Facing below-average snowfall, Big Sky Resort uses advanced snowmaking and tracking tools to keep the terrain driveable.
See why Big Sky has become a ski season travel destination
USA TODAY’s Zach Wictor visited Big Sky Resort in Montana to snowboard and explore its beautiful scenery.
- Big Sky relies on advanced snowmaking and care techniques to maintain skiable conditions.
- Despite a slow start, the ski season could extend into late spring if snow management improves.
- Climate change is making snowfall less reliable, forcing resorts to invest in technology and forcing skiers to be more flexible.
BIG SKY, MT – In early February, Big Sky didn’t have as much snow as usual. Most of the terrain was open, but there were quite a few bald spots. There were days when the afternoon maximum temperature approached 50 degrees, making the ski conditions unexpectedly spring-like in early February.
As a snowboarder from the East Coast, I was hoping for more consistent powder conditions on a mountain known for frigid temperatures and vast terrain rather than the volatile conditions I’m used to seeing on mountains closer to home.
Like many of the Western mountains this season, Big Sky’s early winter has been a bit unfavorable with above-average temperatures and below-average snowfall, especially at lower elevations.
Nevertheless, thanks to new technology, mountains like Big Sky are able to remain open and climbable even as climate change makes snowfall less certain.
Here’s how Big Sky works.
Dependence on and investment in snowmaking
“This has been a really interesting season. The actual snowfall is much lower than in previous years,” Adam West, Big Sky’s vice president of mountain operations, told USA TODAY. “This mountain is skiing really well, even with much less snow than usual.”
West said the mountain’s stability this winter is due to several factors, including its higher northern latitude compared to other Western resorts and improved snowmaking and snow management methods in recent years.
He said snowmaking in Big Sky typically begins in October. In most seasons, the mountain can rely on natural snowfall by mid-December, but in warm winters like this year, snowmaking remains a major component of the season’s longevity.
Making snow in Big Sky is no accident, West said. The resort uses software called iSno to monitor its snowmaking system in real time. This software allows mountain managers to track snow gun performance and water and energy usage to optimize snowmaking capacity.
“It’s very important to have all the water in the right place,” West said.
This year, Big Sky added LIDAR technology to some of its grooming machines. This allows trail maintenance technicians to more consistently maintain coverage and prevent bald spot formation.
The system, called SnowSat, gives grooming machine operators real-time information about the exact depth of powder on the trails they’re working, allowing them to reliably push snow to maximize consistent depth across the terrain or build additional pads where needed.
Big Sky’s investment mirrors that of other Rocky Mountain and Western resorts that have become increasingly reliant on snowmaking in recent years.
“We’re seeing temperatures rise and we’re seeing all sorts of things happening that are impacting snowpack,” Lee Parton, an assistant professor of economics and environmental economist at Boise State University, previously told USA TODAY. “People are responsive to where they book, and where they go is sensitive to how much snow resorts get.”
The second half of the season will be longer
Ski season may be taking a little longer to get into full swing in recent years, but strong snow management often allows mountains to stay open until late spring.
West added that snow quality also contributes to the mountains being able to stay open.
He said that although there was less snowfall overall on the mountain, the powder that did fall was a little wetter and denser than in the cold winter, which allowed it to adhere better to the terrain, allowing maintenance crews to work with more material during overnight maintenance on the mountain.
“The skiing here is very good. It was warm and muddy, but still good coverage,” West said. “Generally speaking, the whole mountain is skiable and the skiing is good.”
He added that he expects snowfall to eventually trend back to normal later this winter, which would position Big Sky for late winter and spring skiing.
What does the future hold for winter sports?
With snowfall becoming less reliable at ski resorts, winter sports fans will need to be more strategic when booking their travels.
West said Big Sky has seen an increase in tourism this winter, but resorts further south in the Rocky Mountains are struggling more with early-season weather. As a result, many skiers are now chasing powder more carefully.
Parton, the economist, previously told USA TODAY that this is a long-term trend for winter sports enthusiasts and is likely to continue. This could lead to more people buying passes like Epic and Icon. The most expensive versions of these offer a high level of flexibility for skiers to make last-minute trips to rostered mountains.
“Some regions are predicted to get more snow under the increased emissions scenario, and those regions could be winners,” Parton said. “Recreation enthusiasts and winter sports enthusiasts now have more options to change their destinations with Megapasses like the Epic Pass and Icon Pass.”
The reporter for this article received access from Expedia and Visit Big Sky. USA TODAY maintains editorial control of content.
Zach Wichter is a travel reporter and writes the Cruising Altitude column for USA TODAY. He is based in New York and can be reached at zwichter@usatoday.com.
