Yes, it’s been a winter for the books in the American west. Storms have been hitting regularly and dumping insane amounts of powder on ski resorts from the Sierra (as in Mammoth, California) to the Wasatch range (particularly Alta, Utah).
We reached to a few of our lucky crows on the frontline of this exceptional storm cycle: Bernie Rosow driving his cat in Mammoth, photographer Christian Pondella who spent 45 winters in the Sierra, Willie Nelson who lives in Salt Lake City, and more, to give us their eyewitness account of a season that sets new records for cumulated snowfalls.
credit: @noahwetzel
We have become very accustomed to storms that blanket the town and mountain with 3 to 6 feet (90 to 180cm) of snow in one or two days. However, this winter it has been storm after storm, weeks and months long of the AR (Atmospheric River) which have been historic to say the least, and now throughout much of California we have broken all 50-year records for snowpack and precipitation.”
Photographer crow Christian Pondella, from Mammoth
credit: @noahwetzel
The season has been filled with powder day after powder day while also delivering much-needed water to the West. With the record snowfall, we have experienced record Interlodges (days when guests are advised to shelter in place while avalanche mitigation is under way) and record road closures. That number is at 30 and counting.
Our staff is exhausted at this point, from the endless shoveling to digging out, to route running and avalanche mitigation efforts. The Utah Department of Transportation also deserves a huge thank you for its efforts to keep Highway 210 open during this endless winter.
Brendon Ott, marketing director, Alta
credit: @christianpondella
This winter of 22-23 has rivaled and now surpassed any other and is one for the memory banks. My 10-year-old son has experienced the full value of this winter. Even a snow bank so tall outside of Main Lodge he was able to ski down it. One day in a few decades from now he will tell the story to his kids of how he skied down the 80-foot snow bank above the Main Lodge parking lot.
Photographer crow Christian Pondella, from Mammoth
credit: @bernierosow
Its the all time record with 704” and counting (almost 18m), beating the old record of 668” set in 2011. Two houses in town have blown up because of propane leaks in the last week. We have a chairlift that hasn’t run in a month because it’s buried.
Crow Bernie Rosow, from Mammoth
credit: @bernierosow
It hasn’t gotten warm once this winter so it hasn’t melted at all here. The snow in my yard is level with the peak of my roof, 20’ (6m) high.
Crow Bernie Rosow, from Mammoth
credit: @rockomenzyk
We had 8 storms that did bring more than 1m of snow (40 inches) this winter. First one on november 9th and last on march 13th. 13 other smaller storms delivered more than 50cm (20 inches) of snow each.
Crow Bernie Rosow, from Mammoth
credit: @noahwetzel
According to OpenSnow data, Alta current snowpack is at 184% of average. Compared to the 42-year history of the Collins study plot, the resort has seen above-average snowfall and water in each of the first six months to start the 2022–23 season.
Alta Ski Area
credit: @noahwetzel
It snowed on average more than 5” (13cm) a day since October 22nd this year. The snowiest season by far since recording snow totals. It really hasn’t stopped snowing here this year. I’ve heard a lot of complaints with snow removal this winter… but I’m sorry if you have a problem with it you can always live somewhere else! With the 64 slide paths on the road to Alta Ski Area it has been troublesome conducting avalanche mitigation. Which has created some long lines and slow access to the ski hill on many occasions this winter.
Crow Willie Nelson, from Alta
credit: @noahwetzel
1981’-82’ 748” (19m) was the previous snowfall record for a single season in Alta. We’re at 851” (21,6m) currently this year and counting, with a few weeks left and more snow on the way.
Crow Willie Nelson, from Alta
credit: @rockomenzyk
We are stoked to announce that we will be open daily for skiing and riding until AT LEAST the end of July. As always, we do not have a closing date set, but will plan to stay open as long as conditions allow. Sitting on one of the deepest base depths ever recorded at Main Lodge, it’s going to be some of the best spring skiing and riding we’ve ever seen.
@MammothMountain, march 20th 2023
credit: @bernierosow
WHAT.A.STORM. We thought this photo was fitting for the final Dump Alert of this Mammoth mega-storm which dropped 6 to 7.5 FEET of snow in the last few days.
Work continues around the clock to dig out and safely re-open the mountain today – expect delays in all lift openings.
@mammothmountain, jan 11 2023
credit: @noahwetzel
70.5” (180cm) of snow had fallen from just 2.9 inches (7cm) of water—an astonishing 4.1% average density. This was the fourth-biggest storm total in the past two decades at Alta.
Alta.com
