The Snow Report Show

Jackson Hole Lived Up to the Hype… Just Not How I Expected

They Say Never Meet Your Heroes, but… My first trip to Jackson Hole exceeded expectations. And believe it or not, it had nothing to do with the snow. There was no new snow to report. No chest-deep powder days. No endless refills. It is spring, and in a winter that almost never came, it didn’t exactly come as a shock. Still, I had built Jackson Hole up in my mind for years. I have lived vicariously through friends, clips, and endless scrolls. I felt like I knew the place. But deep down, I always knew that wasn’t real. You only really know a mountain once you have stood on it. And that moment came before I even landed. On the descent into the Jackson airport, I looked out the window and saw the Tetons for the first time. Sharp. Assertive. Humbling. And somehow, despite their jagged edges, still delicate and beautiful. It is the kind of landscape that makes you feel small in a good way. First Impressions: The Airport Let’s start with the airport. It is small, which probably helps with efficiency, but the look and feel of it was better than I expected. Thoughtful, warm, and very on brand for where you are. And then, free mimosas. After a five hour flight, a little effervescence was exactly what I didn’t know I needed. We grabbed our bags in what felt like seconds, and just like that, my husband and I were on our way to Jackson. Downtown Jackson: Western Charm Done Right Downtown Jackson is charming and quirky in the best way. It is full of great restaurants, shops, and bars that feel intentional but not overdone. It has personality without trying too hard. The Million Dollar Cowboy Bar stands out immediately. It is bold, a little over the top, and completely owns it. As for coffee, there are a few strong options, but my husband and I both agreed that Persephone is a cut above. A couple other standouts: Midnight LunchDesign your own hats, bags, shirts, you name it. We made some very cute buffs and bags for the kids. Snake River GrillRustic elegance at its best. Start with the steak tartare pizza. Capers, garlic, finely diced steak on a crispy crust. It is rich, but perfect to share. On the Mountain: Jackson Hole Hits Different We kicked things off with early ups on the tram, heading to the top of Rendezvous Peak. On the way up, you get a bird’s eye view into Corbet’s Couloir. From the tram, it looks intimidating but somehow familiar (from social media). From the top, it is something else entirely. Standing on that ledge, with the wind whipping, looking down, it really hits you. This is not just a steep line… it’s full-send commitment. It feels nearly vertical, as if you’re standing on top of a building. It is one of those moments where you realize that photos or videos do not, and will never, do it justice. The Real Highlight: Waffles As iconic as the terrain is, the true peak of my experience was Corbet’s Cabin. Specifically, the waffles. The cabin dates back to the 1960s, but the waffles came later, around 2009. Since then, they have become part of the ritual. Skiers and riders grabbing one before or after taking on Corbet’s. And yes, they live up to the hype. Different flavors, different styles. People literally pocket them for fuel before dropping in. We tried a few, and you can see the full breakdown in the podcast recap. Final Thoughts Jackson Hole exceeded expectations in a way I did not expect. Not because of the snow.Because of the feeling.Because of the people and the community it holds. For a few short days, I was a part of it and that felt special. Thank you to Jackson Hole for having me. I cannot wait to return. More podcasts to come. Not on a weekly basis, but we will be checking in throughout the summer with updates from the southern hemisphere. And don’t miss the giveaway. Make sure you are subscribed here on Substack. See you next time,Halley This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thesnowreport.substack.com [https://thesnowreport.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Miracle March Shows Up… Just Not Everywhere

