February Ski Report
After heavy snowfall in late January, early to mid-February brought an unprecedented stretch of blue skies. In fact it was a full-on drought. Cool temperatures helped preserve the snow, and while frigid conditions lingered in the valley bottoms, temperature inversions created pleasant skiing conditions in the alpine. At Ripley Creek, an arctic outflow (howling winds) affected some higher-elevation terrain, but with an extensive selection of treeline and below-treeline runs, fresh lines were still plentiful. Meanwhile, at Bell 2 Lodge, lighter winds kept most alpine areas intact, allowing us to explore the farthest reaches of our tenure in search of untouched snow. Once again, having such vast terrain proved invaluable during a rare two plus week snow drought. The dry conditions came to an abrupt end in the third week of February. In the last 7 days Mother Nature delivered 96cms [38”] of fresh snow, but warming temps and continued snow have created a frustrating week at both lodges (understatement). Several full down days were recorded at both Bell 2 Lodge and at Ripley Creek. We are waging war against low cloud & snow. Good for the long run – not so good for the short run. We need some sunshine to return.
For daily ski reporting and historical tour summaries, check out our weather portal [here].
