Where the Powder is Deepest
Posted on Friday, January 22nd, 2010
Update: The folks at Silverton, Colo., may beg to differ, after a 50-inch dump the last few days.
There’s been a lot of grumbling around Jackson Hole this winter about the lack of snow, but cheer up, folks: We’re doing better than most resorts around the West.
According to this chart, compiled by Jackson Hole Mountain Resort earlier this week, the Teton area is tops among major resorts in the Rockies for total snowfall. (Alta has since moved into a tie with Jackson Hole, after getting dumped on Thursday.) Up to an additional 19 inches is forecast for the Tetons through Saturday.
It took nearly two months, but the Hobacks and Headwall, fabled powder stashes, are finally open at Jackson Hole. The Hobacks offer some 3,000 feet of leg-burning vertical from the upper mountain all the way to the base, while the Headwall only can be reached by hiking.
Statistics can be deceiving, but there’s no disputing the photo of the day:
Face shots don’t lie.
In downtown Jackson, Snow King Mountain is about to open its Summit chairlift, at last.
Farther west, El Niño has brought more abundant snowfall. The soon-to-be Olympic venue Whistler/Blackcomb exceeded the totals of the resorts above in November alone, with a record 216 inches. In the Sierras, Squaw Valley has a 105-inch base, while up at Mount Baker, Wash., the base is 134 inches. Mount Alyeska, Alaska, has received 317 inches of snow this season.
Stat geeks should check out Steve Casimiro’s The Ultimate Ski Area Snow Report List, which has links to nearly all of the 481 resorts in the United States.
Metrics only go so far in measuring the quality of skiing. Here’s to gathering some anecdotal research and counting face shots this weekend!
My only trip to Jackson Hole was in the summer time. I’d love to ride all that fresh powder you have right now!