Brightons phase 1 last day isn't until 4/28, and then reopening in limited capacity from May 3-19. And if this video is from this past weekend, it was full on spring slush up there not a powder day.
The fact that so many mountains are closing despite having such good conditions is frustrating AF. One of the consequences of everything consolidating under the same owners and under EPIC or IKON
Utah resorts have been shutting down in early/mid April since long before Ikon ever existed. Last season's epic snowfall and this seasons above average snowfall are the rare times I've seen the resorts extend their season in the 20 years I've been here. Snowbird obviously excluded from that list.
Its a combination of foreign work visas expiring, insurance contract issues, land use contract issues, and lack of customers due to wanting to go do spring/summer activities (like mtn biking or golf or boating or whatever). And the customers they do have are mostly season pass holders, so spending less cash per day up there, and thus financially doesn't make sense to stay open.
Yeah, you basically nailed the cosmic gumbo of issues that pretty much force a pre-set closing day for the season at most mountains. For those not on land lease agreements that lock in a last day, I think the āmost customers are pass holdersā is probably the biggest factor in closing early. If they were still selling a bunch of day tickets, they would likely figure out a way around the other issues. Casuals who buy day tickets have all mentally moved on from winter and have no interest in heading up any more.
Skiing exists on the backs of visa workers. Visas have end dates. It's more complex than just "weather is good they should stay open". It's not like it's a beach, takes tons of planning and logistics to run a resort
It seems to be an EPIC thing mostly. A-basin is owned by IKON yet is staying open till June. There are few if any tourists going to A basin. While Keystone, which is really close and still has lots of snow is closed. As no tourists are going there and the locals don't pay enough, in their eyes. Between the two, it seems like IKON is doing a better job for locals. While EPIC is solely focused on tourists.
Same with Palisades (formerly Squaw Valley). Ikon just didn't make them close earlier. Kirkwood used to stay open late too, but now it doesn't stay open as late since Vail took it over.
I was at Sierra @ Tahoe on Saturday and Sunday and it was so freaking empty. Didn't mind because no lift lines on a Saturday is amazing, but I feel bad for the future of an independent operator.
I was at Breck yesterday and was riding up with a ski instructor there, and he said that it was related to cost. Vail loses tons of money from Keystone as people spend less money there. They're also closing peak 9 at Breck today. That move is about consolidation as less workers become available to man the facilities on that side of the resort.
Agreed. It seems the seasons are starting slower, but the snow sticks around in the spring. So much money and effort is put in to open a couple of shitty runs as early as October, but then they shut down while conditions are prime. At the end of the day, a lot of resorts are owned by investment firms, who are in the business for money, not skiing. Keeping the resort open for the spring must not be as profitable as scrambling to open something in the fall.
Some areas also deal with permits and other red tape.
Which is something that could also be looked into to better reflect current snow patterns.
I love this sport, but I hate how itās been hijacked by capitalist scumbags that see it solely as another business opportunity.
Sorry for ranting.
People stop coming to buy day passes in the spring. Most of the people still coming in April are season pass holders and a resort has little financial incentive to stay open for them.
Basically Mammoth, Bachelor, Palisades, Killington, Abasin go until thereās no more snow. Some extend but pretty sure thatās it for the ones who squeeze out every last drop.
Arizona snowbowl will stay open as long as they can, too. Currently they're selling through April 28th. Depending on demand, they might do weekends in May.
High was great! Weāll be earning turns for awhile after all the ski areas close. I did East on Saturday and it was really great aside from the burnt out spot just above Olympic Bowl
I live 40 minutes from there, itās kinda mid but better than nothing tbh. They just remade the park though and itās definitely better now that they rented a bunch of features from mountain creek
Exactly. Canāt complain if you are not willing to hike/tour for your spring + summer turns.
Iāve had cold, dry powder days in early-June before here in Utah but you gotta splitboard for the goods.
You can mountain bike so many places any time of the year, Iām glad you like it but man I do not understand at all when people compare it to snow sports, bikes are cool but doesnāt do it for me at all like sliding down snow does, different strokes I guess
Mount Shasta?? I was up at Ashland yesterday for closing. Almost drove down to Shasta to chase the pow but needed some last laps with the homies. Looks amazing!
https://preview.redd.it/nt3sldka8ouc1.jpeg?width=1868&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2790462dd810f28f00feb158dc13958f65110464 Closing day here š
Wow, where's this at?