If you’ve been around skiing long enough, you know about Miracle March. It’s the time of year when the snow gods occasionally remember that winter isn’t technically over yet and decide to dump a few feet on the mountains just to keep things interesting. This year has been… complicated. Large parts of the West - particularly Colorado, Utah, and Tahoe - have struggled with low snow totals for much of the winter. In fact, some resorts across the Rockies have seen snowfall totals among the lowest in decades, contributing to a noticeable drop in skier visits this season. But March has a funny way of changing the narrative. And right now, Miracle March is alive and well… just not evenly distributed. The Biggest Snow Winners Right Now If you’re looking for the deepest snow this week, head north. According to the latest forecasts from OpenSnow, the Pacific Northwest is in the middle of the biggest storm cycle of the season. The Washington Cascades are expected to see 3–5 feet of snow through this storm cycle, with colder air helping keep snow quality high. Some early reports already show 30 inches falling earlier this week, with another round of snow continuing through the weekend. In other words… If you live near: * Mount Baker * Stevens Pass * Crystal Mountain …you basically hit the jackpot (so far). Interior areas of the Northwest and Northern Rockies - including parts of Idaho and western Montana - are also expected to pick up 6–16 inches during this cycle. Meanwhile… The Upper Midwest Is Sneaking Into Winter Another storm system is targeting the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes, where parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan could see 12–36 inches of snow as a powerful late-season storm moves through. It’s the kind of storm that reminds everyone that winter doesn’t end just because the calendar says March. Midwest ski hills like: * Lutsen Mountains * Granite Peak * Boyne Mountain could quietly end up with some of the best conditions they’ve seen all season. Tahoe and the Rockies: Sunshine and Spring Meanwhile in the Sierra and the central Rockies, it’s been a different story. Warm temperatures and dry conditions have kept snowpack levels lower than average in many places, with parts of California sitting well below normal for mid-March snowpack. But that doesn’t mean skiing is bad. It just means… it’s not bottomless powder every day. And that brings me to a story I told on the podcast this week. The Snowmass Powder Complaint One fine snowy day, I ran into a guy who pulled up next to me, winded and disheveled. We got to talking and he told me he had planned a ski trip to Snowmass earlier this season but, he canceled the trip. Why? Because there “wasn’t enough snow.” He rebooked the trip for later in the season and conditions improved. In fact, he nailed it. Timed it out just right to snag a powder day! Sounds magical, right? Except once he got here… he spent the whole time complaining that skiing powder was too hard. I guess that means his original trip date was probably perfect for his Goldilocks style of skiing. The Internet Snow Panic If you spend any time on ski Instagram, you’ve probably seen the doom-and-gloom reels this winter. “Worst season ever.”“Climate apocalypse.”“Don’t bother coming.” Look - snowpack absolutely matters. Low snowfall seasons are real, and they affect resorts and mountain towns in meaningful ways. But there’s also a difference between: “not a record-breaking season” and “there’s no skiing.” Most resorts still have plenty of terrain open. Snowmaking is stronger than it’s ever been. And the reality is that a lot of the best ski days happen in conditions that aren’t viral on social media. Good Ski Days Are Still Out There Even in a weird winter. Even in a low snowpack year. Even when someone on Instagram says it’s over. Because skiing isn’t just about the perfect powder day. It’s about: * spring sunshine * fast groomers * skiing with friends * skiing with your kids * cold beers and salty margs at après * and the occasional miracle storm that reminds you why March matters. Next Week’s Podcast: Raising Ski Kids Speaking of skiing with kids… Next week’s episode of The Snow Report is going to focus on something a lot of you are living right now: the journey of teaching kids to ski and snowboard. The early season chaos. Getting them dressed. Chairlift negotiations. Snack bribes. And that magical moment late in the season when you realize… they’re actually skiing. So I want to hear from you. What are your ski-parent war stories? * Funniest chairlift moment * Biggest meltdown * Best motivation trick * Snacks that save the day * The moment your kid “got it” Drop your stories in our Snow Report Substack chat [https://substack.com/chat/6056076]. We’re going to use some of them in next week’s episode. Because if there’s one thing every ski parent knows… the beginning of the season feels like wrangling cattle. But by spring… you might actually be raising ski buddies. Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thesnowreport.substack.com [https://thesnowreport.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Epic vs Ikon: Youth Discounts, New Resorts, and Which Pass Actually Makes Sense

