After the wind storm last weekend, this week looks much more conducive to outdoor activities. A gradual warm-up Thursday and Friday leads to a very spring-like weekend. New snow is scarce on through the weekend. It’s that time of year when there’s still plenty of snow, but skier and rider numbers drop as conditions on the slopes become rather varied. The next stormy period arrives early next week.
The season ended at Snowy Range Ski and Recreation Area. Mother Nature took center stage with five inches of new snow and extreme wind on closing day. Most outdoor festivities were canceled, but skiers and riders still came out to celebrate the end of the season.
The only lifts still turning in the state are at Grand Targhee, and Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. At both areas, new snow will be scarce the rest of the week, returning Monday. By then, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort will have closed, but Grand Targhee keeps going until April 21.
Hogadon in Casper intended to run through the weekend, but the city of Casper announced Tuesday the ski area was closing for the season due to a mechanical issue with the Prospector chairlift.
To the south in Colorado, sunshine reigns for the rest of the week. Coverage is excellent on the slopes at Steamboat, with extension of the season through April 21. Snow coverage is also excellent at Winter Park, with the next snowfall forecast for Monday.
Personnel at the Colorado Avalanche Information Center report the avalanche danger for the southern Wyoming and northern Colorado mountains is rated “low” at all elevations. Avoid stiff wind-drifted slabs on steep slopes. There are no recent observations of instability or avalanches in the Snowy Range or Sierra Madre Mountains on the Eastern Wyoming Avalanche Information Exchange.
At Keystone, near Rob Roy Reservoir, there has been a total of 234 inches of snow so far this season, according to Don Day Jr. at dayweather.com. This is an increase of four inches from last week. The amount is slightly above the 229 inches reported by this time last year. According to Open Snow, the snowpack in the Snowy Range is 102% of average for this time of year, a decrease of five percentage points from last week.
Conditions “up top” in the Snowy Range are a mixed bag, with spring conditions through the weekend. Grooming ended on the snowmobile trails and trail markers, and the safety shelters will be removed this week. There is still several feet of snow, with off-trail riding permitted through May 31 as long as there is 12 inches of snow on the ground.
Backcountry conditions remain very good on all trails heading out from the Green Rock Trailhead and on up the Upper Libby Creek Trail. Expect spring conditions as temperatures rise with plenty of sunshine through the weekend. Crust ski season is here for those getting out early in the morning before conditions get too soft.
The lower trails at Corner Mountain, Little Laramie and going down the Barber Lake Trail likely show signs of spring, with crusty segments and possibly some bare patches.
Conditions are similar at Chimney Park and along the Medicine Bow Rail Trail. Coverage is good on user-packed trails.
The grooming season on the trails at the Happy Jack Recreation Area continues, but expect spring conditions. Even a light dusting of snow helps cover the icy surface. Trail coverage is thinning, and the warm temperatures in the forecast this week won’t help. Expect constantly changing conditions. The groomers recommend avoiding the Roller Coaster, Miner’s Loop and B Loop trails due to diminishing snow coverage. Grooming has ended on those three routes.
The multi-use trails are a mixed bag and vary from day to day. Expect icy segments along with wind-packed drifts. Grooming has likely ended for the season.
As of Tuesday morning, the U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service snow measuring station reports 63 inches of snow at Cinnabar Park, a decrease of two inches from last week. The station at Brooklyn Lake reports 70 inches, a decrease of seven inches from last week. The report at Sand Lake on the north end of the Medicine Bow Mountains reports 96 inches, a decrease of four inches from last week. The measuring station at Medicine Bow Peak, at an elevation of 10,500 feet, reports 111 inches, an increase of three inches from last week. The Crow Creek station on Pole Mountain shows 17 inches, a decrease of three inches from last week.
Cross-country skiing
Pole Mountain/Happy Jack Recreation Area Nordic ski trails: Conditions on the Nordic trails are a mixed bag with spring conditions. Daily grooming continues for now.
Pole Mountain/Happy Jack Recreation Area Multi-use trails: Conditions are marginal for those on fat bikes, except early in the morning. Snowshoes and skis are the recommended mode as the day warms.
Chimney Park Nordic ski trails: The trails are in good condition, with plenty of snow. The routes are user-packed.
Snowy Range backcountry conditions: Excellent spring conditions. Good coverage, with trails user-packed and suitable for skiers and snowshoers.
Snowmobile conditions
Snowy Range: Grooming of snowmobile trails ended for the season, but there’s plenty of snow with spring conditions.
Quick numbers
Wyoming downhill areas
Snowy Range Ski Area: Closed for the season.
Antelope Butte: Closed for the season.
Grand Targhee: 127-inch base; 6 lifts, 88 trails and 93% of terrain open.
Hogadon: 55-inch base; 2 lifts, 24 trails and 89% of terrain open.
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort: 109-inch base; 13 lifts, 115 trails and 88% of terrain open.
Meadowlark Ski Area: Closed for the season.
Sleeping Giant: Closed this season.
Snow King: Closed for the season.
White Pine: Closed for the season.
Colorado downhill areas
Arapahoe Basin: 62-inch base; 8 lifts, 126 trails and 87% of terrain open.
Breckenridge: 65-inch base; 33 lifts, 187 trails and 100% of terrain open.
Copper Mountain: 64-inch base; 22 lifts, 155 trails and 99% of terrain open.
Eldora: 40-inch base; no report due to temporary power outage closing the slopes.
Keystone: Closed for the season.
Loveland: 63-inch base; 7 lifts, 87 trails and 93% of terrain open.
Steamboat: 112-inch base; 23 lifts, 181 trails and 100% of terrain open.
Vail: 69-inch base; 14 lifts, 173 trails and 63% of terrain open.
Winter Park: 80-inch base; 18 lifts, 158 trails and 94% of terrain open.
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