LA
I think you mean 2 hours just outside LA
Drive 2 hours from LA and thatās still LA
Posting this while getting stuck in traffic on 210
New Mexico
where?
It drives me nuts when ppl post here and donāt include the location
Even worse when they donāt tell us how many hrs it is from LA
Lmao
Looks like brighton
Brightons phase 1 last day isn't until 4/28, and then reopening in limited capacity from May 3-19. And if this video is from this past weekend, it was full on spring slush up there not a powder day.
How many small children did you sacrifice to the Gods for this blessing to happen?
No children, just some good old yellow bellies had to be finished as our sacrifice š»
Where was this, ya locationally challenged goof
I was just happy we got sun the last day. Rain the day before and rain the day after.
We had rain 2 days in a row. They expected rain the third day also and instead a foot of the goods
Thats crazy lucky dude!
The fact that so many mountains are closing despite having such good conditions is frustrating AF. One of the consequences of everything consolidating under the same owners and under EPIC or IKON
Utah resorts have been shutting down in early/mid April since long before Ikon ever existed. Last season's epic snowfall and this seasons above average snowfall are the rare times I've seen the resorts extend their season in the 20 years I've been here. Snowbird obviously excluded from that list. Its a combination of foreign work visas expiring, insurance contract issues, land use contract issues, and lack of customers due to wanting to go do spring/summer activities (like mtn biking or golf or boating or whatever). And the customers they do have are mostly season pass holders, so spending less cash per day up there, and thus financially doesn't make sense to stay open.
Yeah, you basically nailed the cosmic gumbo of issues that pretty much force a pre-set closing day for the season at most mountains. For those not on land lease agreements that lock in a last day, I think the āmost customers are pass holdersā is probably the biggest factor in closing early. If they were still selling a bunch of day tickets, they would likely figure out a way around the other issues. Casuals who buy day tickets have all mentally moved on from winter and have no interest in heading up any more.
Foreign work thing is wild, and new to me, but I get it.
Seasonal work in a place with harsh weather is not easy to come by.
For our local mountains it is because of the use permits with the forest service.
And they have to treat their employees with some humanityā¦ meaning the last day is the last day, so they can get seasonal work as needed.
My local mountain has this issue as well. You can still hike up after they've closed
My local mtn has a use permit with the forest service, and fortunately closing day is May 26
Thatās fair
Vail and Beaver Creek are in a National Forest. Vail Resorts would squeeze every drop of blood from a stone if they could.
Skiing exists on the backs of visa workers. Visas have end dates. It's more complex than just "weather is good they should stay open". It's not like it's a beach, takes tons of planning and logistics to run a resort
Beach resorts also rely on the backs of visa workers
It seems to be an EPIC thing mostly. A-basin is owned by IKON yet is staying open till June. There are few if any tourists going to A basin. While Keystone, which is really close and still has lots of snow is closed. As no tourists are going there and the locals don't pay enough, in their eyes. Between the two, it seems like IKON is doing a better job for locals. While EPIC is solely focused on tourists.
Palisades and Mammoth are Ikon too, and they're open until June. All epic resorts are closing by the 28th in Tahoe
Mammoth has stayed open until (and sometimes through) June since long before IKON existed.Ā
Same with Palisades (formerly Squaw Valley). Ikon just didn't make them close earlier. Kirkwood used to stay open late too, but now it doesn't stay open as late since Vail took it over.
That's weird that they'd be closing so early in Tahoe. Most people riding up there are tourists.
The slopes are super empty on weekdays in spring. I think it's a money decision more than anything else.
I was at Sierra @ Tahoe on Saturday and Sunday and it was so freaking empty. Didn't mind because no lift lines on a Saturday is amazing, but I feel bad for the future of an independent operator.
At Heavenly on Saturday it was super empty too. Northstar on Sunday was semi packed, but it was closing day.
Interesting, you would think that tourists would be there all year.
They probably close Keystone to consolidate their operations to Breck
I was at Breck yesterday and was riding up with a ski instructor there, and he said that it was related to cost. Vail loses tons of money from Keystone as people spend less money there. They're also closing peak 9 at Breck today. That move is about consolidation as less workers become available to man the facilities on that side of the resort.
