News category
Latest in Hotham
Mount Hotham to Close for the 2026 Season on Sunday, September 6
We knew when the Bird Bath Pond Skim showed up on Hotham's Instagram that the season was on its way out. It's been a rough one - I only managed two days on snow all year, at Falls Creek - and now Baw Baw, Selwyn and Hotham have all called it, possibly the worst Australian season I've seen in a decade. Hotham's last day of lift operations is Sunday, 6 September, with a Retro Day, Father's Day après and closing sales before the lifts stop turning for good.
Michael Fulton
Australia's Snow Drought Breaks as Storm "Buries" the Ski Resorts
Two days ago, webcams across Australia's ski resorts were showing bare, grassy slopes. Now they're buried in white. A cold snap has dumped fresh snow from the Snowies to the Victorian high country overnight, with Thredbo copping 24cm, Perisher 20cm and Hotham reporting a storm total of 30cm. Blizzard conditions, sub-zero temps and howling winds have made for a proper winter morning - and snowmaking crews are making the most of it while the cold sticks around. Here's how each resort fared.
Michael Fulton
Snowless in July: Australia's Historic Dry Start Gets Trolled by Japan
Australia's 2026 ski season has hit a grim milestone - Spencers Creek read zero centimetres entering July, matching the second-worst start in 72 years of records. A Japanese resort seized the moment, posting webcam shots of brown Aussie slopes to spruik its own snow. El Nino is the likely culprit, but 72 years of data says panic is premature - a storm packing up to 40cm was forecast to hit from Thursday. Here's what's actually going on, and what history says happens next.
Michael Fulton
The Snow Arrived. Mt Buller Stole the Show. Opening Weekend Is On.
We called the snow event. We didn't call Mt Buller leading the pack with 25cm. Falls Creek is sitting on 15cm and still falling, Hotham at 15cm, Thredbo at 13cm overnight. Snowguns are firing across the board and Opening Weekend is Saturday. The 2026 Australian season is starting in serious shape.
Michael Fulton
Snow Arrives Just in Time: Australian Alps Forecast Ahead of Kings Birthday Opening Weekend 2026
The 2026 Australian ski season opens on Kings Birthday weekend - 6 to 8 June - and the timing couldn't be better. A natural snowfall event is tracking across the Alps right now, with Perisher forecast to pick up 43.3cm and Thredbo 35.6cm over the next 10 days. Cooler temperatures from the start of June will also get the snow guns running. Not a blockbuster opening - but a genuinely solid one. Here's the full breakdown.
Michael Fulton
Mt Hotham's Best Intermediate Runs: Complete Guide to Victoria's Premier Slopes
Mt Hotham offers Australia's finest intermediate terrain, with runs like Bushwacker and the Milky Way combination providing the perfect balance of challenge and reward. This comprehensive guide ranks the top 5 intermediate runs that make Hotham superior to other Victorian resorts for progressing riders.
Michael Fulton
The Definitive Guide to Mt Hotham's Top 5 Intermediate Runs
Discover the five best intermediate runs at Mt Hotham that offer challenging terrain, alpine views, and the perfect progression for blue-level skiers and snowboarders. From the popular Sun Run to the remote Bushwacker, this comprehensive guide reveals why Hotham leads Australia for intermediate terrain.
Michael Fulton
Australian Ski Resorts Open for 2025 Season with Fresh Snowfall
Australia's major ski resorts have officially opened for the 2025 season following a winter storm that delivered fresh snow across the Australian Alps. Falls Creek, Mount Hotham, Perisher, Thredbo, and Mount Buller are all operating with beginner terrain available, whilst forecasts predict over 50 centimetres of additional snow throughout the opening weekend, promising excellent conditions for skiers and riders.
Michael Fulton
Major Investments Boost Australian Ski Resorts for 2025 Season
Australian ski resorts are gearing up for the 2025 season with significant upgrades, including new chairlifts, enhanced snowmaking capabilities, and innovative terrain features.
Michael Fulton
Mount Hotham Lift Tickets Now on Sale for 2025 Winter Season
Mount Hotham has officially launched ticket sales for the 2025 winter season. With prices starting from A$177 for adults, skiers and riders can now secure their Mt Hotham lift tickets online at competitive rates. Early booking discounts of up to 40% are available for those planning ahead, with multi-day passes offering the best value for longer stays.
