The End is Near

I am short; there is no arguing about it. My wish would be to add 4 to 6 inches to my height, but that is not going to happen. The same is true of our ski season. The season at Alpine Meadows closes Sunday, March 29, 2026. This has been one of the shortest seasons I can remember. Perhaps it is actually the shortest on record. Like my height, there is nothing we can do about it. The season cannot be extended due to a lack of snow and higher temperatures. We may receive some precipitation this coming week, but it will not be enough to allow the reopening of Alpine Meadows. Most likely, the precipitation will be rain or wet snow. It will not help the situation. The season started late and ended early, but I am still thankful for the many days we did ski. There were rainy days that did not excite me, and there were windy days that limited operations. Of course, there were hot days that shortened the season. I find myself thinking about places I never skied this year that I have always skied a few times a year. Perhaps it was my fault that I missed these areas, but conditions limited my use on many days. I am looking forward to next year with a smile on my face and dreams of skiing an entire mountain filled with powder one day and cold-packed winter snow on many other days. The season will be long with plenty of spring days to satisfy those who crave corn.

Before we talk about today’s conditions, you should know that the Base to Base Gondola will not be operational after this Sunday, the 29th. In addition, the Mountaineer and Intermountain shuttles will be closed as of the 29th. What about the locker room? The locker room will be open 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after lift operations on the Palisades at Tahoe side of the mountain. It has been suggested that you retain your gear at home if you plan to ski more than a few days at the northern annex. The final day of the season for the northern annex is to be determined, but the hope is that it will remain open until the end of April. Your locker renewal notices are coming within a month. Keep your eyes open for the email link that will be provided within the next month. You will have a month to decide if you want a locker for next season. If you move forward with your decision to renew, you will be given a $200 credit toward the new price being offered. Something tells me the price will be higher. Can you have a locker in Olympic Valley for the rest of the season? NO!

Is anyone thinking of being wedded at the base of the mountain? Alpine Meadows is offering a venue for your wedding and catering on the deck. I just thought I would mention it.

Alpine Bowl, Dance Floor, Charity, and Weasel were groomed overnight. I think Werner’s was also groomed, but it looked more like rain ruts than a smooth corduroy surface. The early morning laps sported more firm conditions than soft spring snow. The skier’s left of Alpine Bowl was softer than the rest. Rock Garden and Dance Floor were soft and smooth on the first lap, but Werner’s and Charity were bulletproof for a while. The available territory for smoothly groomed runs is down to just a few trails. The rest have moguls of various sizes that tend to soften after 11 unless they are in direct sun.

We gently skied Sunspot and Tower 19 this morning, praying that we would not hit hidden rocks. This is getting more difficult each day.

I skied Wolverine just after 10 and found spring moguls to the skier’s left of the main run. Anything in the shade was nicely frozen and chunky. Later, the south side of Wolverine softened, offering spring snow with large moguls and hidden obstacles.

I enjoyed Pygmy Forest located under the Alpine Bowl Chair later in the morning and medium Yellow, which is basically the lower portion of High Yellow Face. Terry’s Return was okay, but bushes are showing, and care is needed when making the transfer from Alpine Bowl to Terry’s. Charity and Werner’s are growing larger bare patches daily and melting to the point where hidden rocks are now showing. We skied Weasel and East Creek. They remain pretty well-covered runs that were groomed and should hold up until Sunday. The Alpine crew has been doing a phenomenal job of harvesting snow to keep access to the lifts open. This is not an easy job, and they are just about out of snow for the harvesting operation.

Ladies Slalom and Fall Line are history for this year. It is possible to step your way through Chicken Leg, but I would not advise it. Yellow Trail was pleasant around 11:30 if you like moguls with rocks hiding behind them.

The base of Scott Chair says a lot. Trails are narrow and dangerous when too many people are using them. Ski slowly and enjoy each turn between now and the end of the season. TLC, Roundhouse, and Summit are the only lifts running at Alpine.

Enjoy your day.

Andy