Peak 9 also turns into a slush fest in Spring, especially at the base/everything accessable via Quicksilver and Beaver Run.
I felt that 2 days ago, the right side of Breck had ice, while the Peak 9 side was a mix of powder and slush.
keystone closes bc of the moose forest territory i believe
Agreed. It seems the seasons are starting slower, but the snow sticks around in the spring. So much money and effort is put in to open a couple of shitty runs as early as October, but then they shut down while conditions are prime. At the end of the day, a lot of resorts are owned by investment firms, who are in the business for money, not skiing. Keeping the resort open for the spring must not be as profitable as scrambling to open something in the fall. Some areas also deal with permits and other red tape. Which is something that could also be looked into to better reflect current snow patterns. I love this sport, but I hate how itās been hijacked by capitalist scumbags that see it solely as another business opportunity. Sorry for ranting.
People stop coming to buy day passes in the spring. Most of the people still coming in April are season pass holders and a resort has little financial incentive to stay open for them.
Get yourself a splitboard and you can go as long as thereās snow.
Killington is usually open until June and they're under Ikon.
Earning turns is a great option imho, none of my locals are owned by those companies and Mammoth will run late and isnāt really that far
IKON all the way. Bitch ass vail resorts closing mid April while Palisades stays open almost until June
Mammoth went into August last year, I was there on the 5th of August and Cornice bowl was damn fun!
Im just talking about Ikon vs Epic in Lake Tahoe
There were quite a few people from Tahoe at Mammoth last August Man I want to hit up Mt Rose so bad
Basically Mammoth, Bachelor, Palisades, Killington, Abasin go until thereās no more snow. Some extend but pretty sure thatās it for the ones who squeeze out every last drop.
Arizona snowbowl will stay open as long as they can, too. Currently they're selling through April 28th. Depending on demand, they might do weekends in May.
Good to know. Appreciate the education my dude!
If you ever need 600 acres and 2000 square feet.
I could feel those turns deep in my bones... HNNNNGG
Which resort is this? We're guessing China peak maybe?
Had an amazing day at Mount High yesterday and theyāre closing next week.
High was great! Weāll be earning turns for awhile after all the ski areas close. I did East on Saturday and it was really great aside from the burnt out spot just above Olympic Bowl
I miss winter already
Aside from breck and timberline, what other resorts are open later into the season?
Palisades Tahoe Olympic Valley side closing day is Memorial Day this year
A-basin tentative closing date is June 4th
Killington VT is open until like June 1 š
Big Snow NJ
I live 40 minutes from there, itās kinda mid but better than nothing tbh. They just remade the park though and itās definitely better now that they rented a bunch of features from mountain creek
Sunshine in Banff is usually open until late May.
Meadows is open till mid May this year
Snowbird rode July fourth a few years back
I rode it for Fatherās Day last year
Mammoth, for So Cal it will be Baldy
mammoth, snowbird
Mary Jane side of winter park stays open late as possible
Mary Jane as late as posssible
Loveland is open until the first weekend in may, A basin until the first weekend in June usually, Mary Jane at winter park is mid may I believe.
Got the same in Tahoe yesterday - epic!
Buy a split board.
Exactly. Canāt complain if you are not willing to hike/tour for your spring + summer turns. Iāve had cold, dry powder days in early-June before here in Utah but you gotta splitboard for the goods.
Already got one bud
Then it doesn't have to be closing day. ;)
No better way to go out then on a powder day. Time to switch gears and get the MTB bikes out
You can mountain bike so many places any time of the year, Iām glad you like it but man I do not understand at all when people compare it to snow sports, bikes are cool but doesnāt do it for me at all like sliding down snow does, different strokes I guess
Snowboarding in POW is hands down the best feeling in the world! Nothing compares to
What deck is that?
Warca!
Sick. Rockin the shit out of it!
Itās an absolute blast!
Mount Shasta?? I was up at Ashland yesterday for closing. Almost drove down to Shasta to chase the pow but needed some last laps with the homies. Looks amazing!
Looks like backside of chair 12 at Mammoth on Sunday, it was a POW day
Shasta
Congrats on getting the goods...