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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.
Michael Fulton
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
Whitewater Brings Its Short Side Inbounds, With Six New Runs for 2026-27
For years, Whitewater's Short Side was where you ducked a rope and hoped for the best: unmapped, ungroomed and unpatrolled. This winter it's inbounds. Six new runs of glades and fall-line skiing add 190 acres (about 77 hectares), taking the resort past 1,400 acres in total. F2 Logging spent a month in the trees to make it happen, and opening day is pencilled in for 4 December. Bonanza now needs less snow to groom, too.
Michael Fulton
Tremblant to Add New Timber Summit Ski Sector for 2027/28 Season
Tremblant has confirmed a major expansion of its Quebec ski area, with a new Timber Summit sector adding 62 acres of terrain, eight trails and a high-speed quad chairlift for winter 2027/28. It's part of a CAD 42.5 million investment that also includes a new beginner learning zone at Versant Soleil opening this coming season. The project has grown considerably since it was first announced back in 2020, when it carried a far smaller budget and an opening date that never eventuated.
Michael Fulton
Big White Spends $450,000 Regrading Slopes for Earlier Openings
Big White Ski Resort in Kelowna, BC is midway through a $450,000 regrading project on Ridge Connector and Middle Perfection, two key runs linking the Ridge base back to the Bullet Chair. The goal is a smoother surface that opens earlier in the season and needs less snow to groom - Middle Perfection has often needed winch-assisted grooming because of its steep terrain. Crews are also flattening sections of Lower Serwas and clearing brush to improve snow retention.
Michael Fulton
Why a Lift Ticket Costs $356 at Vail and €76 in Austria - And Almost Nobody Pays the American Price
A lift ticket at Vail hit $356 US this season. In Austria, a day at Kitzbühel still costs around €76. At Perisher, which Vail bought in 2015, the window rate has roughly doubled against inflation in a decade - while just across the Tasman, where Vail owns nothing, prices stayed put. Same sport, same snow, wildly different outcomes depending on who owns the lift. We went through the SEC filings, the court records and the pass math to work out why. Full breakdown below, video included.
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
Resorts of the Canadian Rockies Announces Four New Leitner Poma Lifts Across Fernie, Kimberley and Kicking Horse
Resorts of the Canadian Rockies has announced the installation of four new Leitner Poma lifts across its BC resorts - Fernie Alpine Resort, Kimberley Alpine Resort, and Kicking Horse Mountain Resort. Construction begins this spring at Kimberley, with Fernie and Kicking Horse following in 2027. The upgrades include two new high-speed detachable quads at Fernie and a second base-to-alpine access lift at Kicking Horse.
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
Global Skier Visits Hit Record 399 Million in 2024-25 - Here's Who's Leading
The 2024-25 ski season set a new global record with 399 million skier visits worldwide - more people on snow than ever before. Nine countries account for nearly 80% of that total, with the US, France, and Austria holding the top three spots. Japan posted the biggest jump of any major market, driven largely by Australian and North American visitors chasing powder.
Michael Fulton
Ski Montcalm Adding Night Operations With Light Shows and Projections
Ski Montcalm in Quebec will launch night skiing operations for the 2026-27 season, covering nine trails and three lifts from Thursday through Sunday. The resort is adding light projections and soundscapes to one run, positioning the offering somewhere between traditional night skiing and a multimedia experience.
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
Mont-Sainte-Anne Orders Three New Lifts in $100 Million Overhaul
Mont-Sainte-Anne has finally committed to a three-lift replacement program worth $100 million CAD, addressing years of reliability issues. The Quebec resort will install new six-packs and replace its problem-plagued gondola between 2027 and 2028, funded partly by a provincial loan.
Michael Fulton
Canadian Freeskier Kai Smart Dies Following Avalanche in Japan
Kai Smart, a 23-year-old freeskier and filmmaker from Whistler, has died from injuries sustained in an avalanche burial in Japan. The son of two-time Canadian Olympian John Smart was repatriated to Vancouver before his death on March 23.