Epic adds a youth discount. Ikon adds more mountains. Everyone adds perks you didn’t ask for. Every spring, the ski industry releases its season passes for the following winter. And every year the same thing happens. You open the pass page, scroll for about 15 seconds, and suddenly realize: You may need a doctorate in ski pass economics to understand what you’re buying. Blackout dates.Partial blackout dates.Partner mountains.Partner mountains but only Monday through Thursday unless it’s February. And pricing tiers that somehow involve: AdultYoung AdultTeenCollegeYoung Adult but not that young adultChildChild, but only if born during a leap year. But beneath all of the legal fine print and marketing perks, a few real changes are actually worth paying attention to this year. Let’s break down the big ones. Epic Pass: A New Youth Discount (13–30) The biggest update from Vail Resorts this year is a new discounted Epic Pass tier for skiers ages 13 to 30. That’s a pretty large demographic. Basically everyone from middle school through their late twenties. Spring launch pricing looks roughly like this: Epic PassAdult: about $1,089 Young Adult (13–30)About $869 Child (5–12)About $555 That’s about a $220 discount compared to the adult pass, which is clearly aimed at younger skiers who might otherwise balk at four-figure pass prices. The Epic Pass still includes unlimited access to major Vail Resorts destinations like: VailBreckenridgePark CityWhistler BlackcombStoweKeystoneCrested Butte Plus partner mountains around the world. The “Turn Your Ticket Into a Pass” Program Another push from Vail is the Turn In Your Ticket program. If you purchased a lift ticket this winter at a Vail-owned resort, you can apply that ticket toward next year’s pass. Maximum credit: $175. Example: Young adult Epic Pass$869 Lift ticket credit– $175 Effective price$694 The fine print is that the ticket has to be from a Vail Resorts mountain, not a partner resort. Still, if you skied at Breckenridge, Vail, Park City, or another Vail-owned resort this winter, it’s one of the easier discounts to claim. Ikon Pass: More Mountains, Same Complicated Math Shortly after Epic launched its pass lineup, Alterra followed with the Ikon Pass for next season, expanding its network to more than 70 destinations worldwide. Ikon works a little differently than Epic. Instead of unlimited skiing everywhere, it uses a hybrid model: unlimited access at some resorts and 5 to 7 days at many destination mountains. Unlimited Ikon resorts include places like Copper Mountain, Winter Park, and Steamboat, while destinations such as Aspen Snowmass, Jackson Hole, Alta, and Deer Valley typically offer five to seven days per season, depending on the pass tier. The full Ikon Pass has no blackout dates, while the cheaper Ikon Base Pass does. One perk of buying in the spring is that your 2026–27 pass can be used for the rest of this season and all of next winter. Spring pricing is roughly $1,329 for the Ikon Pass and about $909 for the Ikon Base Pass. Ikon also made a major move by expanding its footprint in Japan, adding resorts like Shiga Kogen, Furano, APPI Resort, NEKOMA Mountain, Myoko Suginohara, Mt. T, and Zao Onsen. These destinations are known for some of the deepest powder on earth thanks to cold Siberian storm cycles. Full Ikon Pass holders typically receive up to seven days at each, while Base Pass users generally get five days with no blackout dates. Closer to home, Ikon also added a few smaller U.S. partner mountains, including Jiminy Peak in Massachusetts and Cranmore in New Hampshire, usually offering two-day access tiers for regional skiers. The bigger trend is clear: Ikon continues leaning into destination travel and international skiing - especially Japan - while adding smaller domestic resorts to round out its network. The “Perks” Arms Race Both passes also continue the annual tradition of offering perks that sound exciting… but rarely affect your life. Examples include things like: • Lodging discounts that occasionally look suspiciously similar to the public rate.• Food discounts that make paying for a $30 burger slightly easier to swallow.