Conditions Report
This report is from Saturday and Sunday, January 24-25, 2026.
Winter made a return this weekend in Winter Park, Colorado.
The second-to-last weekend in January delivered some of the most consistent conditions of the season in Colorado.
The mountain reported 5 inches of overnight snowfall, and it was still falling as we made our way to the Gondola. Large flakes falling steadily eliminated any visibility to the surrounding Fraser Valley.
Our first run, a Winter Park classic, was Cranmer. Opposite the bulletproof snow we had skied for the last week, these turns were soft. Each one better than the last, our group took turns flying by each other, popping in and out of the fresh snow.
Following our first run, a group of ski patrollers surrounded the entrance of Bradley’s Bash. First in line for a directed opening meant we would be getting to ski the run for the first time this season. Aside from a few branches poking through the 33-inch base, it skied great and was the first of many directed rope drops Winter Park Patrol conducted over the weekend.
From there, we skied a handful of great runs, including deep rutted out bumps on Outhouse, a fast and flowy groomer in Mary Jane Trail, and chopped powder on Roundhouse.
Eventually, the sun peeked out. Our group ended the day with three gondola laps on Hughes, burning whatever gas we had left in our legs and serving as a nice transition into Après.
Sunday morning was sleepy in the Mary Jane parking lot.
Limited crowds due to the Broncos’ AFC Championship Game meant cramming in as many Super Gauge laps as possible before the 1 p.m. kickoff. With no lift lines and snow pouring down all morning, conditions improved with each run we skied.
The highlight of the weekend was arriving just in time.
At noon, the ski patrol dropped the rope to Freeriders, Phantombridge, Rail Bender, and upper Derailer. The opening gave access to more advanced terrain and helped to spread out traffic on the mountain. Having scoped Freeriders earlier in the day from the chair, I knew it was a matter of time before it opened.
We caught it right in time.
Given the dry winter we’ve had so far, the first turns here felt deep. Out of breath by the end, our group lapped it four times. To our surprise, we even earned the Local Legend badge on Strava, which is sure to be taken over within 24 hours.
The day ended where it began, back in the parking lot, this time with a sense of urgency and excitement for the Broncos game ahead.
As we look ahead, high pressure dominates the Western United States, leaving us to reminisce on the soft turns we had that weekend at Winter Park.
Weather
Snow Numbers