Michael Fulton
Warm Winter Forecast Threatens Australian Ski Season...Again
The Bureau of Meteorology predicts one of Australia's warmest winters on record, potentially impacting the upcoming ski season. With temperatures expected to be 1.5°C above average, ski resorts may face challenges in maintaining snow cover.
Michael Fulton
Latest News
More from the SnowStash desk
Europe Ski Resorts Open Now: What Is Skiable in Mid-October 2026
Europe’s ski season is open, technically. After a record-warm summer, glaciers in Austria, Switzerland and Italy are running a few pistes apiece, Sölden, Stubai and Kitzsteinhorn started late, Titlis has pushed back to 24 October, and Zermatt reopens a few lifts on 14 October after more than two months shut. Finland’s Levi and Ruka are skiing on stored snow. Here is what is open, and what you actually get at each.
14 Oct 2026
Zermatt Plans World Cup Downhill Return on the Gornergrat for 2028
Zermatt is having another crack at a World Cup downhill, and this time nobody has to cross a border. Around 13 million Swiss francs is going into rebuilding the Gornergrat piste, including a jump fed by a roughly 300-metre in-run across the roof of the Gornergrat Railway gallery, with the Matterhorn lined up behind it for the TV cameras. First men’s race is pencilled in for March 2028, pending FIS homologation.
14 Oct 2026
Mt. Rose Begins Snowmaking for the 2026-27 Season at Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe’s highest base elevation is paying off early: Mt. Rose has started making snow for 2026-27 after the first flurries and a cold snap. The Nevada resort is backing it with nearly US$2 million in upgrades, including a replacement snowmaking main line, a new PistenBully groomer and restraint bars on every lift. Opening day is yet to be confirmed, though Heavenly and Northstar are already eyeing 20 November.
13 Oct 2026
Utah Ski Resorts 2026-27: What’s New at Alta, Deer Valley, Powder Mountain and More
Utah is still building flat out. For 2026-27, Powder Mountain opens a steep new Skytrac chair into more than 1,000 acres of advanced terrain, Deer Valley adds 200 acres on Hail Peak, Sundance gets a new quad and Park City adds a gondola from its new parking structure. Snowmaking is expanding almost everywhere, Eagle Point stays closed after the Cottonwood Fire, and the 2034 Games are setting the pace. Here’s what’s new, resort by resort.
13 Oct 2026
Mt Hutt Invests NZ$12 Million in Base Area, Tripling Its Sun Deck
Mt Hutt is getting busier, and its base lodge is about to catch up. NZ$12 million goes into a heated sun deck roughly three times the current size (430 m² to 1,300 m²), plus a new toilet block, heated steps down to snow level, extra storage and a new food and beverage outlet. Building starts after the 2026 season, with everything due for winter 2027.
11 Oct 2026
Vermont Ski Resort Opening Dates 2026-27: Few Dates Set, Killington Waits on the Cold
Vermont's season is slow to take shape. Stratton is tentatively targeting 18 November and Sugarbush 21 November, while Pico has Friday 11 December on the calendar. Killington never sets a date and opens when the snowmaking allows, and Vail Resorts has yet to name days for Stowe, Okemo and Mount Snow. The forecasts disagree about snow, and the main El Niño worry for the Green Mountains is warmth.
9 Oct 2026
Crans-Montana 2027 World Championships President Resigns Ahead of Fraud Hearing
Less than four months out from the Crans-Montana 2027 World Championships, the man running the organising committee has stepped down. Claude-Alain Schmidhalter resigned as Swiss-Ski vice president and OC president after being indicted over a business dispute unrelated to skiing. He denies the allegations and faces court on October 27. Interim leaders are in place for the February 1-14 event.
9 Oct 2026
Kelly Canyon, Idaho, Adds Snowmaking, a Bigger Terrain Park and More Parking for 2026-27
Kelly Canyon had a rough 2025-26, and the Idaho resort has spent the summer making sure it doesn’t repeat. Snowmaking now reaches the top of Goldrush, the terrain park is doubling in size with a stereo system, lights and a snack shack, and the car park is getting bigger. Grooming is stepping up too. Target opening is December 4, conditions permitting.
9 Oct 2026