While Alyeska is reporting the largest snowfall total of any resort in North America with 808 inches of snow this season, warm temps and rain have turned Alaska’s premier ski resort into a mess.
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The ultimate reason for the closure is an unstable snowpack that could threaten skiers and riders until temps drop back down to freezing. Without a freeze/thaw cycle, the deep snowpack remains heavily isothermic and unstable.
“Due to recent warm and rainy conditions at Alyeska Resort, operations are suspended for uphill loading of skiers and riders on the resort for the next 2 days. We will evaluate snowpack daily for the possibility of re-opening midweek. The tram will be operating for foot passengers from 11AM – 6PM daily. With operations resuming, skiers and riders will upload/download on the Tram and use Glacier Bowl Express (Chair 6) for skiing/riding. All mountain ski and restaurant operations are contingent upon changing weather conditions.” – Alyeska Resort Facebook Page
For the near future, operations are “day to day,” says acting ski area general manager, Brian Burnett. In the meantime, resort officials are waiting for cooler temps and a break in the rain to let the snowpack heal before reopening the slopes. Until then, foot traffic will be allowed on The Tram from 11am-6pm daily.
