Huge 20-Foot Deep Landslide Closes Section of Loveland Pass, CO, Disrupting Arapahoe Basin Closing Day A significant landslide forced the closure of Loveland Pass, Colorado, early Sunday morning, blocking U.S. Highway 6 near mile marker 226, roughly one mile before the Summit County line. The slide, which measured approximately 100 feet wide and 20 feet deep, did not involve any vehicles or cause injuries, according to officials from the Clear Creek County Sheriff’s Office and […] SnowBrains | June 16, 2025 0 Comments
Who Reopened and Who Closed in 2024-25 as the Number of Operating U.S. Ski Areas Continues to Be in Flux The number of active ski areas in the United States is subject to change each season due to various factors such as weather conditions, financial viability, and operational decisions. Thankfully, The Storm Skiing Journal and Podcast tracks these changes meticulously and has stated that as of the 2024–25 winter season, there are 501 operational ski areas across the country. This […] Industry News Brent Thomas | April 25, 2025 0 Comments
7 Abandoned Ski Areas That We Wish Would Come Back Ski areas were popping up everywhere in the 1970s and 80s as the popularity of skiing boomed, but just as quickly as they were being built, those same ski areas started to vanish. Some were eventually forgotten while others continue to plague the dreams of those who once skied the mountain or always wanted to. The readers of SnowBrains have […] Luke Guilford | March 31, 2025 0 Comments
Mt. Baker Ski Area, WA, Closed for 2 Days Due to Very Dangerous Avalanche Conditions Mt. Baker Ski Area, Washington, announced yesterday a temporary closure for Monday and Tuesday, March 24-25, due to an incoming atmospheric river bringing significant rain and wind to the region, leading to very dangerous avalanche conditions. The closure follows exceptional snowfall throughout the month. Related: Top 9 Biggest Snowfalls in North America This Season The ski area plans to reopen on […] Avalanche SnowBrains | March 24, 2025 0 Comments
Mammoth Mountain, CA, Closed After Inbounds Avalanche Seriously Injures Patroller An avalanche at Mammoth Mountain, California, caught two ski patrollers today, prompting the resort to close for the day. The incident occurred around 11:30 a.m. during routine avalanche mitigation work on Lincoln Mountain, an area known for its steep, challenging terrain. Related: 2 Avalanches Reported at Palisades Tahoe, CA One patroller was successfully extracted from the scene and is responsive, […] Avalanche AvyBrains | February 14, 2025 0 Comments
Sandia Peak Ski Area, NM, Closed Due to Lack of Snow and Warm Temperatures Sandia Peak Ski Area, near Albuquerque, New Mexico, has temporarily closed its slopes, with immediate effect, due to unseasonably warm temperatures and insufficient snow cover. The resort reopened last year following a two-season-long closure due to a lack of snow, difficulties in attracting employees, and a lack of interest from the owners Related: Sandia Peak Ski Area in Albuquerque, NM, Hoping […] Industry News SnowBrains | February 5, 2025 0 Comments
Homewood Mountain Resort, CA, to Remain Public and Pursue Opening for the 2025-26 Season Homewood Mountain Resort (HMR) in Northern California is one of several ski areas surrounding Lake Tahoe. Unfortunately, HMR announced its closure for the 2024-25 season on October 11, 2024. Related: Homewood Mountain Resort, CA, Closure for the 2024-25 Season Due to Financial Issues HMR has always been privately owned but has provided public access that fueled the surrounding community since […] Industry News Luke Guilford | January 31, 2025 0 Comments
Alyeska Resort, AK, Closed Yesterday Due to Safety Concerns Amid Severe Storm Alyeska Resort, Alaska, closed yesterday as a tropical storm brought heavy precipitation and high winds. Resort officials shut down all lifts for January 12, citing safety concerns for guests and staff, as wind gusts exceeded 110 mph. Related: Hometown Mountain Shoutout: Alyeska, AK—Where Mountains, Oceans, and Glaciers Collide in the Last Frontier The storm caused significant damage, with reports of […] Industry News SnowBrains | January 13, 2025 0 Comments
Homewood Mountain Resort, CA, Closure for the 2024-25 Season Due to Financial Issues Homewood Mountain Resort announced its closure for the 2024-25 season on October 11 was caused by financial issues, and will see about reopening next season. Homewood recently released a statement about this sudden closure. At a meeting on September 25, KHP leadership called for a “hard reset” on the approved Master Plan, which Homewood Mountain Resort (HMR) states disregards “over […] Industry News Elise Chou | November 6, 2024 0 Comments
Too Much Snow Delays Opening of Ski Portillo, Chile Winter is charging full speed ahead in Chile. Ski Portillo has received over 224 inches of snowfall this season, smashing its 200-inch average seasonal snowfall. Originally set to open June 20, the ski area has since moved the opening day to June 29 as a winter storm moved in on the Andes this week. Related:Ski Season is Just Around the […] Industry News Luke Guilford | June 27, 2024 0 Comments
