A good ski season is measured by an unknowable recipe of snow, temperature, sun, and wind. Since Bozeman's Steenburgh Winter comes today, it's time to take a look at where we stand with ski conditions. Below is a running list of conditions at a few select ski areas and some thoughts on this year's winter.
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The Steenburgh Winter ends today (Jim's post from this year https://wasatchweatherweenies.blogspot.com/2023/02/steenburgh-winter-ends.html The Steenburgh Winter ended on February 10 in Utah). This is the first day the sun rises to 35 degrees above the horizon, and each day we find it rising higher in the sky. Slowly, it will begin having a greater impact on snow conditions across all aspects. It's a good reminder to get out as often as you can as light, powdery conditions will become harder to find.
So how does this winter look so far? Here's what I know...
Snow first came to Bozeman in late October, and we've received regular snow ever since. (Bridger Bowl received over 4 feet of snow with the recent storm and other mountain ranges have received about two+ feet.) I first went shuffling on cross country skis in the ball field and parks near my neighborhood on October 23, and the in-town Nordic ski trails were first groomed on October 24. It is always nice to get out on skis in October, and this helped the winter start off right. By mid-November, the Nordic grooming folks said we were experiencing January conditions on the town trails. Woo hoo!
Since Wednesday, it has been below zero in Bozeman. This is one of a few cold snaps we've
had this winter, and while they've been only a few days each, the first came in mid-November and they have been cold (One dropped down to 30 below right before Christmas). While we've hit temperatures in the upper 30s in town at a few points this winter, there have been no real melt-downs. The ten-day forecast calls for high temperatures in the 20s to just above freezing in town, and this spells good things the Nordic trails, which will easily hold out into March. Exactly how long they can groom, we will see.
To me, this year feels about average, maybe a bit above, but the thing that sets it apart is how good the skiing has been for so long. It started early, and although we went most of January without any significant storms, things have held up and there has been no shortage of good skiing. Bridger Bowl is expected to close on April 9, so we'll see if they can extend their season as they sometimes do. Big Sky closes on April 23.
I will update this post in the spring.
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Here are the snow figures from several ski areas. When you take a look at them, it seems as if southwest Montana have a good winter and the stoke factor from skiers says the same.
Figures = Ski are base depth, snow fall year-to-date
Numbers don't tell the full story. Click on the links to read about previous years and form your own opinions.
Big Sky Bridger Bowl Alta Crested Butte
February 24, 2023 66-70" (NA) 74" (177") 153" (536") 57" (216")
February 24, 2022 27"- 49" (NA) 43" (147") 89" (283") 61" (199")
February 18, 2021 56"- 63" (NA) 77" (171") 120" (332") 59" (150")
February 21, 2020 56"- 96" (NA) 78" (227") 125" (416") 51" (156")
February 17, 2019 48"- 89" (NA) 70" (192") 133" (386") 71" (186")
February 19, 2018 63"- 95" (NA) 77" (210") 76" (183") 48" (112")
February 14, 2017 48"- 72" (188") 45" (143")
February 12, 2016 43”- 65” (277") 56” (209")
February 17, 2015 42”- 63” (294") 56” (228")
February 12, 2014 57”- 85” (236") 76” (166")
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