In October, skiers look forward to the opening day of their local mountain for the season. It’s an exciting time for winter enthusiasts, and most resorts open by mid-December. At the back end of the season, Spring marks the end of the ski season, which brings feelings of sadness and a desire for it to last longer. For most resorts, making it until April and May is considered a win. However, some resorts throughout the country still have good snowpack and spring weather but shut down winter operations and close for the season. The question skiers want to know is why?
How can a ski resort shut down for the season when it still has a decent snowpack? It almost seems hard to believe that a mountain would do this. Given how climate change has affected the ski industry, resorts would want to maximize the number of days they are open throughout the season. Costs, skier visits, staffing, and summer activities affect resorts’ spring closing. The costs of operating snowmaking and snowmaking equipment, as well as manpower, often influence a ski resort’s decision to close for the season. Another factor is that the number of skier visits decreases in spring. Many skiers and snowboarders switch gears in the spring and start doing other activities besides hitting the slopes. Staffing is also an issue, with many seasonal employees leaving in the spring. Unfortunately, the resort can’t remain open without employees to run the mountain. Lastly, many mountains throughout the country are four-season resorts. That means the resorts must prepare for summer activities and shut down winter operations.
Ski resorts like Palisades Tahoe, Mammoth, and Alta are known for staying open late into the season. Spring skiing brings out the die-hards, and many skiers and snowboarders look forward to hitting the slopes in shorts and a T-shirt. There is a different atmosphere and vibe in the mountains compared to winter skiing. No skier or snowboarder wants to hit the white strip of death, but if there is still adequate snowpack on the mountain, then why close? There are mountains that people wish would stay open longer in spring. Perhaps some of these resorts will listen to the skiers and snowboarders who would still come out if those resorts stayed open.
#5: Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Wyoming
There are plenty of ski resorts that people want to stay open longer in spring, which is justifiable. While some of these resorts are justified, others, like Cloudmont in Alabama, seem like a stretch. The fact that there is a ski resort that far south should be good enough for any skier or snowboarder not to complain about how long it is open.
However, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort has no problem with a low snowpack in the spring. It usually shuts down winter operations in mid-April every season, which is early considering it receives, on average, over 50 inches of snow in March and April and a total of 465 inches for the season. The decision to shut down winter operations each April is due to the resort preparing for summer operations. Unfortunately, mountain biking and golfing seem to take precedence over skiing in the spring at JHMR.
#4: Aspen, Colorado
Aspen receives an average annual snowfall of 456 inches. It gets over 100 inches of snowfall in March and April. Even with all that snow, Aspen usually shuts down all four of its mountains by the third week in April. This year is no different, with Aspen Highlands closing on April 13, Aspen Mountain on April 20, Aspen Buttermilk on April 6, and Aspen Snowmass on April 20. The current base depth at these four mountains ranges from 40 to 74 inches, which is plenty of snow for all four to keep the lifts spinning into May.
#3: Alta, Utah
Utah is known for having the best powder in the United States and typically receives 500 inches of snowfall a year in the Little Cottonwood Canyon. Therefore, the snowpack at Utah resorts should still be solid in March, April, and May. Alta’s current snowpack is 153 inches, which should allow it to continue winter operations well into spring and summer. Alta receives an average of over 190 inches of snowfall between March and May, more than some East Coast resorts receive in the entire season. However, it still closes in April, while its next-door neighbor, Snowbird, stays open till the end of June and even the 4th of July.
#2: Kirkwood, California
California is known for its sunshine and bluebird days on the slopes. Kirkwood is known for its long seasons, which typically last until the end of April and sometimes into May. The best days on the mountain at Kirkwood are Bluebird Powder days in the spring, when it is mostly sunny following very recent snowfall. Kirkwood’s current base depth is 91 inches, and during March and April, it receives an average of over 100 inches of snowfall.
#1: All of them.
Every single one. Keep the lifts spinning until July. Let’s turn après-ski into a summer sport. It should be no surprise that skiers and snowboarders want to be on the mountain as much as possible. Here at SnowBrains, we can’t blame them. The season always seems too short, and with climate change becoming an increasingly significant factor, the more days on the slopes, the better. The response from skiers and snowboarders that “all of them” should stay open longer is a signal to resorts across the country that they want more.
Resorts must balance costs, staffing issues, skier participation rates, and summer activities. However, these ski resorts have greater snowpack, which allows for a longer season. These four resorts should set the bar for skiers and snowboarders seeking great spring skiing, especially since resorts in the East, like Killington, stay open until June. Hopefully, public support for longer spring skiing will lead to better results, and ski resorts will listen to their customers and push to stay open longer.
