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Latest in Montana
Maverick Mountain's Only Chairlift Destroyed as Sand Creek Fire Tears Through Montana Ski Area
Firefighters saved every base building at Maverick Mountain, Montana, but the resort's sole chairlift didn't survive the Sand Creek Fire. Owners Erik and Kristi Borge say the lift is "most likely" out for the 2026/27 season after flames tore through the mountain on August 8. The wildfire has since grown past 27,700 acres with zero percent containment. It's a gutting result for the tiny, one-lift operation near Dillon - though the lodge, groomers and equipment all made it through untouched.
Michael Fulton
Bridger Bowl Compensates Staff After Early Season Closure
Bridger Bowl's early season closure due to low snowfall impacted hundreds of workers. The resort's board approved extra payouts to compensate, a rare move in the ski industry.
Michael Fulton
Delta Adds Year-Round Austin to Bozeman Service From Winter 2026-27
Delta Airlines will extend its Austin to Bozeman route to year-round service from late 2026, providing direct access to Big Sky and Bridger Bowl during the ski season. The move is part of Delta's push to establish a stronger presence in the Texas market against competing airline hubs.
Michael Fulton
Western U.S. Ski Resorts Close Early as Warm Weather Compounds Poor Snow Season
A heat wave hitting the western United States has forced dozens of ski resorts to close early or abandon their seasons entirely. With below-average snowpacks across the region, the warm spell has ended operations at over 40 resorts from Arizona to Montana.
Michael Fulton
Pacific Northwest Ski Resorts Just Got Buried — March 2026 Snow Report
Washington's ski resorts have just received a serious dump, with several areas recording over 50cm of fresh snow in a single 24-hour period. Stevens Pass, Snoqualmie, and White Pass are all showing big numbers, and the broader Pacific Northwest — including Oregon and Montana — has copped a solid hit too. Here's what the data is showing right now.
Michael Fulton
Boyne Resorts' 2025-26 Plans: Upgrades or Marketing Spin?
Boyne Resorts has announced various projects across its North American ski areas for 2025-26, but are they truly enhancing the guest experience or just keeping up with industry trends?
Michael Fulton
Big Sky's Kircliff: Glass Summit Experience Raises Questions
Big Sky Resort announces Kircliff, a glass observatory atop Lone Peak. While impressive, this latest development prompts scrutiny of the resort's priorities and environmental impact.
Michael Fulton
Boyne Resorts Unveils New Season Pass Options for 2025-26
Boyne Resorts introduces two new season pass options for the 2025-26 winter season, offering unlimited access across all their North American ski resorts.
Michael Fulton
Big Sky Resort Raises $162,600 for Local Nonprofits Through Chair Sale
Big Sky Resort's sale of 125 Explorer 2 chairs raises $162,600 for three local nonprofits, showcasing community support and marking the end of the historic lift's 51-year service.
Michael Fulton
Whitefish Mountain Resort Nears Record with 497,000 Skier Visits in 2024/2025 Season
Whitefish Mountain Resort in Montana reports a successful 2024/2025 season with 497,000 skier visits, approaching their all-time record. The resort credits early snowfall and consistent storms for the strong performance.
Michael Fulton
Bridger Bowl Ski Area Reveals Ambitious 2025 Master Plan
Montana's Bridger Bowl, America's second-largest non-profit ski area, has unveiled extensive development plans including three new chairlifts, expanded beginner terrain, and enhanced facilities. The proposed 2025 master plan aims to improve accessibility and variety for the growing Bozeman community.
Michael Fulton
Big Sky Resort Unveils World's Longest Eight-Pack Bubble Chairlift
Big Sky Resort strengthens its position as North America's most advanced lift network with the opening of the Madison 8, the world's longest eight-pack bubble chairlift. This latest addition, replacing the Six Shooter lift, doubles uphill capacity while reducing ride times by 30%.
Michael Fulton
Latest News
More from the SnowStash desk
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
California Ski Resort Opening Dates 2026-27: Mammoth Leads, Tahoe Follows
Mammoth Mountain is first up in California, targeting Friday 13 November after a dusting of September snow. Heavenly and Northstar follow on 20 November, Palisades Tahoe on Wednesday 25 November and Sugar Bowl on 27 November, with Kirkwood on 4 December and June Mountain on 19 December. Plenty of smaller areas have no date yet. A super El Niño favours the Sierra, but a warmer storm track is the catch.
7 Oct 2026
Colorado Ski Resort Opening Dates 2026-27: A-Basin and Keystone Race to Be First
Arapahoe Basin, Keystone and Winter Park are all chasing an October start, though none has a firm date yet. The first dated openers are Breckenridge and Copper on Friday 6 November, then Vail on 13 November, with most of the rest bunched around US Thanksgiving. Hesperus did not open at all last season. A super El Niño offers hope but no guarantee, and forecasters say the southern mountains have the better odds.
5 Oct 2026
Dolomiti Superski 2026-27: Four New Gondolas, New Reservoirs and an €89 Peak Day Pass
Dolomiti Superski is spending around €100 million across its 12 areas before winter. Kronplatz gets a new 10-passenger gondola with a middle station, 3 Zinnen gets Helmissimo, and Val di Fassa swaps a chairlift for a gondola above Col Valvacin. New water-storage basins and upgraded snowmaking follow, and construction has started on the San Martino to Passo Rolle link. A peak adult day pass is €89.
4 Oct 2026
Utah Ski Resort Opening Dates 2026-27: Brian Head First, Eagle Point Out
Brian Head is targeting 6 November, though last year it aimed for 7 November and did not open until the 25th. Park City, Alta and Solitude are pencilled in for 20 November, Snowbird and Snowbasin for 27 November, and Deer Valley for 5 December. Eagle Point will stay closed after the Cottonwood Fire. A super El Niño is forecast, but the big snow is not expected until January.
4 Oct 2026
Hintertux Glacier Opens for 2026-27 With 12 Kilometres of Piste
Hintertux became Austria's second glacier to open for 2026-27 on Friday 2 October, after the Pitztal Glacier. Twelve kilometres of piste are running around the Olperer and Gefrorene Wand, served by one gondola and two drag lifts, with the Betterpark also open. Lifts officially run 8:15 am to 4:30 pm, but skiing stops at 2 pm for now.
4 Oct 2026
Vail Resorts Counts the Cost of a Thin Winter as Pass Sales Slide Further
A historically poor western winter cut Vail Resorts' annual net income from $280 million to $147.5 million and skier visits by 13.4 per cent. Now 2026-27 pass units are down 12 per cent as of 18 September, worse than the 10 per cent flagged in spring. Vail blames the weather and thinks some buyers are simply waiting, and it forecasts a rebound if the snow behaves.
3 Oct 2026
Arizona Snowbowl's $1 Lift Tickets Are Hard to Find, but $9 Days Are Not
Arizona Snowbowl advertised eight $1 lift ticket days this winter. Go looking and only three are showing - 10 March, 1 April and 10 April - so the rest may already have gone. The consolation is a calendar full of $9 days, including all but one day in April. Opening day is 20 November, weather permitting, and opening weekend is $19.
2 Oct 2026