• Access to early-morning corduroy on designated days, provided the moon is in retrograde and your name starts with the letter M. And my personal favorite: “Exclusive passholder experiences.” Which probably means stickers. To be fair, some perks are genuinely useful. Things like: • Discounted buddy tickets• Discounted tune-ups• Priority access to passholder parking reservations One perk that actually caught my eye this year is the Ikon Pass refund policy for 2026–27. Ikon Pass 2026–27 Refund Policy Ikon allows a partial or full cash refund depending on how many times your pass has been scanned by January 15, 2027. Here’s how it works: • 100% refund: If your pass has zero scans by January 15, 2027• 50% refund: If your pass has been scanned exactly once by January 15, 2027• No refund: If your pass has been scanned two or more times Just make sure you choose the right pass tier — not all Ikon passes qualify for this policy, and none of the Epic Pass products offer a similar refund option. All of this is to say that the marketing pages for ski passes are starting to resemble airline loyalty programs. There are tiers.And sub-tiers.And perks inside the tiers. Eventually you start wondering if shredding requires a spreadsheet. Which Pass Actually Makes Sense? Once you strip away the marketing language, the answer usually comes down to how you ski or snowboard. Here are the typical scenarios. Families Epic often works well because many resorts offer unlimited skiing and lower child pricing tiers. Lift tickets at major resorts can now exceed $250 per day, so a multi-day family trip can quickly justify a pass. College Students and Skiers in Their 20s The new Epic youth tier (13–30) is clearly designed for this group. At about $869, it significantly lowers the cost of skiing major destination resorts. With the trade-in lift ticket credit, it could drop closer to $700. Ski Travelers and Powder Chasers The Ikon Pass tends to appeal to skiers who want access to iconic mountains like: AspenJackson HoleAltaRevelstoke You don’t get unlimited access at every resort, but you do get a strong collection of destination mountains. Ski Explorers The Indy Pass and Mountain Collective are great alternatives if you prefer independent resorts or multiple destination trips. Indy offers two days at hundreds of independent ski areas. Mountain Collective provides two days each at several major destination resorts, plus discounted additional days.Then there’s the Snow Triple Play, a multi-trip card that gives you three day tickets to participating resorts. Its affordable enough to treat as a supplement to a mega-pass, if that’s your thing. If You Want the Full Spreadsheet… If you’re the kind of person who actually enjoys comparing blackout calendars and partner resort policies, there’s one place to go. The Storm Skiing Journal [https://www.stormskiing.com/]. Stuart Winchester publishes some of the most detailed breakdowns of the ski pass ecosystem anywhere, including massive spreadsheets showing: Participating resortsBlackout datesDay limitsPricing comparisons If you want the deep dive, that’s the place. Thank you for your service, Stuart. Enough about next season.What’s the weather this weekend? Snow! Finally! And it looks like more is in on the way for many areas, especially if you’re in the Pacific Northwest. The storm Friday hit many areas in Colorado and Utah, giving skiers and riders a much-needed powder day. Snow should continue into the late evening hours, setting up a great weekend at many resorts. This will also bring some rain and high snow levels to the PNW & Western Canada initially, but then colder air arrives with snow from Sun-Tue. The PNW & Northern Rockies look to stay snowy from March 11-15. The Northeast will see spring warmth for now, but winter looks to return mid-month. None of the passes mentioned are sponsors of The Snow Report. We just want to help you make the right choice next season. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thesnowreport.substack.com [https://thesnowreport.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Blizzard of 2026: What Happened, Where the Snow Fell, and What’s Next for Winter

