Western US snowfall

[spopepro]

Donner pass is only at 7k. Yes, there’s crazy snow now, but the water equivalent chart above is the snow lab which is right at the pass. As you can see, even in huge years the melt in June is substantial, and nothing in July. It depends on weather patterns, but I wouldn’t expect to see any snow on south aspects at the pass end of may.

Get a little higher (maybe the east rim of tahoe, maybe the area between 88 and 4, maybe around lassen) and you should be reliably good on all aspects.

[bauerb]

Palisades Tahoe has accounted they will be open until July. I normally race the Broken Arrow trail race at Palisades in mid-June...I'm not looking to post-hole for 10 miles this year so I'll be running Leadville instead. I do expect a violent melt-off this spring, but I also expect snow pack to remain at elevations through most, if not all of the summer

[JB TELE]

May of what year?
They will, as long as you get there before about early August! They have over 50 feet, I think.

Next month.

[JB TELE]

Donner pass is only at 7k. Yes, there’s crazy snow now, but the water equivalent chart above is the snow lab which is right at the pass. As you can see, even in huge years the melt in June is substantial, and nothing in July. It depends on weather patterns, but I wouldn’t expect to see any snow on south aspects at the pass end of may.

Get a little higher (maybe the east rim of tahoe, maybe the area between 88 and 4, maybe around lassen) and you should be reliably good on all aspects.

I was hoping I could take a quick detour on my way out there. I'm assuming sonora pass will be closed and definitely tolumne.

[spopepro]

Yeah, neither 120 or 108 will be open in may. 89 could be. If you’re willing to go south of Tahoe, there are likely some great options off of 88/89 for a simple overnight tour.

[Krummholz]

Arapaho Basin in CO made it to mid June a couple of years ago. This year could be the Fourth of July!

Snotel near A-Basin, snow depth running about 60” and so is near Leadville.

[Montana St Alum]

May of what year?
They will, as long as you get there before about early August! They have over 50 feet, I think.

Next month.

Yeah, I was joking about what year. The snow isn't going away by next month.

[bauerb]

crazy thing is that my local resort received 60" of snow in the last 10 days and has *extended* their season until April 16th. the upside is that means skinning during the day on closed runs...on 7-8ft of snow. should be a good time. I'm guessing that either A. the public land permit only runs until mid-April B. the volume of skiers just don't show up to cover operating costs in April....now we have to wait from April to July for Beartooth Basin to open...

[Montana St Alum]

crazy thing is that my local resort received 60" of snow in the last 10 days and has *extended* their season until April 16th. the upside is that means skinning during the day on closed runs...on 7-8ft of snow. should be a good time. I'm guessing that either A. the public land permit only runs until mid-April B. the volume of skiers just don't show up to cover operating costs in April....now we have to wait from April to July for Beartooth Basin to open...

I expect it's a financial (Vs. licensing) decision. The Utah resorts did the same about a month ago, announcing an extension. They'll close much of the resorts, as you noted. It'll save some operating costs and most of the Visa workers are about to leave - or have already left. I have an acquaintance from Ghana who had to leave last week, and there were lots of guys on that timetable.

[Manney]

Montana’s probably right. Lots of foreign workers on the big hills. Need to be sponsored to get a temporary visa. Sponsors need to guarantee employment. Specified period, visas expiring in April. Who’d have predicted the snowfall six months ago when the paperwork was filled out. So operations shrinking down to a size local hires can support.