TETON VILLAGE, Wyo. — It might be a good idea to use the rock skis for the rest of the season.
Buckrail photographer Nick Sulzer took some snaps of the conditions near the base area of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (JHMR) on Thursday morning. Snow coverage is stingy underneath the Moose Creek Chairlift and near the Union Pass Chairlift. Winter never really got much momentum this year, much to the dismay of skiers across the west. Let’s take a look back at how winter ended up this way.
The area’s ski resorts delayed their opening dates due to warm temps and rain at low elevations in November and December. Late December into January brought some snow to the valley. Then a dry spell emerged that lasted into February. Finally, more snow fell in mid-February, but sporadic warmth didn’t allow it to pile up. The Snow Devils canceled the Snowmobile World Championship Hill Climb due to warm temps and low coverage. Record-high temperatures in the second half of March will be the cherry on top of the mudslide winter sundae.
“A strong ridge of high pressure has been building over the Western U.S. and temperatures have warmed up significantly,” wrote Buckrail Meteorologist Alan Smith. “On Tuesday, the high in Jackson hit 63ºF, which was 30 degrees warmer than the high temperature from two days ago.”
While some ski areas have announced an early end to the season due to lack of winter conditions, JHMR has not given any indication that it’s even a possibility. The Teton Village resort has its closing date listed as April 12 on its website.
