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Latest in Alberta
Lake Louise Opens Early on 1 November With Juniper Express and Easy Street
The Rockies get their first lift-served turns of the season early. Lake Louise opens Sunday 1 November, five days ahead of schedule, after a cold October and round-the-clock work from the snowmaking and mountain crews. Terrain is limited to Juniper Express Chair and Easy Street, with two small terrain parks and the beginner area for lessons. Opening-day tickets are over 60% off, with prices rising as more lifts open. First chair is at 9:30 am under the resort’s new lift hours.
Michael Fulton
Banff Sunshine Surpasses 10 Metres of Snow for 2025-26 Season
Banff Sunshine is closing out its 2025-26 season on a high note, with the upper mountain surpassing 10 metres of cumulative snowfall as of May 16. The total of 1,021 centimetres makes it the snowiest season at the resort in over a decade - well above its typical annual average of around 600 centimetres. The season wraps up on Monday May 18 with the annual Slush Cup.
Michael Fulton
Banff Sunshine Village Approaches Snowfall Record After 389-Inch Season
The Alberta resort has logged 389 inches of snow this season, 60% above its annual average, and is one decent storm away from breaking its period of record. Meanwhile, much of the western United States continues to struggle with below-average snowpack.
Michael Fulton
Banff Sunshine Named Best Overall Ski Destination in North America by OnTheSnow
Banff Sunshine in Alberta has taken out OnTheSnow's Best Overall Ski Destination award for North America, voted on by the platform's users. The award was presented at the Mountain Travel Symposium in Whistle, British Columbia.
Michael Fulton
15-Year-Old Alpine Racer Dies Following Avalanche at Nakiska
A teenage alpine ski racer has died after being caught in an avalanche at Nakiska Ski Area while bootpacking with another athlete. The incident raises questions about terrain management and decision-making at a resort that serves as a major training venue for youth racing programs.
Michael Fulton
Early Season North America: Which Ski Resorts Are Open Right Now?
The 2025-26 North American ski season is underway with resorts across Colorado, Alberta, and Vermont opening their lifts. From Keystone's surprise first-to-open move to Sunshine Village's impressive 38 runs already available, here's exactly what terrain you can access right now and which resorts are offering the best early season conditions.
Michael Fulton
Banff Sunshine Opens as First Canadian Ski Resort for 2025-26 Season
Banff Sunshine has opened for the 2025-26 season, becoming the first Canadian ski resort to spin lifts and marking the earliest opening in the resort's history. With limited terrain and reduced pricing, the Alberta resort is banking on early-season enthusiasm and a novelty Halloween promotion.
Michael Fulton
SkiBig3 Offers Free Kids' Lift Tickets and Rentals: A Critical Look
Alberta's SkiBig3 resorts are dangling free lift tickets and rentals for kids this winter, but is it truly a game-changer for family ski trips? We analyse the fine print and industry context.
Michael Fulton
Lake Louise Ski Resort Begins 200-Acre Expansion Project
Lake Louise Ski Resort has started work on a significant 200-acre expansion, including new ski runs and a chairlift at Richardson's Ridge. The project aims to enhance the resort's offerings for intermediate skiers.
Michael Fulton
Marmot Basin Ski Resort Faces 30% Visitor Decline After Jasper Wildfire
Marmot Basin ski resort in Jasper, Alberta, experienced a significant 30% drop in winter visitors following the devastating wildfire that swept through the area last summer, impacting local tourism and operations.
Michael Fulton
Castle Mountain's New Stagecoach Express Chairlift: A Nod to Cat-Skiing Legacy
Castle Mountain Resort in Alberta is set to install its first high-speed chairlift, the Stagecoach Express, expanding terrain and honouring its cat-skiing history.
Michael Fulton
Latest News
More from the SnowStash desk
Val Gardena to Alpe di Siusi Lift Link Back in Play After Court Ruling
The Val Gardena-Alpe di Siusi lift link isn’t dead after all. A South Tyrol court has overturned Santa Cristina’s rejection of the new Monte Pana-Saltria link on procedural grounds, after the council skipped required public information sessions. Opponents want the missing sessions held and a fresh vote, and nothing has been approved. For now it’s still a bus between the two, but a plan first floated in 2017 is back in the conversation.
8 Nov 2026
Whistler Blackcomb Rockslide Zone Stays Closed Through 2026-27 Season
A section of Whistler Peak terrain will stay closed all 2026-27 season, Vail Resorts has confirmed, with rockslide mitigation work continuing into summer 2027. Peak Express is still expected to run this winter, but locals are already arguing about what’s actually off limits, whether the Whistler Bowl is gone, and why the news landed after pass sales wound down. Here’s where things stand.
7 Nov 2026
Loveland Ski Area Opens for 2026-27 and Marks 60 Years of Snowmaking
Loveland is open. The Colorado ski area started Chet’s Dream turning on Saturday 7 November to kick off 2026-27, with $60 adult lift tickets to mark 60 years of snowmaking. Expect three runs, nearly 1,000 vertical feet (about 300 metres) of top-to-bottom skiing, live music on the Basin Patio and no beginner terrain yet. Here’s what’s open, what it costs and when Loveland Valley follows.
7 Nov 2026
KFC Is Coming to the Slopes at Cortina and Madonna di Campiglio
Fried chicken is heading up the Dolomites. From 5 December KFC will run two restaurants on the slopes - one at 2,123 metres at Cortina, one at 1,700 metres at Madonna di Campiglio - and the polenta-and-canederli crowd has opinions. Local politicians, conservation groups and plenty of Facebook commenters are calling it a step too far, while others just want a cheaper lunch. Here’s what’s on the menu and what’s the fuss.
5 Nov 2026
Mt Rose Aims to Open First in Tahoe on November 6
Mt Rose is going for the first-in-Tahoe title, with the Lakeview Express due to spin at 9 a.m. on Friday, November 6. One main lift, three runs and plenty of snowmaking, sitting on the highest base elevation in the region at 8,260 ft. Here is what is open, what is not (sorry, tubing fans), and how the early North American openings are stacking up.
4 Nov 2026
Europe Snow Forecast: Serre Chevalier Leads With 82 cm Over the Next 10 Days
Europe has had a quiet start to November, but our 10-day forecast has Serre Chevalier on 82 cm and Les 2 Alpes on 71 cm. Two pushes are lined up: a western Alps top-up from Friday, then a bigger, wider system on Thursday, November 12 and Friday, November 13 that reaches Italy and Switzerland. Full leaderboard inside.
4 Nov 2026
Mammoth Mountain Opens Early on November 5 With Up to 33 Inches of Snow in the Forecast
Mammoth just moved opening day forward to Thursday, November 5, eight days ahead of schedule. A snowy weekend and cold snowmaking nights did the work, and our forecast shows up to 33 inches more landing on November 13 and 14. Here is what opens, what the weather looks like and where Mammoth sits among the early Ikon Pass openers.
3 Nov 2026
Utah Snow Storm Builds Early-Season Base Ahead of November Openings
Rain down low, snow up high, and a snow report full of zeros that mostly means ‘not updated yet’. Utah’s first proper storm of 2026-27 is rolling through the Wasatch, Snowbird’s snow stake is closing in on 10 inches, and Brian Head is five days from opening day. Early November snow rarely looks like much, but it is the layer every November opening date is built on. Here is where it stands.
1 Nov 2026