The Blizzard of 2026 will be remembered as one of the most dramatic late-season winter storms in recent U.S. history, especially across the Northeast. What began as a moisture-rich Nor’easter quickly intensified into a bomb cyclone that dumped historic snow totals, snarled travel, and left millions digging out this week. ❄️ Historic Snow Totals: The Numbers * Providence, Rhode Island: A staggering 37.9 inches of snow at T.F. Green International Airport — obliterating the previous Blizzard of ’78 record of 28.6″. * New York City metro: Most areas received over 20″ with localized bands on Long Island pushing totals even higher. * Coverage & scale: Snow fell across a broad swath from the Mid-Atlantic through New England, with 21+ cities seeing more than two feet of snowfall. * Wind & conditions: Gusts exceeding 80 mph in some coastal areas produced whiteout conditions and widespread power outages. This wasn’t just a moderate winter storm — it was a fully bombed-out winter system that met all the conditions for blizzard classification: heavy snow, sustained winds, and very low visibility over a large geographic area. What About the Western U.S.? While the East was buried under historic snowfall, Western snowpack tells a very different story this season. Recent reporting shows persistent snowpack deficits across much of the West, particularly in Washington, Utah, and Colorado — where even with new snow at ski resorts, overall snowpack remains near record lows historically. In some basins, snowpack levels are forecast to stay below the 10th percentile through the critical April 1 peak date — meaning even with additional storms, many areas will fall short of average snow depth and water-storage levels. That contrast — East Coast powder vs. Western snow drought — has framed much of the skiing and water-resource conversation this season. OpenSnow Forecast: What’s Next? Looking ahead, forecasters at OpenSnow sketch a transitional pattern for the U.S.: * East Coast: Residual cold and unsettled weather could bring additional snow and flurries this weekend, though nothing on the scale of the Blizzard of 2026. * Western Canada & Canadian Rockies: A multi-day storm cycle is expected to deliver fresh snow, particularly in British Columbia and Alberta. * Western U.S. (Rockies): Lighter snow showers are possible over the next few days, but snow levels will be high and totals modest; best late-winter storms may arrive early March. Across the Lower 48, spring warmth is on the horizon - a typical pattern shift this time of year - which means snow will increasingly transition to heavier, wetter types at lower elevations while higher terrain retains better snow quality. 🌦 Final Thoughts The Blizzard of 2026 brought jaw-dropping snowfall, widespread impacts, and an onslaught of unforgettable winter visuals. But as we transition toward March, it’s becoming clear that: * The Northeast had a winter highlight reel moment, with records falling and communities challenged by dramatic snow. * The West continues to battle snowpack deficits, and while ski conditions are still good in many high-elevation zones, long-term snow water storage will likely finish below average. * Forecasts point toward classic late-winter transition patterns, with pockets of snow and the first hints of spring warmth. Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thesnowreport.substack.com [https://thesnowreport.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Electric Olympic Moments and 8 Feet Of Snow

And we’re back with a new look and location for the next few weeks. That’s right, I’ll be bringing you updates and podcasts from the slopes and surrounding area of Snowmass, Colorado. Let’s jump into it. The most electric Team USA moments of Milano Cortina 2026 1) Alysa Liu ends a 24 year U.S. drought with women’s figure skating GOLD The U.S. hadn’t won Olympic gold in women’s singles since 2002. Alysa Liu changed that in spectacular fashion, winning with 226.79 and edging Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto (224.90). And the story gets better: this wasn’t just a “peaked at the right time” moment. It’s a comeback narrative too, with her returning to the sport and delivering when it mattered but for the love of the skate, not hardware. 