Michael Fulton
Whistler Peak Terrain Set to Reopen After March Rockslide
Whistler Blackcomb is targeting this weekend for the reopening of Whistler Peak and the Peak Express chairlift, which were closed following a rockslide on March 12. Geotechnical experts have been on site assessing the area, though some terrain will remain off-limits.
Michael Fulton
Rockslide Closes Whistler Peak Zone: What Actually Happened
A significant rockslide hit inbounds terrain near Whistler Peak on March 12, closing the Peak Express chair and upper terrain indefinitely. The debris field stretched roughly 100 metres across steep terrain between West Cirque and Monday's run, raising questions about geological stability in the Coast Mountains.
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
Revelstoke Hits 153 Inches as Atmospheric River Delivers Where Others Haven't
Revelstoke Mountain Resort has accumulated 390cm of snow this season while the current atmospheric river continues to favour the interior ranges over coastal BC resorts. The pattern raises questions about shifting snowfall distributions across Western Canada.
Michael Fulton
Whistler Blackcomb to Replace Showcase T-Bar with Fixed-Grip Quad in 2026
Vail Resorts has announced plans to replace the Showcase T-Bar at Whistler Blackcomb with a fixed-grip quad chairlift by 2026, part of a $215-220 million capital investment programme. The upgrade aims to improve access to Blackcomb Glacier terrain, though questions remain about capacity and whether this addresses the resort's real infrastructure issues.
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
How Epic and Ikon Passes Transformed the Face of Skiing in North America
The introduction of Vail's Epic Pass in 2008 and Alterra's Ikon Pass in 2018 fundamentally transformed North American skiing from a day-ticket model to a season-pass dominated industry. While offering extraordinary value for frequent skiers, these passes have simultaneously made skiing more accessible for some while driving day ticket prices to record highs and creating significant challenges for mountain communities.
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
The 35 Coolest New Ski Lifts From This Season's 246 Global Installations
This season brings 246 new ski lift installations across North America and Europe - the biggest infrastructure boom in years. From the 65 North American upgrades and 181 European installations, we've picked the 35 coolest projects worth planning trips around. From Deer Valley's unprecedented seven-lift expansion to Switzerland's world-first Tri-Line gondola technology, here are the game-changing upgrades that'll transform your mountain experience.
Michael Fulton
Global Ski Industry Rankings: Nine Countries Control 366 Million Annual Visits
The latest international ski tourism data reveals stark industry concentration, with just nine countries dominating global skiing. The USA leads with 60.5 million visits, whilst China shows explosive growth and traditional Alpine destinations face different challenges from climate change to currency strength.
Michael Fulton
Whistler Blackcomb Halts Summer Skiing on Horstman Glacier
Whistler Blackcomb has indefinitely suspended summer skiing operations on the Horstman Glacier due to declining snow conditions, impacting long-standing training programs and recreational skiing opportunities.
Michael Fulton
Le Massif de Charlevoix Joins Ikon Pass for 2025-26 Ski Season
Ikon Pass expands its Canadian offerings by adding Le Massif de Charlevoix in Quebec for the 2025-26 season, providing skiers and riders access to 62 global destinations.
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
Big White Ski Resort Celebrates 100-Day Skiers with Special Pins
Big White Ski Resort in British Columbia is honouring skiers and riders who have spent 100 days on the mountain this season with commemorative pins, showcasing the resort's appreciation for its dedicated visitors.
Michael Fulton
RED Mountain Finally Opening For 23/24 Winter Season
RED Mountain Resort in British Columbia, Canada, is set to open its doors for the 2023 ski season on Thursday, December 28th, despite facing below-average snowfall this year. The resort's dedicated Operations and Patrol teams have been working diligently to prepare the mountain for guests, with the Magic Carpet Carpet, Silverlode, Motherlode, and Paradise Chairs ready to spin.
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