Eaglecrest still tops Most Snow list

Photo by Rosemarie Alexander

The snow just keeps coming at Eaglecrest. Juneau’s city-owned ski area boasts more snow than any other ski area in North America, a distinction it has held since November.

The snow stake Tuesday morning read 140 inches at the top of the Ptarmigan lift and 63 inches at the lodge. Alyeska Ski Resort in Girdwood is also doing fine, with 38 inches at the base and 105 on top.

By comparison, Aspen Mountain, Colorado, had a base of 16 inches of snow; Sun Valley, Idaho had 20. Magic Mountain in Southern Vermont has 10 inches and two of 40 trails open. That’s where Eaglecrest’s general manager Matt Lillard recently worked.

Many ski areas across the continent are hurting for snow during this holiday season when they stand to make up to 20 percent, sometimes more, of their winter revenue.

A database of ski areas indicates 366 areas have opened, out of 469 in the U.S. and Canada. Many are running partial operations.

On those days when it’s raining at sea level, it’s probably snowing at Eaglecrest. According to the Juneau Forecast Office of the National Weather Service, temperatures decrease about three degrees for every one-thousand feet this time of year.

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