspen SkiCo CEO Mike Kaplan sent to SkiCo employees on November 16, 2020. The letter warns that the current COVID spike is threatening ski season. This letter is partially specific to Aspen but also alludes to county shutdowns of ski resorts all across the country. Read Kaplan’s exclusive letter below, and do your part […] Industry News Clay Malott | November 18, 2020 0 Comments
Snowmass, CO Report: Perfect Corn and Lightweight Powder in One Run [arve url="https://youtu.be/bXqKMORfbNg"] Clay Malott | November 17, 2020 Likes Tweets 0 Comments
Snowmass, CO Trip Report: Wind-buffed Powder on Sharks [arve url="https://youtu.be/vbnG8X02Cos"] Clay Malott | November 16, 2020 Likes Tweets 2 Comments
Study: During COVID, Is Flying Safer Than Grocery Shopping? Last week, Harvard researchers asserted that flying on a plane during COVID is actually less risky than your average trip to the grocery store. This may seem counter-intuitive at first. Seating on airplanes is certainly not socially distanced, and one may initially think that it would be extremely detrimental to overall COVID precautions. However, the Harvard study cites mask-wearing, ventilation, and […] Brains Clay Malott | November 13, 2020 2 Comments
When Will Winter Begin Across the US? Snowflakes have already begun to fall in the high country, with skiable snow already on the ground in parts of Montana and British Columbia. When can you expect snowfall at your home mountain? Generally, most mountainous regions receive some amount of snowfall sometime in October. If your local mountains have not received snow yet this fall, you can expect some […] Brains Clay Malott | October 23, 2020 0 Comments
VIDEO: How to Build an Emergency Snow Shelter [arve url="https://youtu.be/yAl0w62iqdE"] Clay Malott | October 16, 2020 Likes Tweets 0 Comments
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