2) Team USA wins women’s hockey GOLD in overtime over Canada The U.S. tied it late, then won 2–1 in overtime, with Megan Keller scoring the winner and Hilary Knight providing the equalizer that forced OT. Also: Knight didn’t just get gold. She set U.S. Olympic records along the way, including 15 career Olympic goals and 33 Olympic points for Team USA. 3) Elana Meyers Taylor finally gets her monobob GOLD at 41 After collecting three silver medals across a decorated career, she grabbed monobob gold in Cortina at age 41, with a four run total of 3:57.93. The best part? Her celebrating with her sons. Who’s cutting onions in here? 4) Jordan Stolz takes 1500m SILVER for his third speed skating medal of these Games Stolz added 1500m silver, giving him a third Olympic medal in Milan. Stolz looked like Captain America, just with beefier quad muscles and he skated like him, too. 5) Jake Canter wins snowboard slopestyle BRONZE He put down the run when it counted and landed on the podium with bronze. Judged events are stressful because you’re never fully exhaling until the scores drop. 6) Alex Ferreira completes the Olympic medal set with skiing halfpipe GOLD This one happened today (Feb 20) and it’s a banger: Ferreira won with a 93.75 final run in Livigno, adding gold to his previous silver (2018) and bronze (2022). Shiffrin: Golden Girl (and one of us) After a lot of chatter about coming up short in Beijing 2022, Mikaela silenced the doubters and secured slalom gold in Cortina. She posted a 1:39.10 combined, and becomes the only American alpine skier with three Olympic gold medals. And then comes the most relatable post win moment in sports. Live on TV, she droped an F-bomb with a side of the S-word, immediately apologizes, and the entire country collectively says: girl, same. Gold was her destiny. So was being force-fed espresso martinis. One of us! One of us! Snow sports have always been slightly robbed by TV. Drones helped. Here’s the thing about skiing, riding, and sliding sports: TV has always struggled to translate what your body knows instantly on the hill. Steepness looks flatter. Speed looks slower. Exposure gets lost. The “one tiny mistake at 60–90 mph” part can read like “wheee” instead of “this is treacherous.” This year, the drone coverage finally helped bridge that gap. Olympic Broadcasting and NBC leaned into first-person-view drones that can chase speed sports at up to about 75 mph, giving viewers that follow cam perspective that actually communicates pace and pitch. It didn’t just look cooler. It made the danger and the technical mastery feel real. Curling: You New Personality, Every Four Years Speaking of relatability, Curling is the perfect contrast to snow sports because it’s the most relatable thing in the Olympics. And that’s probably why it’s on every television… all the time… for two weeks straight. Despite not even knowing all the rules, the country seems to falls in love with its ‘bar game’ vibe every four years. And while curlers aren’t sweeping downhill at 90mph, the beloved sport does come with its own set of intricacies. * the ice is pebbled * sweeping changes friction and path * you’re doing a prolonged lunge on ice while trying not to eat it on global television Which brings us to… Canada’s Double-Touch Controversy The “double-touching” controversy centered on allegations that a Canadian curler illegally touched the stone after release. Sweden accused Canada, video started circulating, emotions went nuclear, and curling’s honor system got stress-tested in real time. World Curling responded by increasing officiating, some penalties and stone-specific disqualifications, and then some backlash and walk-backs as the sport tried to sort out process, evidence, and what’s enforceable. So did it become the scandal of the century? Not really. But did the internet have the absolute time of its life with it? Completely. Winter Arrived in the West! After a season of waiting, the Sierra just got happily crushed with snow. One storm cycle dropped over 10 feet in parts of the Sierra, including 111 inches in five days at UC Berkeley’s Central Sierra Snow Lab. Resorts reported numbers like Palisades Tahoe 124 inches and Sugar Bowl 111 inches. That’s not “refresh.” That’s “rebuild the base, change the mood, and make everyone stop doom-refreshing the long range.” OpenSnow’s Forecast Here’s the clean expectation-setter version: * Southern Rockies: A storm targets Western and Southern Colorado plus Southern Utah, favored for the deepest totals. * Northern Rockies: Weaker disturbance, generally light snow showers. * Upper Midwest + Northeast: A strong storm with pockets of heavier snow across areas including the UP of Michigan, Wisconsin, Ontario, New York, and New England. * Tahoe: After the big cycle, the short term points to a sunnier break Friday and Saturday, then rain and snow possible Sunday through midweek. In short: the West got its payoff, the pattern stays active, and the next headline shifts around as the storm track reloads. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thesnowreport.substack.com [https://thesnowreport.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]