If this is as bad as it gets, we have it pretty good.
It’s no secret that the West is off to a weird start this “winter”. A wet and wild October gave way to a meh and mild November. A few well-timed dense December storms had the lifts spinning and fresh snow falling through the holiday season. The New Year started with a bang, as 66.5 inches of snow fell in the first week of January. But much like a firework show ringing in a new year, the sky filled with a flurry of activity, and then nothing. Almost three snowless weeks passed until a 2 ½-inch storm breezed through in the final days of the month.
As of February 1st, the 2025–26 season is tied with the 2017–18 season for the least-snowiest start in the 46-year history of the Collins Study Plot.
With just 143 inches of season-to-date snowfall through February 1st, about 51% of average, it might seem like we’re scraping by, passing the time with newly-invented snow dances or scheming sacrificial offerings to the snow gods. On the contrary, we’ve been quietly enjoying some great skiing with 97–100% of our terrain open over the past month.
Despite less than 200 inches of season-to-date snowfall, we’re enjoying some great skiing with 97–100% of our terrain open over the past month.
The Good Stuff
While our season-to-date snowfall is roughly half of average, our season-to-date water through February 1st is closer to 71% of average. The warm storms in the early season delivered plenty of dense snow and graupel to our snowpack. Wind and skier traffic helped pack down the off-piste terrain as Alta Ski Patrol has been opening new terrain following each storm cycle.
January 8th: Georgie Knox bounces through blower powder | Photo: Rocko Menzyk
Powder skiing during the first half of January was as good as it gets. It only took a couple of storms and a few deep turns to rewrite the narrative, winter was back—until it wasn't. But even as 66.5 inches of fresh powder turned to chalk, our skiable terrain increased, carrying us through a mostly snowless second half of January.
January 29th: It ain't deep, but it's honest work | Photo: Rocko Menzyk | Skier: Aaron Rae
Our snowmaking teams gave Old Man Winter an assist when temperatures permitted, adding some much-needed depth to the groomed slopes and around the base areas. Despite the long stretches of high pressure in January, the low sun angle of early winter has helped keep the snow cold and dry. Our snowcat teams have been working their tails off, laying down fresh corduroy each night and adding new runs to the daily grooming report.
February 4th: Jenna Henry skis chalk | Photo: Tyler Struss
On February 2nd, Alta Ski Patrol opened the Main Chute of Mount Baldy. For the first time this season, Alta Ski Area was open wall-to-wall—with 118 of 118 runs open and a 60-inch settled snow depth.
February 6th: Berkley Stone crushes Main Chute | Photo: Tyler Struss
From Westward Ho to Catherine's, from the top of Baldy to the bottom of the Big Griz ski conveyor, we’ve been skiing everything, embracing the opportunity to explore new areas of the mountain and enjoying the slopes and runs often overlooked on powder days.
January 22nd: Jazz Vitale explores the bumps | Photo: Rocko Menzyk
Weekend skiers have been treated to fresh air and bluebird skies. Families have been enjoying Sunnyside laps in the sun. The welcoming weather over the final three weeks of January provided perfect conditions for new skiers during National Learn To Ski Month.
February 1st: Sunnyside laps under the sun | Photo: Photo-John
Entering our 88th season, we envisioned a normal Alta season—month after month of deep days celebrated with powder 8s and powder 88 tracks. Our idea of normal may be a little skewed by recency bias. The last three seasons saw a combined 2,000 inches of snow—the second-snowiest three-year stretch in the past 46 years. We were probably overdue for a bit of a correction. But we've made the most of slow starts in the past, and it looks like we've done it again.
February 8th: Super Bowl Sunday highlights with Jennie Symons & Aaron Rae | Video: Alex Mager
If this is as bad as it gets, we have it pretty good.
February 5th: Last lap of the afternoon on Collins | Photo: Rocko Menzyk
Good to Great?—a pattern change.
As we headed into the Presidents' Day Weekend and the halfway point of the season, we received a big boost from Mother Nature. A cold front moved into Utah on Monday, delivering the first inch of February snow. The cold front helped open the door for another storm moving into Alta from the southwest. Seven inches of fresh snow fell overnight—our first true powder day in a month.
February 11th: Turner Barbour gets some long-awaited snow in the face | Photo: Tyler Struss
The storm picked up again overnight, dropping another four inches of dense snow before the skies cleared. The final four inches created a clean canvas across the mountain and Alta Ski Patrol opened additional terrain, the perfect opportunity to test the ski legs we've been building up throughout a dry January.
February 12th: Erin Spence remembered how to ski powder | Photo: Rocko Menzyk
After a short break in the action this holiday weekend, forecasts are calling for more snow next week and an active weather pattern through the end of February. We are hoping this pattern change is the catalyst for a snowy and deep second half of the season—a powder-filled comeback for the ages. With wall-to-wall skiing, fresh snow falling, and our ski legs underneath us, we hope Old Man Winter is here to stay.
February 13th: Powder 8s with Tyler Peterson and Tommy Flitton | Photo: Lee Cohen
And if not, we'll keep skiing—practicing our groomer 8s and chalk 8s between storms—enjoying how good we have it. Because one thing we have learned over the past 88 seasons is that much like the snowflakes we all love, each season writes its own unique and unpredictable story. We'll keep enjoying everything Mother Nature throws our way.