Alta
Top 10 Resorts
Grand Targhee Mt. Baker Kirkwood Fernie Jackson Hole Wolf Creek Mammoth
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| It's not surprising that
Alta, being 8,530 feet in the mountains, would be ranked #1 for the best
powder resort. With good geography and strong lake-effect storms,
snow tends to fall in intense dumps. The average snowfall is about
547 inches which is near 46 feet! The snow is also very light and
dry which creates great deep powder and is essential for powder skiing.
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| Grand Targhee, at around
8,000, is a powerhouse when it comes to snow. This little resort receives
the most consistent snowfall in North America. The terrain
is wide-open and although it may not be as steep as an elevator shaft, it
is still pitched for powder. Since Grand Targhee doesn't attract too
many guests, that means more fluff for you. The resort receives about 538 inches of snow per year and is enough for second place.
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Baker resort is the king of snowfall receiving more than 100 inches of snow than any other resort in the world. Annually, it receives about 644 inches but because of its high water content, it doesn't always make great powder. The 98-99 season was legendary when it received 1140 inches of snow (95 feet!) The short steep runs make it a legit powder skier's stop. |
| Stretching from 7,800 to 9,800 feet, Kirkwood gets the best of big Sierra storms. The storms bring dumps of snow often measured in feet. Annually, this resort receives about 466 inches inches of snow. Since there is very little lodging, Kirkwood doesn't see the crowds of Squaw Valley or Heavenly. This means deeper powder and untracked runs for you. |
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| Fernie resort lies near
Whistler/Blackcomb and until just recently it wasn't known by many, but
now its 2,500 acres have been attracting more guests. Storms from
the Pacific Northwest have been spewing snow day and night. Fernie receives
about 380 inches of snow per year. The biggest attraction
for powderhounds is the long, steep, fall-line tree skiing off the
resort's ridgelines. This resort has the second best tree skiing in
North America and there is a lot of elbow room to be found.
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At 6,311 feet, high up in the Rockies lies Jackson Hole. Although it doesn't get Baker's snowfall, its lower skiing density and long fall lines make it worth it. Also the chance for fresher tracks has increased dramatically over the years. It receives about 404 inches of snow per year. The heaviest of the snow occurs in January where they get about eight feet. |
| Southwestern storms unload tons of the white stuff on Wolf Creek. Every once in a while a late Mexican tropical storm will drop a little Halloween treat, about five feet of snow. Although the steeps may be short, about 1,000 feet long, the hill is close to two miles long. About 370 inches of snow onto this resort every year. Since there are no major population centers within four hours of Wolf Creek, there are rarely any crowds which can mean loads of powder. |
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Mammoth, a sleeping volcano, has a summit of over 14,000 feet which means huge amounts of ungroomed snow. Mammoth's seasonal average snowfall is 477 inches but the averages may vary from year to year. It could easily dump over 600 inches of snow in heaps of over six feet at a time. Because of the very cold temperatures, the snow tends to be dryer and makes really good powder. However the wind could leave you with a chalky surface which is a pain to ski. |
| The term "Champagne Powder" was coined here for a purpose. Similar to Fernie, Steamboat is renowned for its powder tree skiing. Fortunately, Steamboat is blessed with Colorado's dry snow which can amount to 341 inches a year. During the early season, Steamboat tends to get the most snow out of all of Colorado's big resorts. The steepest runs, chutes one, two, and three, almost always have great snow. |
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| Unlike most resorts in California, Colorado gets most of its storms in little pieces. Eight inches would be considered a dump, but after a while it does add up. An average seasonal snowfall for Vail would be around 392 inches. The best skiing on a powder day would be on the back where there is miles and miles of powdery open bowl skiing. | |