Beartooth Highway (US 212), WY/MT, Remains Closed Following Avalanche Cowboy State Daily reports that the anticipated opening of the Beartooth Highway (US 212), WY/MT, has been further delayed after an avalanche struck the road this week. The 68-mile highway, which climbs to 10,947 feet in elevation between Montana and Wyoming, was initially scheduled to open for the summer season on May 24. However, a late-season winter storm forced crews […] Avalanche AvyBrains | May 29, 2024 1 Comment
Driver Arrested After Crashing into Snow Plow on Closed Berthoud Pass, CO ARREST FOLLOWS PURSUIT THROUGH BERTHOUD PASS ROAD CLOSURE On Thursday, March 14, at 12:06 p.m., a Grand County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant was positioned on Highway 40 at the Mary Jane Road in Winter Park, staffing a highway closure point for the extended winter operations Berthoud Pass closure. In addition to the Sheriff’s Office vehicle blocking the highway, the variable messaging […] SnowBrains | March 15, 2024 0 Comments
Palisades Tahoe, CA, Closed Today Due to Intense Snowfall and 100 MPH Winds View this post on Instagram A post shared by Palisades Tahoe (@palisadestahoe) Palisades Tahoe, CA, announced this morning that lifts on both sides of the resort are closed today, Friday, March 1. Related: SnowBrains Forecast: Season’s Heaviest Storm in California | Up To 120″ Expected at Ski Resorts The storm forecast to dump up to eight feet of […] Industry News SnowBrains | March 1, 2024 0 Comments
Snowbird, UT, Only Opened Beginner Lift Yesterday Due to Avalanche Activity View this post on Instagram A post shared by Snowbird (@snowbird) Two feet of fresh snow in 24-hours (13″ overnight) resulting in heightened avalanche activity meant that Snowbird, Utah, restricted its open terrain to just the Chickadee lift yesterday which serves the beginner area and a single green run. Related: SnowBrains Forecast: Massive Dump For Utah This Weekend […] Industry News SnowBrains | December 4, 2023 0 Comments
Washington’s State Route 20 (North Cascades Highway) Now Closed For Season Due to Avalanche Hazard The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) has announced the seasonal closure of the North Cascades Highway, effective 6 pm Thursday, November 30, 2023. This preemptive move, a response to the incoming severe weather conditions, aims to safeguard travelers against the heightened risk of avalanches, expected due to the upcoming heavy snowfall and subsequent rains. “Nighty night, SR 20 North […] SnowBrains | December 1, 2023 0 Comments
UDOT Shuts Down Guardsman Pass for Winter Season The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) announced yesterday that Guardsman Pass is now closed for the season. This annual measure, aimed at ensuring traveler safety, was officially implemented as the region prepares for winter. “And just like that, we’re done for the season. Guardsman Pass is closing for the winter at 2 p.m. today (11/7). This is a seasonal road […] SnowBrains | November 8, 2023 0 Comments
12,095′ Independence Pass, CO, Closed For the Season After Snow Buries the Road There’s now only one way for motorists to get in and out of Aspen until late May. The Colorado Department of Transportation announced yesterday it had closed the Independence Pass winter gates on Highway 82 between Aspen and Twin Lakes for the season after a foot of snow blanketed the scenic bypass over the weekend. Related: 12,183′ Trail Ridge Road in […] SnowBrains | October 31, 2023 0 Comments
Trail Ridge Road Through Rocky Mountain National Park, CO, Closed Due to Incoming Snowstorm Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, is closed due to an incoming winter storm. A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for the park starting tonight through early Friday morning. Trail Ridge Road is not designed to be an all-season road, with 11 miles above 11,500 feet, few guard rails, and no shoulders. Winter conditions include drifting snow, […] SnowBrains | October 12, 2023 0 Comments
Beartooth Pass (US 212), MT/WY, Closed Through at Least Monday Due to 5-Foot High Snow Drifts View this post on Instagram A post shared by Yellowstone National Park (@yellowstonenps) Beartooth Pass (US-212) on the Montana and Wyoming border completely closed Friday due to 4″ of snow, high winds, and ice. An update yesterday (Saturday) from the Wyoming Department of Transport advised that the pass will be closed through at least Monday while crews clear […] SnowBrains | September 24, 2023 1 Comment
12,183′ Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park, CO, Closed Last Night Due to Incoming Weather Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park, CO, closed last night, Thursday 14th September 2023, due to incoming weather. Trail Ridge Road is the highest continuous paved road in the United States, cresting at an elevation of 12,183 feet (3,713.38 m) above sea level. According to a National Park Service Tweet, the road will close at 7:30 pm. Closures […] SnowBrains | September 15, 2023 0 Comments
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