Lack of snow may force Eaglecrest suspension

Eaglecrest Ego
Snow only partially covers the lower mountain at Eaglecrest Ski Area on Sunday. (Photo by Mikko Wilson/KTOO)

Managers of Juneau’s Eaglecrest Ski Area are prepared to shut down their seasonal operation if little snow falls before the end of the month.

General Manager Matt Lillard said they need significant snow or accumulation of over a foot.

“It all depends on the type of snow and how it falls,” Lillard said. “With a big, heavy, wet storm you can open a lot sooner than if it’s lots of dry snow.”

Lillard said they’ll continue running the Porcupine Chairlift this weekend, and again next Thursday through Sunday, March 13. The snowsports school will also continue offering lessons during those days.

But, after March 13, Lillard said they’ll suspend operations for the rest of the month and wait for snow.

“It can always happen,” Lillard said. “But if April 1 comes around and we don’t have it yet, then people are going to be looking elsewhere for activities and it’s just time to call it.”

With no or little snow drawing skiers and snowboarders to the mountain over the last several weeks, Lillard pitched a number of options to the Eaglecrest Board during their Thursday meeting.

Lillard said they operated for 59 days this season with great skiing and powder days in December and January. It was better than last year’s dismal five-day season, but it’s still possible the ski area may end up off budget this year.

Because of the lack of snow, Lillard said they had to cancel their usual March and April events such as the terrain park competition series, the annual Slush Cup, and the Bill Tugman Memorial Obstacle and Town Downhill races. The Juneau Ski Club was able to host a series of races a few weeks ago.

Unofficial 2016 Slush Cup at Eaglecrest
A puddle at the base of the Ptarmigan chairlift became the unofficial Slush Cup 2016 due to low snow at Eaglecrest Ski Area on Sunday. (Animation by Mikko Wilson/KTOO)

 

Lillard blamed El Niño and warm ocean temperatures for the warm weather and lack of precipitation.

As for February, almost any Juneau resident could tell that it was unusually warm and dry.

“So, again, really a low snow month,” said Wes Adkins, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Juneau. “Skiers are not very happy, as are a lot of people.”

Eaglecrest 160228 Logjam low snow
Patches of bare ground dot the Logjam run at Eaglecrest Ski Area, Feb. 28, 2016. (Photo by Sarah Moore)

Only about 2 inches of snow fell last month. Normally, about 10 times as much falls. Adkins said the average for Juneau in February is 16.8 inches.

It was also very dry last month with 3.26 inches of rain and melted snow.

The average temperature for Juneau in February was 38 degrees or nearly 8 degrees above average.

“It was the second warmest February on record for Juneau,” said Adkins.

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